New Years Eve 2009
Pre-hip problems, we had planned to have a new years eve party.
However post-hip problems we decided it would be best to postpone it.
It would have been lovely to have friends over, especially as I really wanted to say goodbye to this horrible year, but I knew it wasn’t practical.
We said good riddance to 2009 and hello 2010 with a bottle of fizzy.
I was hoping 2010 will be better than last year. Knowing my luck however !!!!
Monday, 31 May 2010
Sunday, 30 May 2010
All I want for Christmas is a good nights sleep
Boxing day 2009
We had a nice lazy Boxing day where we hardly did a thing. I was really pleased about that as I was pretty tired.
I hadn’t been sleeping well for a while, due of my hip and my on-going pains, so decided to up my night time painkillers to five a night. The only down side was they would make me tired during the day – it was one of their side effects.
I’d cross that bridge when I came to it. All I wanted was a good nights sleep….
We had a nice lazy Boxing day where we hardly did a thing. I was really pleased about that as I was pretty tired.
I hadn’t been sleeping well for a while, due of my hip and my on-going pains, so decided to up my night time painkillers to five a night. The only down side was they would make me tired during the day – it was one of their side effects.
I’d cross that bridge when I came to it. All I wanted was a good nights sleep….
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Hippy Christmas
Christmas Day 2009
I was determined my hip wasn’t going to spoil Christmas day. So rather than moan and complain that I couldn’t do anything, which I had been doing for a while, I simply got on with it.
One of my surprise presents from John was a MP4 player. This would come in very handy when I next go into hospital as I would be able to watch some of my DVD’s.
While John went to collect my mam (it was our turn to have her this year), I tried to make a start on preparing the lunch.
Mam had been banished to a chair in the corner of the kitchen as John and myself (well mainly John) made lunch. She would have just taken over otherwise...
Mary rang that evening so we had a lovely Christmas chat.
I went to bed a happy and contented person. I’d had a great day and hardly gave my hip a second thought.
I was determined my hip wasn’t going to spoil Christmas day. So rather than moan and complain that I couldn’t do anything, which I had been doing for a while, I simply got on with it.
One of my surprise presents from John was a MP4 player. This would come in very handy when I next go into hospital as I would be able to watch some of my DVD’s.
While John went to collect my mam (it was our turn to have her this year), I tried to make a start on preparing the lunch.
Mam had been banished to a chair in the corner of the kitchen as John and myself (well mainly John) made lunch. She would have just taken over otherwise...
Mary rang that evening so we had a lovely Christmas chat.
I went to bed a happy and contented person. I’d had a great day and hardly gave my hip a second thought.
Friday, 28 May 2010
Lack of seasonal cheer
Christmas Eve 2009
Usually we go visit my mam’s and godparents on Christmas Eve afternoon to deliver our presents. Not this year though.
I couldn’t get up and down steps so I had to remain in the car while John dropped them all off at my mam’s. Again I felt very much like a spare part…
Even though the tree and decorations had been up since 12th December and I had been playing my Christmas music’s since 1st December, I still wasn’t really in the Christmas spirit. I blamed being stuck in hospital for eight weeks and having the threat of still being in there during Christmas, for my lack of seasonal joy.
Once the presents were put under the tree and the special Christmas eve bottle of fizzy opened, I began to feel in the festive mood.
Usually we go visit my mam’s and godparents on Christmas Eve afternoon to deliver our presents. Not this year though.
I couldn’t get up and down steps so I had to remain in the car while John dropped them all off at my mam’s. Again I felt very much like a spare part…
Even though the tree and decorations had been up since 12th December and I had been playing my Christmas music’s since 1st December, I still wasn’t really in the Christmas spirit. I blamed being stuck in hospital for eight weeks and having the threat of still being in there during Christmas, for my lack of seasonal joy.
Once the presents were put under the tree and the special Christmas eve bottle of fizzy opened, I began to feel in the festive mood.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Unhappy Christmas tree
Saturday 12th December 2009
Today we were putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.
Normally I love putting them up but this year I felt like a spare part. I could hardly do anything so John put most of them up himself.
I hate being like this….
Today we were putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.
Normally I love putting them up but this year I felt like a spare part. I could hardly do anything so John put most of them up himself.
I hate being like this….
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Decision day
Monday 15th December 2009
I had an appointment to see Kermit that afternoon, where I would have to give him my decision regarding the future of my hip.
John had to take a half day off work as there was no way I could get to the hospital on my own. Felt very guilty about him having to use his annual leave like this. As usual we couldn’t get parked so John dropped me off, then went home to wait for me ringing him.
When I arrived at ‘waiting area two’ there was a message saying that Kermit was running 45 minutes late - turned out to be two hours…
Shortly before I was due to see him I needed the loo desperately, so asked an auxiliary nurse where the disabled loos were, and could she make Kermit aware of where I had gone, in case my name was called.
It was my first time using a disabled loo, and you could tell who ever designed them wasn’t in a wheelchair !!!! Whilst I was in the loo I rang John to let him know that I was running a little later than planned.
I finally got to see Kermit at 4.38pm. He explained that he had had a chat with the plastic surgeon regarding my hip.
“That’s good”, I said, “as I’ve decided I’d like a new hip. That is if you’re willing to do it”.
“Oh yes”, he said, getting excited, “I really do love complex cases and yours will be in the top 10 of complicated”.
“That’s not to say I’m not capable of doing it”, he stressed, “it’s just that with you, there’s a lot more going on than with an ordinary hip replacement patient”.
“I’d like to see you again in two months”, he continued, “by which time an appointment could have come through for you to see the plastic surgeon”.
He then moved onto the subject of the infection. Looking through my notes, he said, “it is coming down, but not as quickly as I would have liked. I’d like you to have another blood test today. If the count is coming down, that great. If not, then I’d like to bring you back in to hospital so we can do more tests”.
“What kind of tests”, I said, not relishing the idea of going back into hospital.
“It’s nothing to worry about”, he replied, trying to reassure me, “we’ll take some fluid from your hip cavity. Test to see what germs are there, then give you antibiotics”.
I would be keeping my fingers firmly crossed that I didn’t have to go back into hospital.
“Have a great Christmas and I’ll see you in two months”, he said.
By the time I got to the nurses dressing room it was after five o’clock.
“Come in”, said the nurse, “what can I do for you”.
“Blood test”, I replied, handing her the slip that Kermit had given me, “I must warn you that I don’t have very good veins”.
The nurse looked at my arms, “I see what you mean”, she said, pressing to find a vein.
She then looked at the clock., “I haven’t got time to mess around finding a suitable vein”, she said, “I’m taking my granddaughter to the pantomime tonight after work and you’ll make me late. I’ll get someone else to do it”.
Charming !!
She went off to find another nurse, who on looking at my veins, said she wasn’t going to do it either.
“Thanks a lot”, I said, “what am I, a leper or something”.
Another nurse who was willing to take some blood from me was eventually found.
“You’re brave”, I said to her, “everyone else seems to be avoiding me”.
She smiled, “I’m used to problem veins”.
She had a look at my arms, “all it requires is a small needle”, she said, “I don’t know what all the fuss was about”.
Neither did I…
I had an appointment to see Kermit that afternoon, where I would have to give him my decision regarding the future of my hip.
John had to take a half day off work as there was no way I could get to the hospital on my own. Felt very guilty about him having to use his annual leave like this. As usual we couldn’t get parked so John dropped me off, then went home to wait for me ringing him.
When I arrived at ‘waiting area two’ there was a message saying that Kermit was running 45 minutes late - turned out to be two hours…
Shortly before I was due to see him I needed the loo desperately, so asked an auxiliary nurse where the disabled loos were, and could she make Kermit aware of where I had gone, in case my name was called.
It was my first time using a disabled loo, and you could tell who ever designed them wasn’t in a wheelchair !!!! Whilst I was in the loo I rang John to let him know that I was running a little later than planned.
I finally got to see Kermit at 4.38pm. He explained that he had had a chat with the plastic surgeon regarding my hip.
“That’s good”, I said, “as I’ve decided I’d like a new hip. That is if you’re willing to do it”.
“Oh yes”, he said, getting excited, “I really do love complex cases and yours will be in the top 10 of complicated”.
“That’s not to say I’m not capable of doing it”, he stressed, “it’s just that with you, there’s a lot more going on than with an ordinary hip replacement patient”.
“I’d like to see you again in two months”, he continued, “by which time an appointment could have come through for you to see the plastic surgeon”.
He then moved onto the subject of the infection. Looking through my notes, he said, “it is coming down, but not as quickly as I would have liked. I’d like you to have another blood test today. If the count is coming down, that great. If not, then I’d like to bring you back in to hospital so we can do more tests”.
“What kind of tests”, I said, not relishing the idea of going back into hospital.
“It’s nothing to worry about”, he replied, trying to reassure me, “we’ll take some fluid from your hip cavity. Test to see what germs are there, then give you antibiotics”.
I would be keeping my fingers firmly crossed that I didn’t have to go back into hospital.
“Have a great Christmas and I’ll see you in two months”, he said.
By the time I got to the nurses dressing room it was after five o’clock.
“Come in”, said the nurse, “what can I do for you”.
“Blood test”, I replied, handing her the slip that Kermit had given me, “I must warn you that I don’t have very good veins”.
The nurse looked at my arms, “I see what you mean”, she said, pressing to find a vein.
She then looked at the clock., “I haven’t got time to mess around finding a suitable vein”, she said, “I’m taking my granddaughter to the pantomime tonight after work and you’ll make me late. I’ll get someone else to do it”.
Charming !!
She went off to find another nurse, who on looking at my veins, said she wasn’t going to do it either.
“Thanks a lot”, I said, “what am I, a leper or something”.
Another nurse who was willing to take some blood from me was eventually found.
“You’re brave”, I said to her, “everyone else seems to be avoiding me”.
She smiled, “I’m used to problem veins”.
She had a look at my arms, “all it requires is a small needle”, she said, “I don’t know what all the fuss was about”.
Neither did I…
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Frustrating
Monday 23rd November 2009
Now that I was trying to be as mobile as I could, I was starting to get more and more frustrated.
Everything now takes longer to do. Something as simple as getting up from the sofa would takes a few minutes to do, whereas before it would have been seconds.
My shoulders, arms and hands ached with having to use the crutches and my arms were covered in bruises from the crutches.
As I needed to use both hands to walk or stand, I wasn’t able to carry even the simplest of things like an onion or a can of coke. Thank goodness for pockets !!!!
I felt really guilty having to ask John to do lots of things for me because I couldn’t. I knew he didn’t mind but I did.
