A Bargain Expensive Holiday

The countdown is almost over, we are a few days away from our long awaited holiday. Fortunately SWMBOs' mother (affectionately known as Monster-in-Law) has timeshares meaning we can use these whenever they are free... So we're off to Tenerife for sun, sand, sangria and more sun

Unfortunately - the In-Laws are coming with us
Fortunately - We now have babysitters.
Normally we save hundreds of pounds using Monsters' timeshare, however with Leah now here, this saving has disapperaed and instead, replaced with "Expense"

As we all know, baggage handlers enjoy throwing luggage as far as possible, so to save our £400 "travel system" that Monster bought for us, we have bought a "cheap" buggy at just £70.

Babies cots in apartments are less than appealing so we have bought one to take with us.
The sun in Tenerife is bloody hot se we have bought a "shade a babe" and a beach tent.
For playing around the pool, we have bought a play nest

There, I think thats it...

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get away and am really excited at taking our baby on her first holiday, it also helps "limit" our luggage, as babies don't get extra allowance for luggage we need to travel lighter. Normally I take a few pairs of shoes, shorts, etc. as well as my gadgets (camera, camcorder, laptop, ipod etc), and SWMBO - hairdryer (it has a cold setting apparently), straighteners, crimpers, curling tongs, shower, bath, sink, spare sink - in one case, and clothes in the other, we are both normally at the 20Kg limit EACH ... there and a bit more back (with the alcohol).

Our only real worry is what type of water to use when making up Leahs' milk, Leah is still being breastfed but sometimes has a top-up when necessary, as you can't use the water in Tenerife, and most people advise if you must use mineral water, then only use Evian. The best option is to use spring water, so we'll spend some time looking for spring water (as soon as know how to say it in Spanish). DJs Dylan and Darren, if you're reading this, let me know as you might still be over there .

* I do really love my Mother-in-Law - couldn't eat a whole one though

Another Legend Leaves us.

In the space of less than a month, we have lost great people Jane Tomlinson and Anita Roddick to ill health.
Unconfirmed reports it state Rally ace Colin Mcrae has been killed in a helicopter crash that may have also killed his 5 year old son in Scotland.

Biography taken from McRaes' wikipedia entry

McRae began his rally career in 1986, piloting a Talbot Sunbeam. A regular competitor on Scottish Rally Championship events, he was soon making a name for himself with his speed and exciting style of driving. His driving style drew many comparisons to Ari Vatanen, the famous Finnish rally driver who McRae had always idolised. He soon progressed to a Vauxhall Nova, and then onto a Ford Sierra XR 4x4. His first WRC exposure was in the 1987 Swedish Rally behind the wheel of his Nova, and again in 1989, driving the Sierra and finishing 15th overall. Later in '89, he finished 5th overall at Rally New Zealand in a rear wheel drive Sierra Cosworth. 1991 saw McRae join Prodrive Subaru for the British Rally Championship. He was twice the British champion in 1991 and 1992, soon graduating to 'works' status for the factory team.

Pulling my Finger Out

I have 3 things I really need to do*

1. Re-do my website
2. Sort out Photos of Leah
3. Create a Leah DVD from my Camcorder


1. Redo my Site
I stupidly decided to re-design my website, I say stupidly as rather than do the redesign then upload and replace the current version, I took the site down with a "Coming Soon" message. After a few months, the site is still coming soon, I am intending on using a template site to base it on, with tabbed tops that link to photos, family, gadgets and other stuff. I have yet to find the template to use but will ned to get it done very soon.

2. Sort out Photos of Leah
I have thousands of photos of Leah, I want to pick the best 100 and create a photo album from birth.

3. Create a DVDI now have lots of footage which I intend on creating a DVD from, the trouble with home movies however is the 100 hours of footage you start with ends up being 5 minutes of decent film. I have a HD (Hard Drive) Camera so the transfer to my PC will be easy, I intend on using Sony Vegas to capture the footage, something like Adobe Premier for editing and maybe After Effects for any special effects, titles etc.

I guess it all boils down to a: being arsed and b: having the inspiration/creative flair to do so, Unlike Taoski, I'm far from creative, getting my ideas from t'internet bores the hell out of me.

