Well after 3 years of putting a little a way when we could, we manged to allow ourselves (Wife and I) a week away. We decided that if we are going to stay in England it will be in a high star hotels. I have been told not to fly and even if I went by train. The insurance once I found one that would insure me was so expensive with so many clauses it was was not worth going abroad.
The plan was to go to Torquay but to break the journey we will stop at Bristol in a 4* hotel near their entertainment and restaurant area on the River Avon. Hotel met all our hopes and dreams and the outside was as entertaining as I hoped we even got to see a comedy night that was very funny in parts. But up 4 flights of stairs. I was so out of breath by the time I had reached the peak I felt like I should place a flag and claim it in the name of our Queen and Country?
Well down for breakfast and feeling that maybe I did have one to many. Refreshed with the new lining in the stomach we got set to do stage 2 to Torquay. The Hotel was complete with spa indoor and outdoor pool and gym. I am not going to go too much into the hotel at this stage but more to come.
The Family tradition seems to be at some point into the holiday one of us have to have a problem. It was not the fact that the I had not packed one of my medicines or that the wife had forgotten her sun shorts ( Or had she?) that we had to find M&S to get some more.
As I mentioned they had 2 pools and they were very inviting too, 3 days in I thought I would try the indoor one as it was no deeper than 1.3m. I have a Parylsed Diaphragm so swimming is a problem but I knew I could stand anywhere so drowning should not be a problem. Well I manged 4 strokes and that was it empty I was pleased as I did 2 more than I thought I could. Rested in the .9m part to get my breath back and try again. I was very proud of my self but tiring quickly. On the edge of the pool was a Jacuzzi that looked a lot of fun so the wife said as soon as they people in it get out we will try it. It has a 10 minute timer on it. As soon as it had stopped it's eruption of bubbles and water the previous people got out. My wife got out the well placed steps for those less able and the urge not to be beaten to the Jacuzzi was to strong and I went up the steel ladder. Well it was that point of lifting my body to get out and rotate to the right to further my march to the Jacuzzi I felt something that was like an elastic band twanging in my right knee cap. Thinking it is creaking bones again into the Jacuzzi with the wife and push the big white button to get the jets and bubbles. This one was the granddaddy of them all it was very powerful and also very hot. With the increased waistline etc it certainly buffered me in all sorts of places. Before we knew it the timer had kicked in and we had to leave this now still hot pool. Wife gets out and I step on the first step but could not lift my right leg past the step I was on? left to the next and once more right would only follow to the same step. I put it down to over doing it a bit but it only got worse. Sitting down was painful to do and after a time trying to get up was a nightmare.
After think I could sleep it off and the new morning arrived I found I could even move my leg over the side of the bed with out pain. So at the reception I asked for a Doctors number which the kindly called for me to be told sorry we are fully booked call 111 So that was a strange experience I explained the symptoms to my knee be asked to put my hand on my belly and tell them was it warm? I was then given the same doctors number and another to try and then told if they cannot help go to the "minor injuries" at the hospital. All the doctors were full so off to Torquay hospital. Once there we were seen by triage very quickly and then called though to be met with "Why are you in A&E" So told her the story for her to say " Great so at least you have really tried not to come here" After a few prods and pokes I was asked to stand on one leg and hook my other around and twist on the good leg first. Well the bad leg started well but as soon as it was to bend and twist I was sprawled across the bed and may of said a rude word? Back on the bed she got hold my leg and moves it about with various stages of me me winching in pain. "I will be back in a minute" True to her word 10 minutes later she came back and said I have confirmed this with a specialist that you have a torn meniscus the tests I/we did confirm it. It is best dealt with at your end not here so book an appointment to see your GP.
Before we went she asked am I on Warfarin so I told her since 1992 and I am 3.4 with a range of 2.5 to 3.5 3.0 Ideal. "Oh you are on the high range! Do you want me to do one here now to check you are okay in case it is a bleed?" I declined as I can gauge how I am with my teeth brushing and the clock was ticking on the car park ticket. She closed with "If it gets any worse do not hesitate to come again as you are on our system now."
The family tradition is one or more of us a year will end up in hospital away from home. My sister was in hospital in Sri Lanka with a kidney infection, Mother fell down a open drain in Spain, Father fell in a hole I dug in the sand and badly broke his ankle in Jersey, sister fell down stairs in Switzerland. The list goes on and on and on.
Sorry for the long blog been offline a long time for me.
Be Well
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blowing at least is!
My holiday on oxygen
RE : This is a significant time of year in our family
I am a Sensitive man................Tele off ,feet up.g&t or a beer and have a nice read,
WE HAVE - NO REHAB ..Ahhhh!!
We have got it all !!
