In the bosom of my family...

[helle]

Well, I have survived both hospital and Christmas! The latter was even rather pleasant – we had the by-now traditional my-sister-was-too-excited-to-sleep-last-night midday argument, with much shouting and slamming of doors, but it passed relatively quickly and the rest of the day went without a hitch. Bar, that is, my mum’s disappointment that C had got up at three in the morning to open her stocking and that mum hadn’t got to see her face as she opened her expensive, desperately wanted but unlooked-for presents. But we played games and C had fun with her arts-and-craftsy presents and Christmas dinner was delicious.

I came out of hospital the day before Christmas Eve – I think my surgeon wanted me in another day, but by that point there was no real need to keep me there, and I’d had enough of the whole thing, so I made my break for freedom. My surgeon’s a funny old soul; he’s the foremost (and only) expert on my sort of condition in the North West; I’ve been seeing him about three years now. While he cares deeply – I think he even sees himself in a fatherly sort of position to me, a kindly uncle at the least- the Sister told me that she always rather wants to apologise for his manner to patients when he does ward visits; she feels the need to follow him around and make sure he doesn’t have too many bright ideas. I can’t even describe him well, he’s extremely sweet and (as far as I can tell) extremely competent, but I can’t make him out at all.

I spent eleven days in hospital, all told, six of them taking no food or drink in by mouth and having nutrients pumped directly into my bloodstream!

I gained five kilos! Which was rather lucky, since I’d had a rotten virus and no appetite two weeks previous, so I’d lost rather a dramatic amount. I went from 34 kg to 39 in the space of a week.

Gradually over my stay I went from being hooked up to a zillion tubes to having only two and being able to manoeuvre myself around. I spent my time mainly doing crafts and watching TV, I saw the final week of Britain’s Best Bakery, which was truly excellent – such amazing technical skill and artistry! frith_in_thorns, I now can provide you with very many details about long hospital stays in the name of research. :P

And eating! Things seem to be going very well – I’ve been having solid meals since Thursday, including the aforementioned Christmas dinner, without any problems. If anything, my main issue is going to be the adjustment in my thought processes and approach towards eating. For so long, food has been something unstable and unreliable, and I’ve always been conscious that I’m a few good meals away from ~complete starvation~ (Disclaimer: Not actually remotely true, but it’s an attitude I’ve had to fight against in myself.). If my progress does continue as it’s going now, and food consumption is stable and normal, it’s going to mean quite a change in my eating patterns. (For one thing, as I complained to mum earlier, I’m not used to being regularly full. I am NOT impressed with this whole thing of eating a meal and then having to WAIT several hours until I can eat again! It is very odd.)

Anyway, that is the State Of The Eleanor – I am not at home, trying (and failing, rather, but I am trying) to Take It Easy and Remember You Should Be Resting, Ellie. A District Nurse has been coming round daily to change my dressings (!). I spent yesterday writing a few last minute drabbles for fandom_stocking – the first fic I’ve written in years, literally. I’m sorry to have been so rubbish about communicating – I AM thinking of you all, my dears, rather a lot, and am really looking forward to catching up at greater length soon. Merry Christmas!