Foggy, Then Wet, Weather

It's been quite foggy here for the past few days. At Willen you can look out of Carol's window and see across the lake. A really calming view. Lots of birds on it, ducks and swans mostly, but you do occasionally see herons. It was so foggy the other day you couldn't see the other side of the lake. A slight amount of fog as I took Alfie out for his walk around Eaglestone Park this morning, but generally quite mild, certainly no frost to mention.

I forget to mention that I stayed the night with Carol in her room  at Willen on Friday. Our neighbours, Garry and Shelley, looked after Alfie, going in to feed him and take him out for a walk. I was hoping that I could sleep on the reclining chair which is in the room, but it wouldn't recline sufficiently for me to lay flat on it and, frankly, it was never going to be an ideal place to sleep. When it was reclined right back it only pulled the plug out of the power point on the wall behind and then it was impossible to re-plug it. The nurses came in with a Z-Bed, or at least a sort of camping bed. Very ancient and not particularly well sprung and extremely narrow, but since this was to be a temporary arrangement I was willing to give it a go. But when it was set up and the bedding arranged on it and I started to lay on it, one set of very flimsy legs collapsed and I fell on the floor. Not very successful, you might say. So I had no alternative but to improvise. Carol kept on saying I should give up and go home, but I wasn't going to be defeated so I removed the mattress and the bedding from the wreckage of the camping bed, folded the thing up and put the mattress on the floor and made my bed there for the night. It wasn't entirely the most comfortable night's sleep, particularly as I had to keep waking to use the toilet along the corridor. But at least I managed to stay with Carol, as she had requested it. In the morning, at around 7.30, I crept out of the room and went to the lounge further along the corridor and made myself a cup of tea. One of the nurses made me some toast and marmalade and at around 8.30  went back to see Carol, still fast asleep. In fact, according to the nurses I spoke to later, they said she had a really good night's sleep, probably because I was there with her. She woke eventually at around 9 o'clock, really late for her. I left her to be bathed and washed by the staff and when I returned later she was siting up in bed eating a bacon sandwich!

I was hoping to have the rest of the day to myself at home. I needed some time to myself. But Carol insisted I come back later in the day. So, having have a couple of hours at home, basically to see how Alfie was and let him out into the garden as well as to give him a walk across the park, I went back to Willen in time for lunch and then came home at around 2 o'clock.

(Tuesday). I had to get a doctor's appointment this morning. I have had an annoying cough for several weeks. It began when I was prescribed Ramipril after my heart attack in September. I only discovered that it might be a side-effect of this medication when I spoke to one of the cardiology nurses at Milton Keynes hospital. I managed to change this medication back to what I had previously been prescribed, candesartan. On changing this medication the cough seemed to subside, but didn't entirely disappear. I get really nasty phlegm in my throat which causes an intermittent cough which can strike at odd times, usually at night or when I least expect it. This happened during church on Sunday and I had to leave the hall to get a drink of water. Which is why I decided to get an appointment. I had mentioned this the other week when I went to see my doctor and he said I'd need to give a sample. Which I did and would get the results at the surgery when I made the appointment.

I had to ring the surgery early. I was surprised that I got through relatively quickly. Only two other people ahead of me in the telephone queue. I was soon speaking to a receptionist and I explained why I needed an appointment and then I had to wait around an hour before a doctor rang to give me an appointment a 9.50.

It turns out that the sample I gave and was analysed didn't show any bacteria or anything nasty, so there's really no explanation for the phlegm or why I'm coughing. The doctor said it might be a viral thing, but they're not sure, so antibiotics won't help. I know they try not to over-prescribe them, so I'm not surprised. He just told me to drink plenty, which I know I don't and should. He wrote me a couple of prescriptions because I have two lots of medication which will soon run out, so I left the surgery and went into Cox and Robinson to get the prescriptions made up which took around 10 minutes and then drove over to Willen to visit Carol.

