Hospital Bag Packing

I have 2 bags I pack, sounds greedy but I promise it all makes sense.

Bag 1 is a rucksack, and a small cloth bag.

In these I have the dressing gown in the cloth bag as soon as I go into theatre. But the rucksack is to hold.

• Toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrush. Mirror, muslin cloth, cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant, dry shampoo, micro towel and hair care such as a brush and nibbles, or headband.
• Nighties 1 or 2
• Knickers x 2
• Phone charger (extra long) Power bank, Headphones, and Phone.
• Flossys as my slippers

Obviously I put my arrival clothes into this bag when I put the hospital gown on, and my dressing gown. So I technically have day clothes available too, they will be just a tshit and leggings, with bra and pants.

Hospital Bag 2

This is a packed bag kept in the car in case I have a more prolonged stay, so inside this I would have,

• Snacks ( boiled sweets, crisps, bars)
• Squash
• Tablet and Charger
• Leggings x 2
• Knickers x 4
• Bras x 2
• T shirts x 2
• Nighties or Pjs
• Socks x 2

Thankfully I didn’t need this bag last time as I only stayed in 1 night, I aim for the same this time. But better to have it all at hand, so it’s easier for my husband should it not be possible to go home quickly.

Now it’s just to arrange the test kit to come, ring courier, take test and get the courier to collect. This part is giving me the most anxiety at the moment.

Bloods done.

The hospital I’m under wants bloods done no later than 6 days before surgery, so today is the day to go. Then after this all I must do is a postal covid test, and then isolate for a few days.

On the last stretch, and I can’t wait to be back home recovering from it all being done.

The week seems to be flying by, and the jobs needing to be done are mounting up by the dozen, so much to do so little time,as they say.

As I’ve hurt my back so badly, see prior post Here.

I’ve not been able to go shopping for some last minute things, so I’m going to go without. I have enough to get by with and anything desperately needed, I can have my daughter’s or Mr Moon to collect for me at a later date.

Last Sunny Day

To celebrate Lammas, or Lughnasdh. This is a pagan sabbat, the first harvest of three. We decided to get out and feel the sun, cleanse our energies with the sea, and touch some earth, ie sand.

We decided on a beach day, to soak up the last day of sunshine, as rain and thunder is forecast for the next week now.

The drive was glorious, seeing all the fields of cut hay, and super tall corn ready for Autumn. Makes me excited for Mabon the autumn equinox and of course Samhain Halloween to everyone else.

We had sandwiches to keep us going along the way, Crisps and Beer once we had arrived. Lovely to have ice cold beer on a hot beach.

New location for us Aberdfyi, the beach was nicely quiet, and perfect to spend the day at.

We swam in the super warm and totally clear waters, it was actually really nice on my sore back. It was nice to get back into water again. The local teens were jumping off the harbour, having so much fun!! Loved watching.

Really small seaside town, only one chippie!! And the queue was so long, so we ended our day with pot noodles as the sun went down.

What an epic day, I never expected to be able to squeeze in one more beachy day, so I am very grateful for it.

Bloods next day, so I’m sure we will be exhausted but oh so worth it.

1 Week to surgery!!

I swear I blink and a week has flown by, it’s scary to be honest.

I feel like I have so much to do, and such little time. But I guess the most important stuff is to have my bags packed, dressing gown freshly washed and fresh bedding. But it’s too early yet to do that.

I’ve bought this fabulous bedding especially for recovery.

I need to ring about my test but again, too early as that’s needed more towards the weekend.

Bloods are needed but no appointment has come through yet. They are needed 6 days before operation date.

We’ve had a lovely meal and cinema date to celebrate my birthday, we’ve moved our youngest from one uni house to another, so it’s all been a busy whirlwind to be honest.

Back Snapped like an elastic band

What can I say except OH MY GOD that hurts!!

I think I threw my back out as they say, ie I bent down to do some washer loading, and I heard, and felt some thing twang snap, and suddenly I couldn’t stand up straight anymore.

What Does it Mean to Throw Out Your Back?

Throwing out your back is a old fashioned term used to describe what happens when the muscles in your back have been strained. This can happen due to lifting a heavy object incorrectly, overworking, stretching too far or awkwardly, ( probably how I did it, over extending due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome ) and improper posture.

While the muscles in your back take the brunt of the pain, damage to blood vessels, tissues, or ligaments occur as well. Usually, the problem happens in the lower back. And oh my goodness you will feel it, and hear it go.

Symptoms of Throwing Out Your Back

When you throw out your back, it can be excruciatingly painful, but there are other symptoms to watch for as well.

• Stiffness
• Inability to move
• Tightening of the muscles
• Pain
• Muscle spasms

Typically the pain shouldn’t last for more than 10-14 days, but if it does, check with your doctor to make sure there’s no serious damage. I’m seriously hoping it doesn’t last this long as surgery is only 9days away. What rubbish timing!!

What to Do When Your Back Goes Out

Experiencing back pain can be debilitating, and you’ll want to be back on your feet soon. To do that, there are steps to take to make sure your back heals and you’re back to normal.

1. Get Rest

One of the best things you can do when you throw out your back is to rest so the muscles have time to recover. Use pillows to support your back to reduce the strain on your muscles.

Lying flat on your back is the ideal position, but do so on a hard surface.

2. Treat The Pain

It’s hard to rest when you’re in so much pain. Treating the pain so you can get adequate rest is important and can be accomplished in a few different ways.

Try applying ice packs locally for up to 20 minutes. Taking over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen reduces inflammation and can make you more comfortable as you rest. Applying heat can also have the same effect.

3. Exercise

Exercise might seem like the last thing you want to do when you’ve thrown out your back, but easing back into exercising keeps the muscles working. If you don’t move at all, your muscles may become weak or stiff.

After a couple of days of rest, slowly begin going back into your normal activities, but only do what you’re comfortable with. Start by doing some gentle stretching for short periods. Refrain from doing any sort of heavy lifting, twisting, or other intense physical activity until you’re back to normal.

Even after you’ve started feeling better, it’s important to take it easy, and if you start to feel discomfort, rest!

4. See A Doctor

If your pain is persistent or is not responding to Over the counter (OTC) medications, visit your doctor to see if there is a large problem at play.

Here are some reasons you might consider seeing a doctor:

• Inability to stand
• Numbness
• Fever
• Abnormal bowel movements

Your doctor may prescribe different treatments to get you back on your feet or may order x-rays, CT scan, or MRI. They may also suggest steroids, stronger pain medications, more rest, or physical therapy.