Not being able to do anything really made me think that the option of major hip surgery was the only way to go.
Now that I was trying to be as mobile as I could, I was starting to get more and more frustrated.
Everything now takes longer to do. Something as simple as getting up from the sofa would takes a few minutes to do, whereas before it would have been seconds.
My shoulders, arms and hands ached with having to use the crutches and my arms were covered in bruises from the crutches.
As I needed to use both hands to walk or stand, I wasn’t able to carry even the simplest of things like an onion or a can of coke. Thank goodness for pockets !!!!
I felt really guilty having to ask John to do lots of things for me because I couldn’t. I knew he didn’t mind but I did.
Not being able to do anything really made me think that the option of major hip surgery was the only way to go.
Monday, 24 May 2010
Bathing delight
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Since June I hadn’t been able to have a bath because of my pressure sore. Now that it wasn’t an issue any more, and I didn’t have a new hip to worry about, I had my first bath in months. It was wonderful !!!!
I had tried showering. I even bought a brand new shower stool from Ebay, but the shower curtain kept getting in the way. When it sticks to your skin, it’s icy cold !!!!
Using my new stool, I’d sit next to the bath while John would lift my legs, then I would slide into the bath. To get out, it was on the count of three and John would heave me onto the bath ledge. I would then wiggle onto the stool and John would lift my legs out of the bath.
A loss of dignity, perhaps, but that went out of the window ages ago….
Since June I hadn’t been able to have a bath because of my pressure sore. Now that it wasn’t an issue any more, and I didn’t have a new hip to worry about, I had my first bath in months. It was wonderful !!!!
I had tried showering. I even bought a brand new shower stool from Ebay, but the shower curtain kept getting in the way. When it sticks to your skin, it’s icy cold !!!!
Using my new stool, I’d sit next to the bath while John would lift my legs, then I would slide into the bath. To get out, it was on the count of three and John would heave me onto the bath ledge. I would then wiggle onto the stool and John would lift my legs out of the bath.
A loss of dignity, perhaps, but that went out of the window ages ago….
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Things you notice
Saturday 21st November 2009
There were several things I noticed whilst being in a wheelchair:
Pedestrians/shoppers don’t see you so they walk into the wheelchair or you have to get out of their way pretty quick.
Because of cars who parked part on the road and part on the pavement, it was either extremely tight manoeuvring past or we had to take to the road because we couldn’t fit through the small gap. I was thinking of getting a device fitted to the wheels, which when I pressed a button, metal spikes would come out and scratch the side of the cars as I went past them…
Foot paths were in a terrible condition. The flagstones were so uneven so the ride was extremely bumpy.
Not all shops in our local high street were wheelchair accessible. There was one shop which had a huge step to get inside. Wheelchair uses were advised to press a bell to gain the assistance attention – the bell was over six feet off the ground !!!!
There were several things I noticed whilst being in a wheelchair:
Pedestrians/shoppers don’t see you so they walk into the wheelchair or you have to get out of their way pretty quick.
Because of cars who parked part on the road and part on the pavement, it was either extremely tight manoeuvring past or we had to take to the road because we couldn’t fit through the small gap. I was thinking of getting a device fitted to the wheels, which when I pressed a button, metal spikes would come out and scratch the side of the cars as I went past them…
Foot paths were in a terrible condition. The flagstones were so uneven so the ride was extremely bumpy.
Not all shops in our local high street were wheelchair accessible. There was one shop which had a huge step to get inside. Wheelchair uses were advised to press a bell to gain the assistance attention – the bell was over six feet off the ground !!!!
Saturday, 22 May 2010
First day on my own
Wednesday 18th November 2009
John had to go back to work today so I was on my own for the first time since coming out of hospital.
Our normal breakfast routine had to change as I wasn’t now able to do very much. Instead of me getting breakfast ready for John like I used to, it was now a joint effort.
Unless I drank them in the cold kitchen, drinks throughout the day weren’t possible as I couldn’t carry them. So we bought a large flask, a container to keep milk in and a small table, and put them next to the sofa. I now had a little picnic table….
Because I couldn’t use my hands to carry anything, my dad’s old rucksack was ideal to put things in, then strap it to my back. Perfect !!
John had to go back to work today so I was on my own for the first time since coming out of hospital.
Our normal breakfast routine had to change as I wasn’t now able to do very much. Instead of me getting breakfast ready for John like I used to, it was now a joint effort.
Unless I drank them in the cold kitchen, drinks throughout the day weren’t possible as I couldn’t carry them. So we bought a large flask, a container to keep milk in and a small table, and put them next to the sofa. I now had a little picnic table….
Because I couldn’t use my hands to carry anything, my dad’s old rucksack was ideal to put things in, then strap it to my back. Perfect !!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Another big step
Tuesday 17th November 2009
I decided to try walking with my crutches again, but this time wearing shoes instead of slippers.
John suggested I should try and get out of the front door. It took a little time, and had to have help from John, but I managed it.
Still haven’t come to a decision yet about the two options Kermit gave me yesterday. Both options had their good and bad points. I thought it was best just to put it out of my mind for the time being.
I decided to try walking with my crutches again, but this time wearing shoes instead of slippers.
John suggested I should try and get out of the front door. It took a little time, and had to have help from John, but I managed it.
Still haven’t come to a decision yet about the two options Kermit gave me yesterday. Both options had their good and bad points. I thought it was best just to put it out of my mind for the time being.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Visit to see Kermit
Monday 16th November 2009
I had an appointment to see Kermit that morning at the hospital. It would be the first time I had seen him since I was discharged from hospital.
As John couldn’t find a car park space (no surprises there…) he dropped me off then went home to wait for a phone call from me saying I was ready to be collected.
While I was waiting in the long queue at the reception desk, a man behind me started to rest his arms on the handles of my wheelchair. Then every time the queue started to move he insisted on pushing me. No amount of ‘I’m fine thanks’, would stop him from doing it. I was not amused…
When my name was called a nurse took me to one side and quietly asked, “is your wound dry”.
“Yes”, I replied.
“Good”, she said, “please go to waiting area two”.
“Hello”, said Kermit, “you are looking much better. I’m really pleased about that”.
“That’s what proper food does to you”, I replied.
He asked how I had been managing at home.
“Fine thanks”, I said, “I’m even walking a little using crutches”.
He had a look and a prod at my wound, “I’m pleased with that”, he said, “the area is soft and not hard, so there isn’t a build up of fluid”.
“So”, he said, sitting back down on the examination table, “lets talk about the future, shall we.
There are two options. Do nothing or put a new hip in. Doing nothing is the easy option, though it would mean that you remain as you are now, in a wheelchair, and on crutches. You’ve gone through a considerable amount recently. Do you want to put yourself through yet more trips to the woodshed”.
I smiled, “Ok. I can see where you’re coming from. Option two”.
“Option two”, he continued, “would mean two lots of major surgery. At least five hours for me to put in a new hip and at least five hours for plastics to do a muscle transplant and a skin graft”.
I knew that there were problems and risks in putting in subsequent hip replacements so asked Kermit for his advice.
“There will be about a 60% chance of successfully putting in a new hip. However it’ll be a tough 100% challenge for me”.
“Don’t get me wrong”, he stressed, “I love doing complex operations. The harder, the better. There is no rush in making your decision. I want you to have a good think about both options and we’ll see you in a months time”.
Sadly I wasn’t finished with the hospital yet as I needed to have a blood test to check the infection levels. While I waited nearly two hours to have the blood test done, I had a chat with a couple of people I knew from my stay in hospital – Dr Richard, Marilyn, an auxiliary nurse from Ward 43 and Michael, the patient from ward 44 who had had his leg amputated.
After I eventually had my blood test, John collected me and we went to the Metro Centre.
I had an appointment to see Kermit that morning at the hospital. It would be the first time I had seen him since I was discharged from hospital.
As John couldn’t find a car park space (no surprises there…) he dropped me off then went home to wait for a phone call from me saying I was ready to be collected.
While I was waiting in the long queue at the reception desk, a man behind me started to rest his arms on the handles of my wheelchair. Then every time the queue started to move he insisted on pushing me. No amount of ‘I’m fine thanks’, would stop him from doing it. I was not amused…
When my name was called a nurse took me to one side and quietly asked, “is your wound dry”.
“Yes”, I replied.
“Good”, she said, “please go to waiting area two”.
“Hello”, said Kermit, “you are looking much better. I’m really pleased about that”.
“That’s what proper food does to you”, I replied.
He asked how I had been managing at home.
“Fine thanks”, I said, “I’m even walking a little using crutches”.
He had a look and a prod at my wound, “I’m pleased with that”, he said, “the area is soft and not hard, so there isn’t a build up of fluid”.
“So”, he said, sitting back down on the examination table, “lets talk about the future, shall we.
There are two options. Do nothing or put a new hip in. Doing nothing is the easy option, though it would mean that you remain as you are now, in a wheelchair, and on crutches. You’ve gone through a considerable amount recently. Do you want to put yourself through yet more trips to the woodshed”.
I smiled, “Ok. I can see where you’re coming from. Option two”.
“Option two”, he continued, “would mean two lots of major surgery. At least five hours for me to put in a new hip and at least five hours for plastics to do a muscle transplant and a skin graft”.
I knew that there were problems and risks in putting in subsequent hip replacements so asked Kermit for his advice.
“There will be about a 60% chance of successfully putting in a new hip. However it’ll be a tough 100% challenge for me”.
“Don’t get me wrong”, he stressed, “I love doing complex operations. The harder, the better. There is no rush in making your decision. I want you to have a good think about both options and we’ll see you in a months time”.
Sadly I wasn’t finished with the hospital yet as I needed to have a blood test to check the infection levels. While I waited nearly two hours to have the blood test done, I had a chat with a couple of people I knew from my stay in hospital – Dr Richard, Marilyn, an auxiliary nurse from Ward 43 and Michael, the patient from ward 44 who had had his leg amputated.
After I eventually had my blood test, John collected me and we went to the Metro Centre.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Dignity, always dignity
Saturday 14th November 2009
I had a major loss of dignity that night. I needed the loo pretty badly. The stair lift only has one speed – extremely slow – so when you’re desperate for a wee, it seems to take an eternity to get to the top of the stairs.
The loo was only a few steps away but when you’re trying to manoeuvre a zimmer in a small space, and holding things in (so to speak….) it wasn’t that easy. Consequently I got so frustrated with not being able to move my zimmer that I ‘let go’ and wet the floor and the loo mat.
I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to be the last ‘wee wee’ disaster I had…
I had a major loss of dignity that night. I needed the loo pretty badly. The stair lift only has one speed – extremely slow – so when you’re desperate for a wee, it seems to take an eternity to get to the top of the stairs.
