6th June: Drain Pain

First thing this morning I have an appointment with the Warfarin nurse, then I have my dressing changed on the drain.
Chris and I cycle to the local superstore to stock up with some food for Saturday evening as the Bembridge Wheelers are hosting a party and we are each to bring a contribution. Something goes badly wrong. As we walk around Tescos I become desperately thirsty. I drink a whole bottle of water and still feel the need for more. I can feel a wetness on my left side, and to my horror when I look down it is obvious that the drain is leaking badly.

I go to the ladies room to have a closer look and the tube comes away in my hand. There is yellow bile on all my clothes. Lucky I am not wearing white. I am wet, uncomfortable and feel a rising panic inside me. I shove the tube back into the plastic bung, but have no idea if that will stop the leaking. Chris is waiting for me at the exit, and suggests that we get home as soon as possible. I have horrid visions of needing to return to Southampton because the drain is broken; all my freedoms will be curtailed. Now I am simultaneously pedalling, and sobbing uncontrollably. Chris is pragmatic and suggests I save my energy for the journey home. I can’t help myself. I spent all that time in with the nurse having the dressing changed and now it will all have to be done again. The nurses at the surgery finish at 11.30 and by now it is nearly 1 o’clock. I decide the only answer is to ring the district nurse when I get home and hope that she can sort it out. I make it home, with wet eyes and face and wet clothes.
I leave a message on the District Nurse’s answer phone. Fortunately Chris is able to twist the tubing to re-connect it to the drain. He can see how the problem arose. The drain tube was misaligned causing it to unscrew and become detatched.. We manage to tape it into place. I change, put all my clothes in the wash and wait for the nurse. Not a great day.