Therefore

• My website is will be a very basic, quick loading site
• Leahs Photo Album is fairly straightforward, I have messed around ith Photoshop and created some half-decent photos
• The DVD will be a "pre-release" therefore not have any special effects

Any ideas greatly welcomed.


* I actually have about 33 things to do but SWMBO doesn't read my blog so the other 30 "house things" can go on hold.

Anita Roddick - RIPAnita Roddick has died suddenly this evening from a brain haemorrhage, I remember when the Body shop came to Derby, there was a lot of these shops, the anti-animal testing demonstrations etc. This allowed people to choose beauty products that had not been tested on animals, and no doubt changed a lot of things we now take for granted.

The words, inspirational, incredible, dedicated, energetic from the BBC News article only go some way in describing how this woman changed peoples' views of animal testing.

She'll be sadly missed.

www.anitaroddick.com

Alcohol is Healthy - Official
OK, OK not all alcohol, in fact only one drink, but research show Guiness is once again

"Good for you".

Come on now guys, please do more research into Stella, Jack Daniels and Magners.

Madeleine McCann
I have refrained from blogging about this as my I've always thought something isn't quite right

Todays News reports say her parents are being questioned again (separately) in the hope of obtaining fresh information.

Conspiracy theorists always look at the "How, What, Who, When and Why" and this is no exception...

... So I googled "Madeleine McCann conspiracy"

These vary from the whole thing being a hoax to the unspeakable, I won't go into them here but rather link to them here and here.

I'm sure many people have nipped out and left their children at home, I for one would never ever do this, especially in a foreign country, but we must remember these stories are reported in the papers and via the media, so who's to know what is really going on.

I, like everyone on this planet hope Maddy is found safe and well and very soon.

Edit: BBC News update (news.bbc.co.uk)

6 September - Happy Birthday Ryan

It's Ma Boys birthday today, 10 years old - Wow, double figures now.

Happy birthday son - Love Daddy

(Yes these are old photos)

Heroes - Season 2

I guess most of the people here have already seen the first season of Heroes on Sci-Fi or some dodgy alternative (namely torrents). I for one absolutely loved it.

For dodgy people (or those living in the US), there's not long now till Season 2 starts (September 24). I can't wait, I just hope it's not another "Lost" where it starts to lose the plot - literally, and you can't be doing with watching it any more.



Prison Break is also starting over in the good old UK on September 24. Looks like its back to sitting in front of the TV.

Jane Tomlinson - (21 February 1964 – 3 September 2007)

This woman was amazing, first diagnosed with Breast cancer in 1990, which then spread to her lungs and bones becoming terminal in 2000 - she was given just 6 months to live.

This in itself must have been very hard to deal with, but Jane then decides to take up running (and cycling) to raise money for charities (and awareness)

Check out the timeline at dailymail.co.uk

R.I.P. Jane
Janes Appeal - Donate

HTC Tytn II - Back to Geeksville
It's here and more importantly I have one, the follow-up to the wonderful HTC Hermes/Tytn/v1605.

This time with an even faster connection (3.5G), built in GPS, Windows Mobile 6, sliding/tilting screen, finger navigation, 3 Megapixel Camera.

Setup has been easy, put the battery, Mini SD card and SIM Card and turn the device on, you are asked to set your locale, the time and your mobile phone provider, the rest is then setup,

The display is now less colourful, in fact it's black/grey but looks very impressive and seems to work better than with lots of colours, a case of less in more.

The icons are designed for navigating by fingers, meaning you don't have to keep using (and losing) the stylus.
The main screen has icons for home, contacts, weather, launcher and phone settings, each of these having sub-menus.

Home
Shows the time in digital format, emails, text messages and missed calls
Contacts
This is actually called "favourite people" and shows 10 shortcuts to you favourite/mostly dialled people, allowing for photo shortcut, this is something I had on my "OLD" PDA the HTC Hermes, lifted from the Palm Treo 700w
Weather
This is the same as aftermarket software such as SPB Weather and does exactly what is says on the tin, shows todays weather for your chosen location (it even has Derby - Useful only if you live there), clicking again shows the forecast for the next 5 days. Warning : this will use GPRS to update
Launcher
Similar to a start menu, gives you the option of creating shorcuts to your applications and programs,.
Phone Settings
Sound settings, ringtones etc.

