Weekend Dog-Walking and M.R.I. Scan

I haven't taken Alfie out for his early-morning walk since last Saturday. Well, if you're a regular reader of my blog posts you'll know why.  Alfie has been itching to get out and has been following me about the house but couldn't understand why he's been ignored as regards his walk. Frankly, I have't been exactly up for any sort of walk, because of the pain in my legs due to the bruising and Carol wasn't over-keen for me to go out alone with him. Also, it was raining very lightly, although I don't think we would get wet because it was so light. It didn't seem fair on poor little Alfie to have to be denied his walk, so Carol suggested we all go together. She didn't want me to go on my own, considering I'd only had my heart attack less than a week ago, so I'm not really surprised she wanted to go with us. Every time I moved around the house, from getting dressed, going into the bathroom to get shaved to going downstairs, I had a pair of little eyes watching my every move and when I put my jacket on and then my shoes he knew we were about to go out. Which turned  Alfie into a version of the Tasmanian Devil when he goes totally mad, barking, getting hold of the lead with his teeth and generally making a terrible noise, which continues as we go through the door and into the road outside and continue down the path towards Eaglestone Park, where we release him from the lead. For Alfie at least, it's not so much a walk, but more like a mad gallop around the park. 

Carol had another M.R.I. scan this morning. We were supposed to be at the unit at 10.45. We drove into the hospital campus and parked in the multi-storey carpark. Because it was a Saturday there were plenty of spaces. I was noticed how run down a lot of the hospital buildings look, comparing it with the John Radcliffe in Oxford. I think Milton Keynes hospital must have been built on the cheap, as most of the buildings are presumably pre-fabricated. I may of course be wrong. I still can't see why they didn't build a couple of high-rise blocks as there is an incredible amount of wasted space, hence, the amount of walking you have to do to reach various wards and clinics within the campus.

We walked down to the M.R.I. unit, run by In Health. I can't work out how this works. Are they an independent company, working for or in partnership with the N.H.S.? Does the hospital pay them for their services? Not sure I'm over-keen on a private company making money out of the hospital. I'v e learned, from Carol's friend Pauline, who is a colleague of her's who is a science teacher at Milton Keynes Academy, (which is sponsored by a private company, that this company is paid something like £300,000 a year by the Academy, for their services, such as administration etc.) It seems a crazy way to be funded, considering that this organisation has no experience of anything education-related. Why isn't this money used to fund teacher's pay, or, at least paying for extra staff, such as teachers or teaching assistants?

Carol's scan took over an hour, a good deal longer than the last M.R.I. scan she had when she was in hospital. The unit is just over the road from Ward 22 where she was a patient for nearly 5 weeks.

Sunday. I didn't go to church this morning. I woke with a nasty cough, which is a side-effect of one of the tablets I take. I'm not entirely sure which one it is. Seems that nearly everything you take has a nasty side-effect. One even says 'heart attack,' which is somewhat worrying, when you think I've already had two of those. Is that a side-effect? Crazy.

Later we took Alfie for his customary walk. We visited the shop to buy some bread for lunch and some Imodium tablets (because the Atarvastatin seems to be giving me the runs, rather unpleasant. See previous blog post.) I had an idea that any statin tablets I was prescribed would probably have this sort of side-effect, which I can honestly do without. Enough problems without constantly running to the toilet. Also, just plain tired and want to sleep. Which is just part and parcel of having a heart attack I'm afraid.

As I write this, at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday, it's quite bright and sunny, although there is a keen wind blowing.

M.R.I. Scan and Pizza

Carol had an M.R.I. scan booked for around 5.10 yesterday afternoon. Which meant our evening meal would be delayed. Not actually a problem. It has been an exceptionally warm day and we'd been out this morning (see previous post.) We got to the hospital carpark, Carol driving. Some people have no idea how to park a car, as we saw one car left at an angle in one bay, actually taking up more than one slot. No doubt they were in a hurry so they left it at this peculiar angle, meaning the next space couldn't be taken by another car.

We walked down the road towards the M.R.I. unit. As usual, we were far too early. Nothing wrong with being early. Better than being late, as a patient who came in after us. What is so difficult about being punctual? I think she had to re-book her scan. No doubt wasting her time and effort and it must have meant that the unit lost a scan which could have been taken by someone else. It's crazy how many appointments are lost when people don't bother to turn up. Particularly at the doctor's surgery. No doubt wasting the N.H.S. millions.

It was nice that I was offered tea when I was sitting in the waiting area at the scan unit run by In Health. I think this is the first time I've been offered tea. As it was so hot it was really a necessity, as tea is such a thirst-quencher. Is that the difference between private and N.H.S. treatment? I'm not sure how a private company fits into the hospital.