The loo was only a few steps away but when you’re trying to manoeuvre a zimmer in a small space, and holding things in (so to speak….) it wasn’t that easy. Consequently I got so frustrated with not being able to move my zimmer that I ‘let go’ and wet the floor and the loo mat.
I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to be the last ‘wee wee’ disaster I had…
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Floppy leg
Friday 13th November
Had another visit from the district nurse. It was Pam who also worked at my GP’s surgery and who had been treating my pressure sore.
Margaret, the district nurse who came out on Monday, had told her what had happened. She had a look at my hip and was pleased with how the redness was going down. She also had a look at the burn on my knee. There was still a little dead skin on my knee so she suggested I gently rubbed it when I’d been in the shower to remove it.
One thing which I didn’t notice when I was in hospital, was how floppy my leg was without having a hip. In bed I would ‘loose’ my leg as it would fall out of the bed and I wouldn’t notice until I came to turn over and found I couldn’t…
Had another visit from the district nurse. It was Pam who also worked at my GP’s surgery and who had been treating my pressure sore.
Margaret, the district nurse who came out on Monday, had told her what had happened. She had a look at my hip and was pleased with how the redness was going down. She also had a look at the burn on my knee. There was still a little dead skin on my knee so she suggested I gently rubbed it when I’d been in the shower to remove it.
One thing which I didn’t notice when I was in hospital, was how floppy my leg was without having a hip. In bed I would ‘loose’ my leg as it would fall out of the bed and I wouldn’t notice until I came to turn over and found I couldn’t…
Monday, 17 May 2010
One small step
Wednesday 11th November
The elbow crutches I bought from eBay arrived today.
I was a little shaky using them so was glad John was on hand just in case I needed him.
It would take a couple of days before I would be confident enough to go solo with them, but I was just happy to be making some improvement.
The elbow crutches I bought from eBay arrived today.
I was a little shaky using them so was glad John was on hand just in case I needed him.
It would take a couple of days before I would be confident enough to go solo with them, but I was just happy to be making some improvement.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
The wonders of eBay
Monday 9th November
Went to the Wessington pub for lunch. It was the first time I’d been out for something to eat since my birthday. I hope I eat a little more than I did then….
Sadly the pub had changed their menu so our usual ‘ham, eggs and chips’ wasn’t there anymore. We settled for ‘sausage, eggs and chips’, which was just as nice.
Afterwards we went to Makro and I tired out my new gloves. As I was moving around a lot more at home than I was in hospital, my hands were getting sore with gripping the zimmer frame and propelling the wheelchair. John came up with the idea of wearing cycling gloves as they had padded palms. I bought them on eBay on Friday and they arrived that morning. They worked perfectly so I ordered another couple of pairs.
Although I had been using elbow crutches in hospital, the physio’s wouldn’t give me a pair to take home with me as I hadn’t had much practice on them. A referral would be made for me to be assessed to start using them again, and I would be notified of this by post. The referral letter arrived that morning. Someone would be coming out to see me in six months time !!!
I decided to take matters into my own hands so ordered a pair of brand new crutches (even better ones than they had in hospital) on eBay for £15.
Had a phone call from Mary to say she had been discharged from hospital. Like me, she was over the moon to be home.
Went to the Wessington pub for lunch. It was the first time I’d been out for something to eat since my birthday. I hope I eat a little more than I did then….
Sadly the pub had changed their menu so our usual ‘ham, eggs and chips’ wasn’t there anymore. We settled for ‘sausage, eggs and chips’, which was just as nice.
Afterwards we went to Makro and I tired out my new gloves. As I was moving around a lot more at home than I was in hospital, my hands were getting sore with gripping the zimmer frame and propelling the wheelchair. John came up with the idea of wearing cycling gloves as they had padded palms. I bought them on eBay on Friday and they arrived that morning. They worked perfectly so I ordered another couple of pairs.
Although I had been using elbow crutches in hospital, the physio’s wouldn’t give me a pair to take home with me as I hadn’t had much practice on them. A referral would be made for me to be assessed to start using them again, and I would be notified of this by post. The referral letter arrived that morning. Someone would be coming out to see me in six months time !!!
I decided to take matters into my own hands so ordered a pair of brand new crutches (even better ones than they had in hospital) on eBay for £15.
Had a phone call from Mary to say she had been discharged from hospital. Like me, she was over the moon to be home.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Sleeping for England
Saturday 7th November 2009
Had to get up during the night to go to the loo. Sadly there was no nurse to buzz for a bed pan… John got up with me to make sure I was ok getting there.
Even though I was sleeping ok, I was still extremely tired, so didn’t get up until 11.45am.
I was just changing out of my night shirt when I disparately needed to go to the loo for a number two. My IBS had returned and unfortunately it didn’t know that I wasn’t able to run to the loo. Enough said !!!
After lunch I felt like a walking zombie so went back to bed. I think the eight weeks of having no sleep had finally caught up with me.
Had to get up during the night to go to the loo. Sadly there was no nurse to buzz for a bed pan… John got up with me to make sure I was ok getting there.
Even though I was sleeping ok, I was still extremely tired, so didn’t get up until 11.45am.
I was just changing out of my night shirt when I disparately needed to go to the loo for a number two. My IBS had returned and unfortunately it didn’t know that I wasn’t able to run to the loo. Enough said !!!
After lunch I felt like a walking zombie so went back to bed. I think the eight weeks of having no sleep had finally caught up with me.
Friday, 14 May 2010
Catching up
Friday 6th November 2009
The redness on my hip was really going down, so I was really pleased about that.
My skin was still very itchy (never did get the moisturiser that was supposed to have been prescribed to me when I was in hospital) so took some Piriton and lathered myself in loads of moisturiser that I bought from Morrisons the day before.
Margaret, one of the district nurses from our GP surgery, popped into see me. Kermit had asked that they visit me to see how my wound was getting on. The last time I saw Margaret was in the treatment room the day I was admitted into hospital so I had lots to tell her.
After lunch we went shopping for a new pair of slippers. The pair I had in hospital were stained of blood from the many times my wound had leaked on them, and I couldn’t fit into my old pair as my feet were still swollen.
As it was Friday it was wine and pizza night. Two pizzas in three days – sure beats hospital food any day !!!!
The redness on my hip was really going down, so I was really pleased about that.
My skin was still very itchy (never did get the moisturiser that was supposed to have been prescribed to me when I was in hospital) so took some Piriton and lathered myself in loads of moisturiser that I bought from Morrisons the day before.
Margaret, one of the district nurses from our GP surgery, popped into see me. Kermit had asked that they visit me to see how my wound was getting on. The last time I saw Margaret was in the treatment room the day I was admitted into hospital so I had lots to tell her.
After lunch we went shopping for a new pair of slippers. The pair I had in hospital were stained of blood from the many times my wound had leaked on them, and I couldn’t fit into my old pair as my feet were still swollen.
As it was Friday it was wine and pizza night. Two pizzas in three days – sure beats hospital food any day !!!!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
My first full day of freedom
Thursday 5th November 2009
I had my first good night sleep in weeks. It was wonderful !!!
John had started two weeks leave from work yesterday so there was no need for us to get up early. It was lovely not to be woken up at 6am…
I had my first outing ‘as a free person’ when we went shopping at Morrisons. Normally I have temper tantrums when I shop in Morrisons, but not today. I was just so glad to be out of hospital.
When we got back from Morrisons there was a message waiting on the answer machine from Mary. She was ringing to see how I was enjoying my freedom. Very much thank you !!!!
I had my first good night sleep in weeks. It was wonderful !!!
John had started two weeks leave from work yesterday so there was no need for us to get up early. It was lovely not to be woken up at 6am…
I had my first outing ‘as a free person’ when we went shopping at Morrisons. Normally I have temper tantrums when I shop in Morrisons, but not today. I was just so glad to be out of hospital.
When we got back from Morrisons there was a message waiting on the answer machine from Mary. She was ringing to see how I was enjoying my freedom. Very much thank you !!!!
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Day 57 – Yippee !!!!
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Kermit arrived just before 8am and I fully intended to become the patient from Hell. No more ‘Mrs Nice Guy’. I was well and truly fed up….
“How are you today”, he asked.
Before I had the chance to become the patient from Hell, nurse Tracey who was accompanying him said, “she’s really fed up and wants to go home”.
Kermit had a look at my hip.
“Will you be ok to cope with things at home”, he asked.
“Yes”, I practically yelled at him.
“Ok, you can go home”, he said.
“What! Today”, I asked.
“Yes”, he smiled.
If he had been within touching distance I would have given him the biggest hug he had ever had.
“Thank you”, I beamed at him.
As soon as Kermit was out of the room I phoned John to tell him the good news.
“Yippee!!!” were his first words.
I then rang my mam who burst into tears…
News of my release spread like wild fire around the ward. Mel, one of the auxiliary nurses, ran down the ward and gave me a huge hug. I went to tell Mary but she already knew because of all the fuss the nurses were making over me. Mel had arranged it so I could have breakfast in Mary’s room. Even though I was over the moon at going home, I was also sad to be leaving Mary.
No sooner had I finished my breakfast, Tracey said “you’ve got 10 minutes to pack”.
“I’m still in my nightclothes and I haven’t been washed yet”, I said.
“There’s no time for you to get washed”, she said, “we need your room. If you’re not ready in 10 minutes time, the discharge nurse will go without you”.
Instead of going to my room to pack, I went to say goodbye to Michael.
“I hear you’re going home”, he smiled.
“News travels fast”, I said, “sorry I never got a chance to chat with you yesterday, but I didn’t want to disturb you, as I gather you were in a lot of pain after your trip to the woodshed”.
Tracey was hovering outside Michael’s room.
“I’ve got to go”, I said, “take care of yourself and remember what I told you”.
“Don’t let my leg win”, he repeated.
While I got dressed, Tracey began stuffing all my belongings into carrier bags. A few minutes later the discharge nurse arrived to take me down to the ‘discharge lounge’. Tracey gave me a big huge, “good luck”, she said.
Mary and Liz the domestic cleaner were waiting outside of Mary’s room. I asked the discharge nurse if she could stop for a few moments while I said goodbye to them. All three of us were in tears as I hugged each of them goodbye.
After filling in various bits of release paperwork in the discharge lounge, I waited for John to come and collect me.
It was an unbelievable feeling of joy when I finally left the grounds of the hospital. I was so looking forward to a decent shower, a larger glass of wine – and a pizza….
