Ok so I had bad luck and tripped over a pot hole before Christmas, necessitating ball joint replacement in left shoulder. Op postponed due to projectile vomit of copious coffee grounds blood. Emergency endoscopy drained 800 mls coffee ground blood from stomach. Op on shoulder Christmas day, discharged new years eve.
New year=fresh start. Opioid aftermath severe constipation so first two weeks in Jan spent on the loo, with shoulder still in sling.
Week 3 January bowels sorted, sling off. Gum infection, emergency dentist antibiotics. Started physio on shoulder.
Week 1 Feb UTI antibiotics. Ambulance sent by 111 pain in Upper abdomen. GP wants test for pancreatitis / pancreatic cancer -fast tracked. Physio on shoukder.
Week 2 UTI still present another course of antibiotics. Seen fast track consultant who agrees with me that the pain is not near pancreas but abdomen. We both think it is relates to bleed before Christmas. Physio.
Week 3 Feb return to GP - UTI check, sample sent off again! Forgot to take pred and thought I was having PMR flare! Joined six week shoulder gym class at hospital.. Eye infection. Right eye closed and absolutely streamimg. Eye drops prescribed. Could eye infection be a result of everyone using circuit / equipment in shoulder class? Endoscopy due tomorrow (fast track).
Week 4 Feb ultrascan on upper abdomen (fast track) and funeral of our good friend who lost his battle with Leukaemia.
All I did was trip over a b****y pothole and my immune system / life has gone to pot!
QUESTION - I have endoscopy tomorrow at 10am and can't eat drink for 6 hours before. Am thinking of taking pred this evening instead then having a top up (additional if I need it later tomorrow, then resume morning dosage on Saturday when I am going away for the weekend to a luxury hotel! I may have one eye (eye infection) , one arm (limp due to shoulder bone replacement, walk with a limp (PMR), doubled over ( abdomen issues) and I may spend much time on the toilet ( constpation/ UTI) but I WILL ENJOY doing so in luxury and in style!!!!!
Written by
Marilyn1959
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I love that you have retained a sense of humour in spite of all that's happened to you recently. Enjoy your luxury break. Maybe not break 🤪 your luxury stay 🏰
Sounds fair for the pred - even if you have a bit extra in the 24 hours it will be a Good Thing and nothing to worry about. May even help you enjoy the weekend better,
Thanks for confirmation on 'additional' one off dosage PMRPRO. It is reassuring. Thanks also for your recent post on recurring UTIS. I am discussing long term antibiotics with GP but wish I knew the cause. They fast tracked cancer of bladder end of last year. All was clear thank goodness, but once these results came through all investigations stopped on the UTI front. Just feel if we can find cause we might be able to resolve longer term.
Thanks DL. Glad you share my sentiments re potholes!!! I am now neurotic about trip hazards, so much so I am driving my OH nuts when we go anywhere. Have only recently gained my confidence back to walk without hanging on to him for dear life. Now I'M warning him every step instead. Poor man can't win either way bless him.
I’m always a bit cautious because if one sightedness anyway, and the pavements are a disgrace....you take your life in your hands every time you go out.
Add in the odd dodgy knee or hip .....and it's a recipe for disaster!
Actually having one working arm really seemed to put balance out of quilter. However this should improve greatly if I do my physio. You must really struggle with balance since losing sight in one eye.
Thanks Mai45. I have requested sedation for tomorrow, since I am a wimp. I had two emergency endoscopies when I was in hospital but was so out of it on drugs I can't remember a thing! I can't lay on my left side due to shoulder, so they will adapt accordingly.
Will see my youngest son whilst travelling through Norwich where he attends uni. He gives the best hugs ever! So it will be a great weekend I'm sure.
They are indeed! If you see one, report it as those responsible can get out of paying compensation (including councils) if the particular pothole has not been previously reported! (So my legal team say!).
Good Great Gracious Girl!! Retirement so boring for you, you needed excitement!