All in all I'm very impressed with the device, it's definately a stepup from the Hermes, especially with the buiilt-in GPS which will make it a big seller. The tilting screen is more of a gimmik than useful, but might help in some ways, the keyboard is also improved, the keys are now more repsonsive and you (I) tend to make a lot less spelling mistakes, where you have missed letters out of words.

I've yet to test the GPS /TomTom as people keep calling me, however I'll be installing my aftermarket applications tonight and will update as soon as I can (be arsed).

These are due to replace the V1605 on Vodafone and should be known as the v1615, I guess other providers will follow suit.

Grand Turismo 5 on the PS3

Being a former Playstation (2) fanboy, had Grand Turismo been released at the time of me buying my Xbox then maybe I'd have bought a PS3, however as the release may still be some time away alng with the launch price of the console - no thank you.

The video trailers of the game are nowsurfacing - does it make me want to buy a PS3?...



Well actually... No

Ok so the graphics are superb and the gameplay looks amazing, but the lack of other games and all of my mates already owning the Xbox means a big no thanks... just yet.

A free PS3 with a phone upgrade like Mr Dan Stone then I'll gladly take one rather than "wait for the price to drop" like Mr Wooly. Until the price drops below £200 (including GT5), then I'll stick with my trusted Xbox, besides, when PGR4 comes along and kicks the PS3s ass*, we'll be laughing.



*Maybe

Physiotherapy Todays show is brought to you by the number 95 and the letters R, O and M, (the acronym has changed from CRP to ROM (Range of Movement))

a ROM refers to the amount a knee (or other joint) can bend, when I came out of hospital my ROM was less than 35 degrees, a week later I managed 50, then 70 on Friday, after speaking to the surgeon I though I could just blag it and if I couldn't increase it, then opt for the manipulation - basically take the easy way out.

That was Friday, I got home and as one does, googled knee manipulation, this I'm both glad I did and wish I hadn't.

This varied between causing more even more excruating pain and problems to rupturing the Cruciate Ligament

I decided to knuckle down (pardon the pun), and do more exercises and work harder doing a few hours physio each day, which has definately paid off.

Todays physio session measured my ROM at 95.

I passed the magic 90 degrees...

I have been able to start in the hospital gym (leg pressing 70lb, "nutcracker", spot jogging etc,
my next goal is 100 so I can start using the bikes.
40 degrees more than that and we're even...

Go Leah..... Go

Despite all the shit I am having with my knee, I still have reasons to be happy, like this one for example, I was just saying the word go, no face pulling and no daft moving.



...Bless

Anyone for a Knees up

Had my appointments with physio and the consultant today,

Physio seems happy with my progress despite SWMBO telling him I'm not doing my exercises (I am, it's just Im doing the minimum recommended), I can now bend my knee between 50 and 70 degrees on my own - or 80 degrees with a little painful help from the physio. I have been told to keep up with the exercises.

The consultant however has told me additional information, he's not happy with the tissue and scar damage in my knee, this is what is causing pain and stopping my knee bending to its full capacity (around 140 degrees),

My consultant has worked with Derby County players apparently football players with knee injuries have £150k worth of physio and spend 8 HOURS A DAY doing so, this is why they get better quicker,

Therefore in order for me to get better as soon as possible, I need to spend as much time as I can doing my physio. if there's no progress made within the next 2-3 weeks then I'll need to go back into hospital and have my knee "Manipulated"...

of course I had to ask what this meant...

Another epidural or General anaesthetic - once this kicks in, the surgeon simply bends my knee "for me".

OW-"f'kin"-CH was my response

To avoid more time in the lovely Nuffield, I have decided to do as much physio as time, my knee, and my daughter will allow.

On a positive though, my PICC line has now been removed, so I no longer need my daily 4 nurse visits. I'm onto tablets for 3 weeks - again no beer, Im wasting away with the lack of alcohol.

