Saturday, November 22, 2008

Back Home

I got back home on Wednesday night, after stopping at mum and dads for dinner (obviously!) and picking up my wee pooch. Dad has been continuing the heel work so there was no rest for poor Seb, although I am sure he gets more treats when I am away ;-) Dad has discovered that Seb LOVES corned beef (after he stole dads sandwich) so this is a new found motivational tool when I don't have any chicken to hand. He had dog training on thurs night but I had to go myself this week as Andrew has been working late every night, and today - Saturday - as he has a deadline to meet. Seb was acting up a bit at class and I'm not sure if it was because Andrew wasn't there watching - maybe he likes having spectators (like children wanting their parents on the sidelines!) He did really well at heel work, apart from the fact he has taken a dislike to one of the trainers and refuses to walk if she stands too close to him! She tried feeding him treats and although he took them, he then walked off before she could even pat him. So so rude. He was then very good at his sit stay, and down stay and would just lie there for as long as I asked I think. He finds this part rather boring though.

I then had to go to a room next door for a wee talk (we get dog ownership talks every week) so had to leave Seb with one of the trainers. Two minutes later and there is a wee knock at the door, and the trainers standing there with Seb under one arm and his collar and lead in the other - apparently he was so desperate to go out he slipped his collar and then wouldn't let anyone put it back on! He has never done this before! He does however have a terrible fear of anyone touching his neck after an awful experience at the vets where 4 people held him down for his vaccinations. It is very stressful as he gets so agitated when anyone 'comes at him' as if to hold or touch his neck and he gets hysterical. Fortunately the trainer was aware of this so just brought him to me before he got too worked up. Apparently he was fine after that, but I suspect it was more to do with the fact he has seen where I was and knew I hadn't left the building!

Lastly it was recall and this week I asked if I could get him to sit and wait, rather than being held by the trainer as he hates this. He does this perfectly at home but at training decided he no longer understood what the word 'sit' meant and stood there looking around as if rather confused. He did eventually sit and wait and then come when called, but it wasn't a very elegant performance so we must work on that for next week! Only 3 sessions left now..

I have received my appointment for the barium swallow, which is to look at how fast my stomach is emptying, This is the 9th Dec in Newcastle, but this can be tied in with my transplant clinic appointment so isn't really an extra trip. Fingers crossed the results are ok and don't interfere with the surgery. Strangely my reflux has been really bad lately as if to reassure me that I have made the right decision! Funny isn't it.

I also got my blood test results back from GP - everything was normal. They do a test (Hb1ac) which gives an indication of blood glucose control over a 3 month period. It came back at 6.4% which is really good (less than 7 is normal), although a few months ago it was only 5.6%. I am aware that my sugars are much more random now but am doing my best to control them. Unfortunately this means I have had a lot more low sugar episodes (hypoglycaemia) which are quite scary when they happen outside. I had one at the dog training and I had on in Tesco a couple of weeks ago, which was rather scary as I was on my own. I usually become light headed, shaky and confused. I had my dextrose tablets with me but even after half a packet my sugars were still rather low. I suppose the sensible thing would have been to ask a member of staff for a sugary drink instead of continuing to push a heavy trolley around ;-)

I had my second gym session this week, after my induction on Monday. They have set me a programme of 10 mins on treadmill at 4.5km/hr, 10 mins on bike (no resistance) and 8 mins on rowing machine, and then I can gradually increase times but have to just stick with these 3 machines at the moment. I already started increasing the treadmill as I find this one quite easy (due to walking seb) but the bike is really hard! I could do 10 mins shortly after the transplant but can't do any more yet - I thought it would be easier but I obviously haven't been working those muscles. I quite enjoyed myself and hopefully I will continue to go twice a week and start to see some big improvements soon!

My friend is coming for dinner tonight so that will be lovely to catch up. No where near as hectic as last weekend when 5 of Andrews friends came for the afternoon - to stay overnight. So I had fold up beds, blow up beds crammed into the most unlikely places! It was a really good night though and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. This get together has been cancelled twice already because of me - once because I was really unwell and then again when I had my false alarm. So thankfully it went ahead this time and I was able to help and make food and be the perfect hostess ...or something :-)

Good news is that my friend Louise finally got home from hospital last week after her transplant! It will be a slow recovery and lots of work still to do, but fantastic to have made that all important step :-)

Now, I'm off to work out how many days it is until Christmas.....

p.s Can't believe I forgot to mention this last week but I have some GREAT news about Team Jac. I was looking for sponsorship so that I can get (probably caps) something for the team to all wear so we are a 'group'. Anyway, the company Moy Park, who my aunt works for are sponsoring the team £500 to buy anything needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How fantastic is that???!!!

5 comments:

It's Her said...

Glad to hear you're well :) I had a hypo in Tesco once too and just took a bottle of sprite and drank some. I got distracted by a phone call (I think...) and I left the shop, bottle in hand. It wasn't until I was half way home I'd realise I'd stolen it!

Me said...

I find the bike harder than the treadmill too, they haven't even suggested I do the rower, you must be hardcore doing that! Bless Seb, if he doesn't like his neck been touched could he wear a harness? Alfie has a harness, he's so small i'm scared of hurting him, it's a little blue padded one with patterns on, its very fashionable...!! Only the best for my pooch!

Kelly said...

Oooh, ooh! Can I be clever please and say it is HbA1c (not 1ac). Humour me as I can finally revel in passing exam smugness!!

Seriously though, that is pretty impressive gym work. I reckon it must feel really surreal thinking back just a few months to pre-transplant and seeing how much life has changed. Hats off to you - you are certainly grabbing life with both hands and living it :-)

I would love to see Seb at his classes. He sounds such an expressive dog that I can just picture his disdain at some of the things he is asked to do!

Have a lovely weekend

xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Jacqueline
Seb is soooo funny, I can just see his wee face!! I think he must be human really! Hope you have a lovely night with your friend. We are just slumming it tonight with an M&S meal for £10!! Yummy though! Glad you have got your appointment sorted out and you don't have to make 2 trips. Just off to have my sticky toffee pudding bliss!!! Hope to see you next weekend will phone anyway Love to Seb and Andrew
lol Anne John and Ross xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Not too many sleeps until Christmas... hope you have a lovely night with your friend, we too are slumming it with an M@S meal for two, belg choc pud 900 calories each!! naughty but yummy.... Good luck next week at class, Seb I mean!! Big hugs,

Roskev xx