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16 December 2013

MORE TITBITS ... AND AN OPINION

ON JOE

The latest news on the Joe front is that he will commence chemotherapy on 2nd January. The consultant kindly allowed us to enjoy Christmas first. I know he will be relieved when treatment commences since he has been plagued by hospital appointments and tests plus a couple of small operations (1) change the tubing to his nephrostomy and (2) to remove a stent ... although in the end they didn't do that. According to the guy in charge it wasn't necessary to remove it. One thing he did say though was that the 'good' kidney was in fact in very good condition. That means chemotherapy can go ahead. Good news, or what? 

THE HOOVER WASHING MACHINE SAGA

In the wisdom of the Correspondence Team they did not notify the engineer that nobody would be home on the Thursday, nor did they take any notice of my email in which I opted for a Tuesday visit ... thus when I got back home on Thursday I found a note from him to say he had called. He included a phone number in the note but it wasn’t his number ... it was one of those irritating button press pressing replies to umpteen questions.  Fortunately the engineer had the sense to ring me (though how he knew my mobile number is a mystery) to arrange another appointment. I explained about the Tuesday/Thursday mix up to which he replied that the Correspondence Team had not notified him of any change. He actually said he wasn't surprised! We fixed a future date and he emailed it back to CT. All I want now is for him to be able to fix the machine but I'm not holding my breath.  

AGEING POPULATION

The latest problem our Government has to deal with is Dementia. No, I don’t mean parliamentary members are suffering with it, although sometimes I wonder. Apparently the number of people with the condition is growing at an alarming rate and will affect our Health Service for years to come. Is it any wonder, I ask myself, when old people are reaching the hundreds. No longer can we expect life to end at 70 or thereabouts but we can and will add on another thirty years. At great cost to the nation and indeed the world!

Why is this? Well, it’s my belief that the medics have excelled themselves by finding cures for everything. We can have transfusions and transplants and new body parts to keep us going to ripe old age and beyond.

The mounting problem of elderly folk living lonely lives goes on. They are alone, often unloved, sometimes unwanted, and doctors will make sure they stay that way by offering some form of treatment.

The time WILL come when there are too many people in the world? And what happens then? Will euthanasia be introduced as a means of righting the planet? Can you image it? No one permitted to live beyond a certain age? Ethics be blowed, there will be no such thing as moral values because principles will be too costly.

Now, when I say I don’t want to live to a great age, will anyone listen? Or will they allow me to struggle on regardless, coping with medical treatment and possible loneliness.

Will I have a say in my own destiny?

14 comments:

  1. Good to hear you and Joe can enjoy Christmas without hospital appointments, hope his treatment in January goes well and good news about his 'good' kidney.

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  2. Thanks, Pearl. It is a relief to know that we can 'go slow' over Christmas.

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  3. "One thing he did say though was that the 'good' kidney was in fact in very good condition. That means chemotherapy can go ahead. Good news, or what?"

    *clapping*

    That's AWESOME, Valerie! And I'm also happy to hear that you'll both be able to enjoy the holiday without having hospital appointments. Yipeeeeee!

    Loved your thoughts on the Aging Population!

    "The time WILL come when there are too many people in the world? And what happens then? Will euthanasia be introduced as a means of righting the planet? Can you image it? No one permitted to live beyond a certain age? Ethics be blowed, there will be no such thing as moral values because principles will be too costly."

    Amen!

    You know, being the wonderful writer you are, this topic would make for a GREAT book!

    Have a super Monday, dear lady!

    X to you and Joe!

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  4. Thank you, Ron. Our Christmas will be quiet but at least we'll be at home.

    I feel quite strongly about the ageing population and the fact that medics keep us oldies going for longer, perhaps, than they should. My friend and I discussed this today and we both said we didn't want to go on until we're either a burden or don't know what's going on around us.

    Thank you for your good wishes, which are reciprocated xx

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  5. I'm happy to hear that you and Joe will be at home Christmas and that you'll have a bit of a rest which you both richly deserve. The saga of your machine still goes on, what a pain. Their right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. A problem the world over I'm pretty sure.

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  6. So good you and Joe can have your Christmas. And Your post today was very thought provoking.

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  7. oh when my time comes i will probably just walk off into the woods....that way they have no choice to make for me...i dont want a machine to keep me living...


    hey good stuff on a good kidney eh? smiles.

    and i hope they get your machine fixed....

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  8. I've written about the long lived lives of the current generation, and how soon we'll all be living well into our 100s. I'm not sure if I'd like to be one of those fortunate centurions. After a certain age I'd be concerned about the quality of life. But hey, this is coming from a relatively younger person, and with age comes wisdom, so I might be spouting terrible ideals here...

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  9. Brian, the thought of a machine turns my stomach... ugh!

    Herman, quality of life is what it's all about, the older we get the worse the quality in a good many cases.

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  10. There's a few things to celebrate this holiday--and I'm glad the two of you will get to be together to do that. HOPEfully without medical interruption.
    The washing machine...oh, the dear sweet too smart for it's britches machine....which explains the 'brains' went, huh? LOL

    I'm not well versed on the issues with aging and quality of life, etc...I've not had to deal in those things, long term. But I don't like what I read. *sigh*

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  11. Oh Valerie, you do have a lot on your plate at the moment. Try not to worry about bigger problems like euthanasia to cure over population of the aged. To be naughty now, I would prefer sterilisation of anyone without a job ~ she says with tongue in cheek. I hope the next week is peaceful for you ~ not too much rain. Our Christmas will be very quiet too.

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  12. Hi Carol. Hmmm sterilisation.... now there's a thought... grins.

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  13. Mel, I agree it doesn't make happy reading, but at some point in the future it will have to be faced. I'm just preparing my mind, y'know!

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  14. May your Christmas be blessed!
    May your washing machine be fixed, or hauled off to be replaced by a working one.
    I agree with you on the aging "problem". My mother lived to be 83, and the last 3 years were torturous. IF/when I reach that point, I hope some family member lets me go.

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