Bonkers Retail

I have been taking something to eat at lunch-time in the ward where Carol is at the moment. I have usually bought a sandwich or roll from the Friends shop in the hospital, but, unfortunately, they haven't always come up to a standard which means I have enjoyed what I have eaten. Usually they are reasonable edible, but generally they are tasteless, the bread dry and not particularly pleasant. A lot of this is down to the fact that everything we have offered us has to be low in salt and sugar, low-fat etc etc. The health fanatics have had a field day, making food really dull and uninteresting. Any effort to make the food we eat, or at least, buy from supermarkets and other retail outlets, has had all the flavour sucked out of it. I know that it's best to eat healthily, but when you can barely taste what you eat, the enjoyment of food is removed. With this in mind, I have endeavoured to find somewhere to buy a snack for my lunch which is at least tasty. There are several choices for me as regards outlets for lunch snacks. First, Sainsbury's, but even there I have managed to drain the well dry, as you might say. You can have a 'Meal Deal' in most supermarkets, where you buy a roll or sandwich and have an additional bag of crisps and probably a drink for a reasonable price, of, say, £2.50-£3.50 or so. Then there's Waitrose, probably a bit more expensive, but with a more imaginative selection, or going further away, Boot's, but they only have a store in the city centre, or at Westcroft or Kingston. Lastly, Marks and Spencer, with outlets at MK Stadium, Kingston or the city centre, but it means quite an effort to get to them, first  drive there and then to park and walk into the MK centre.

With all this in mind, I went to the Kingston Centre in the hope of finding something decent to take with me to the hospital as a snack to eat for lunch. I wasn't intending getting to the hospital too early, just for once. I was going to slow things down as much as possible, particularly because of having my heart attack four weeks previously. No good getting stressed if it means getting myself into a position where I just become ill. No good at all.  I arrived in the carpark and got as close to Marks and Spencer's and Boot's and went into Boot's to have a look at what they had to offer as regards sandwiches. Nothing struck me as in the least interesting, so I left and went into M and S. Could I find their lunch-snack display? Not at all, Usually supermarkets set these sections apart from the rest of their displays so it's easy to spot when you enter the store. But I had to be shown by a member of staff. Actually, quite an inviting display, so I selected a baguette filled with egg and ham, and then selected a bag of crisps and found their cold drinks display, selecting a Belgian Chocolate milk shake and also a Coffee Latte milk shake which I knew Carol would appreciate. But when it came to pay I had fun finding the till. A crazy layout had to be negotiated, because of a sort of maze-like approach. I could see the lady at the till, but how did I get there? Round this idiotic layout. Enough to put off any customer. What on earth is the point of making the place where you have to pay so difficult to find? What is the matter with Marks and Spencers? They're having enough trouble keeping customers or at least getting people to shop in their stores (as many other companies are at the moment, not just M and S.) But this is crazy. Make it easier, not more difficult, for goodness sakes.

I wanted to get something to help relieve the wretched cough I have since I've been taking Ramapril. Well, at least I'm no longer taking it since I was put back on Candesartan. It seems I'm left with the cough which I trust will disappear eventually, but how long I have no idea. I thought Boots would be able to help and went to the counter which stocks cough remedies. There was no assistant to help, although there appeared to be several on the pharmacy counter. I stood and waited a few minutes, but still no one appeared. They could surely see me waiting patiently, but after about three minutes I decided it was no use and left and then thought I'd walk to Tesco's and try their pharmacy. A bit of a walk, but I wanted this thing sorted. I got what I wanted and began to walk out of the store. Carol had asked me to buy her some Maltesers and it just happened, as I neared the exit of the store, I walked past a display which just so happened to have bags of Maltesers in it. I grabbed two packets and decided to use a self-service checkout. I walked towards what I thought were self-service machines and attempted to pay for the two bags. I waved the bags in front of what I imagined was a bar-code scanner, but nothing happened. No sign of the machine springing into life. Nothing seemed to be working. I pressed a key on the screen and suddenly an assistant appeared. It would then become apparent that it wasn't a self-service machine, but a machine to use if you'd been using a scanner to scan your shopping as you walked around the store. I was totally unaware of this, I saw no indication that the machine was for that purpose, and, anyway, thinking about it now, why don't ordinary self-service machines have the added facility for you to use a hand-held scanner. I decided I didn't want to bother to buy the Maltesers and handed the bags to the assistant and left, no doubt somewhat shocked by my rather abrupt exit. But it was more than I needed at that particular time, with enough to think about without having to bother with using one of those machines. It was a further example of company making it very clear what they expected their customers to do and to provide clearer signage.

