My Victor Meldrew Moment

Dear diary...

It was Monday 28^th January 2019, a beautiful day and perfect for a walk into town with my partner...not too hot or too cold. I do try to do this trek of three miles at least once a week to give my legs some real exercise, a bit like giving the car a good run down the motorway to turn the battery over.

Well after about thirty minutes we reached the cycle path and just as we were about to go under the tunnel I felt a slight twinge in my right hip, so had to stop and rest a moment before carrying on, admittedly this should have been a wake up call that something was wrong, but I took no notice of it and carried on.

By the time we got to town the twinge had eased off. Myself and partner had our own things we needed to do, so went our separate ways arranging to meet back at the house later.

Everything was fine as I went from shop to shop buying what was needed before returning home. On my way to catch the bus, I decided to go into Wilko's, I'd run out of bird food and it's a lot cheaper in there than any other shop,  I also knew that snow was on its way so decided to stock up.

Loaded down with enough food to feed an army of birds for a month, I walked up the slope to the stop. Luckily I didn't have to wait long as two buses arrived at once. Got a seat by the window and had a pleasant journey home.

It was only as I got off at my stop, I notice the twinge return, but carried on down our road. This was when I had my Victor Meldrew moment. “I don't believe it! I don't believe it!” Which I kept repeating over and over. By the time I got to the front door it felt like I'd dislocated my hip, the despair on my face was obvious as my right hip gave way leaving me lopsided.

Managing to drag the bags indoors, I collapsed onto a chair and knew immediately what the outcome of my strong minded determination to bring bird food home had done.

My right hip was now in the same tormented condition that my left hip had been in before the hip operation. All I could keep saying was, “I don't believe it!”

For a week now I've been struggling to get around with my partner helping me whenever he could. As the snow fell I felt I was in the best place...as Judy Garland said in The Wizard Of Oz, 'there's no place like home,' especially when the weather is stormy. The pain and awkwardness of my right hip was aggressive to say the least.

That was enough to persuade me that if there wasn't any change by the end of the weekend I would be going to the doctors on Monday, snow or no snow.

The only time I went out of the house was on Saturday in the car with my partner to do the weekly shop. It took him an hour to clean the snow off the car and clear the driveway...what a trooper.

At Sainsbury's there was me holding onto the trolley for dear life while trying to avoid all the people rushing around me. My partner filled the trolley up with food and other essentials...thankfully there wasn't a queue at the checkout, so we took our time.

After loading the stuff into the car, my partner was worn out, 'poor soul!' Home at last our shopping expedition was accomplished as everything was unloaded into the house and slowly put away, then phew! We could finally relax.

Monday morning 4^th February came dear diary and things were no better, so it was time to phone the doctors. I managed to get an appointment for 10.40am which I was relieved about, normally it's hard to get to see someone when you need to. The doctor was a very nice lady who was extremely understanding of my situation. After taking my blood pressure which thankfully was normal, she proceeded to prod around, moving my leg as I lay on the bed, she informed me that I'd need to have an x ray taken up at the hospital, well talk about de ja vu, I was now going through the same pattern I lived through with my other hip, though she did say that depending on what the x ray showed, it could be a strain and might just need physiotherapy.

Leaving the surgery, my partner wasn't amused to find our car had been blocked in, but thankfully after asking the receptionist to put out an announcement, one of the nurses came out and moved her car.

Now we were on our way to the hospital. The roads were clear, but the pavements were still quite slushy in places. Thankfully the sun appeared as we drove into the hospital car park.

My partner dropped me off at the main entrance and I again walked at a snails pace towards the doors, feeling thankful that I had my partner who would be along shortly. Because my head was all over the place at that moment, I couldn't remember where the x ray department was, but this man who was on reception was like a mind reader and immediately approached me and asked if there was a problem. He directed me, saying “Luckily for you my dear, the x ray department is through those double doors and straight in front of you.” He had a caring, warm smile that cheered me up no end.

At the x ray reception I gave my date of birth and name and was told to wait, which wasn't at all long, only about five minutes, I thought that was great for a Monday morning.

My name was called by the radiologist who led me down the corridor smiling very apologetically for walking too fast when he noticed me limping behind. We entered this room and he asked me to climb up on the table and lay flat on my back. He took two x rays in this position, then I had to put my left good leg up on a block and place my left arm across my chest, while holding this screen with my right hand to the outside of my right hip. “Well that was certainly different I must say!”

Now I just have to wait till Monday 11^th February for x ray results and also have a blood test. Dear diary my life seems to be constantly diverted off course leaving me helpless and at the mercy of fate. I can't look ahead long term, just have to take each day as it comes. But I still 'Don't Believe It.'