The Basenji dog - the only breed of dog that can't bark.

Deprived of oxygen my poor brain cells are finding it even harder to process information, especially as it's not the sort I want to hear.

As a further update to the last post, I really thought that by the weekend I would be feeling so much better, alas not to be.

On Saturday evening my daughter-in-law came across to take my stats, she was horrified to find my oxygen level so low, and the coughing spasms not brilliant ( actually they were spectacular, but for the wrong reason).

A phone call from my daughter to our friendly St Ouenais paramedic got all the family involved and I was manhandled into the car at 10:30pm on the way to A and E.

Service from the team at the hospital was outstanding, the triage nurse admitted me straight away, oxygen given, bloods taken, chest X-ray followed. Lovely doctor listened to my sorry tale, and said I need to be admitted. I gave her my best beatific smile said thank you very much for the kind offer of a bed, but I'd rather go home.

Further discussions and a game plan of different antibiotics that I should start taking straight away, and promises that I would be coming back into hospital today ..(Monday) .

I can't really describe how lousy I feel , partly antibiotics , partly ten days of coughing and exhaustion.

I have been pottering around, sleeping mostly , and doing odd jobs, trying to get better. This morning I sneaked out to walk the girls , ( I had to sneak, I was banned) when I say walk more of a very slow amble, but the sun was out and it was enjoyable .

Back home there were three way conversations between Dr KG, Jack and myself. Two against one. Steve came home and took me into hospital at lunchtime. Back on the stats machine.

Oxygen level way too low, CA125 way too high. Blood pressure up, everything working too hard. No histology results back as yet, so it's all speculation.

Cancer in the lungs? Maybe drain the lungs. Setting up the fact I may need oxygen at home.

Came to an agreement that I would come back into hospital this evening, go on oxygen tonight, be monitored . See Dr PS from respiratory tomorrow, if need to drain the lungs have it done straight away and stay in again tomorrow night.

Feels like I've been hit by a tsunami.... And then I came home and found two lovely bouquets and had loads of texts and messages ... Makes it a little better, although not really up to chatting or being "positive" about anything at the moment, but that will pass.

You just have to play the cards you're dealt.

Tomorrow morning Marsden have their MDT meeting about me, they have all current scans, tests etc. They probably won't have had histology results by then but may come up with a plan.

It's never good to write a post when you've had bad news, and I'm still trying to deal with it all.

Sorry if this is a bit negative , but I will tell you something that made me laugh, but shouldn't have done.

Sunday lunchtime Tom, Steve and I had just finished eating, and Steve said he'd take the dogs and go in the vegetable garden for a bit ( although we are trying to make it a flower garden - still no great success.... Certainly not Chelsea flower show!)

Anyway half an hour or so later, he reappears but staggering. Rushing to his aid ( no actually I didn't) I enquired what the matter was, slumping into the chair he told us.

He was coming back into the garden and had to pass through the granite archway, bear in mind we've been living here nearly ten years and still had the same arch way.

It seems as if he failed to duck sufficiently through the arch and cracked the top of his head, causing him to stumble backwards and end up flat on his back on the ground. Dazed he lay there for a few minutes ( dogs had already gone on ahead ) until he managed to get to his feet and come in the house.

Of course I was incredibly sympathetic and dressed his wound, double checking he wasn't concussed . No I didn't , Tom and I laughed our heads off, jolly pleased the neighbours hadn't witnessed his antics .


Of course one of my biggest concerns about sleeping tonight is when I have a coughing bout at home, I get my back rubbed until it eases off. It's best I don't talk or move much when lying down as its starts the coughing.

Two nights ago I started coughing , had the back rubs, stopped coughing. A short time later I started coughing again, the back rubs started up again, but by this time I had turned over............ And he hadn't noticed.........And I couldn't say "that is actually not my back" and equally so I couldn't laugh as the coughing spasms would have been far too violent .

It's good to see the funny side of things , even if they are at someone else's expense.
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