I was doubled over at the rediculous hilarity of the avalanche of catastrophe that dumped on you! Not laughing at you as I'm certain you have been miserable much of the time! But truth can be so much more over the top than any fiction.
Here is a whole pile of sympathy and best wishes for less eventful weeks to come, and I do hope your luxe vacay will help smooth out some of the trauma leftovers...
Re prednisone, I might be inclined to skip it till after the test, then take it with food. No need to upset tummy pre procedure. If needed, a couple extra milligrams of Pred should head off any issues with the late dose.
That said, our forum Pros will be along soon, and give you more formal advice, so take your pick.
Sending you Ginormous Virtual hug, please let us know how things go for you this next few days.
Thanks for the ginormous hug Jerri. You made me chuckle! It does come across as a bit farcical doesn't it? I think laughter is the best tonic, along with the daffodils! I planted mine quite early and some are about to flower. When they do I always feel better. In the meantime I am regularly popping in to Asda to buy them. Not quite the retirement I planned, but never a dull moment for sure!
Oh Marilyn, what a series of misadventures, poor you! 😖
Certainly sounds like a plan to take your Pred tonight & then extra tomorrow if you need it.
Be good to get the endoscopy over, then get away to chill & relax in Luxury, don’t forget your sun glasses, it’ll hide your eye & people may think you’re famous! 😎
Oh Mrs N I shall definitely take the sunglasses, not least because people will think I am crying if I don't. Need to remember to take them off to read the menus!
Incredible Marilyn! I am so sorry you going through all that. Re; luxury hotel. I always think ;Jump...maybe not ..on the beds, use all the towels, soap, freebies, the lot...you deserve it.ENJOY! X
Thanks Karools. I usually bring the freebies home for my guests to use. Friends and family say my bathroom reminds them of a spa. It is lovely with a roll top bath and mixed slate feature wall tiles. So the freebies add to the 'spa' ambience!
Oh sweetheart! The plagues of Job! Wear a dashing black eyepatch and sling and enjoy being pampered you deserve it! I think your Pred plan is sound. We are prone to picking up infection, so you are probably right about your poor eye.
Not that I am adverse to looking like a pirate Jane, but I think I prefer Mrs N's suggestion of sunglasses and appearing mysterious. It is supposed to be lovely at the weekend though so I shouldn't look too out of place.
I don't need the sling anymore. The arm does hang a bit limply at my side, but at least I can now shower and dress myself! One step forward whahey!
Though our friend was ill, we still can't get our heads round our loss. Only in early sixties. He lived a full life though and made the most of his time, so hopefully Tuesday will celebrate that. Xx
What a nightmare of events for you. I suffered exactly the same with constipation while on morphine - 19 days. As soon as I came off it everything returned to normal.. Terrible time though hallucinations and sickness as well. You can usually take a sip of water with essential meds - I did - prior to endoscopy. If not take pred the night before as you say - I had no ill effects and mine was in the afternoon.
Thanks Telian. 19 days without a poo! No wonder you were hallucinating! I asked for an enema before leaving hospital and was prescribed laxatives, but only cracked the constipation when I came off controlled pain killers!
Think I will take pred tonight to be on safe side.
Nothing worked on me neither suppository or oral laxatives - the first day off morphine ‘ I went’. I was thrilled to say the least....
Hallucinations - I saw my late mother and grandmother sitting side by side on my settee looking normal - clothing/hair - from the side - until they turned their heads towards me and their faces were skeletons! I never went in that room in the dark for ages after that.
LAXIDO is what they prescribe for Constipation when you are on Chemo & it really does work without causing pain or griping! Apparently you can buy it OTC also.
Yes. Someone suggested Laxido so I tried it. Did the job. One dose and I went the other way for three days! However felt better for it once backside stopped smarting!
I have been given morphine post-op once, after the removal of metalwork in the UK. The resulting plunge in BP made me feel so ill and scared the staff so much I had no trouble refusing it again!
