Holiday

I made it to Cornwall!! To be honest there were times that I didn’t think I would be well enough and there were other occasions where packing all the medical supplies and sorting my feed out all got a bit too stressful and I just wanted to stay at home. But I didn’t. I went and we had a lovely 2 week family holiday. 

I would love to say that I was well the entire time but we all know that’s not real life and probably never going to happen in my world. There were a few days each week where I stayed at the house while everyone went out for the day because I was either completely exhausted or just not feeling good. But I just tried to w joy the good days and do as much as I was physically able to do. 

Unfortunately I did see the inside of Truro hospital again. This was my worst fear and driving down through Cornwall on the way to St Ives we drove through Truro and past the hospital and it was a little bit triggering to both me and Hubby. We had really hoped I wouldn’t have to go in but on the third day of the holiday I woke up at about 4am and raced to the loo to be sick. And then I was sick again. And again. And again. And Sod’s law it had to happen on Big Girl’s birthday! I spent the morning going to and from the loo to he sick until eventually I gave up, found the biggest saucepan in the kitchen and just used that as a sick bowl. I sat watching Big Girl open her cards and presents trying not to vomit. My parents had FaceTimed to see her open her very special gift of a car as they had contributed considerably towards it but I didn’t want them to know I was poorly so tried my best to stay out of the way of the camera! 

Once the last candle on her birthday cookie had been blown out Hubby bundled me in the car and we drove the 40 minutes to A&E. When he took me last year there were probably only 3 other people in the waiting room but this year it was absolutely jam packed. After waiting 3 hours to be seen we were triaged by the most amazing nurse who recognised straight away how complicated my medical history was and that I was the expert in managing my conditions. She asked what needed doing, prescribed the IV antisickness and pain relief I asked for made sure I was next in line to get a bed instead of having to manage on the hard plastic chairs. A couple of hours later the doctor came to see me and she was also happy to be guided by me as to how to manage this episode. 

Luckily the antisickness medication did the trick and I started to feel better so I didn’t have to be admitted and was able to go home early evening. I even managed to make it out for Big Girls birthday meal with all the family. 

The rest of the holiday was uneventful and we had some much needed quality time together as a family. We even managed a day trip to the Isles of Scilly, which is somewhere I have wanted to go since holidaying in Cornwall as a child. 

I also managed to go swimming. The house we had rented for the first week with all Hubby’s family had its own pool and hot tub and using the CathDry dressings I was able to use them this year. The CathDry dressing has been specially designed to keep lines dry and it turns red if water gets through so you know you need to get out of the water. It took a few attempts before I worked out the best way to apply them but for the first time in 8 years I was able to go in the pool and the sea with the kids. 

I even managed to get myself on the paddleboard with Big Girl but when she jumped on I fell in! The water was freezing and without a wetsuit I only lasted 5 minutes before I needed to go and warm up. But it’s 5 minutes more than I’ve had in years and years. 

Now we’re back home and my suitcase is at the bottom of my bed, still waiting to be unpacked. But I’m so exhausted it will have to wait until I’m feeling better. I’m going to be spending the next couple of days either in bed or resting to make sure I have the energy to cope with the back to school chaos and early alarms!