Got back to the ward and was hoisted into bed.
Watched tv and was told that the line wasn’t coming out because I needed the clotting agent and it had been ordered but not arrived.
I was asked when I wanted to be settled, so I said around 22:30. (ready for the news, then Question Time then This week. For some reason, we had a light show with all the ward lights going on and off several times and then I think they just gave up and turned them all off. Luckily you don’t need light to watch tv or iPad.
22:30 came and went and then about 22:45 the blood clotting agent arrive, so it was just as well I was on my back! Lots and lots of scanning – me, Danielle the nurse, several bar codes on the bag of the agent. It was put in me via the line, so I lay there watching Question Time then the beginning of This Week, with regular checks of blood pressure. 2nd bag went in, and I gave up on This Week, got settled and went to sleep.
Today, 4th March
Woke up at 6, nappy change at 7. Decided not to have laxative (!).
The phlebotomist came to take another sample to check the clotting.
My day nurse, Wendy did the obs – sugars 5.9 meds and insulting (a lot of units).
Dr Leitte came with Dr Palace, who will be looking after me, they explained what was happening (transfer to G W H rehab unit, keep steroids high, appointment back here in 4 weeks). There had been talk of another lot of PEX, but that’s not necessary now.
It was decided that I could get out of bed and have shower! This involved me using the rotor lift. Then into the commode ( just a hole). And wheeled into the bathroom.
Took off my gown, and Kat came in with me to do everything. Started with my hair and shampoo and I did my top half while Kat did the nether reasons.
**** TOO MUCH INFORMATION WARNING *********
I was sitting in a commode with a hole. I have no control over my bowels. I’ll say no more.
OK now
At this point I began feeling faint, and told Kat. She called for help and I was rapidly taken back to bed. This was difficult as I had to be put back into bed. At this point I was having a hypo ( sugars 2.9) and very low blood pressure was 85/45 so I had several nurses all looking after me. I was lying with my feet higher than my head, I had to drink lots of water and my obs were being taken every 5 minutes. I was really well looked after by staff who cared about me – my hand was held, and my arm rubbed. Although I felt awful physically, I felt really good emotionally. A huge thank you to Sabrina and Mady.
Spend the rest of the morning in bed., with regular obs.
Specialist diabetes nurse came to talk about my sugar levels. It seems that part of the problem was that last night, I didn’t have my insulin until I had come back from downstairs, when it should have been with supper. My fault, as I said that I’d wait. So, we know what to do in future!
Had lunch in bed –orange juice, fish in breadcrumbs, peas and mash, apple.
NMO lady came to discuss things again, and talk about this morning ( word gets around quickly!); followed by the physio who also knew about this morning and said just keep on with the exercises for the rest of today and over the weekend, and we’ll start again back with a vengeance on Monday.
3pm Because of the problems with using the rotor and not being able to use it to get me into bed, we swapped my bed with the one diagonally opposite which goes lower, so I will be able to use the rotor for both in and out of bed. I got out of bed for the swap ( obviously!) and back in again, so that was a physio exercise in itself.
Julio was coming early to collect a parking permit, and was on a very tight schedule as it meant having a form from one of the nursing staff here. I’d asked Wendy for one, but she hadn’t had a chance to do it before she lef, so I asked Mady. Julio couldn’t arrive before 3 then had to collect the form from me and hike across the hospital to the car parking office. He had had a not very good telephone conversation with the car park person and was ready to do battle. When he finally got there, the lady was very nice, and he was given a permit for 7 days with no registration, so that any one car can use it at a time. It only cost £10, so as I am going to be here for more than 2 days (!) we are quids in.
Juli came back with the permit and sat with me. Pre supper sugars were , so we got a bowl of water and washed my fingers with soap and tried again – 21 this time. So today the levels have varied fro 2.9 to 24- interesting. Supper. Arrived – Apple juice, tuna salad, pears in light syrup Because of the fainting this morning, Mady and Sabrina were reluctant to let me out of the ward, but did in the end as long as I promised to behave and come straight back up if I started feeling faint, or tired. Had my meds and insulin.
Sian was on her way, so Juli took me down and had tea – he had a ham and cheese mustard hot sandwich and a lovely (I had a bite)French jambon buerre roll – it really tasted good and had gherkins in it. Proper French! He also had a raisin Danish and I had a bite of that too.
Back up to the ward, back into bed.
They are going to take the line out soon ( finally), so I’ll end now.
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