I am so pleased to report that my parathyroidectomy was performed on Wedneday, 1 June at Yves le Foll, St Brieuc. Within 24 hours my calcium level was down into the normal range and the only real casualty of the stay was my back. I can never get the adjustable bed in the room to the same sort of angles I use at home and my back is always excruciating after a hospital stay. However, my son had his post hip operation medication with him and a couple of those and a few nights in my own bed soon had me back to normal. I can't praise enough the staff, the cleanliness, the treatment and the respect at this hospital.
Apparently I mustn't get the scar area in the sun for six-twelve months or it will show more eventually, so a scarf hides the scar for a while yet.
The swelling is gradually decreasing and my son, Matthew, reliably informs me that the scar will disappear into the wrinkles of my neck - well thank you for that!
Yesterday, my worker friend installed a new fly screen for the door which enters directly into the sitting room, and I am so pleased with it.
Also he's gradually doing all the windows which are regularly opened so that we can have air without insects and at night no moths will come in attracted by the light of the television screen. Flying objects have finally been foiled.
My friend, Sue, emotionally blackmailed me yesterday, sending a photograph of a kitten which she knew I would not be able to resist. It had no home and was trying to adopt Sue and her husband.
She has six cats and is between homes herself at the moment, so couldn't keep this little beauty for herself. If she'd just asked me without the photograph, I may not have succumbed so easily. As you can see, she is so pretty and completely irresistible.
I have called her Purdita, shortened to Purrdy, which suits her very well. She sounds like a small motorbike when curled up on me and being stroked. Below, everything is something to be played with - even the outside door mat.
She has already found the dirt tray - temporary until she can manage the stiff cat flap, food and water bowls, how to use the propped up cat flap during the daytime, how to take a cat nap anywhere she chooses and how to make me love her.
She has settled in despite Daisy, my white cat, who hates anything which takes attention from her. Alfie, having the most charming attitude to everything, is fine with her.
Alfie had his eye operation the day before I had my op. The vet had to remove the left eye and found a tumour behind it. Because of the difficulty of access and of having sufficient flesh to sew together, not all of the tumour was removed, so his life may now be limited.
He came home with a "lampshade" round his neck to stop him scratching the bright blue stitches with instructions that it could be removed after fourteen days. He was very disorientated with it on and we couldn't bear to see him like that, so removed it a few days later. He was immediately happier and now just has to have the stitches removed on 20 June. I was so worried he wouldn't survive the anaesthetic, so it's lovely to have him home again.
It was good having Matthew here for a week looking after me when I came out of hospital. It had been ten months since his last visit. Matthew's on the left here, running along the Nantes-Brest canal bank in Summer 2009.
I know he finds it boring without his friends, his music, his programmes on the TV, but he didn't complain and cooked practically all the meals for the week he was here. Thank you, Matthew - I love you.
Three things I like:
1. My own comfortable wonderful bed.
2. Having Purrdy, Alfie and Daisy.
3. Having friends sending good wishes.