Poor SWMBO

The time has come for SWMBO to sell her car, her dream car, the car that got her through 4 years of her Mad-wifery course, the car she never thought she would own, her beloved 206cc has gone onto eBay for sale

If you, or anyone you know is looking for one of these , let them (and me) know.
(Pictures link to the eBay listing).

Knee Surgery Videos

As promised, here are the videos from my arthroscopies & knee flushes. I'm not sure if these are suitabe for the squeamish, I think they're ok, but hey, it's my knee so I would.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Hasta La Vista


I love the motto of the oldversion website

In my case this applies to the super duper all-singing, all-dancing Windows Vista

I installed it on my laptop a couple of month ago after a lot of time thinking whether I should or not, I am iPoddy(Taos' word) after all and like to have the newest and (2nd) best (when funds allow) in this case however it seems to have proved to be a big mistake.

My machine doesn't like it
My machine crashed 3 times while using Vista, not just the usual Blue Screen of Death where you reboot and verythings ok, but a crash that screwed up the registry, screwed up the boot sector or basically stopped my machine from booting up. This might be nothing to do with Vista, but it was problem-free for over a year running XP.

My Applications don't like it
I synchronise my work PDA and personal phone using Windows Active Sync. Active Sync doesn't work on Vista, instead you have to install and run "Windows Mobile Device Centre" however that doesn't seem to work with my PDA OR mobile phone.

My gadgets don't like it
I use my laptop for movie editing, however some software also doesn't work,

I can't print
I have a very good laser printer - guess what, this doesnt work with Vista either

My options are to avoid syncing my PDA/Mobile phone, printing or editing movies of Leah or...

Go back to XP

It's a no-brainer. I'll really miss Vista sidebar though. (no I won't, it's available for XP)

Maybe the oldversion logo should be

becausenewerisshit
or becauseolderworks

I'm Home

I managed to escape at 8.00 last night and it's great to be home.

First thing I did was grab my little girl and give her a massive hug, (my daughter that is, not SWMBO).

My knee still hurts like a bitch although being at home makes me feel better, I have been referred to a Private Healthcare Company (Healthcare-at-Home) who will continue the IV antibiotic treatments 4 times a day, as well as check my blood pressure, temperature, CRP and anything else they need to monitor. This will continue for 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks of oral IV.

Its wierd having a nurse come to your house, they have a ton of kit with them which they use to turn your living room into a hospital room.

It's definately better than spending the next 3 weeks in a hospital, that's for sure. Also it means my hospital diary can now stop and I can get back to blogging more interesting things.

SWMBO is so happy to have me back*, she now has the priviledge of looking after me and Leah.


*Lie

Day 13 - The Wait

Hoping my CRP is in the 20's....

...EDIT

It is now dropped to...
...so I'm waiting to go home

YAY !!!!!!!!

Day 12 - Three (and Six) That's the magic number
Yes it is.....Its the magic number

.... Magic for me today anyway, as it's todays CRP result

It's kinda strange that I have started worrying about going home, will I be OK when I get back, will SWMBO be able to cope, will I catch or give anything to anyone,

and even stranger is that I'm going to miss the place I have called home for the past 2 weeks, It's where I've eaten, worked, slept, watched TV, learned to stand & walk, been operated on (5 times) for 13 days and I'm going to miss it.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get out of here, but the staff have been absolutely fantastic to me, I didn't really meet any other patients, but am guessing from the work they do here (knee & hip replacements) that they really aren't in my age range.

Thanks to all at the Nuffield Hospital in Derby, but I'll be going home tomorrow, and hopefully will never see you again (in the capacity of requiring treatment that is).

Now I get to go home and be treated by the people I work with for the next 2 weeks - (don't ask !!!).

Now then, bring me my daughter, my X-Box, My Sky remote control, My broadband, and a Dominos Menu - (Need to wait for my car keys as I still can't drive)... I have some catching up to do.

Day 12 - Nothing to see Here
For the first time in what seems like years to me, but only a couple of weeks, I have had a very unevetful day,

No bloodtests, no operations, (not even a CRP test)
Of course I have my daily injection for DVT and my physio "Boot Camp" session, but apart from that, NOTHING HAPPENED.