Kermit arrived just before 8am and I fully intended to become the patient from Hell. No more ‘Mrs Nice Guy’. I was well and truly fed up….
“How are you today”, he asked.
Before I had the chance to become the patient from Hell, nurse Tracey who was accompanying him said, “she’s really fed up and wants to go home”.
Kermit had a look at my hip.
“Will you be ok to cope with things at home”, he asked.
“Yes”, I practically yelled at him.
“Ok, you can go home”, he said.
“What! Today”, I asked.
“Yes”, he smiled.
If he had been within touching distance I would have given him the biggest hug he had ever had.
“Thank you”, I beamed at him.
As soon as Kermit was out of the room I phoned John to tell him the good news.
“Yippee!!!” were his first words.
I then rang my mam who burst into tears…
News of my release spread like wild fire around the ward. Mel, one of the auxiliary nurses, ran down the ward and gave me a huge hug. I went to tell Mary but she already knew because of all the fuss the nurses were making over me. Mel had arranged it so I could have breakfast in Mary’s room. Even though I was over the moon at going home, I was also sad to be leaving Mary.
No sooner had I finished my breakfast, Tracey said “you’ve got 10 minutes to pack”.
“I’m still in my nightclothes and I haven’t been washed yet”, I said.
“There’s no time for you to get washed”, she said, “we need your room. If you’re not ready in 10 minutes time, the discharge nurse will go without you”.
Instead of going to my room to pack, I went to say goodbye to Michael.
“I hear you’re going home”, he smiled.
“News travels fast”, I said, “sorry I never got a chance to chat with you yesterday, but I didn’t want to disturb you, as I gather you were in a lot of pain after your trip to the woodshed”.
Tracey was hovering outside Michael’s room.
“I’ve got to go”, I said, “take care of yourself and remember what I told you”.
“Don’t let my leg win”, he repeated.
While I got dressed, Tracey began stuffing all my belongings into carrier bags. A few minutes later the discharge nurse arrived to take me down to the ‘discharge lounge’. Tracey gave me a big huge, “good luck”, she said.
Mary and Liz the domestic cleaner were waiting outside of Mary’s room. I asked the discharge nurse if she could stop for a few moments while I said goodbye to them. All three of us were in tears as I hugged each of them goodbye.
After filling in various bits of release paperwork in the discharge lounge, I waited for John to come and collect me.
It was an unbelievable feeling of joy when I finally left the grounds of the hospital. I was so looking forward to a decent shower, a larger glass of wine – and a pizza….
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Day 56 – It wasn’t fair
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
It had been nearly two days since Kermit prescribed the cortisone cream and still no cream. Why didn’t that surprise me.
Sister Clarke popped into see me during breakfast and asked if I had received it yet.
“Not yet”, I said.
“Leave it with me”, she replied.
Ran, the charge nurse who was on secondment, came into my room just before nine o’clock.
“Sister Clarke has given me this”, he said. It was my cortisone cream, “have you used this before”.
“No”, replied.
He removed my dressing then said, “make sure you put the cream all over your hip, not just on the red bits”.
“Even on my scar”, I asked.
“All over”, he said.
Later that morning Mary called in to see me. She was a little upset.
“I’ve got some bad new”, she said, “Mr Gill (her consultant) is going to London for a week so he won’t let me go home until he returns”.
Mary had been building up her hopes that she could be going home today.
As Kermit hadn’t been that morning I asked Gill, one of the auxiliary nurses, if he was due to come today. She replied she wasn’t sure but would ask Sister Clarke.
She came back about five minutes later to say that he had been on the ward but just asked if my hip was still red.
After lunch I called into see Mary to tell her that I’d finally received the cortisone cream.
“Lets have a look at your redness”, she asked.
I looked down at my hip and saw several small blisters along my scar line.
Tracey, one of the staff nurses, walked past Mary’s room so I asked if she could spare a minute to have a look at the blisters.
“They’ve just come on since I started using the cortisone cream, I said.
“Lets go to your room and I’ll have a better look”, she said.
Back in my room Tracey had a good look at the blisters.
“Don’t worry”, she said, “it’s nothing serious. The cream is too strong for your wound line”.
“Ran told me to put it all over my hip”, I said.
“Forget what Ran said”, replied Tracey, “don’t put any cream on your scar”.
The bay opposite my side room was now occupied with women and I said hello to one of them as I passed her going to the loo.
“I’m sick of this bloody place”, she moaned, “I wish I could get out of this bloody place as I’m bloody fed up”.
She, along with the rest of the women in that bay, had only been on the ward since Sunday. I really wanted to say to her ‘if you’re fed up after three days, try nearly eight weeks…’.
A little later I could hear an argument taking place outside the nurses station. It was between Ran and a woman from the ladies bay.
“I’ve got two children to look after and have to get home”, she shouted, “I could do all this (meaning her hip replacement exercises) at home and come back in a couple of days”.
Ran told her in no uncertain terms that she was not going home today.
“My husband works for Northumbria Police”, she yelled, “he has had to waste leave to look after our children. I have to get home”.
Alicia, the physio, was also been given a hard time from women from the same bay.
“Slow down”, she kept telling her, “you’ll fall”.
“I’ve got to go home”, moaned the woman, “the sooner I get myself walking, the quicker I’ll go home”.
“You’re not ready to go home”, replied Alicia, “you can hardly walk”.
Both Mary and myself were less than impressed that evening when the woman who had the argument with Ran had been allowed to go home.
“It’s because we don’t shout or make our mouth go”, complained Mary, “if we did, they’d get rid of us pretty quick”.
“I intend to become the patient from Hell tomorrow”, I said, “Kermit won’t know what hit him….”.
It had been nearly two days since Kermit prescribed the cortisone cream and still no cream. Why didn’t that surprise me.
Sister Clarke popped into see me during breakfast and asked if I had received it yet.
“Not yet”, I said.
“Leave it with me”, she replied.
Ran, the charge nurse who was on secondment, came into my room just before nine o’clock.
“Sister Clarke has given me this”, he said. It was my cortisone cream, “have you used this before”.
“No”, replied.
He removed my dressing then said, “make sure you put the cream all over your hip, not just on the red bits”.
“Even on my scar”, I asked.
“All over”, he said.
Later that morning Mary called in to see me. She was a little upset.
“I’ve got some bad new”, she said, “Mr Gill (her consultant) is going to London for a week so he won’t let me go home until he returns”.
Mary had been building up her hopes that she could be going home today.
As Kermit hadn’t been that morning I asked Gill, one of the auxiliary nurses, if he was due to come today. She replied she wasn’t sure but would ask Sister Clarke.
She came back about five minutes later to say that he had been on the ward but just asked if my hip was still red.
After lunch I called into see Mary to tell her that I’d finally received the cortisone cream.
“Lets have a look at your redness”, she asked.
I looked down at my hip and saw several small blisters along my scar line.
Tracey, one of the staff nurses, walked past Mary’s room so I asked if she could spare a minute to have a look at the blisters.
“They’ve just come on since I started using the cortisone cream, I said.
“Lets go to your room and I’ll have a better look”, she said.
Back in my room Tracey had a good look at the blisters.
“Don’t worry”, she said, “it’s nothing serious. The cream is too strong for your wound line”.
“Ran told me to put it all over my hip”, I said.
“Forget what Ran said”, replied Tracey, “don’t put any cream on your scar”.
The bay opposite my side room was now occupied with women and I said hello to one of them as I passed her going to the loo.
“I’m sick of this bloody place”, she moaned, “I wish I could get out of this bloody place as I’m bloody fed up”.
She, along with the rest of the women in that bay, had only been on the ward since Sunday. I really wanted to say to her ‘if you’re fed up after three days, try nearly eight weeks…’.
A little later I could hear an argument taking place outside the nurses station. It was between Ran and a woman from the ladies bay.
“I’ve got two children to look after and have to get home”, she shouted, “I could do all this (meaning her hip replacement exercises) at home and come back in a couple of days”.
Ran told her in no uncertain terms that she was not going home today.
“My husband works for Northumbria Police”, she yelled, “he has had to waste leave to look after our children. I have to get home”.
Alicia, the physio, was also been given a hard time from women from the same bay.
“Slow down”, she kept telling her, “you’ll fall”.
“I’ve got to go home”, moaned the woman, “the sooner I get myself walking, the quicker I’ll go home”.
“You’re not ready to go home”, replied Alicia, “you can hardly walk”.
Both Mary and myself were less than impressed that evening when the woman who had the argument with Ran had been allowed to go home.
“It’s because we don’t shout or make our mouth go”, complained Mary, “if we did, they’d get rid of us pretty quick”.
“I intend to become the patient from Hell tomorrow”, I said, “Kermit won’t know what hit him….”.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Day 55 – The plastic man
Monday 2nd November 2009
Around 3am I buzzed for a bed pan. The bank auxiliary nurse came into my room.
“What do you want”, she asked.
“Can I have a pan please”, I replied.
“Why do you need one”, she said, “you can walk, can’t you”.
I was not a happy bunny, “Yes I can walk, a little”, I replied, “however it’s much easier on a night time if I have a pan. You gave all the men a bottle last night, even though they can walk better than me. Why can’t I have one”.
She huffed, then went to get the bed pan – no doubt one from the freezer !!!
When the senior nightshift nurse handed over to the dayshift staff, she mentioned that Kermit had prescribed some cortisone cream for my allergy to the drainage bag. Susamma said she couldn’t understand why this was needed as the drainage bag she used was fine. Tracey agreed, and said there didn’t appear to be anything wrong with the dressing when she last looked at it. The last time they both looked at my dressing was last Monday. It had been changed several times since then…
Both myself and Mary made a complaint about the relief weekend domestic cleaner. I called her ‘speedy’ or ‘smiler’ as she wasn’t either of those things !!! Our rooms are supposed to be cleaned every day, yet all ‘speedy’ did was bring us cups of tea. Both of our rooms were filthy. The ward loos, which had to be cleaned three times a day, hadn’t been cleaned since Friday evening so they too were disgusting. The domestic services manager had a look at both our rooms, and the loos, and was appalled at the state of them. She assured us that ‘speedy’ would never work on the ward again.
Kermit called into see me and was impressed that my wound had kept dry. I asked him when the plastic man would be coming to see me.
“Has he not been”, he asked.
“No”, I said.
He was not amused.
Had a good chat with Michael, who was in side room one. He was originally in the men’s ward but they moved him into side room one that morning. He had called into see me yesterday evening, but was only there for a couple of minutes as he was called away for his IV antibiotics. Michael explained that having had severe problems with his left leg, he had just had it amputated. His wound wasn’t healing properly so he was to have a washout tomorrow.
