Author: brendawontbackdown

A brief update. It seems that we have the drugs under control having gone down a notch on the Buprenorphine patch to 10mg. The patient is fighting to get to the next stage but, Doctor Killpatient (me) may insist we stick to the real doc’s guidelines. That said, after a long walk with Teddy this morning, a chilled out day and then a romp around the house with the dog this evening, things look pretty sunny at the moment. Pain free, India working her magic with her massages and just the tightness around the wound to contend with. Next stop, the physio, methinks.

If only we had. We’ve had a few days of horrible discomfort assuaged only by protracted periods spent horizontal with the Bonzo dog for company. Hopefully, International Women’s Day #BeBoldForChange, will bring some some change. I’m putting in a bid for most pc husband having produced a suitable t-shirt complete with image of the Suffragette hunger strike medal (sure to become a fashion icon.) For Valour indeed, hopefully we’ll grind our way through this downturn and on to a bright tomorrow.

‘tomato soup, ten tins of; mushroom soup, eight tins of, for consumption cold; ice cream, vanilla, … ‘ (you have to have seen the movie.) Wait a minute hold up there… there isn’t a Trainspotting 3, I hear you cry. In a scene reminiscent of Renton’s detox in the film Trainspotting, Brenda endured her own cold turkey situation last night. This horrible setback prompted some feverish Googling which led us to the conclusion that Buprenorphine patches aren’t just removed at one fell swoop. Hastily our remaining patch was reapplied and thankfully worked its magic through the night. This morning an APB to our tame medical guru confirmed our suspicions and starting next week we try to wean her off the patches 5mgs at a time.

True to form, bouncing back, Brenda made it up to London for a lunch date with the Hillside Mums (a group of ladies with boys in Teddy’s house.) New jeans too, always a fillip, to fit her new supermodel frame.

An eventful day was capped by me making quinoa. Following the orders of my daughter delivered through the door of her bathroom . Unbeknownst to everyone I’d selected Oat Bran as the vital ingredient. Fortunately as it is a Friday night and I am a bloke I had taken the precaution of making some ‘safety’ chips (fries). Another potential disaster averted…result.

Lunch at La Petite Maison with Clare, Jane and Christiane.

 

 

 

Okay, not quite a party but, a nice meeting of Brenda’s London Book Club this morning. I found Brens asleep in the kitchen complete with Superwoman socks and sidekick. She dispensed with her Buprenorphine patch yesterday and clearly any residual pain isn’t keeping her awake. We are going to monitor things but, being able to cope without pain relief is another step in the right direction.

All sorts of rules being broken here but, I put it down to pre Bonzo haircut blues. Teddy and Brenda are simultaneously reading Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and comparing notes. I have inexplicably been left out of this highbrow exercise.

A nice mention for Brenda on BBC Women’s Hour today which was discussing the Young Woman’s fear of having smear tests. A nice billing and a quote of her tweet that a ‘smear test saved my life.’ Isn’t there a song about a DJ doing that…?

We have the mighty Pedro Blandford’s stew for supper (yes, we still have some) and Adele’s delicious looking chickpea soup lined up for tomorrow. Thanks guys, very sweet of you.

These days there are three of us on the morning walk. Brenda’s posture and stamina has improved immeasurably over the last ten days. Despite her increased mobility there is still a lot to repair beneath the surface. Broken night’s sleep, depleted energy and a washing machine cycle of assorted churnings and associated tummy pains. The repeated taking of certain medications has side effects and it may still be a bit early to attempt to come off the Buprenorphine patches.

Lots of lovely visits (Mariana, Mila Avesh & Raff. Harry, ML, Cludsie, Annie and David Baird) and messages of support.

The Baird has landed…and it was lovely to see him on his flying visit.

Bonzo’s first trip to the beach and a bracing walk for his people. A nice visit with the Burlyboys on the way to Rye and Camber Sands.

Unfortunate product placement (damn those Canadians)

Back on form this morning after an uncomfortable evening. Off to see La La land with Teddy today (a bullet I have dodged.) Brenda looking good in her ‘I’m good thank you’ tee, they are all the rage. Great to see Lucinda and Max’ll yesterday but the day took its toll.

Brenda has decided it is time to up her exercise regime. Along with our trip to London, she has walked up to the town and yesterday walked in Knole Park with the dog and I. On top of this out came the swissball and some tiny weights to work on those ‘guns’ (see what I did there..?) This was promptly followed by a wave of pain that her Buprenorphine patch was no match for…so I’m suggesting that we return to the baby steps approach.

Lovely to see Mary yesterday who was able to leave the rest of the House of Lords to look after themselves. The doorbell continues to ring and the flowers to arrive, thanks to everyone and well done on a) staggering them and b) sticking to the kitchen decor. As you can see the one thing that wasn’t surgically removed in January was Brenda from her laptop.