I even managed to watch Match of the Day to see my beloved Derby get thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham - Pah !!!

The consultant again mentioned "Going home" as long as CRP drops tomorrow and Monday.

Now then, how do I get to watch the matches tomorrow...

• Blackburn v Arsenal
• Liverpool v Chelsea
• Man City v Man Utd

Day 11- PICC Day
The PICC Line is in, the next step in me going home is complete, after several unsuccesful tries yesterday, the reinforcements were called in..

I went down to the theatre at 6.30 *(even missed Hollyoaks)

a few VERY nervous minutes later and we were ready to go, the anaesthetic was injected and I'm not sure about the next 20 minutes or so except

• Taking deep breaths
• The wierd sensation in my arm as the line is thread
• X-rays every so often so the radiologist knows where he's going
• The woman holding my hand had amazing eyes - NOT AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOURS SWMBO !!!
• The uncomfortable feeling as the outer casing is pulled back out of my am

and the most memorable

When the radiologist tells me he "HAS GONE UP THE JUGULAR VEIN* INSTEAD OF DOWN INTO ANOTHER VEIN"

after I got back to my room, it made me feel a little wierd thinking thats theres this long line is inside me, although relieved that he managed it rather than resorting to the Hickman Line (That does use the Jugular vein*)

The first IV was no problem at all.

...Oh, my CRP has dropped again, now we're at 80.

If that same person crosed their fingers again for me - Thank You !!!

*Sorry if you've find this page by googling Hickman, the radiologist did say (when I had a face of fear about the the Hickman) that using the Jugular vein is nothing to worry about, people are scared due to horror movies

Links
- 1 - 2 - 3 -

Day 10 - Good and Bad News

The consultant came to see me this morning, he is happy with my recovery as long as my CRP continues to drop. He actually mentioned going home (for the first time), to continue my treatment, and this may even be as soon as Sunday or Monday. I will need to have the PICC line put in which I had decided on anyway. I should hopefully be starting my physio in the next couple of days.

My CRP results came back - 96 - Yesssss !!!!!

The RMO (Resident Medical Officer - Doctor that Lives onsite) came to discuss the PICC line insertion, it involves a local anaethetic then a little cut where they put a tube in, followed by the line itself, he mentioned this will either be in my groin, my chest or my neck (CHEST PLEASE). These lines can stay in for up to 90 days although they prefer 30 days, either way they should really only need to put one of these in, my veins are saved...

So far the day went well, I even managed a shower - Took ages but I didn't care, I AM RECOVERING !!!

As my veins are now well and truly shot, I had to have one of my antibiotics via an injection (in my arse) this worried me, Gentamicin has to be given slowly by IV, otherwise you can go deaf and it's irreversible - but this is not the case via injection as the muscles soak it up, but also means it's not as effective.

The anaesthatist came to see me at 5.30pm, he explained it goes in via the top of the arm (phew) and I will be going down within the next 30 minutes.

I went down to theatre at 6.00pm got prepped and the anaesthatist started....

Then comes the bad news

... 2 hours and 14 attempts later, he stopped, he had tried every vein he could find using an ultrasound machine but they were all thrombosed (blocked), he was unable to thread the tube through therefore unable to put the PICC Line in.

What is it with me, I had a tiny chance of getting the staphylococcus infection in the first place, then the "easy" procedure of getting a PICC Line is not possible. Apparently being part afro-carribean means my sink and veins are thicker than normal, (great for the aging process, shit for venal work) :-(

I am now waiting until tomorrow for a radiologist to put the line in via a different method. Whoever had their fingers crossed for me before, please do it for me tomorrow,

My arms are killing and full of little cuts, and still I'm having to have the IV antibiotics via a cannula which is red, sore, swollen and hurts like mad.

But Daddy will be home to see Leah and SWMBO - whatever it takes.....

Daddy's coming home

Day 9
WOW - 9 Days...

Good news - my CRP has dropped again to 123, I thought I'd be a lot happier than I was about this result...

I am starting to get very down now, I am beginning feel the world is just passing me by as I lie here, Leah had one of her first giggles yesterday and daddy missed it.