One of the nurses had just brought me my lunch – jacket potatoes, beef burger, without a bun, and tin spaghetti (yes, it was revolting….) – when there was a knock at my door.
“Mrs Harper”, said the man.
“Yes”, I replied.
He held out his hand, “I’m the registrar plastic surgeon. Pleased to meet you”.
He noticed I was having lunch, “I can see I’m disturbing your lunch so I’ll come back a little later”.
“No”, I said, “please stay”.
“Ok, but on one condition”, he replied, “that you continue eating your lunch”.
I looked down at my place, “that might be easier said than done…”, I said.
He apologised for no one coming to see me on Friday. The referral which Kermit had sent had got lost. It would seem that Kermit had words with them as soon as he had seen me that morning.
We had a long chat. He wasn’t convinced that the redness on my hip was caused by an allergy. He thought it was due to a build up of fluid in the hip cavity.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear”, I said, “how come though, as soon as the bag was removed, the redness went down. Plus when the skin is pressed it’s not solid”.
He couldn’t explain why but he was sticking to his fluid theory.
I asked him about Kermit’s plan to have some muscle put into the hip cavity.
“You’ve been through such a lot these past seven weeks”, he said, “you don’t need any more surgery at the moment. Let Mother Nature do what she does best and heal your wound”.
“Happy with that”, I smiled.
When I was in Mary’s room, Sister Clarke came looking for me.
“What did plastics say”, she asked, “as he hasn’t written anything in your notes – which he’s supposed to – and Mr Green wants to know”.
I told her what he had said.
Had a long chat with Michael after evening visitors had left as he was really worried about his washout.
“You’ll only be in the woodshed for about half an hour”, I said, trying to set his mind at rest.
He looked puzzled, “what’s the woodshed”.
“It’s what I call theatre”, I said, “as it makes it sound less clinical. I’ve even got Mr Green saying it now”.
“I like the sound of that”, replied Michael, “I think I’ll use it. Where did you get the name woodshed from”.
“I heard it mentioned once on Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, I said, “the mayor said if he caught any vampires feeding against his wishes, he would take them down to the woodshed. It sort of fitted theatre perfectly”.
Around 3am I buzzed for a bed pan. The bank auxiliary nurse came into my room.
“What do you want”, she asked.
“Can I have a pan please”, I replied.
“Why do you need one”, she said, “you can walk, can’t you”.
I was not a happy bunny, “Yes I can walk, a little”, I replied, “however it’s much easier on a night time if I have a pan. You gave all the men a bottle last night, even though they can walk better than me. Why can’t I have one”.
She huffed, then went to get the bed pan – no doubt one from the freezer !!!
When the senior nightshift nurse handed over to the dayshift staff, she mentioned that Kermit had prescribed some cortisone cream for my allergy to the drainage bag. Susamma said she couldn’t understand why this was needed as the drainage bag she used was fine. Tracey agreed, and said there didn’t appear to be anything wrong with the dressing when she last looked at it. The last time they both looked at my dressing was last Monday. It had been changed several times since then…
Both myself and Mary made a complaint about the relief weekend domestic cleaner. I called her ‘speedy’ or ‘smiler’ as she wasn’t either of those things !!! Our rooms are supposed to be cleaned every day, yet all ‘speedy’ did was bring us cups of tea. Both of our rooms were filthy. The ward loos, which had to be cleaned three times a day, hadn’t been cleaned since Friday evening so they too were disgusting. The domestic services manager had a look at both our rooms, and the loos, and was appalled at the state of them. She assured us that ‘speedy’ would never work on the ward again.
Kermit called into see me and was impressed that my wound had kept dry. I asked him when the plastic man would be coming to see me.
“Has he not been”, he asked.
“No”, I said.
He was not amused.
Had a good chat with Michael, who was in side room one. He was originally in the men’s ward but they moved him into side room one that morning. He had called into see me yesterday evening, but was only there for a couple of minutes as he was called away for his IV antibiotics. Michael explained that having had severe problems with his left leg, he had just had it amputated. His wound wasn’t healing properly so he was to have a washout tomorrow.
One of the nurses had just brought me my lunch – jacket potatoes, beef burger, without a bun, and tin spaghetti (yes, it was revolting….) – when there was a knock at my door.
“Mrs Harper”, said the man.
“Yes”, I replied.
He held out his hand, “I’m the registrar plastic surgeon. Pleased to meet you”.
He noticed I was having lunch, “I can see I’m disturbing your lunch so I’ll come back a little later”.
“No”, I said, “please stay”.
“Ok, but on one condition”, he replied, “that you continue eating your lunch”.
I looked down at my place, “that might be easier said than done…”, I said.
He apologised for no one coming to see me on Friday. The referral which Kermit had sent had got lost. It would seem that Kermit had words with them as soon as he had seen me that morning.
We had a long chat. He wasn’t convinced that the redness on my hip was caused by an allergy. He thought it was due to a build up of fluid in the hip cavity.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear”, I said, “how come though, as soon as the bag was removed, the redness went down. Plus when the skin is pressed it’s not solid”.
He couldn’t explain why but he was sticking to his fluid theory.
I asked him about Kermit’s plan to have some muscle put into the hip cavity.
“You’ve been through such a lot these past seven weeks”, he said, “you don’t need any more surgery at the moment. Let Mother Nature do what she does best and heal your wound”.
“Happy with that”, I smiled.
When I was in Mary’s room, Sister Clarke came looking for me.
“What did plastics say”, she asked, “as he hasn’t written anything in your notes – which he’s supposed to – and Mr Green wants to know”.
I told her what he had said.
Had a long chat with Michael after evening visitors had left as he was really worried about his washout.
“You’ll only be in the woodshed for about half an hour”, I said, trying to set his mind at rest.
He looked puzzled, “what’s the woodshed”.
“It’s what I call theatre”, I said, “as it makes it sound less clinical. I’ve even got Mr Green saying it now”.
“I like the sound of that”, replied Michael, “I think I’ll use it. Where did you get the name woodshed from”.
“I heard it mentioned once on Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, I said, “the mayor said if he caught any vampires feeding against his wishes, he would take them down to the woodshed. It sort of fitted theatre perfectly”.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Day 54 – I can’t believe it’s November
Sunday 1st November 2009
When I first arrived in hospital I made out a calendar for September and October as it was so easy to forget what day of the week it was, as all days were exactly the same. I never thought I would be doing one for November…
My mam was her usual cheery self today (I was being sarcastic !!). I was in Mary’s room when she arrived.
“Let’s have a look at your hip”, she asked, “oh, it’s much redder than Friday”.
“Of course it’s not”, said Mary, “can’t you see it’s gone down”.
Then later she asked to see it again, “it’s spreading past the line”, she said.
I looked but it seemed the same to me. However I became very paranoid so kept asking John and Mary all night what they thought. “It’s fine”, they both kept repeating over and over again….
Then to finish the morale boosting my mam said ‘Denise rang last night and asked if you were in a better mood than you were on Tuesday”. Thanks !!!!!!
Nurse Anna came into my room and mentioned that Kermit had telephoned the ward to say he was popping in to see some of his patients today, even though he was still on holiday. She said she would ask if he could come and see me.
Shortly after my mam had left, I saw Kermit go into the man’s bay opposite my room. Anna, who was accompanying him, practically grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into my room. She explained about the redness on my hip.
He took a look at my hip, “that’s nothing to worry about”, he said, “I know for a fact it’s not infection as there wasn’t any in the wound when we did the last washout”.
Anna mentioned about the allergy theory and he was happy with that.
“I’ll prescribe some cortisone cream”, he said, “that should clear it up”.
He asked if there had been any more leaking. I replied that it had been dry since Friday afternoon. He was really pleased with that.
“Fingers crossed”, he said, “as long as it remains dry for another three or four days and the physio’s are happy, then you can go home”.
As Kermit left the room, Anna raised her thumbs and smiled.
I should have been jumping up and down for joy at the news that I could go home, but I wasn’t. I had been here before so wasn’t building up my hopes.
I went to see Mary and told her what Kermit had said. She got a little upset as she said she wanted to go home too.
“Hey! I’m not there yet”, I said, “Luck isn’t on my side so anything can happen”.
When nurse Tracey did the nightshift handover she said, “No one in bay 1. Side room two – Marie. Nothing to report. Side room three – Mary. Poor Mary, bless her. She’s really fed up and wants to go home”.
Excuse me !!!! I had been in hospital two weeks longer than Mary. If anyone was fed up, it was me as I had seniority….
When I first arrived in hospital I made out a calendar for September and October as it was so easy to forget what day of the week it was, as all days were exactly the same. I never thought I would be doing one for November…
My mam was her usual cheery self today (I was being sarcastic !!). I was in Mary’s room when she arrived.
“Let’s have a look at your hip”, she asked, “oh, it’s much redder than Friday”.
“Of course it’s not”, said Mary, “can’t you see it’s gone down”.
Then later she asked to see it again, “it’s spreading past the line”, she said.
I looked but it seemed the same to me. However I became very paranoid so kept asking John and Mary all night what they thought. “It’s fine”, they both kept repeating over and over again….
Then to finish the morale boosting my mam said ‘Denise rang last night and asked if you were in a better mood than you were on Tuesday”. Thanks !!!!!!
Nurse Anna came into my room and mentioned that Kermit had telephoned the ward to say he was popping in to see some of his patients today, even though he was still on holiday. She said she would ask if he could come and see me.
Shortly after my mam had left, I saw Kermit go into the man’s bay opposite my room. Anna, who was accompanying him, practically grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into my room. She explained about the redness on my hip.
He took a look at my hip, “that’s nothing to worry about”, he said, “I know for a fact it’s not infection as there wasn’t any in the wound when we did the last washout”.
Anna mentioned about the allergy theory and he was happy with that.
“I’ll prescribe some cortisone cream”, he said, “that should clear it up”.
He asked if there had been any more leaking. I replied that it had been dry since Friday afternoon. He was really pleased with that.
“Fingers crossed”, he said, “as long as it remains dry for another three or four days and the physio’s are happy, then you can go home”.
As Kermit left the room, Anna raised her thumbs and smiled.
I should have been jumping up and down for joy at the news that I could go home, but I wasn’t. I had been here before so wasn’t building up my hopes.
I went to see Mary and told her what Kermit had said. She got a little upset as she said she wanted to go home too.
“Hey! I’m not there yet”, I said, “Luck isn’t on my side so anything can happen”.
When nurse Tracey did the nightshift handover she said, “No one in bay 1. Side room two – Marie. Nothing to report. Side room three – Mary. Poor Mary, bless her. She’s really fed up and wants to go home”.
