flashman181

The lesser known sequel to some early work from Dimple, K.

This week it is Coorparoo with the silent “r” and the loud planes. Our AirRnJ residence is great with pool and a lovely flow through of breeze. It is under one of several flight paths but do get use to it and even prompted me in my spare time to look into the flight paths and found an actual booklet explaining it all. There actually is a “ roster” like operation with some very quiet times. Also a great location for walking to cafes and plenty of public transport options abound. If had been smarter would have got my Senior Go card organised prior. Not all of us Seniors can go when we want ya know 😏 Also walking distance to a Physio which is very handy

I have become an expert at this public transport caper and have even been known to catch a bus, train and rivercat all in the same day . Ok I got lost ,fair cop. As CLP is now working most days I have gone into work with her a couple of times on the bus and shared a breakfast and coffee or two. Well someone has to butter my toast ! Usually entails two buses to RBH and then left to my own devices to walk back into city through the Valley . Pleasant walk with plenty of interesting stops along the way including cafes. There was another option of course which I wisely resisted

Taking a rest after arriving at lower end of city around Riverside and posted a pic which started a short dialogue with a friend of a friend whom we shall call Earle . Because that is his name .

Earle is out in Brisvegas for 6 months while wife Suzanne remains in Italy for start at least. Suzanne is school/college buddy of CLP and in a recurring theme we also stayed in their lodgings gratis a few years back when in Italy . Earle enquires whether would like to catch up for a beer. As it had only just gone 8 am I thought this sounds promising! A rivercat to Tenerife had me dock adjacent before 9 am so we started with a coffee at Campos first in the always excellent Gasworks precinct. Then it was time to blow the froth of a few. Then it rained. Well we couldn’t get wet so went back to Italian Kitchen ( so Earle would be reminded of wifey – am thoughtful like that ) and had Pizza and Peroni again as you do

By now it was time to catch a few buses home after some Xmas shopping in City Mall. Australian Geographic is one excellent shop

Enough adventure for a couple of days . The sun was out and the pool was wet . Also time for first Physio appointment . All went fine and some more exercises to do and less of that pesky cash to carry around in wallet….

On Monday this week was able to catch up with Mum and Sis again as Jas bought Brody down for a visit. Breakfast with CLP first in city and then a bus out to Carseldine Low Security Twilight home before all travelling onto Strathpine. Brody is a delight of course and was a lovely day before a train and bus back home

This morning was second visit to Physio and luckily CLP was able to come along and take notes. Very thorough Physio and he was very happy with progress and “ am ahead of schedule” Then he dropped the turd in the pool so to speak

“ You should be back at golf in 12 months “

What
the
Fuck

He did suggest I could work on my short game first and within 6 months be hitting 7 irons. Yeah could just imagine lining up with Hoges on Wednesday against Beddows and Smails of Burglars Inc and pulling a 7 iron out for tee shot on 450 m Par 5 10th! 6 shots later I could even be in the greenisde bunker with any luck 😰 Mind you this guy does seem a bit on conservative side and just a tad alarmist

Last week “ Have you dislocated your other shoulder “ Um, maybe

Today “ Did you tear your tricep as well “ Um , I don’t know

I tell ya, not dropping my shorts in front of him anytime soon ! I did show him my ankle in all it’s naked glory and he just shook his head and laughed 😏He taped me up some more and we left

So all in all it’s been a good third week and all indications are surgery has held and healing well. The golf prognosis is a concern but lets see how I feel after USA in March next year .

After all I am a superb physical specimen

2 weeks have now passed and all things appear on track. The weather has been pleasant for November which has been very helpful as sling makes you feel like you are trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey at times. No pain at all , just the restriction of mostly one arm activities. And not the usual arm 😏

In between being waited on hand and foot there has been some socialising or as I call it “ seeking pity from a larger audience” . My brother is back in country full time now so the Ferguson clan with matriarch in tow were able to all get together last Friday for lunch in Brisvegas. An all too rare event sadly

Lovely afternoon and then spent the night in Coorparoo with RJE of the Della clan. Some time with the delightful Eloise and then a quick catch up with BC2 also of said Della clan in the rather excellent Gasworks district

Back home for weekend and then some medical stuff to deal with. First up yesterday was removal of staples. Not especially painful, except to the wallet , and wound looks nice and clean. Mind you have not had a scar on my body that long since my circumcision 60 yrs ago. Here is one I prepared earlier

Today then back down to Kawana to see Surgeon for 2 week check up . It was an interesting visit

1. “ Ah youhave had staples removed”?
Yes , you made the appointment at my GP for me after surgery
2. “ Good you came this week and not last week, I was away “
It’s a 2 week check up. The op was two weeks ago duh.
3. “ Have you started Physio yet “
No, as per printed instructions signed by you , start Physio at 4 weeks!

