Another change of medication

Another horrible night of restless sleep disturbed by my bladder, and palpitations as a result of low blood sodium. Even if I use oral re-hydration tablets in the night, it's not enough to prevent recurrence. I had to drink a litre of water when I got up, to compensate for fluid loss, and still felt exhausted and unwell. I rang the surgery at eight for an appointment, and was given one linked to the blood and blood pressure tests I was already booked in for. 

On my way there, I heard the now familiar cry of a man with a white van touting for items with his tinny loudspeaker, like fridges and cookers, for recycling as scrap metal. It took me back to childhood, when we would hear the sing-song call in our village of the totter, as they were called, 'Rags and bones, rags and bones, any old rags and bones!' This one calls out "Scrap by yeuur!" For a fee, the Council recycling team will arrange to take away large redundant items for scrap. I wonder if this competitor for recyclable metal is authorised? 

I was seen by Dr Dyban, who has returned to the practice recently, It's good to welcome her back and surprisingly be remembered by her. She was on my case when I had the anal infection five years ago. I remember having similar problems with doxazosin back then, though not as bad as this time. She decided I should stop taking it, and prescribed felodipine instead, the slow release version. The pharmacist said it was on order, but was due to be delivered this afternoon. Just as well, as the doxazosin I'm taking is a slow release version, so I'll have to wait until it's cleared from my system. I expect another disturbed night before I can start taking the replacement. Let's hope it works. I feel that stroke recovery is going well for me apart from the blood pressure medication nightmare. It's been a real setback.

Although I felt tired, I summoned up enough energy to record and edit Wednesday's Morning Prayer and Reflection. Clare cooked sausages with reheated roast spuds left from yesterday for lunch. Comfort food on an autumn day. I slept a while after lunch before going to collect my prescription from the pharmacy. It was already getting dark as I made my way home, conscious of my field of vision impairment in low light and how it affects my sense of distance from objects on my left side, causing me to bump into lamp posts and brushing parked car mirrors.

Clare went out to a community choir rehearsal at the Methodist church. I had supper on my own. Then Owain rang, and we chatted until Clare returned.

Then I made the video slide show recording of Morning Prayer and uploaded it to YouTube, and went to bed happy to have achieved something fairly demanding and not exhausted myself by the necessary concentration.