Are you seated comfortably? Then let's begin (for DD)

cherrybim

1987 brought the Great Storm on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October.

On Monday 12th I had a bilateral carpal tunnel op. In those days it was a general anaesthetic and a night's stay in the hop.

Thursday night most of the roof tiles blew away and oaks, limes, larches, beeches fell like ninepins in our two acre garden. We live/lived in Sussex and Kent and Sussex were the worst hit by the storm.

Our services were underground but for the rest of the village beneath the "ridge" they were overhead and consequently brought down by falling trees.

Our house was an 18th cent coaching inn and the stables we'd converted into a triple garage with an integral workshop. Boy oh boy did the home come into its own once again

In those days country folk bought half a pig and half a lamb etc from the local butcher which were frozen down in the virtually commercial sized freezers we all had. Our friends and neighbours "down the lane" had no power and six massive freezers were brought up to our "garage". Everyone had stuffed 'em to the gunwales with their neighbours bits and pieces as well as their own supplies.

Two hands bandaged I felt totally impotent but....

All the wives formed a work force. We had an Aga in the kitchen and an electric cooker in the tack room and it wasn't long before there were another two cookers available in our cellar of all places

Oh we all had such a wonderful time, 20 to 30 peeps for dinner every night and I found that I could do most things apart from lift anything. Plastic gloves with an extension of another pair cut off at the wrist and stuck to the original at that point meant I could chop veg, put my hands in water etc.

From my experience there's no pain with this op, only residual tenderness in the palm and as I've said before a tubigrip mitten helps such a lot as does a plastic straw to drink whichever liquid you fancy

I didn't have any probs with doing my own thing in the bathroom. So I'm really hoping that you'll find it as much of a breeze as I did. Perhaps I should mention that I'd already had RA for 8 years by the time of the op.

Don't ee fret, you'll be fine, it's like a prick on the finger compared with a TKR or a THR believe you me. It's the contemplation of these things that we all find so daunting whereas in reality we look back and laugh at our apprehension

dreamdaisy

Oh bless you cherrybim! That is a great help and very comforting to read. I am basing my apprehension on what he told me would happen so maybe that was erroneous on my part. I guess it is the unknown that is unsettling but I'm not the first to find that out nor will I be the last! I am concerned about my mobility as I do need some form of support when lurching along but hell, if I need to spend a few days in bed so be it, I will lie there doing my post-knee-op exercises to keep muscles in some sort of shape. I will be sensible about using my hands and try very hard not to do anything stupid. (That'll be a first then. :roll: )

I remember the Great Storm, I was living in Putney at the time and slept through it. (Those were the days, my friend, I thought they'd never end.) The devastation caused to Rendlesham forest near here was astonishing and still shows in some areas of that wood. I hope all is as well as it can be with you and Mr CB. Once again, thank you. DD

constable

Just wanted to say that I am sorry DD that you are obviously waiting for an op. I haven't as you know been on here in a while so dont know what people have been suffering so I just want to wish you well with this op. And that you dont have to long to wait for it.

And, another, I do remember the great storm. I live in Kent and not far from Sevenoaks. I remember driving to work through the aftermass. Oh boy, a journey of 25 mins took me 3 hours or so. Driving through a forest avoiding trees etc. I was a very keen driver then. We woke to no electricity. And yes, those were the days.

dreamdaisy

Thanks Constable. It's both hands to sort carpal tunnel and it will be happening on 20 November.

I forgot to say, Cherry, that I have the tubigrip in the cupboard ready and waiting! It kept me sane after my synovectomies (stuff rubbing against that scar felt so weird) but I am sure this will be different. DD

kentishlady

Just wanted to say I hope all goes well for you DD. Karen, I lived in Sevenoaks at the time of the Great Storm - quite an experience to live through. Slightly chaotic to say the least. Now live near Maidstone but one of my best friends is in Tunbridge Wells and I manage to get over to meet up with her occasionally so do know that area a little. Let us know how you get on DD. You have been having a really rough time recently haven't you so do hope things will start to improve for you soon. Beryl

applerose

I've not been on here for a few weeks so didn't know about your op DD. I'm sure all will go well. I always think myself through anything like this, know I have to go through it but also know I will come out the other side feeling better than before. Always helps at the dentist anyway. I also don't believe in worrying over things that haven't yet happened. Although that is sometimes easier said than done.

numptynora

I do hope the healing will be a breeze for you DD, my failing is to over think any surgery I'm faced with so I hope that's not what you're doing.

take care
Numps x

dreamdaisy

I freely admit that I'm an oddball who doesn't mind surgery - the aim is always to improve things and I am sure that this double effort will. It's more the afterwards which is daunting me but once I'm in that situation I will make the best of it and I am sure he and me will cope. The first fortnight will be fine because he will be about but once he returns to work well, that will be the most 'dangerous' time for me. I am determined NOT to do anything silly so to that end Sticky's 'spy cams' could be very useful - accompanied by a booming voice saying 'Step AWAY from the kettle.'

I think I've found a way round the saucepan thing (that will be trialled next week) so I should be able to cook veg at the very least. I can see a few days just living on boiled veg! The lack of driving is going to be tough but as long as I will be able to use the Clatt well, at least I'll be able to get out of the house. But I will see, as I said my sensible head is back on and there is no point in fretting about stuff I don't know or can guage. What a waste of time and energy (I have lots of the former but not much of the latter).

Having stopped injected suppressants I am pleased to report that my psoriasis-affected ankles are clearing up. My hands are lesion-free and the remaining insect bites are clearing. I should be presenting with good skin come the 20th, so that is a very good thing indeed. Woo-hoo! DD should be good to go!

applerose

Glad to see you are being so positive about it. I'm sure you will find ways of coping afterwards. What about microwave meals? Not ideal I know but I find they come in handy once in a while.