I also had some shooting/stabbing pains in my knee but was reassured by SWMBO that these are my wounds healing (muscles & nerves trying to re-attach etc)

I have decided I need to stay positive though, I am scheduled to have a physio session tomorrow which will also mark the second part of my "road to recovery" (the first being getting rid of the infection itself).

COME ON !!!!

Day 8 - Part 2

Someone must have had their fingers crossed for me today.

My CRP has dropped down to 163, although still high, it's still a drop nonetheless and has given me something to be happy about while I'm here.

My veins has now given up in yet another part of my arms, this now means the doctors are having problems finding a vein which to insert the cannula for my IV antiobiotics. They managed to find one final vein on the back of my arm !!!! but that's it !!!!

(Its my arm !!!- See the wristband and my elbow)

I don't reallly have much option than to have a PICC Line (2) (3) inserted, either that or they'll start using veins from my groin etc (not my legs as that is where the infection is).
I was a bit anxious about the PICC line, however this will also mean I won't have to keep having it taken out every couple of days like the cannula, but best of all I may be able to gome home and have my treatment at home, (when my CRP drops a lot below 100).

At least, finally, I seem to be on the mend, after 7 days in (this) hospital and 1 in the DRI.

You know when you've been in hopspital when the kitchen knows what you want to eat and the nurses say "are you still here?".

Intermission Time

Enough of my knee, Mummy, SWMBO and Monster (and now Leah) ;-), I have found a great welcome home present.

Image courtesy of digiuk.com

This might just have everything I need in a photo frame:

• 7" Widescreen (800 * 480)
• Vista and XP Compatible
• 4 in Memory Card Slot (
• Integrated Memory (64Mb)
• Slide Show
• MP3 playback
  
• Moving Picture playback
• Wi-Fi for streaming pictures
• USB port (but can I plug in my 4Gb USB stick?)
  
• Movie playback in MPEG1, MPEG4 and DivX format

Released in September at all some good geek shops for around £150.

Day 7 - Part 2
Above are some nice gory photos from today, the first one is the hole from my first drain and the second is my bandaged knee still with the drain in and the last is the drian by itself, which was removed today, and hurt like a bitch...

On a plus side, the swelling and pain seems to have reduced, however I have spoken to my consultant tonight, my CRP has gone up to 243 which was to be expected after the operation (and there's only a small increase at that).

I still have what is called "septic athritis" (Which isn't the same as rheumatoid or Osteo- Arthitis), we should get the test results of samples taken yesterday from microbilogy which, along with the blood tests for CRP, will show whats next in the story.

Tonight though, I'm happy...

EDIT 15 August
Looked at my states and someone looked on my site by googling for do doctors put you to sleep when they drain fluid from the knee?
The answer is yes and no, I had a needle drain without any anaesthetic on 2 occasions had 2 washouts under local and 2 under general. needles in the knee quite 'kin hurt...

Day 7

I have decided not to get too upbeat about things any more, that way i have less to be disappointed about, the staff are doing a great job, the room i great, the food is lovely, my mates are still managing to take the piss, but when I'm on my own, I'm very down,
I have now had Gentamicin added to my daily drug diet which already includes, paracetamol, Codeine, Diclofenac, Tramadol and Flucloxacillin, I'll be a pharmacist before I know it.

The nurses are insistant on giving me a bed bath, however I have decided to leave that to SWMBO, I know she looks forward to it, but I dont want the whole world checking out "Steven and the Twins".
I am going to see if they'll let me have my Xbox in. That will pass some time

Knee update - Day 6 - Part 3

I have woken up.

I was again put to sleep, although I did ask if I could just have a local, I was advised against this as a spinal could lead to further infection (in my spine) which is probably not so good. I have had an injection to put a nerve block in my leg, so although I wiggle my toes and move my foot and even my leg from side to die, I can't actually feel it, even if iI i touch it with my hand, it doesn't feel like part of me.

I was back within a couple of hours feeling very drowsy, it was 2.50pm but I thought it was 8.50pm.

