Sorry for the slight lapse on the blogging front for a few days, which rest assured is generally a good thing as it means I am pootling (an existing word? It should be…) along in a rare but calm manner – any naughty lung behaviour or groundbreaking events (such as my transplant) should be reported on fairly swiftly. I have been feeling a little flat, definitely nothing to worry about, I am sure it is just down to having this drain in which although the pain is far better controlled this time round is still just…well very draining (terrible pun there I know but it was the adjective that has been firmly stuck in my head, plus it makes me smile to describe it as this so I thought I should use it).

Anyway I don’t know why I am flat because I actually had a rather lovely weekend! Got to see a variety of family and friends, my favourite moment being Saturday afternoon when unexpectedly my whole family ended up up here at the same time, and it was just so lovely to be sitting and chatting, the five of us together for no big reason such as a major lung related drama or imminent possible removal of current pair. The other rather thrilling thing which still makes me scrunch my toes up with glee is that I had the surreal and exciting opportunity to chat to one of my all-time favourite people – you know those ones that you list on who you would invite to your fantasy dinner party. Somehow, some kind soul tracked down and contacted the comic genius that is Bill Bailey (anyone who does not know who this is I demand you leave your computer desk this instant, equip yourself with a copy of “Part Troll” and educate yourself) knowing that he is one of my heroes, and suddenly I found myself in the exciting but slightly nerve-wracking position of waiting for a phone call from someone whose work I quote in conversation all the time. Having avidly watched my phone and willed it to ring for quite some time, I managed to throw it on the floor with excitement when it did ring, then thinking I had picked up shouted “hello” rather over enthusiastically to a still ringing phone, thus missing the call. No need for a pouty face however as this merely resulted in a voicemail being left, which I may or may not have played back many many times already. I am allowed, I have been in hospital a very long time and let’s face it, comedy legends rarely call me.

Due to knowing much of his stand up routine inside out, combined with the knowledge of my own rather reliably blonde nature, my one biggest fear was that I would start quoting back some of my favourite bits during the conversation like some crazed loon (wouldn’t be far wrong then) which I am pleased to say I managed to steer clear of doing, although there was vague mentions of a trouser press at one point but I don’t believe I was to blame. He was absolutely fantastic to talk to and I twittered on for quite some time - he was very friendly, interesting and of course very witty.

As for my lungs, I think they decided to have the weekend off from misbehaving as they were sitting quite quietly, probably in stunned surprise at speaking to famous comedian, and the drain has even not been bubbling that much which shows less of an airleak. Mind you they did have a bit of a hissy fit at about 1.30am on Saturday night, when they took a strong dislike to the intense and severe coughing fit I was experiencing causing a fair amount of pain and the drain to go absolutely bonkers and bubble like a cauldron on a low budget kids horror film. X-ray the following day revealed no real change so I am sure it just my lungs reminding me that they are still in control Which reminds me there was a question from someone about bringing the X-ray machine up to the room? They often do that for me, but this pneumo being a nice complex one cannot be seen on a normal front/back X-ray, I have to have what is called a “lateral” which is where you stand sideways on, that being the only way you can see this air pocket due to its positioning. Laterals can only be done downstairs with the proper screen, just to make life a bit more interesting and get me that bit more attention as I traipse through the hospital with my entourage, suction machine and all!

I am waiting for the doctors to put in an appearance so I can jot down this weeks plan, but you can guarantee delaying posting this will result in them not showing, so I think I will blog now in the hope it encourages them to turn up just after I publish it…and sure enough as I wrote that, in they all traipsed, hurrah! Drain to stay on suction till tomorrow, when they will take it off suction (ie take down the scaffolding) but leave the drain in place. If all goes well and it stays still, we will discuss whether to do this medical pleuradhesis whatnot, which is the injecting powdered german drugs thing into the chest drain. I explain things so well, I could be a medical lecturer me.