Saturday Morning Frost

(Saturday) I went out to the meter cupboard to check the gas meter. It was fine and didn't need credit putting on it, fortunately. It was quite chilly and there was a light frost on the car's windscreen. The first frost of the autumn.

I went to Sainsbury's early. I got there at around 8.45. Not busy at that early hour. I had to pick up my repeat prescription. I forgot to tell them at the pharmacy that I'm no longer taking Ramapril and now on Candesartan. It needs to be put on their list of my new medications. I now realise that Carol had a repeat prescription which needs collection and should have been ready. For some reason another of my meds wasn't available., Oxybutin. I can't think why, because I've only about four left. It's Ashfield Medical Centre just being awkward for now real reason. Or perhaps they just don't have any in stock. They said I couldn't have any until 27th October, so that's nearly in a month's time.

I got home, unpacked my shopping and then drove to the hospital. Carol seemed in a better frame of mind. I think at last the nurses have got on top of her pain relief medication.

As we sat quietly in the room, I was aware of someone entering  behind me as I sat in one of the chairs near the door, without our permission. One of the patients, who must have a learning disability. It was a bit of a shock. He came in and started looking at Carol's belongings on the bed-side table and touched the bed. He was followed by a carer, who apologised, and got the man out. The man didn't make any sound, didn't talk or anything. The type of patient I would have been caring for at one or other of the houses I worked in for the N.H.S., but they were usually those with extreme challenging behaviour. This man has been wandering about the ward all day and has two support workers with him. Carol was upset he had come in. The carers shut the room door to prevent him coming in and came back to again say they were sorry he had come into the room. It would be somewhat unsettling to have your personal space invaded like that.

I took Alfie out for his, by now, routine run across the park. I didn't go the whole circuit, because I felt a certain amount of discomfort in my chest. Not an angina attack, but I wasn't keen to risk being out. I always carry a G.T.N. spray, nevertheless. It has been mild, with  weak sun shining on the scene. A lot of leaves now fallen and definite signs of autumn. I can't believe it'll be October tomorrow.

This evening I have managed to put my medication out ready to take. I have looked at the repeat prescription I collected this morning and find that my Bisoprolol dosage hasn't been changed with the new order, it is still at the original, higher dosage of 5 mg, but it had been lowered to 2.5 mg by the doctors at John Radcliffe. Also, I got Ramapril, which has now been replaced by Candesartan. It's obvious that Lloyd's didn't know about the Ramapril being replaced, but the surgery hasn't looked carefully at the Bisoprolol dosage and it needs changing to the correct dosage. I think I will need to go back to Lloyd's in Sainsbury and get this rectified. No doubt it will require the surgery to make this change before Lloyd's can change it. So more aggravation.

When I got home I found a pile of post. One of them a letter from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
I have an appointment there on Monday 8th October at 2 o'clock to have a Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Test. Seems to be similar to Carol's scans and the whole process takes 4-5 hours. My concern is that I don't relish having to drive all that way, and then, all the way back home afterwards. I would hope Carol could come with me, but considering her health at present I'm not sure. When she had a scan at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford all those months ago, we went via a hospital ambulance/minibus. However, it wasn't the most comfortable journey, but if it means I didn't have the stress of getting to Oxford I would be more than happy to go on that ambulance. Unless someone at church could volunteer their services, but that's a big ask, considering the length of time the procedure is likely to take. I'll have to look into the options. Until I got the letter today I had never heard of this particular test.