Anyway, after the scan we paid at the machine and then we found that the carpark barrier was raised. Annoying as we'd just payed £4.50 or thereabouts. It's crazy that they don't think it necessary to put a notice on the payment machine advising people that the barrier is raised. How much are they making out of the broken carpark barrier? Or get it fixed so you at least get released by putting the ticket in the machine. Or just get of hospital parking fees. Simple.

On leaving the carpark, Carol went the wrong way out, ignoring the 'No Entry' sign. Who on earth designed the system for drivers to follow in order to exit the carpark? You have follow a crazy set of arrows which are illogical. No doubt some bureaucrat in an office somewhere, most likely in Whitehall. Probably having a really bad day. Just doesn't make sense. Although we got out a good deal quicker than if we'd followed the route as shown. Why are so many carparks set out in a similar fashion, usually supermarkets have them?

After we left the hospital we drove to Oldbrook as Carol said she fancied pizza and so we went to Domino's, next door to Tesco. Interesting to watch them make the pizzas, rolling out the dough and seeing how they were cooked. To be honest I wasn't overly impressed by the result, having eaten my half of the pizza. It seemed undercooked and mushy to me. Well, it did at least mean we didn't have to cook our meal. I think the pizza we sometimes buy at Sainsbury's is far better.

Eighth Chemotherapy Cycle

A rather cold and overcast day. Some slight rain.

On Saturday Carol had a scan appointment at the hospital. At first, when the letter came, we thought it was to be at the M.R.I. place she'd had an earlier scan at, called In Health, just behind Sainsbury's in Witan Gate. It was as well Carol queried the location, as she rang and was told that it was actually within the hospital campus. I think I had an idea where it was, as I'd walked past on several occasions when Carol had been on Ward 19. The appointment was on Saturday and it meant that her parents would be able to come with us. The appointment was at 2.20, but we got there in plenty of time. Well over an hour in total. She got a second letter, telling her that she'd been given yet another scan appointment, at the same place, for this Wednesday. She queried it, because if her chemotherapy cycle went according to plan, she would have the pump with her she would be given as part of the treatment and it would be possible to have she M.R.I. scan with it in situ. She was correct as it was to be re-booked for 18th April, during the week between chemo treatments and when she didn't have the pump.

On Sunday Carols mum and dad went back to Bournemouth. We went over to see them at the hotel in Newport Pagnall. By now the weather began to change. Rain, although not heavy. We'd had the best weather when we'd visited Waddesdon on Friday.

Today Carol had to be at the oncology suite for a blood test, at the beginning of the seventh chemotherapy cycle. As it was gone 10 when we arrived in the hospital campus, it was quite difficult to find a parking space, but there was one available, fortunately.

In the oncology suite it was clear that there was a shortage of staff, particularly the fact that there was no receptionist. We had to wait quite a while before Carol was signed in. One of the nurses had to do this, which meant she had to leave off another job elsewhere. Quite a lot of patients waiting, coming and going. Carol didn't get taken into the room for her blood test until well past 10.30.

We left and drove to Rooksley because Carol wanted to go to Hobbycraft. We had a look around but couldn't find what she was looking for. We went into Costa in Next and had lattes, really nice cheese and ham toasties and chocolate tiffin. I was ready for something to eat as I was hungry by this time. We then drove over to Westcroft to go into Morrison's, to buy something for our evening meal and for the next couple of days.

Under normal circumstances Carol would have had the bloodiest on a Friday and then have the chemotherapy begin on a Monday. We were expecting the seventh cycle to start tomorrow (Tuesday) but thankfully Carol checked her paperwork to learn that this cycle will begin on Wednesday, so it was as well the M.R.I. scan she had booked was rescheduled. We trust that the bloodtest will allow the seventh chemotherapy cycle to go ahead as planned.

M.R.I. Scans and Mild Weather

The weather continues to be unseasonably mild. I'm going out without a jacket or a sweater on. Just doesn't make a lot of sense, since we're well into October. I've been out on some days, thinking it's going to be cold (some early mornings start of cold.) put on a thick sweater and find, once I'm out, that the sweater is making me far too hot so I remove it. I end up carting the sweater around with me as I did when we went to the shopping centre the other morning. The trees all along the various grid roads around Milton Keynes are changing colour. Quite striking and surprising.

We're still waiting to hear from Basingstoke. Carol had an M.R.I. scan yesterday morning. It took a good deal longer than I was expecting, but at least it's done. Not at the hospital, but at a, presumably, private provider called In Health, which is based in the same block as Sainsbury's, just off Witan Gate. I expected the appointment to be at the hospital, but it was here. A very different atmosphere to the usual N.H.S. facility. Decent chairs to sit on and not lots of other people sitting and attempting to avoid eye contact. The staff were very good, very professional and caring. So, with this last scan, the various departments will now have all the information they have to deal with this 'thing.' Every day we wait patiently for either a telephone call or a letter.