Fuck me slowly. I yell ya, if not cutting they ain’t concentrating. Eternally grateful he actually did the right shoulder we quickly left . The only real negative news being that golf looks like a 4-6 month delay 😰

Now we are decamped at RJE in Coorparoo for 10 days and need to find a Physio. Hmm. “Orthophysio” specialising in post ortho op recovery is only a 10 min walk away. Sounds promising . Ring Ring ….. Friday 7 am booked.

“ We have to be back in Maplehead in 10 days” .

“ That’s fine, have a uni mate did physio with that works at Maplehead, he can continue work”

Knobber Knobber

I tell ya some days just work out well. If only there was a relaxing place to have a cold beer after a long if very successful day . Oh well, guess this will have to do…..

And on this day let me sign off by congratulating Jasna and Grant on 8 yrs marriage and John and Lorraine on 62 yrs I think. 😘

Also to my old neighbour Bruce Long am thinking of you and Brenda mate on this sad day 😰

When last we left our hero he was looking forward to a sponge bath from a nubile nurse after a minor Nick n Stitch in general vicinity of right shoulder.

Wrong on both counts

Headed off to SCU Private hospital in plenty of time for 11 am admission. It’s an impressive looking place and all seemed to work smoothly. When they get most of your name right and a general idea “we are working on upper body today” then you are in pretty safe hands. Straight to Pre admission then and onto theatre so no time to check out my luxury suite for the night. We were ahead of time really so was surprised when 5 mins into admission a theatre nurse knocked on door and gleefully asked “ Is that David, we are ready “! Well, you may be Sweetheart but I have things to do. As did PA nurse including a shave. I thought she could have let it grow another day and concentrate on me but each to their own. Wheeled into waiting Bay adjacent to my theatre and still barely 1130 am. Then mostly lay there for at least 90 mins with occasional visit 😏 The Anaethetist was an impressive fellow but did comment “ have you had a lot of damage to this area in past, I can’t find the Bracchial nerve”? I was getting the full nerve block apparently as while surgery not major post op pain is they say . We tried several positions mostly involving neck at odd angle until he found it on the US and the fun started. I imagine the pain without it is monumental but when they load it up it ain’t no party for a minute or two. Still waited another 20 mins and rest is mostly a blur until woke up in post recovery

Back in a very pleasant private room and quite alert and no pain really . All obs were good and regular pain medication given. For a private hospital the actual nursing interaction was ordinary but the main things were done. There seemed no real allowance for fact I was one armed and if CLP had not turned up then dinner would have been very difficult. Things like a new bottle of water promised but never delivered etc. Minor things. Slept ok with usual obs breaks but was kinda amazed when it was approaching 7 am next morning and not even a cuppa. Did have a light dinner last night yes but had fasted from 2 am prior to that! Finally asked a nurse for a cuppa and she begrudgingly made one with scowl and comment that breakfast will be soon . Yep, a bowl of cornflakes , a small yoghurt and a juice, and a piece of toast . And yep no help at all in opening or spreading anything .

Hospital make a big deal of discharge at 10 am so seemed very lax in working towards this goal . “ Will surgeon visit this morning as promised ? “ Don’t know” I should add anaesthetist rang personally night before to check on me . Physio arrived and was great. Pharmacy order for the heavy stuff “faxed off “ and then time to remove bandages and clean area before that first all important shower. Luckily by now CLP had arrived other wise shower would have been pointless, not as if any help offered by nurses.

The new waterproof bandages held up even if some new bleeding occurred . Around 0930 now so well on track. I could have slept because no one came back in until 11 am, certainly no surgeon. “ Can I go home?” “ Just waiting on pharmacy , or u could pick up on way out “? That info would have been useful an hour ago Sweetheart .

