I am still here !
Since Saturday when I was informed I had a fracture of the spine I have been recovering from shock. I have now managed to get the Co-Codamol down from 4 hourly to 6 hourly. Apparently the easing of the pain leads to your being relaxed and the healing process can crack on. But still takes up to 3 months. But I dont know when it fractured tho I strongly suspect the car accident I had 12 months ago and flinging the chariot into the car damaged more..... But as I have yet to speak to the GP......
Yesterday, it being a beautiful day and no wind, the DP drove me to the beach. Where I discovered being upright and walking slowly it didnt hurt - that much - to walk. I did .59 of a mile.
Great Blackback Gull doing wing stretch exercise.
A first for me - a Razorbill. The photo is by the DP as it dived every time I tried to focus.
A painting I did some time ago of a Razorbill.
The worst side effect of the pain killers has been Heartburn.. I am hungry but as soon as I begin eating my oesophagus burns. Fortunately wine does not bring this on....
I have so far avoided the laxative powder. I am watching my diet ! But as a side effect is on breathing and I have COPD seems a strange one to prescribe.
Most of my information has come from Google. I have still not heard from my GP....If nothing tomorrow I will phone and go through the stress of speaking to a receptionist... I do have a lot of questions.
As I trawled my way down to the shedudio I noticed Spring was springing.
Daffodils about to burst forth.
Snowdrops out.
Oriental Poppy coming up.
The birds are also indicating that it is almost Spring as they are appearing in obvious partnerships and investigating nest boxes. The DP has cleaned them out.
The DP took in my paintings to Cafe Connect in Fraserburgh for my exhibition. They were quite happy that I have more to come !
Still here so to do.
With some pressure from the DP I dialled 111 - this is for advice on health problems.
Basically I wanted to know what pain killer I could go for with all the other drugs I take. Paracetemol just wasnt working.
Sadly today 111 was very busy and unless I thought I was having a stroke - in which case dial 999 for an ambulance - I was advised to call back later.
So I then phoned the pharmacy and spoke to the pharmacist. She listened to me and said I should see a doctor. Next thing she phoned back and had made me an appointment at Peterhead Community Hospital to see a doctor.. She knew there were no doctors on duty in Fraserburgh.
So off we tootled.
The Doctor was as lovely as the pharmacist. She listened, prodded, ow. Then she was on the computer and saw my x ray results, from the x ray on Tuesday.
"You have a fractured spine." Ye Gods.
So I am now on strong pain killers and the assurance it will get better but may take some time.
Now the laughing bit.
She also prescribed laxatives as one of the side effects can be constipation. (see previous post.)
The orange juice worked by the way.
But she did say I could have a glass of wine. So I am. So far I havent fell over, gone to sleep, still coping with machinery (t.v.) and not driving as it hurts when I put the handbrake on....
With the help of the Dawn Patroller I made it to the beach.
I dont know where Doris was but she wasnt here. The wind was cold but not too strong.
Although the Oystercatchers and Blackheaded gulls were sheltering.
Normally when in pain from my back I have walked with no problem. It has been sitting/standing and picking something up from the floor being a total no no. But some considerable damage must have occurred during that torture of the x rays being taken as I was in pain whilst walking. So I didnt get far.
But a first for me. A Glaucous Gull.
That is he/she with wings outstretched.
Sorting feathers out.
On returning home I was able to admire our gardeners erection of the trellis which will screen the oil tank. He also, previously, had removed a Berberis from there, where the trellis now is, which had become totally out of control and was taller than the oil tank and had encroached on part of the drive which we didnt know we had. The oil delivery man is well pleased its gone. Honeysuckle plants are to be purchased and planted and anything else I can find that bees like. ( Hope the bees dont upset the oil man.)
Then it was down the shedudio. I have to have work ready for exhibiting by Tuesday next week. No panic there then. Ha.
The Rook is finished, varnished and waiting for his hanging bits. Harvest Mouse still being tweaked so while that dried after some tweaking, only his whiskers to do now, I began this goose.
My work station. Well part of.
We appear to have missed Doris. Those of you who have met her I sympathise. A few years back, before they named these storms, we had one of our gales which took the shedudios roof off. So I am glad she didnt come this way. But the replacement roof was fitted and supplied by a boat building joiners. So I no longer worry about Doris or will it be Eric next?