Next time I open my mouth to complain.... I will think of you and shut up! 😮
Hi Melissa. Good to hear from you. Does not complaining mean no more rants? If it does then please don't think of me because I need your rants to keep me going and help me put things into perspective.
Ooooo aren't you sweet! I'm afraid my rants aren't relevant here, as I'm totally consumed with bad knees and eyes right now! 🤷🏻♀️I'm so sorry you're going through all this.... Just keep going! Quickly!!!! ❤️
Not sweet, just telling it as it is. No wonder you are consumed at present you have only just had surgery. When do you start physio and any update on eyes?
Crikey! Is it unusal for the eyes to be done in quick succession? I only ask since hubby had to have follow up about a month after op and get all clear before they would fix appointment for the other eye. He is having second eye done next week.
Hmmm, nope Eye guy said once I had 1st done we could do 2nd in two weeks; .I had said left eye wasn't bad,,, he laughed and said once rt was done, I'd see just how bad left was. He said two weeks (I'm a glutton for punishment) I said where do I sign up! 🥕
Oh my goodness !! = so sorry you've had such rotten 'luck' - but surely you must have had your 'turn' now and things will improve. What horrid consequences initiated by something as simple as 'holes in the ground' !! Just NOT FAIR that's what I say - and I'll also stop complaining (for a wee while at least) and try get some relativity and 'perspective' - you HAVE been through the 'mill' Marilyn just hoping the 'sun comes out' really soon for you !
I am sure it will Rimmy. My cup is always at least half full and hopefully this blip is simply a comedy of errors that began with a pothole! I am a bit anxious about a flare since infections are rife at present. The last time I had three different infections in quick succession I was diagnosed with PMR. Fingers crossed the PMR behaves itself!
Oh Marilyn, I really hope you start to feel better very soon. You've had one thing after another, I felt so sorry for you as I read your post. I don't think I'm going to complain again any time soon! How lovely you're going away in a luxury hotel, I sure you'll enjoy that. And good luck with the next (the third?) endoscopy, you brave girl! Take care. X
Hope it goes well this morning Marilyn - am thinking of you. You deserve the luxury break for sure and really hope and pray this will be the start of an up for you after all those catastrophes. I fell down a man hole about 8 years ago. The cover was not fit for purpose and had come off. On a very narrow path it looked like a puddle when in fact it was a hole filled with water. My one leg went down it , up to the waist in water and second leg remained on the pavement ( broken ankle) No one had reported it beforehand but we did sue council just for your info. Don’t know if all that precipated PMR. Best wishes for a lovely weekend, looking mysterious!! Xx
Yes although it took a really long time ( I think about 2/2 and a half years) and was a pittance really as for a long time the council and the water authority could not agree whose responsibility it was. We did sue as they didn’t rectify the manhole for months even though it was on a route from a primary school and if any child had decided to “ jump into the puddle” it would have been horrendous. Also they just put the old cover back on ( which was domestic not industrial) and just put a yellow cone on top of it. Previously the unsafe unground water situation had forced it up and moved it and it was obvious that it would happen again. My husband took numerous photos before it was rectified and I wrote down exactly what had happened as it is really hard to recollect exactly what happened two years on.
It's really hard when the medical issues just keep piling up on top of each other. Feeling so out of control! Thank you for sharing! You're in my prayers. I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend recently. I hope you have a wonderful time at your luxurious getaway. You deserve it!
That all sounds dreadful. Poor you 😢. I hope everything sorts itself out quickly. PMR alone is enough to contend with! Think you're due for a bit of pampering 😊
Oh you certainly have been having a hard time lately.l hope that the well deserved hotel break will be lovely,and that it will be the start of much better health for you in future x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
When spellcheck isn't helpful...
No stamina when walking.
When will energy return?
Another question about infections!
When to start decreasing steroids