We left . Again CLP did everything for me , we dropped into pharmacy where the security check before handing over nuclear strength opioids was “ what is you middle name “ ? So back to Flashman Inc Sunshine Coast still relatively pain free

Basically on mixture of Panadol (useless) , Clindamycin, Iboprufen and Oxycodene. By now first hints block was wearing off and hello pain. Of course the sad thing about this drug cocktail is no other cocktails or alcohol may pass your lips. Or at least I thought that was the worst part. Line 27 in the fine print for opioids mentioned constipation! By end of day 2 now I needed a few opioids for night along with other stuff during day. The test would be when the pain was no longer sufficient to still not be drinking alcohol 🤠

Actually a bigger issue arose before then. It arose around upper colon and stayed there actually! After 3 days of NO ACTION in the bowel movement arena and oxycodne stopped for 24 hrs it was certainly time to drink and eat . And the menu was limited

Then it was Epsom salts time. And some praying . By now night time sleeps were hit and miss with simply difficult to get comfortable on back for sleeping. Morning of Day 5 saw some surprising good action , one could even suggest well formed packages were dropped off. Of to Maroochydore for a walk and breakfast with healthy food top of agenda. And close proximity to a toilet . Yes, once the well formed passed we were left with the deformed before we finally found where the Epsom salts had been hiding. An interesting day followed to say the least but was an enjoyable breakfast

Day 6 was time to visit Toowoomba to catch up with the 6 pack all in one place, doesn’t happen often. Lovely day and they really are a treat. I especially enjoyed conversation with Harry who has all his major milestone birthdays lined up with main one being 18 th when he can watch Deadpool and drink Coke😂

So , as the first week passes all seems ok. No real pain anymore , just discomfort. Have staples removed next Monday and then first follow up visit with Surgeon. Surgeon did ring me at home that second night which was great . He explained what he had done and was surprised how bad the bicep tendon was and so had to screw it back on when in theatre 😳 4 weeks with a sling, and then start more Physio and no driving for 6 weeks. Which brings me to the standout this week

CLP has been amazing and would be totally lost without her. At my beck n call almost as if we were married 🕺🏼 She has tended to all my needs and then supplemented with delicious and thoughtful meals and treats. Thanks kiddo 😘

Never been a big fan of Halloween in Australia with the usual over commercialisation but have slowly come around to letting it flow over me as kiddies do seem to enjoy it. Luckily none come knocking on my door and suspect the poisoned spikes on every second step may assist in this regard. When last we left our hero he was awaiting an “over the phone” prognosis from MRI with plan to defer until March next year any surgery so no impact on USA 2019. Surgeon did call that afternoon and as expected gleefully said “I wanna cut you up” . When he added that the bicep tendon had also “slipped off” as well as ruptured supraspinatus tendon it at least explained that particular pain. He agreed it could probably wait until March as long as didnt breathe too heavily or cough or you know … fall over. He He

Quick conflab with CLP and we agreed that if I waited then basically life such as golf and gym etc would be on hold for up to 9 months. Doing the math and allowing for 3 months recovery given my supreme physical fitness thought if we could get it done quickly WFW 2019 would be ok. Ring Ring – “when is soonest I could have surgery” Friday! Nah too soon. Monday , sweet. So the point of this fascinating ramble is that on Halloween 2018 I joined in the festive spirit and agreed to have my shoulder cut up like an old diseased pumpkin! Should then match my head

So now we run around and organise Flashman Inc Maryhole lockdown for extended period. First painful job – contact Centrelink. Wait an hour with GU and then my 20s interview says get surgeon to fill in Form FU123 and then upload completed doc to us with our amazing technology. Simple pimple, although unlikely Surgeon would fill it in quickly. Oh thats right, havent paid the gap yet – ding ding its back in my inbox already 🙂 36 hrs later that is where it remains because of course the “upload document” function at Centrelink isnt working at present! Lets go to dentist, overdue and will be out of town for a while. All good or at least if you think all good includes paying $200 to be told you dont have any problems. Well I do now sweetheart! Still its a nice feeling to think your teeth have lasted another year. Lets celebrate with a wafer thin toffee as have to clear out fridge anyway. Crack – one filling gone 😦 Ring ring, ah I just found I still had $200 in my life savings, any chance of another drilling in next 24 hrs ? Well of course

So have booked train ticket for Sunday to travel down to Flashman Inc Maplehead HQ as no point having car down there for next 6 weeks. CLP seems especially gleeful at present with prospect of carers leave while she sits back laughs at me trying to do everything with my left hand. Well, not everything………I aint that skilled 🙂 The next 2-3 months is a bit of an unknown quantity which of course fits in perfectly with my generally relaxed approach to life and devil may care attitude. I may even get that bloody document uploaded to Centrelink by February. There is at least one thing to look forward to in my short hospital stay

Monday 630 pm

Will sign off now while I still have two hands to type with. Scan the obituaries on Tuesday and if I dont appear you know I woke up.