I have had one of my usual insomniac nights and managed to get a measly 2 hours sleep last night. Typical seeing as how I had a busy day planned at Bristol hospital (nearly 2 hours away from home) and due to this I did not want to have to take a sleeping tablet. The tablets I have been given to help me catch a few z’s can often have a hangover effect the following day.
I made the most of being awake all hours and managed to catch up on this journal big style. I had the cat trying to assist me by happily walking across the laptop arching her back up until I had mouth full of black fur, yummy! Anyhow, back to the sleepy Bristol trip!
At nearly 8:30 am me and mum finally crawled out of the house both feeling exhausted, I was feeling fine to start with except for being rather tired that is! When we got about half way through the journey I started to have a hot flush then to feel queasy. I felt so bad that I made mum pull over in pub car park! Once the car had stopped I felt fine again, very bizarre. Most people grow out of travel sickness, not grow into it!
When we arrived I faced the long hop (on crutches) down a very steep hill into the hospital. As usual when I got to the clinic reception they sent me for the x-ray. I only had 2 films shot, one standing (not the most comfortable position) and one laid on my side. We went back along the long winding corridors to the frame clinic and had a lengthy hour wait, I wasn’t checking the time and could have easily been longer! I finally got ushered into a small room and told that my consultant would be along in a minute. They left the door to the doctors office open which meant I was able to be nosy and look at everyone’s x-rays as they came up on the screen. I am fascinated by the human body, so going through this experience has been incredible and a massive learning curve for me.
Every Wednesday the hospital's physiotherapy department holds a frame class. This is basically a big gym session for all of the frame patients like me. It’s really good to meet up with other people in the same situation as yourself, you can get some great advise from the people who have had the frame on for longer and just have a general chin wag! I was too tired today and had already decided against staying on for the class. One of the other frame patients poked his head into the room whilst I was waiting for the consultant. I had met him several times before and got on really well with him. He asked me if I was going to the class later in the day and was surprised when I said no. Both he and my mum were sat there trying to convince me and he suddenly turned and walked out of the room saying “see you down there”. I shouted “We’ll see” at his disappearing back.
When the consultant finally came in to see me, he had a quick look at my leg and the position my foot was now in and said it was looking good. He asked me if I was happy with the positioning which I was, then he ran off to get me “some homework”. Both me and mum looked at each other feeling rather confused. When he returned he had printed out another sheet of adjustments to be made on the frame. My heart sunk, I thought that part was all over but obviously not.