Discharged today

Got let out today. Still hurt, can't stand up straight, but have had the drain removed, and the last of the heparin jabs (which leave very nice bruises in your thigh). Signed off work for the next week, and not allowed to lift anything of great weight (unless I want the subcutaneous stiches to tear...).

I now weigh less...

Well, that's it done - appendix is out, big cut*, self administered morphine (PCA - patient-controlled analgesia, and a very dry mouth.

Keep getting woken up for IV shots of antibiotics:

• Gentamicin
• Flagyl
• Ampicillin

And 12 hourly jabs of heparin to stop me getting DVT (on top of the powered leg compression bandages!)

*didn't get the keyhole surgery - not sure why. Got a nice drain in my side though...

Ho Hum - I'm actually pretty ill!

4pm.
We went to a GP/surgery in Hornsby; I'm really feeling a bit crap.
Great - possible appendicitis, off to A&E (round the corner) for a second opinion.

5pm.
Very busy at A&E - still waiting.

6pm.
Still busy - been seen by triage nurse who things I look a little 'peaky'.

7pm.
Give me the drugs - it hurts!

7.30pm.
Calmed down - morphine is good.

9pm.
Off to X-ray. Probably appendicitis, but could be divirticulitis (not great, long term condition)

11.30pm.
Off to X-ray again, for a CT scan.

Going to be scheduled for appendectomy early tomorrow, probably keyhole.

I feel crap

Feeling crap since 10am today - Louise is coming to pick me up from work - I'm going home...

I don't feel great

Wednesday Evening

Nope - I don't feel great. But not bad enough to do anything about it.

Thursday Evening

Felt fine during the day, but my stomach aches a little tonight

Taxis

Hints and tips about taxis in Sydney for anyone coming over...

1. They are much cheaper than the UK!
2. If you pick up a taxi at the Airport, you pay an additional $2 - this is actually to cover the cost of the facilities onsite for the drivers!
3. Tolls are added to the meter reading at the end of the trip.
4. If you go over the Harbour Bridge or through the Harbour Tunnel, you have to pay the toll as part of your fare - regardless of which direction you go (as a normal driver you only pay one way. However as a Taxi can't garentee a fare going in the other direction, everyone pays in a Taxi).
5. If you pay by credit card, there is an additional fee (10% + GST =11%) for the privaledge
6. Most Taxi's have a EFTPOS machine for payment - if they don't, and you have to fill in a paper docket/bill, make sure you check your credit card at a later date (don't forget the service charge) to make sure you have only been charged once, and for the correct amount
7. Check that the meter is running the correct rate - daytime or nightime (higher charge)

The weather again

How very English/British - commenting on the weather again.

So, after the stupidly wet weather at the start of the month, Spring is back in the air - yesterday (Tuesday) saw the mercury hit 30 degrees.

Can't wait 'till summer :-)

Olympic Park & British Expats

We spent much of this afternoon out at Homebush, at Sydney Olypmic Park - Bicentennial Park, which was nice in the sun.

Amelia had lots of fun running to the childrens area, and hiding in the tunnels, and going down the slide.

Alas, the parking was a nightmare, and we ended up with a $77 parking fine to end the day off.

More British weather :-)

Wow - has it ever been wet!!! At this rate I'll have to drain some more water out of the pool! Overnight "parts of Sydney received more than their September average in the space of a few hours, while the 107.2mm of rain that fell at Observatory Hill was the greatest 24-hour September drenching there since 1883, the Bureau of Meteorology said".

http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/One-man-dead-as-wild-weather-lashes-NSW/2006/09/07/1157222228209.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/deluge-hits-commuters-hard-but-not-the-dams/2006/09/11/1157826847972.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/blown-away--winter-returns-with-a-vengeance/2006/09/07/1157222262761.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Rain-not-falling-where-its-needed/2006/09/10/1157826809895.html


Update - I did empty some more water out of the pool in the end

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day in Australia, so yesterday (to avoid the rushes), we went out for breakfast in Balmain (an 'expensive' suburb just west of the city centre), then to Darling Harbour and the PowerHouse Museum, followed by dinner at a (tourist!) restaurant at Cockle Bay Wharf (also at Darling Harbour).


Amelia really enjoyed the museum, which has a hands on area for kids...