Excuse me !!!! I had been in hospital two weeks longer than Mary. If anyone was fed up, it was me as I had seniority….
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Day 53 – My theory was correct
Saturday 31st October 2009
It looked like my theory about the dressing was correct.
There was just a tiny bit of fiery red where the actually dressing had been, but the rest of my hip, which yesterday had looked like I had been severely scaled, was now a pale red.
It also hadn’t spread past the pen mark which was also good news.
Nurse Anna checked my dressing and was really pleased that the redness had gone down.
“It looks like you were allergic to the dressing”, she said.
It didn’t come as any surprise that the moisturiser that the doctor has prescribed for me yesterday hadn’t arrived, and that no one from Kermit’s team came to check up on my hip…
It looked like my theory about the dressing was correct.
There was just a tiny bit of fiery red where the actually dressing had been, but the rest of my hip, which yesterday had looked like I had been severely scaled, was now a pale red.
It also hadn’t spread past the pen mark which was also good news.
Nurse Anna checked my dressing and was really pleased that the redness had gone down.
“It looks like you were allergic to the dressing”, she said.
It didn’t come as any surprise that the moisturiser that the doctor has prescribed for me yesterday hadn’t arrived, and that no one from Kermit’s team came to check up on my hip…
Friday, 7 May 2010
Day 52 – A bright red hip
Friday 30th October 2009
My wound has been leaking quite a bit again, so the drainage bag, which was changed just after lunch yesterday, was very full. My hip where the drainage bag was, had become very red so mentioned it to one of the nurses this morning. She didn’t seem that bothered…
There was a secondment charge nurse on the ward so he was shadowing both Norma and Maureen, the auxiliary nurse. I heard Norma say to him that both Mary’s and my dressings didn’t need changing - my draining bag was now full to the point of overflowing.
I was standing just outside my room, waiting for Maureen to get me a clean hospital dressing gown, when Terriseta, who had just started her afternoon shift and was being briefed by Sister Clarke, noticed my bag.
“Marie”, she gasped, “that bag needs changing”.
“I know”, I replied, “but Norma said it didn’t need too”.
She told me to go back into my room and she’d change it as soon as Sister had finished de-briefing her.
Good to her word, Terriseta came back about five minutes later with another bag.
“Your hip is very red”, she said, as she removed the old bag.
“I noticed it this morning”, I replied, “I did mention it to one of the nurses, but…”
She smiled, “I’ll have another look at it later tonight”.
“I know you’ve just come on duty”, I asked, “but do you know when the plastic surgeon will be coming. I was told he would be around today”.
“He usually comes in the morning”, she replied.
“Don’t worry”, she said, trying to reassure me, “if his surgery has run late he has been known to come on the afternoon”.
Doctor Richard called just before afternoon visiting and he was very sheepish. It looked like Sister Clarke had had words with him. He asked me how my wound was doing so I showed him.
“It’s still leaking”, I said.
He nodded. “Mr Green was furious with you”, he replied.
“Me !!”, I exclaimed, “what I have done”.
“Not actually with you, yourself”, he said, “more with your body. He’s not happy that your wound is still oozing”.
“He’s not happy !!”, I replied, “neither am I….”.
“Mr Green is a perfectionist and when something doesn’t go right, he considers it as a failure on his part and takes it personally”.
“I’m on holiday from tonight for 10 days”, he continued, “so I doubt I’ll see you again as you’ll have either gone home - fingers crossed, or you’ll have been transferred to Durham. I hope everything goes well for you”.
When my mam arrived for afternoon visiting she handed me a carrier bag.
“What’s this”, I asked.
“A new dressing gown”, she answered, “I called into Newcastle and bought you one”.
“Thanks, but I don’t need another one”, I replied.
“You can’t use that one”, she said, pointing to the dressing gown that was hanging at the back of my chair, “as you say it’s too heavy for you. So I’ve bought you a lightweight one”.
“I really am happy just using the hospital gowns, especially as I keep leaking on them”.
I could tell by my mam’s face that she wasn’t amused. Whilst I was content to use the hospital gowns, I knew my mam wasn’t, and knowing her, it was going to be easier all round if I just accept it, rather than have an argument.
“Ok, thanks”, I said, “it’s lovely”.
Her face brightened up considerably, “I knew you’d like it”, she said…
Andrew, the microbiologist, popped his head around the door so I introduced him to my mam.
“There’s a slight abnormality with your liver”, he announced, “but that’s normal, given the strong antibiotics you are taken”.
“Is it serious”, I asked.
He shook his head, “It’s nothing to worry about”, he said, trying to reassure us, “the liver is very good a mending itself”.
He asked what the latest developments were regarding my hip so I explained about the muscle transplant.
“I’ve also developed a redness around my hip”, I told him.
He asked if he could have a look at it.
“Have you made anyone aware of this”, he asked.
“Yes”, I replied, “but no one seemed to be that interested”.
“Would you mind if I asked a doctor to take a look”.
He came back a couple of minutes later with a lady doctor and gave her a brief history of what had happened to my hip.
“I’ve seen your face before”, she asked, “were you in ward 43”.
“Yes”, I replied.
“I thought I recognised you. I saw you a couple of times when Mr Green did his rounds. You look much better now than you did then”, she commented.
She had a good look and prod around my hip.
“The area is slightly warm. Are you in any pain or discomfort”, she asked.
“No”, I replied, “I’m really itchy, all over, but I don’t think that has anything to do with the redness”.
She pressed the wound area again and announced that there didn’t seem be a build-up for fluid inside it, which was good news.
“I’d rather not change your antibiotics”, said Andrew, “unless I really have to".
He looked at his watch.
“I’ve got to dash”, he said, “I’m not on call this weekend, but one of my colleagues is. If there’s any problem let him know”.
The lady doctor took out a marker pen and drew around the edge of the redness.
“That’s to see if it spreads”, she said, “we’ll keep an eye on it over the weekend so I’ll get one of Mr Green’s team to have a look at it tomorrow”.
She continued, “you mentioned about being itchy. Whereabouts”.
“Mainly my back and my arms”, I said, “I think it’s because my skin is so dry”.
“I’ll prescribe you some moisturiser. Don’t get your hopes up, it’s not anything fancy”, she smiled, “that should ease it. If not I’ll prescribe some piriton”.
There was still no sign of the ‘plastic man’ so I asked nurse Tracey if she had any idea when he would be arriving. She looked at her watch.
“It’s 4pm now”, she said, “he usually works until 5pm, then sometimes calls to see patients after his surgery finishes, so there’s still time”.
At 6pm there was still no sign of the ‘plastic man’. I was not impressed… Woe betide if I had to remain in hospital purely just to see him next Friday!!!!
Whilst John was visiting Terriseta came and asked how the redness on my hip was. I explained about Andrew getting the doctor to have a look at it.
“I’ve been thinking”, I said, “the redness only appeared after I had this type of dressing on. Could I be allergic to it”.
“I never thought of that”, she replied, “are you usually allergic to dressings”.
“Not that I was aware”, I answered, “but I haven’t had that particular type of draining dressing on before”.
Terriseta changed the dressing bag to a completely different kind.
“We’ll see if your theory is right”, she said.
My wound has been leaking quite a bit again, so the drainage bag, which was changed just after lunch yesterday, was very full. My hip where the drainage bag was, had become very red so mentioned it to one of the nurses this morning. She didn’t seem that bothered…
There was a secondment charge nurse on the ward so he was shadowing both Norma and Maureen, the auxiliary nurse. I heard Norma say to him that both Mary’s and my dressings didn’t need changing - my draining bag was now full to the point of overflowing.
I was standing just outside my room, waiting for Maureen to get me a clean hospital dressing gown, when Terriseta, who had just started her afternoon shift and was being briefed by Sister Clarke, noticed my bag.
“Marie”, she gasped, “that bag needs changing”.
“I know”, I replied, “but Norma said it didn’t need too”.
She told me to go back into my room and she’d change it as soon as Sister had finished de-briefing her.
Good to her word, Terriseta came back about five minutes later with another bag.
“Your hip is very red”, she said, as she removed the old bag.
“I noticed it this morning”, I replied, “I did mention it to one of the nurses, but…”
She smiled, “I’ll have another look at it later tonight”.
“I know you’ve just come on duty”, I asked, “but do you know when the plastic surgeon will be coming. I was told he would be around today”.
“He usually comes in the morning”, she replied.
“Don’t worry”, she said, trying to reassure me, “if his surgery has run late he has been known to come on the afternoon”.
Doctor Richard called just before afternoon visiting and he was very sheepish. It looked like Sister Clarke had had words with him. He asked me how my wound was doing so I showed him.
“It’s still leaking”, I said.
He nodded. “Mr Green was furious with you”, he replied.
“Me !!”, I exclaimed, “what I have done”.
“Not actually with you, yourself”, he said, “more with your body. He’s not happy that your wound is still oozing”.
“He’s not happy !!”, I replied, “neither am I….”.
“Mr Green is a perfectionist and when something doesn’t go right, he considers it as a failure on his part and takes it personally”.
“I’m on holiday from tonight for 10 days”, he continued, “so I doubt I’ll see you again as you’ll have either gone home - fingers crossed, or you’ll have been transferred to Durham. I hope everything goes well for you”.
When my mam arrived for afternoon visiting she handed me a carrier bag.
“What’s this”, I asked.
“A new dressing gown”, she answered, “I called into Newcastle and bought you one”.
“Thanks, but I don’t need another one”, I replied.
“You can’t use that one”, she said, pointing to the dressing gown that was hanging at the back of my chair, “as you say it’s too heavy for you. So I’ve bought you a lightweight one”.
“I really am happy just using the hospital gowns, especially as I keep leaking on them”.
I could tell by my mam’s face that she wasn’t amused. Whilst I was content to use the hospital gowns, I knew my mam wasn’t, and knowing her, it was going to be easier all round if I just accept it, rather than have an argument.
“Ok, thanks”, I said, “it’s lovely”.
Her face brightened up considerably, “I knew you’d like it”, she said…
Andrew, the microbiologist, popped his head around the door so I introduced him to my mam.
“There’s a slight abnormality with your liver”, he announced, “but that’s normal, given the strong antibiotics you are taken”.
“Is it serious”, I asked.
He shook his head, “It’s nothing to worry about”, he said, trying to reassure us, “the liver is very good a mending itself”.
He asked what the latest developments were regarding my hip so I explained about the muscle transplant.
“I’ve also developed a redness around my hip”, I told him.
He asked if he could have a look at it.
“Have you made anyone aware of this”, he asked.
“Yes”, I replied, “but no one seemed to be that interested”.