Waiting For A Call

I rang Ashfield Medical Centre several times after 8a.m this morning. The first couple of times I just got an engaged tone. It was obvious that their phone system is taken off the hook (you might say) until around 8.15, by which time I did at last get through and was in a queue of 5 other callers and the eventually got to speak to a receptionist. I explained why I needed a doctor to ring me back (not really needing a face-to-face appointment at the surgery) to get a doctor to change my medication from Ramapril to anything similar (probably Candesartan), because the Ramapril is causing an unpleasant cough that will not go away. 

So, here I am, well over two hours later, still waiting for the call from Ashfield. I just hope it isn't going to be much longer, although I was told it could be anytime, morning or afternoon.

11.20a.m. I had a call from Doctor Haye from Ashfield. I explained what I needed, to possibly change the medication from Ramapril to something that doesn't cause a cough and he said he wanted to see me and I now have an appointment booked for 2.30p.m. I can understand why, as it would be a dereliction of duty if something happened to me, considering I've recently had a heart attack. So, hopefully this matter can be sorted out and a prescription produced so the cough can be reduced and hopefully eliminated so I can get a good night's sleep.

Later.  I had gone upstairs to have a rest, but fell asleep and woke in something of a start. I looked at my watch to see it was 1.50. I needed to be at Ashfield Medical Centre for 2.30 and decided to leave at around 2.10 as I always think there is always a vague chance I'll be seen before the allotted time if I manage to get there sooner. Having parked in the rear carpark, which is far easier to get in and out of than the carpark at the front of the surgery, although coming out it fraught with the possibility of hitting another vehicle because the entry is very narrow and you can't see what's coming in. They ought to have a mirror so you can see round the corner.

Well, I walked to the surgery and signed in using the computer and I found I was seeing one of the practice nurses and not a doctor. Well, at least they can write prescriptions so there was no problem. It was the nurse who did my blood test a few weeks ago.

Then a lady came to talk to me.  It took me a while for me to recognise her, I couldn't for the life of me remember her name, but Carol used to tutor her daughter. The lady worked at the Academy. She had been a cleaner and worked her way up to be supervisor. I'm not sure if she didn't still work there, but Carol used to go to her house in Oldbrook, just a short walk from M.K.C.C., usually on a Saturday morning, to tutor her daughter with English so she could get into college, or something. Carol had to stop because of her contract with the Academy for some reason or other. Anyway, the lady was with the daughter, who knew about Carol being in hospital. No doubt this was learned as these things do, via the 'grapevine.' Anyway, I didn't have time to talk, because my name came up on the digital display, so I had to leave them and go in to see the nurse. But she said she would telephone so she could visit Carol.

I left them in the waiting room and walked along the corridor to the nurse's room. I discussed why I'd come for the appointment, about how I'd had the heart attack barely three weeks previously and how I'd been discharged from the John Radcliffe with new medications, one of which was Ramapril, which appeared to be going me the awful cough. She took my blood pressure, which appeared fairly normal, considering. She viewed my notes on the computer, copies of letters from the hospital to Ashfield and then a list of the medications prescribed. I have to come back to the surgery to have my blood pressure checked in two week's time.

Candesartan was one of my medications before I had the recent heart attack. It does the same job as Ramapril. It seems odd that I was taken off it when it had no side effects, whilst Ramapril gives me such an unpleasant cough, or so it seems. I have no other symptoms which you'd have if you had, say, a cold, such as a temperature, feeling feverish, although I have a runny nose, but certainly not as a result of a cold. The nurse went to speak to a doctor and came back and said that I should be put back of Candesartan and to stop the Ramapril. So she printed out a prescription which I took to Cox and Robinson, the pharmacy which is a short walk from the surgery. I had to wait about 10 minutes for it to be made up.

