Day of medical business

I woke up to a lovely September day after a night punctuated with getting up for a pee as ever. Increased heart rate is a consequence of this. It does slow to a normal rate with conscious relaxed deep breathing. I have to accept being awake until I'm ready to drop off again. The heart murmur is more perceptible now and its pace is a key factor in dropping off. 

Up at eight for breakfast and pills. Owain brought the booster doxazosin prescription labelling the boxed, altered the phone alerts, securing the routine structure of medication consumption to suit. There's a note to be passed on to the GP about repeat prescriptions. I have a blood pressure check  appointment later when I can deliver it.

I received an appointment letter from the cardiology  unit about fitting a heart monitor to help them work out what else is happening over a period of time to inform their diagnosis of what other treatment may be needed. The leaky heart valve is known about, but there are other things they need to know which the data can help diagnose. It's on the 22nd October at UHW. Also a Covid booster jab appointment letter. I didn't know what impact  the jab would have on my meds and my present condition and needed to ask.

Iona called in to see us. We realised that we now have two spare WNO tickets for Saturday's performance of ’Tosca' which Ann and I won't be able to use. At this stage it's too much sensory input to process I may not be able to cope with, and sister-in-law Ann is not coming now. Iona will take one and our dear friend Chris will take the other and accompany Clare. 

Owain accompanied me to the surgery for the checkup. I'm pleased to find I'm steady on my feet walking, though the visual blackspots demand caution. My 'proprioception' aka physical sense of self is improving thankfully. The fine autumn weather is a pleasant consolation. The practice nurse was able to help Owain to establish exactly what will happen on my next visit on the 30th to the Medical Same Day Emergency Care unit 'virtual ward' for a a blood test and an echo cardiogram. It's referred to by its acronym MSDEC.

By the time we got home, mission accomplished, the Covid clinic admin had shut down, so I emailed for advice, pleased to find that I could without too many errors to correct. I exchanged messages with Sion to update him, and chatted with Ann who did some shopping for Clare and is arranging to pop in and check us out while Owain is away. He's returning to Bristol for the weekend and to relax. Working from home in a house of ailing people sifting through and ordering the chaos in domestic life generated by my stroke. It has been stressful for him. He needs to decompress. He's been wonderful trouble shooting and keeping us informed these past few days. His professional discipline is admirable.

Clare cooked us veg for supper, with boiled eggs for her and a can of sardines for me. The two of us sat quietly in the lounge afterwards, with me writing and Clare reading until it was time for bed. 

A lot has gone on today. I think I am improving in perception and co-ordination. Less exhausted today and with reasonable concentration and mental stamina, but needing to rest my senses and let my mind process input. Less slow? Maybe. Have I been cured of hastiness and impatience? Time will tell. By God's grace I am at peace within, and able pray, the Jesus Prayer and the Ave surprisingly enough, in affection rather than desperate angst. A lovely gift.