Columns Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor There’s a New Primary Carer in Town There’s a New Primary Carer in Town by John Connor | December 3, 2021 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Well, there’s a new carer at home, actually, but town sounds so much cooler. Like an old-time Western sheriff! My dear wife, Jane, has taken a few days off to attend an ayurvedic yoga retreat, so I’m without the care of She Who Really Must Be Obeyed. (I’ve liberally adapted this phrase, which is just a nicer way of scribing, from English writer John Mortimer. It’s dryly deployed by his most famous character, a barrister named Horace Rumpole, to refer to his wife, so it’s entirely fitting that I’ve nicked it. At least I’ve admitted my guilt up front!) My eldest son, George, has kindly taken over for the next few days. Fortuitously, he worked for 10 years in a residential care home, though admittedly as an activities organizer. Occasionally, he did care work when the staff were stretched, but he never liked that aspect. It’s a shame for both of us, because even if I survive a bit longer (To be delivered in a trembly voice: “I’m 64, you know …”), I will never, ever play bingo. You can count on it! Recommended Reading December 1, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Researchers Shed Light on Link Between Nuclear Protein and MS My youngest son, Jack, has also just arrived, since George just secured a new temporary job at New Wimbledon Theatre for panto season. The venue is large and grand enough that it would fit right in at London’s West End. He was called in for a day of training on Wednesday, but it was called off due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The mayhem continues, as the dog we often look after had to suddenly stay with us because his adoptive parents have to go to Italy for a family emergency. He arrived on Wednesday. It’s all go. Actually, it’s probably like this every week. Only, I don’t usually have to be this involved, living in my somewhat-protected, serene world of the chronically ill! I’m “King John,” as my most regular professional career jokingly put it. I countered with the fact that there hasn’t been a King John since the first disastrous one! Though I had to admit that the kings did also have their own bottom cleaners, known as the Groom of the Stool. The “stool” refers to the portable toilet they sat on, rather than anything that came out of them! Of course, this would be the week that the only irreplaceable pipe on my anal catheter developed a puncture. Luckily, or perhaps foresightedly, I always keep a Swiss Army knife and a role of electrical tape in my man bag. It’s actually more like my own “Home Alone” disability survival kit. However, this delay threw my timing off. I have one hour to shower and do the other thing. Suffice it to say that I got my water injection levels seriously wrong! The boys had to deal with the resulting river of effluent that night. Fortunately, an emergency anal catheter is set to arrive later this afternoon. All is well. Namaste. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author John Connor In the ‘80s, John Connor created the first regular column about the burgeoning London stand-up scene. In 1990 he wrote a book about its effect on the Edinburgh Festival: “Comics: A Decade of Comedy at the Assembly Rooms.” That year he also devised and ran a live topical stand-up team show at The London Comedy Store, The Edge (It was destroyed in 2020!). In 2009 John was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which cut short his main job as a TV casting director for “Black Books,” “My Family,” et al. Now, John writes “Fall Down Get Up Again,” an irreverent journey with MS. Tags anal catheter, COVID-19, family, yoga Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
March 28, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Smartphone, wearable device data found reliable to monitor MS: Study
March 28, 2024 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister Multiple sclerosis awareness is for people with MS, too
March 28, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Restoring ‘lost’ pathway of neuroprotection benefits MS mice