My mum was here to greet me, and SWMBO came along shortly after bringing goodies (which I always like). I'll need to wait until tomorrow to see the consutant to discuss the operation fingers crossed though he did mention that the Flucloxacillin is working as it should, but they are looking at adding something to it.

I also managed to get video clips of the operation, I can't upload them yet as my connection here is now down to 56k (remember them days).

I am hoping I am now mended and don't need any more surgery.

Knee - Day 6 - Part 2

The results are in.... and my CRP has gone up again, to 236, this means another operation.

Knee - Day 6 - Part 1

I was woken at 6.00am for breakfast and drugs (sounds perfect to some of you I bet). I also had a blood test so they could get it to the DRI to check my CRP, I'm hoping that it's dropped it's really the only way I know I'm on the mend.

The physio came in to give me some more excerices, just imaging you are lying on your bed looking up, and you cannot lift your right leg up or bend your knee, thats exactly what is happening to me at the minute, I can wiggle and move my toes and move my feet, but when it comes to trying to move my whole leg, not a chance, the physio helped me to bend my knee, I can now manage half way (about 30 degrees). After about 30 minutes of trying, I also managed to lift my foot a couple of inches of the bed, it's not a big thing, but to me its massive.
I have a walk in shower in my new room now, I managed to have a proper shower last night too, albeit sitting down.

Now I just have to wait for the blood test results.
Fingers crossed ...

PS - Thanks everyone for taking the piss, especially Uncle "Grant Mitchell" Steve, Bossman Dave and Tao, I knew I could rely on some of you to keep me sane.

... and just to cheer ME up
DONE !!!!

The Knee story continues

I managed a nice 4 hours sleep last night between my IV treatments every 6 hours, I must say some of the nurses here are really nice, i know most people expect nurses to be caring, kind and gentle, but believe me they're not always.

I woke up at 5.45am and my treatment started at 6. I was brought a cup of tea... I think, due to the amount and levels of drugs I am taking, I am beginning to lose track of time and the names of the peole who work here.

I had a few visitors today, who always seem to look worried when they see me, I think its due to the fact I look like death, again down to the drugs which make me feel sleepy all day long.
The physio came in with another contracption known as a CPM machine , now this did look like it was going to hurt me, it was good though, basically you have to put your leg in and it spends all of its' time bending and straightening it for you, now I can actually bend my leg to 45 degrees from -5 degrees. I have used it all day and it doesn't hurt that much.

The good news was that my first surgeon was back from his holiday today so I will find out exactly what will be happening. The bad news is that I ound out exactly what is happening
. He came in about 4.00pm straight from the airport (lucky b*stard). Asked all about what had happened and then advised me that;

• My knee, although is still swollen (oh it's swollen alright) has no red marks and is not causing too much pain
• I have a normal (36.4) temperature
• I dont feel flu-like

This shows I am responding to the anti-biotics so it looks like we can totally rule out MRSA. (phew)
but...

• I may need to increase my dose of antibiotics as my CPR has again increased , now its at 212 (up from 206 yesterday), this may mean a stay of another 3 weeks... :-(
• If my CPR is raised or constant tomorrow, they are going to do another drain of my knee, which i basically another flush out using the arthroscopy holes, I don't think I'm scare anymore. - Did I just say that ?
  

All I want to do is go home to my family.....
I do realise that it's better to wait a coupe of weeks and be 100% than go home after a day or three, get the bug back and either have to come back or wore still, erm die..

The good thing is they wheel me out to reception where I can see my little angel and SWMBO so I can now see them every day. I must thank SWMBO for coming twice today xx.

I have also moved rooms now and have the biggest and best room available at this hotel hospital.

I am staying very positive, the pain is better, the drugs are working, I have my internet, my room is nice, the staff are nice and I will go home at some point. I'm also saving a ton of cash.

We shall See what happens tomorrow

Ouch - V2

Thanks to Bossman Dave - I am on the t'internet from my hospital bed, wonderful ah the wonders of vodafone 3G Data cards, It just means I can also "Work From Hospital"

So to recap - I had my arthrospy on 7 July, no problems following that, had the final checkup last Friday (3 August), thc consultant confirmed all was healing well, although I mentioned to him that I did have some fluid leaking from my wound, he assured me this is perfectly normal.