“Would you mind if I asked a doctor to take a look”.
He came back a couple of minutes later with a lady doctor and gave her a brief history of what had happened to my hip.
“I’ve seen your face before”, she asked, “were you in ward 43”.
“Yes”, I replied.
“I thought I recognised you. I saw you a couple of times when Mr Green did his rounds. You look much better now than you did then”, she commented.
She had a good look and prod around my hip.
“The area is slightly warm. Are you in any pain or discomfort”, she asked.
“No”, I replied, “I’m really itchy, all over, but I don’t think that has anything to do with the redness”.
She pressed the wound area again and announced that there didn’t seem be a build-up for fluid inside it, which was good news.
“I’d rather not change your antibiotics”, said Andrew, “unless I really have to".
He looked at his watch.
“I’ve got to dash”, he said, “I’m not on call this weekend, but one of my colleagues is. If there’s any problem let him know”.
The lady doctor took out a marker pen and drew around the edge of the redness.
“That’s to see if it spreads”, she said, “we’ll keep an eye on it over the weekend so I’ll get one of Mr Green’s team to have a look at it tomorrow”.
She continued, “you mentioned about being itchy. Whereabouts”.
“Mainly my back and my arms”, I said, “I think it’s because my skin is so dry”.
“I’ll prescribe you some moisturiser. Don’t get your hopes up, it’s not anything fancy”, she smiled, “that should ease it. If not I’ll prescribe some piriton”.
There was still no sign of the ‘plastic man’ so I asked nurse Tracey if she had any idea when he would be arriving. She looked at her watch.
“It’s 4pm now”, she said, “he usually works until 5pm, then sometimes calls to see patients after his surgery finishes, so there’s still time”.
At 6pm there was still no sign of the ‘plastic man’. I was not impressed… Woe betide if I had to remain in hospital purely just to see him next Friday!!!!
Whilst John was visiting Terriseta came and asked how the redness on my hip was. I explained about Andrew getting the doctor to have a look at it.
“I’ve been thinking”, I said, “the redness only appeared after I had this type of dressing on. Could I be allergic to it”.
“I never thought of that”, she replied, “are you usually allergic to dressings”.
“Not that I was aware”, I answered, “but I haven’t had that particular type of draining dressing on before”.
Terriseta changed the dressing bag to a completely different kind.
“We’ll see if your theory is right”, she said.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Day 51 – Seven long weeks
Thursday 29th October 2009
Seven weeks !!!! It had been a LONG seven weeks and I hoped I would be home in another seven weeks. However I was beginning to doubt it.
I was sick and tired of everyone saying I had to be positive. How could I be positive, when seven weeks down the line, I was still here. I was going to punch the next person who said ‘be positive’ !!!! It was easy for them to say that as they hadn’t been stuck in hospital for seven weeks.
Kermit had mentioned that the plastic surgeon would be popping over to see me today. I really wished he would hurry up, as there had been enough time wasted with one thing and another, so now I just want to get things moving.
The only thing I could see that was keeping me in hospital was my leaking. I had finished taking the IV antibiotics, my blood level was fine so didn’t need another transfusion, so why couldn’t they just let me go home. Even if it was just the weekend.
Whenever anyone asked if I would like John or my mam to take me down to the little coffee shop in the hospital, I had always refused. I didn’t think I could handle seeing people leaving the hospital, knowing that I couldn’t. Now I really did need a break from hospital life.
I was hoping the lady vicar wouldn’t come to visit today as I was not friends with ‘Him upstairs’ at the moment. The last thing I needed was to be told that ‘He was listening; He did care about me, and that I had to have Faith’.
There was a knock at the door and a man who I hadn’t seen before came into my room.
“Mrs Harper”, he asked.
“Yes”.
“I’m one of Mr Green’s senior house registrars. Mr Green is on holiday for a couple of days so I’m holding the fort”.
That was all I needed. A wet behind the ears SHR…
“Do you know if Ker – Mr Green has been in contact with the plastic surgeon yet”, I asked.
“I don’t understand”, he replied.
“Mr Green was going to arrange for the plastic surgeon, from Durham hospital, to come and see me about a muscle transplant”.
“What muscle transplant”.
“Because the infection ate it”.
“Ate what. What infection”, he asked, rather puzzled.
I let out a huge sigh. He obviously didn’t know a thing about me.
I pointed to my hip, “hip replacement in 1998; it got infected; had to have hip removed; infection ate everything; big hole where the hip and muscle used to be; wound keeps leaking; going to arrange for a plastic surgeon to do a muscle transplant”.
“Err…I’ll find out”, he replied, then couldn’t get out of my room quick enough.
I’m sure you will, I thought…
With Kermit being on holiday there was no way they would authorise for me to go home for the weekend.
BUMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seven weeks !!!! It had been a LONG seven weeks and I hoped I would be home in another seven weeks. However I was beginning to doubt it.
I was sick and tired of everyone saying I had to be positive. How could I be positive, when seven weeks down the line, I was still here. I was going to punch the next person who said ‘be positive’ !!!! It was easy for them to say that as they hadn’t been stuck in hospital for seven weeks.
Kermit had mentioned that the plastic surgeon would be popping over to see me today. I really wished he would hurry up, as there had been enough time wasted with one thing and another, so now I just want to get things moving.
The only thing I could see that was keeping me in hospital was my leaking. I had finished taking the IV antibiotics, my blood level was fine so didn’t need another transfusion, so why couldn’t they just let me go home. Even if it was just the weekend.
Whenever anyone asked if I would like John or my mam to take me down to the little coffee shop in the hospital, I had always refused. I didn’t think I could handle seeing people leaving the hospital, knowing that I couldn’t. Now I really did need a break from hospital life.
I was hoping the lady vicar wouldn’t come to visit today as I was not friends with ‘Him upstairs’ at the moment. The last thing I needed was to be told that ‘He was listening; He did care about me, and that I had to have Faith’.
There was a knock at the door and a man who I hadn’t seen before came into my room.
“Mrs Harper”, he asked.
“Yes”.
“I’m one of Mr Green’s senior house registrars. Mr Green is on holiday for a couple of days so I’m holding the fort”.
That was all I needed. A wet behind the ears SHR…
“Do you know if Ker – Mr Green has been in contact with the plastic surgeon yet”, I asked.
“I don’t understand”, he replied.
“Mr Green was going to arrange for the plastic surgeon, from Durham hospital, to come and see me about a muscle transplant”.
“What muscle transplant”.
“Because the infection ate it”.
“Ate what. What infection”, he asked, rather puzzled.
I let out a huge sigh. He obviously didn’t know a thing about me.
I pointed to my hip, “hip replacement in 1998; it got infected; had to have hip removed; infection ate everything; big hole where the hip and muscle used to be; wound keeps leaking; going to arrange for a plastic surgeon to do a muscle transplant”.
“Err…I’ll find out”, he replied, then couldn’t get out of my room quick enough.
I’m sure you will, I thought…
With Kermit being on holiday there was no way they would authorise for me to go home for the weekend.
BUMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Day 50 – If, not when
Wednesday 28th October 2009
This morning Big Mouth was coming out of the loo as I was heading that way so I said good morning to him. He just grunted. Charming !!!
When I was walking back to my room I could hear him talking about me to the other men. He then asked what time breakfast was. None of the other men could remember so I shouted, “eight o’clock’.
“I might have know ‘clever clogs’ would know”, he spat.
“Having been in here for nearly seven weeks”, I said, “you get to know the routine”.
That really shut him up.
Kermit arrived shortly after breakfast and explained what the next step would be should my wound continue to leak.
“Because you have a cavity where your hip and muscle used to be”, he said, “it’s just filling up with fluid as there’s no muscle to act as a sponge.
We could do nothing but it will continue to leak and there’s a strong possibility of infection. This means no new hip.
I know you don’t want another trip to the woodshed….”, he said.
I smiled at him as he had used ‘woodshed’ instead of theatre. Sister Clarke, not being in on the joke, had a puzzled look on her face.
“…however it’s looking like we’re going to have to fill in the cavity with a muscle transplant taken from either your tummy or your back. I’ll need to speak with the plastic surgeon from Durham hospital first”.
“Where will this take place”, I asked.
“Through at Durham”, he replied, “I think you’ve been very brave, considering everything that you’ve gone through. I’m just sorry that it’s looking like more surgery is needed and I’m afraid it’s a case of ‘if’ and not ‘when’ we put in a new hip at the moment”.
I shrugged my shoulders, “It’s just one of those things”, I said.
A little later Maureen, one of the auxiliary nurses, came to take my obs.
“Are you ok now”, she asked, “as I heard you got a bit upset yesterday”.
“I’m fine”, I replied.
“Who the hell does he think he is”, she said, “imagine, saying something horrible like that. Sister Clarke was furious when she found out”.
“Sister Clarke knows,”, I said.
“Oh yeah”, she replied, “she’s going to have strong words with him. ‘No one upsets my patients’ she said”.
When I was visiting Mary, Sarah, one of the staff nurses, gave me a hug.
“That’s for being upset yesterday”, she said.
“Does everyone know about what happened yesterday”.
“Of course”, she smiled…
This morning Big Mouth was coming out of the loo as I was heading that way so I said good morning to him. He just grunted. Charming !!!
When I was walking back to my room I could hear him talking about me to the other men. He then asked what time breakfast was. None of the other men could remember so I shouted, “eight o’clock’.
“I might have know ‘clever clogs’ would know”, he spat.
“Having been in here for nearly seven weeks”, I said, “you get to know the routine”.
That really shut him up.
Kermit arrived shortly after breakfast and explained what the next step would be should my wound continue to leak.
“Because you have a cavity where your hip and muscle used to be”, he said, “it’s just filling up with fluid as there’s no muscle to act as a sponge.
We could do nothing but it will continue to leak and there’s a strong possibility of infection. This means no new hip.
I know you don’t want another trip to the woodshed….”, he said.
I smiled at him as he had used ‘woodshed’ instead of theatre. Sister Clarke, not being in on the joke, had a puzzled look on her face.
“…however it’s looking like we’re going to have to fill in the cavity with a muscle transplant taken from either your tummy or your back. I’ll need to speak with the plastic surgeon from Durham hospital first”.
“Where will this take place”, I asked.
“Through at Durham”, he replied, “I think you’ve been very brave, considering everything that you’ve gone through. I’m just sorry that it’s looking like more surgery is needed and I’m afraid it’s a case of ‘if’ and not ‘when’ we put in a new hip at the moment”.
I shrugged my shoulders, “It’s just one of those things”, I said.
