There are a few things I know that I
didn't put in my memoir, especially about when I was recovering at home.
One of these was the difficulty I had doing every day things such as
combing my hair as I wasn't allowed to lift my right hand above my
head for six weeks. Why was this? Well, I had a pacemaker and its
leads fitted, and to let them settle in properly you can't move about
too much otherwise they wouldn't work too good. So when I came home
in 2021 for six weeks I couldn't comb my hair properly, I couldn't
wash it (it hadn't been washed for weeks anyway because of being in
hospital), I couldn't moisturise my neck properly, I couldn't move
the wheelie bins out by myself as I wasn't allowed to move/lift heavy
things. Oh, and it was difficult to put on clothes over my head such
as nighties or T-shirts. One of the carers I had did show me how to
do it.
So why am I mentioning it now? Well,
very soon, probably October, I am going to have to go into hospital
again to have a pacemaker lead replaced as it is making extra noise.
They want it changed before it causes any problems with me. I am
going to have to follow the 'be still' rules for four weeks this
time. I shall have to practise putting on clothes over my head like
the carer taught me. And practise combing my hair with my left hand.
As I told the consultant, if I have to
have it done, I will have it done. I am not looking forward to it as
this time I have to go under general anaesthetic. Last time I had it
done under local anaesthetic.
Meantime, I am making the most of my
time at home in my own comforts, and getting on with my writing. I
have plans to create more books and journals to go with my memoir
(you can buy it from my website or from The Book Dragon website here
www.the-book-dragon.com).
I want to turn my memoir and its journals into a brand about
resilience and make a business out of it alongside my children's
books. I plan to take blank journals in to hospital with me this time so I can write in them when I feel like it, and get an idea of what I can put in the guides I want to write with the gratitude journals I have in mind.