Went out for some drinks on Saturday night, cooked sunday dinner and got up Monday morning for work as normal and had a normal day at work. Approx 2.00pm I felt a slight tightening around my knee but thought nothing of it, 3.30pm came and I tried to stand up but my knee had other ideas and I fell back into my chair . I managed to drive home but as soon as pulled up to my drive, I realised something defintely wasn't normal, I was in severe pain, I couldn't walk through my door as it involved "stepping up" through the door.

I managed to get in, limp to the settee which is where i stayed until SWMBO came home to look after me, I called the hospital who tried to get hold of my consultant, I called again and was told if the pain is so bad to go to A&E, unless the consultant can get back to me.

At about 8.00 I couldn't take any more, I called NHS Direct in agony (and tears) and they immediately sent for an ambulance that came around 9.05PM. I was rushed into a stupidly bisy A&E department where I waited in a side room, in the time of my wait I went through 3 bottles of Gas and Air,

Eventually a doctor came to see me and examined my knee, took some blood and a gave me a shot of morpheine, (the morpheine had no effect whatsoever)

I then waited for a couple of hours before another doctor came and attempted to take a sample of fluid from my knee, using a 4" needle he stabbed into one side, tried again (with the same needle), tried the other side (with the same needle) and tried again(with the same needle) , he apologised for being unable to get a sample and left, bearing in mind, each of these "attempts" caused me to scream so loud that
a: My cousin recognised my "Noise" from a totally different part of the hospital b: The "rude boys" in the bay opposite were wincing at my scream. Eventually a Senior doctor came and after one attempt, got about 50ml of "fluid" from my knee, which he sent away for testing.

This was to establish if it was infected, inflammed or I had gout, all of which are treatable by drugs or operation .

After another couple of hours of gas and air, morpheine and waiting they came back to say there was nothing wrong and sent me home .... at 3.45am

The following day was spent wit my leg up trying to get into see my consultant, during the day, my knee had swollen up to twice the normal size. I managed to get into the Nuffield (private) hosptial at 7.00 where the consultant took another 100ml from my knee, took one look and said it looked einfected, however sent it away for further analysis.

By 8.00pm he had it confirmed it was indeed infected and I needed an operation STRAIGHT AWAY. It also meant I needed to stay overnight so they could monitor it.

I was fine with this, it was basically another arthoscopy, nothing too bad there, I have been there, done that etc. I was in a room by 10.00 resting.

The following day however was a different story however. All was fine until 2.15pm at which my knee was in so much pain I was screaming louder that I have ever done before , so much so that the staff kept calling the consltant for advice, at 5.15 3 consultants and 2 aneasthatitsc came along and had no idea why i was in so much pain, however suggested nother operation so they could take a further look into my knee, however this time under a general anasthetic, this is something I was not happy about (i was actually more scared than unhappy as I have never had this done before).

I went under for what seemed like 2 seconds and woke up without pain. The nurse explained something to me that I cant remember, mind you, I can't remember much of anything that was said that night.

The consultant came to see me on Thursday morning to explain the "Holes in my knee" 2 were for another arthocscopy and to clean all of the fluid out with 5 litres of fluid, and the massive one was so he could "get his fingers under my skin to feel for anything unusual". I'm glad I was put to sleep now.

They have confirmed I have "Staphylococcus Aureus" which is bascially M.R.S.A. without the MR.

I have had a couple of days laid up bed now trying a little bit of physio and walking etc, they are treating me really nice, I am on a drip for IV antibiotics (Flucloxacillin), taking paracetamol, diclofenac, tramadol and codeine for pain and inflammation, and have found out today I may now need to stay in for another 2 weeks to "ensure they hit the infection hard"

I have also been give my Blood CRP results which show as follows

• Monday - 5
  
• Tuesday - 126
  
• Wednesday - N/A
  
• Thursday - 168
  
• Friday - 206
  

While they are still increasing If anyone reading this knows what these mean or how they went from a normal "5" at the DRI to 126 after a day, please let me know. basically is this someones fault !!!

as Cookie and Goona said. "you can cut my balls but leave my knees alone"