Usual early morning obs, then breakfast ( healthy bran flakes ).
Dr Sean came to take bloods pre PEX, then I had a cup of ,tea!
At 10.30 the vascular access team of two came to put the line in. Luckily, they were able to use the groin so I don't have to go around with things sticking out of my neck! It was a bit scary as the main person had on full theatre gear (gown, hat, long sleeves) with the sheet with the hole in it. It took quite a long time - 45 mins in total, but I was glad that I have no feeling in the area!
2 students came to do history, obs and examination.
Then another 3 dropped in ( one of them had been visiting another patient, saw me and had been one of the students previously, so popped in to see how I was doing and was talking to the others about my case).
Then the PEX team arrived at 12 and started the process. It went reasonably well, although we did have to stop and start a couple of times and change the tubes around. Apparently this is quite usual. During this time, Dr Leitte came to see me to see how things were going, and asking if I was ok. Lunch ( sausage mash and swede and apple ) also arrived, so I ate that while being flushed - talk about multi tasking!!
This went on until 2pm. I had some tingling in the lips which is one of the common side effects due to citrate in the process which affects the calcium levels. I was given some calcium tablets which helped. I was very tired, so physio was postponed until tomorrow, thank goodness!!
I have low blood pressure ( makes a change!) so they are doing obs more often and I also have to drink more - been through two jugs of water so far.
Then a brilliant event. One of the nurses realises what a difference having your hair washed makes. I have had various attempts at this during my time in hospital - shampoo caps and dry spray shampoo - none of which worked very well. This nurse has invented a way of giving bed bound patients a proper hair wash. It works like this: first move the bed away from the wall so that someone can stand behind it. Then lay patient flat, having removed pillow. Take a bio waste sack ( think bin liner), cut hole in corner of sack and place in bucket. Put top under and over head ( ie head in open bag). Get assistant to help pour warm water over head, which then flows down through sack and into bucket. Shampoo. Rinse - again water flows through sack into bucket. Remove sack and empty bucket. Put bed back. Dry hair. Brilliant - proper hair wash, feel much much better. Give the woman a prize.
Specialist NMO team came to have a chat, see how things went and to give me two questionnaires to fill in over the next few days to help with the research project. One is about health state today - things like how is your mobility, anxiety/depression, usual activities, lots about pain. The other is about medical history for self and family. It's actually quite difficult to fill in as some of it is very subjective and I don't actually have much pain at the moment - just some spasms that are being controlled by the pain killers ( I had a typo just now and it came out as paid killers!!!). So no pain. It may change over the next few days if the plasma exchange works and the numbness goes.
Consultant asked if I would agree to be part of the student exams tomorrow morning as I am an interesting case, so at some point between 8.30 and 10, I'll have 5 students and 2 examiners keeping me company. I wonder if any of the students will be ones I've had before.
Julio arrived, having been held up by an accident on the Shrivenham by-pass. Tried to do some work, but my connection to my office PC was too slow to do anything useful. Supper arrived ( cottage cheese salad and cheese and biscuits and cup of tea) so Juli went to have his usual something to eat at Pret a Manger.
Problem with my Iv drip with the steroids, so the cannula was slightly repositioned and it was restarted. Blood sugars high and blood pressure low, so nurse contacted doctor. I assume everything is ok as nothing has changed.
Julio now gone home, so I'm listening to the radio (radio 4) and doing the update. To come - Question time and This week then, hopefully, sleep.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Love
Me
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