I drove home, and parked the car on the drive and then walked to the hospital, because, by now, it was gone 3 o'clock and I knew for certain that I wouldn't be able to park. It is only a ten-minute walk and I'm surprised how close the unit in the hospital is, just a walk along the Redway which runs through the grounds.

More Unnecessary Aggravation

(Wednesday) I've mentioned on an earlier blog post, that I went to our doctor's surgery a week or two ago to find out whether they had received notification from the John Radcliffe Hospital regarding my new medication so that when I made a new repeat prescription it would be up-and-running and there would be no problems. The discharge information was given to me when I left the hospital and a copy would have been forwarded to my doctor's surgery. I was informed when I went to speak to the receptionist she looked on the computer system and assured me that the new medication was record. Little did I realise that actually this wasn't the case. Or if it was, then part of the information was missing, or at least it would appear so.

I went to Sainsbury's early this morning and went to the Lloyd's pharmacy within the store, which is our nominated pharmacy for all our repeat prescriptions. We've been using them for several years now. But when I went to give them the new order I was informed by their pharmacist that they couldn't do the order without first having it on THEIR system. I would need to ring Ashfield Medical Centre and speak to them to have the new medications recorded before the pharmacy could make up the order. As you can imagine, what with having had a heart attack three weeks previously and also having Carol in hospital, this is only adding to stress and frustration which is certainly not what I want at the moment.

Having completed my shopping in Sainsbury's, I returned home and immediately telephoned the surgery. I was expecting it to take some while to get through, there also was an option on the menu which you have to select when you ring, to phone a special prescription help-line, but this 'after 11 a.m.,' which didn't exactly please me as I wanted to go and visit Carol and if left too late it would be difficult to find a parking space for the car. I just rang the normal telephone number intended for making appointments, but told the receptionist my repeat prescription was urgent. I ran through what I wanted to order until I reached Ticagrelor, which I had been prescribed especially because it's supposed to protect the stent I had put in at the John Radcliffe. The receptionist had never heard of it, which was a surprise. It now seems a doctor will have to approve this additional medication before they can make out a prescription, which will then be sent electronically to Lloyd's before the repeat prescription can be made up. There seems to be some sort of bureaucratic glitch in all this somehow.

I'm having problems with a cough, which I have mentioned in earlier blog posts. Apparently it is a side-effect of taking Ramapril. I spoke to the pharmacist about this matter, because I spent most of last night awake with this horrible cough. Nothing seems to alleviate it, no amount of cough linctus or cough sweets. I just concerns me that it might spark off something like another heart attack. The pharmacist looked at all my medication already held on their system and she saw I was on Candesartan. Which apparently does the same job as Ramapril, but without the side-effects. So it does seem odd that the doctors at John Radcliffe should charge this medication regardless of the fact that I had no problem with the Candesartan but now have to endure a horrible cough with Ramapril.  I decided to go into the Cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital when I went to visit Carol this morning, with the intention of mentioning this to the cardiology nurse I spoke to last week. I was fortunate to be seen by her briefly when I went in. She said that  the cough would most likely be as a result of the Ramapril but she couldn't change it for me, I would need to speak to my GP. It would appear that Ramapril is a standard medication given to patients after they've had a heart attack. So, I need to telephone Ashfield, how ever long that is going to take, and ask my doctor to see if he can change the Ramapril for Candesartan or a similar drug.

Having said in the previous post that it was getting colder, it's actually been quite warm for the past couple of days. The weather is getting so confused. I came out of the hospital yesterday and there was bright sunshine, similar to what we have today (Wednesday.)

Changes To Medication

What I haven't mentioned, since describing in fairly accurate detail, my couple of days in the John Radcliffe in Oxford, were the changes  made to my medication. Some were added, whilst some were removed and some had their dosage changed.

