Conwy Castle

Despite the apparent improvement yesterday, today brings a very different turn of events. 

Things start quite well. G drives me to Conwy for today’s Wide Wednesday shot. I do get out of the car, but walking is a real struggle so it’s only a few steps. Still, I get my view if an ‘old building’ - and Conwy Castle is hard to beat for antiquity. I try to avoid the tubular railway bridge - unsightly but still old (designed by Robert Stephenson and opened in 1849), but even from this angle it’s pretty much impossible. 

Back home - and the more sensitive amongst you may wish to stop reading now - it becomes increasingly impossible to pass urine, something that’s been causing pain for days. Eventually I realise it’s time to go to A&E - something I’ve dreaded for obvious reasons. 

On arrival, the screen indicates a wait time of 5 hours, but my ‘urgent case’ means I’m triaged within an hour, and a further hour after that, I’m seen by a doctor who has the looks and disposition of Rasputin. He and a nurse then spend some 30 minutes trying to catheterise me without success. A member of the surgical team is sent for, but that will be another hour. 

Eventually, I’m seen by a urologist- much to my relief, but there ensues a further agonising struggle to perform the procedure. Finally, he succeeds, and I’m not sure which of us is more amazed at the 2 litres of liquid that is expelled from my bladder.  I must have a very high pain threshold, he tells me. 

I’m now being kept in overnight to be reviewed, scanned etc tomorrow - although as yet there is no bed so I’m left sitting in the packed A&E waiting room with a catheter bag strapped to my leg. It’s 11.30 and I’ve sent poor G home ….. I may be sitting here all night, and after tonight’s struggles, sitting is not comfortable to say the least! 

So uncharacteristically, I’m posting today’s blip on the actual day but I probably won’t get to looking at your journals tonight. 

Many thanks for your kind words and your response to my windswept gull of yesterday. And thanks to Bobsblips for hosting!