Friday, 4 March 2016

2nd March - Last lot of PEX and reality setting in - Still in John Radcliffe

March 1st - part 2

Whilst I was watching The Taff yesterday I found out 3 interesting facts. The Taff is the steepest river south of the Scottish Highlands. Rain falling in Merthyr is in Cardiff just 4 hours later. There were thousands of salmon going through the barrage last year (I can’t remember the exact number). The first cheque for a million pounds was signed in Cardiff.

I spilt my water cup (one of those plastic cups that aren’t very stable. In Swindon there were proper glasses to drink from, which I preferred). Mady my nurse saw it happening and also heard me saying “s**t”. I don’t often swear, but it just came out. She laughed at me.

Back out into the chair for supper, with Sian and Julio keeping me company. Then down to Pret for them to have their food and me to have a Earl Grey. Back upstairs, into bed and goodbye to my visitors.

Had a discussion with Peter, my night nurse about my meds for the morning. When I have the meds depends on when the PEX is, but as the PEX is early, we agreed (fancy a patient being involved in decisions!) that he would check with the doctor first thing about the insulin depending on what the sugars are.

Cannula out

Not a good night – woke up quite often and was cold, so used my call button to ask for another blanket.

March 2nd

Woke up at 5, then listened to radio whilst dozing. Nice cup of tea at 6.30; breakfast at 8. Bed bath and linen change so that I was all ready for the PEX at 9.

Reality is beginning to set in regarding what will happen after the PEX, and feeling a bit down, so started a diary. This was encouraged by the NMO team as they are interested in both the physical and emotional effects of the condition. I must admit that I am cutting and pasting the updates (taking out some of the irrelevant stuff like what I have to eat and family s tuff!).

Nothing. No sign of PEX.

NMO lady came, and we had a chat about how I was feeling. She thought the diary was a good idea, and then went off to find out where the PEX was.

More obs – sugars good at 9 5.

PEX arrived at around 11 – the lady (not Busi) had had an accident on the way to work – bus letting her out of road and a motorbike overtook the bus and ran into her. So she was late (and shaken – she talked quite a lot about it while the PEX was going on).

During the PEX Dr Buckley arrived with Dr Taylor and some students (new lot). Discussion as to what happening – nothing different really.

The line will stay in until tomorrow so that they can take bloods and check clotting before it comes out. I may have to remind whoever takes it out that they need to press on it for a while and I must lie flat for an hour after it comes out. I hope there is something good on the radio!

I didn’t have IV calcium today, but did have 3 lots of 2 calcium tablets. Blood pressure behaved and was around 100 over 54-ish throughout.

Lunch whilst PEX being packed up – orange juice, roast turkey slices, roast potatoes and swede, jelly. Don’t think I’ll have roast potatoes again!

Sleepy so had a little rest. Nappy change.

Mady came to ask if I wanted to go into the chair, and I agree then changed my mind as it would have meant that I wouldn’t have been able to go downstairs later as I shouldn’t be in the chair for more than 2-3 hours. So they’re coming back in a bit ready for supper at 5,

Student nurse Liz commented on my daffodils   - she is a Cardiff girl and her mum sent her some daffodils and homemade Welsh cakes yesterday!

I am getting a bit fed up with hospital food and really want a steak. Never mind.

NMO lady back again to check on me and was pleased that I was more cheerful than this morning. They have made a referral back to GWH again. This will not please Julio, who doesn’t like GWH? I’m not looking forward to telling him! The thinking is that I won’t be ready to go to rehab just yet.

That brings us up to now, so will email this and possibly another update later or, more likely, tomorrow.

Love
me

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