I had taken Isoborbide Mononitrate 20mg, Bisoprolol 5mg, Candesarten 4mg, as well as Lansoprazole 20mg. and soluble Asprin 75mg.

The Candesarten has now been removed and the dosage of the Bisoprolol reduced to 2.5mg. I now have Ramipril 2.5mg and a statin called Atorvastatin 80mg as well as a drug to help protect the stent called Ticagrelor 90mg which I have to take twice-daily and they've told me that I have to take this for a year as it's to prevent any clotting around the stent which could lead to further complications.

I was reluctant to continue with any type of statins because I have had side-effects. At the time of my first heart attack in 2006 I was put on one called, I believe, Clopodrogel and a statin called Pravastatin (I may be wrong as to brand name or which is or isn't a statin.) At that time, during the week I was in the C.C.U. unit at Bedford Hospital, I began to develop what seemed like flu-like symptoms, so the nursing staff moved me off the main ward and into a side-ward, as they thought I might be infectious. As it turned out it wasn't actually flu but the side-effect of the possible use of the statins I was on. I have been tested over the last few years to keep my cholesterol levels as low as possible, but I had side-effects from taking which ever type or brand of statins it was (at the moment I have forgotten the brand name, but possibly called Plavix.) Because I managed to have my cholesterol levels at a well-controlled level, done mostly by eating healthily, taking a fair amount of exercise (we used to be members of a gym, and used the swimming pool regularly until Carol's cancer diagnosis.) I got the cholesterol levels in my blood to around the target of under 5mmol. So my doctor took me off the statin drug because I had muscle pain and some digestive problems. I got a certain amount of discomfort in my stomach, for example. The lansoprazole capsules are to protect my stomach as a result of taking most of the other medications.

As I have only been taking the new medications for a few days, I haven't experienced any side effects. I do get a dry cough which comes from nowhere. I'm not sure which medication causes this. But yesterday evening, after I'd taken the medications for my 6 o'clock administration, I had very violent diarrhoea. Sorry, but there's no other way to describe it. I'm fairly certain it was caused as a result of one of the medications I was on, possibly the Atarvastatin or a combination of that and another medication. I had to take Immodium to control this. As I write this post at 6.35 a.m. on Saturday I feel queasy and just hope I don't get the 'runs' again. 

New Medications

I had  been for a Doctor's appointment on Monday. It took somewhere in the region of 40 minutes to get through to the surgery. You ring the number and the recorded voice says 'putting you through to the surgery' and then there's a pause . . .  That awful bland music really gets on your nerves. Why can't they play something different? Then you get told 'the surgery is experiencing a high level of calls. Please ring back later.' Then the thing hangs up, very unceremoniously, without any sort of apology and that's that. You just have to keep ringing and ringing until you get an answer. I got a 'call-back' eventually, then, when you DO get through (after being told you are being held in a queue!) you have to go through a menu, and work out what you want! By the time you do actually get through, you forget what you had rung for in the first place, as well as loosing the will to live!

I had made the appointment as I was concerned about the fact that the last time I had gone for a blood test the nurse couldn't  find a vein in my arm and gave up on the blood-taking. I was expecting to hear that she had sorted out some alternative to this, but as yet nothing. The doctor looked at my arm and said that he could see nothing wrong and that my veins were fine for taking blood. So I have made another appointment for this blood-test for this Monday morning. Let's hope that it's a little more successful than last time.

I haven't been able to sleep properly for around a month now. I wake up in the night and then can't get back to sleep. The doctor has put me on Citropram for this. I have started taking it. I also mentioned the fact that during my last medications review I was told I should be on a drug for my blood pressure (hypertension) and was given a prescription for Candesartan when I put in my last repeat prescription. I mistakenly thought it was a statin (which have caused many side-effects over the time I have been on heart medications) so didn't immediately have the prescription made up. The doctor told me I should resume taking it, so I have since had the prescription made up and began taking these tablets yesterday morning.