A little later Maureen, one of the auxiliary nurses, came to take my obs.
“Are you ok now”, she asked, “as I heard you got a bit upset yesterday”.
“I’m fine”, I replied.
“Who the hell does he think he is”, she said, “imagine, saying something horrible like that. Sister Clarke was furious when she found out”.
“Sister Clarke knows,”, I said.
“Oh yeah”, she replied, “she’s going to have strong words with him. ‘No one upsets my patients’ she said”.
When I was visiting Mary, Sarah, one of the staff nurses, gave me a hug.
“That’s for being upset yesterday”, she said.
“Does everyone know about what happened yesterday”.
“Of course”, she smiled…
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Day 49 – Upsetting day
Tuesday 27th October 2009
Had a massive leakage from the drain dressing when I got out of bed.
Sister Charlton was opening my curtains when it happened.
“I’m leaking”, I said to her.
“Don’t worry”, she replied, “the draining bag will collect it”.
“It’s leaking outside of the bag”, I said.
“Yes”, she replied, “it’s supposed to leak into the bag”.
“No”, I stressed, “it’s leaking outside of the bag – look”.
“Bloody hell”, she said, as she noticed the blood stained bed sheets and the huge pool of blood on the floor.
I shuffled myself on the chair next to my bed, trying not to avoid the wet floor as Sister Charlton dashed off to get another dressing bag.
“This was all I could find”, she said, showing me the bag she had found, “it’s meant for colostomy patients but it will do for now”.
I stood up. The absorbent pad which I always had on the chair was covered in blood, so too were my bum and thighs.
“It looks like the original hole, where the oozing was coming from has closed”, she said as she had a look at my wound, “it’s now coming from the bottom of your scar”.
No sooner had she attached the bag to my skin, it started leaking again outside the bag area.
“I haven’t time to do anything else with it now”, she said, “try not to move too much and I’ll get one of the day-shift nurses to come and have a look at it later today”.
Big Mouth was complaining, yet again, about how long he had been in hospital. Normally I would have just ignored him but he was really starting to get me down.
Just after lunch, Doctor Richard popped in to see how my leaking was doing. He explained that if the leaking didn’t stop, then I would need to have more surgery.
I jokingly asked him if I would be home in time for Christmas.
“We’ll see”, he replied.
I think it must have had something to do with how low I was feeling, but as soon as he left the room I burst into tears. I had promised to pop into see Mary before afternoon visitors so tried to act as though nothing had happened. It didn’t work, as soon as she asked if any doctors had been round to see me that morning, I burst into tears again. Louise, one of the auxiliary nurses, came to take our obs and took one look at my face, which was bright red and puffy, and asked what was the matter.
“Doctor Richard said she might not be home for Christmas”, replied Mary.
“Oh, Marie”, she said, giving me a huge hug.
I was still a little upset when my mam arrived. She demanded to know what was the matter, so I told her.
“Don’t be so stupid”, she said, “of course you’ll be home for Christmas”. My mam was never big on sympathy….
When she was about to leave her departing words were, “cheer up, will you”. Tactful as ever !!!!
Last night I had asked Sister Charlton if I could have something for thrush, as the new batch of oral antibiotics I had started taking yesterday had upset things ‘down below’.
It finally arrived at 9.30pm…
Had a massive leakage from the drain dressing when I got out of bed.
Sister Charlton was opening my curtains when it happened.
“I’m leaking”, I said to her.
“Don’t worry”, she replied, “the draining bag will collect it”.
“It’s leaking outside of the bag”, I said.
“Yes”, she replied, “it’s supposed to leak into the bag”.
“No”, I stressed, “it’s leaking outside of the bag – look”.
“Bloody hell”, she said, as she noticed the blood stained bed sheets and the huge pool of blood on the floor.
I shuffled myself on the chair next to my bed, trying not to avoid the wet floor as Sister Charlton dashed off to get another dressing bag.
“This was all I could find”, she said, showing me the bag she had found, “it’s meant for colostomy patients but it will do for now”.
I stood up. The absorbent pad which I always had on the chair was covered in blood, so too were my bum and thighs.
“It looks like the original hole, where the oozing was coming from has closed”, she said as she had a look at my wound, “it’s now coming from the bottom of your scar”.
No sooner had she attached the bag to my skin, it started leaking again outside the bag area.
“I haven’t time to do anything else with it now”, she said, “try not to move too much and I’ll get one of the day-shift nurses to come and have a look at it later today”.
Big Mouth was complaining, yet again, about how long he had been in hospital. Normally I would have just ignored him but he was really starting to get me down.
Just after lunch, Doctor Richard popped in to see how my leaking was doing. He explained that if the leaking didn’t stop, then I would need to have more surgery.
I jokingly asked him if I would be home in time for Christmas.
“We’ll see”, he replied.
I think it must have had something to do with how low I was feeling, but as soon as he left the room I burst into tears. I had promised to pop into see Mary before afternoon visitors so tried to act as though nothing had happened. It didn’t work, as soon as she asked if any doctors had been round to see me that morning, I burst into tears again. Louise, one of the auxiliary nurses, came to take our obs and took one look at my face, which was bright red and puffy, and asked what was the matter.
“Doctor Richard said she might not be home for Christmas”, replied Mary.
“Oh, Marie”, she said, giving me a huge hug.
I was still a little upset when my mam arrived. She demanded to know what was the matter, so I told her.
“Don’t be so stupid”, she said, “of course you’ll be home for Christmas”. My mam was never big on sympathy….
When she was about to leave her departing words were, “cheer up, will you”. Tactful as ever !!!!
Last night I had asked Sister Charlton if I could have something for thrush, as the new batch of oral antibiotics I had started taking yesterday had upset things ‘down below’.
It finally arrived at 9.30pm…
Monday, 3 May 2010
Day 48 – It’s in the bag
Monday 26th October 2009
Susamma decided to put a drainage bag over my wound to see exactly how much fluid is coming out. It was stuck to the skin with adhesive which looked and felt like marzipan.
Had a shower this morning and it was lovely. My skin, which used to be really soft, was now very dry and flaky. It was making me quite itchy. One of the first things I wanted to do when I got home was smother myself in loads of moisturiser to put the life back into my skin.
Susamma took the line out of my hand, which was a big relief as it had been quite sore. She thought that some of the antibiotic liquid must have leaked onto my hand as it was flame red and incredibly itchy.
She put another line in my other hand, which I wasn’t very happy about as it was in my notes that this should only be done by an anaesthetist. It was on the side of my hand, which made moving my wrist agony. I did plead with her to take it straight out as it was quite painful but she wouldn’t. Apparently I was to have some more antibiotics. I knew that, but as of today, they were going to be taken orally. It made me wonder if nurses ever read patients notes…
The men in the bay opposite me were really getting on my nerves. I could have throttled ‘Big Mouth’ as he was moaning loudly about everything. He only had a hip replacement, yet you would think it was major surgery. I really hoped he would be moved further down the ward soon, which they do sometimes when patients are being a nuisance.
Kermit called to see me and he was a little disappointed that my wound was still leaking. He said there would be no point in taking me back to the woodshed for another washout as there wasn’t any infection in the wound. I was mightily relived.
“Unfortunately we can’t let you go home with it still oozing”, he said, “so we’ll leave things alone for a couple of weeks”.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think he must have realised that I wasn’t happy about this as he said, “these things take time so we will have to be patient”.
I really felt like saying to him, “it’s alright for you to say that as you’re not stuck in here”.
I could hear Big Mouth complaining to one of the nurses about how long he had been in hospital. He had been in for three days. Try six weeks and four days, Pal !!!!
That afternoon Louise, the auxiliary nurse, changed my drainage bag to a different one as the other one wasn’t sticking to my skin very well.
“This one is much better”, she announced, “with it having a tap at the bottom of the bag, so not only will we be able to measure how much is in there, it won’t need changing as much”.
Norma popped her head around the door.
“Can I have some blood from you”, she asked.
I let out a moan,
“Mary”, she yelled, across in the direction of Mary’s room, “I was right”.
“I’ve just come from Mary’s room”, she explained, “and I said you were next to have some blood taken and that you would complain…”.
“Thanks!”, I replied.
Louise turned to Norma, “I don’t mind doing it”, she volunteered.
“Ok”, replied Norma.
A little later Norma came to give me my tablets.
“Just thought I’d let you know”, I said, “that it only took Louise one go at taking some blood – and she didn’t hurt”.
Norma was not amused as it always took her at least two attempts, and she usually hurt.
“That’s for saying I would complain”, I said….
Doctor Zara popped into say hello as she had been working nightshift so hadn’t been around much. She explained that she was a little upset as she had just failed her driving test.
“What did you fail on”, I asked.
“A faulty clutch”, she replied, “I borrowed a friends car and I happened to mention that the clutch was faulty. He failed me because I was driving a defected car”.
“Was that all you failed on”, I asked.
“Yes, “she replied, “I can drive, it’s just that I don’t have a UK licence. I worked as a doctor in America for six months so have a US licence”.
The men in the bay opposite were having a conversation about women and what uses they were in society. Big Mouth replied that they were only fit to be chained to the kitchen and do what ever ‘their’ men tell them to do. He was getting very close to been punched in the face !!!
As there were only two night staff on duty due to one of the nurses phoning in sick, Mary and myself jokingly offered to go around and do the patients ob’s. They thanked us for the offer but said no. I thought we would have done a brilliant job…
Susamma decided to put a drainage bag over my wound to see exactly how much fluid is coming out. It was stuck to the skin with adhesive which looked and felt like marzipan.
Had a shower this morning and it was lovely. My skin, which used to be really soft, was now very dry and flaky. It was making me quite itchy. One of the first things I wanted to do when I got home was smother myself in loads of moisturiser to put the life back into my skin.
Susamma took the line out of my hand, which was a big relief as it had been quite sore. She thought that some of the antibiotic liquid must have leaked onto my hand as it was flame red and incredibly itchy.
She put another line in my other hand, which I wasn’t very happy about as it was in my notes that this should only be done by an anaesthetist. It was on the side of my hand, which made moving my wrist agony. I did plead with her to take it straight out as it was quite painful but she wouldn’t. Apparently I was to have some more antibiotics. I knew that, but as of today, they were going to be taken orally. It made me wonder if nurses ever read patients notes…
The men in the bay opposite me were really getting on my nerves. I could have throttled ‘Big Mouth’ as he was moaning loudly about everything. He only had a hip replacement, yet you would think it was major surgery. I really hoped he would be moved further down the ward soon, which they do sometimes when patients are being a nuisance.
Kermit called to see me and he was a little disappointed that my wound was still leaking. He said there would be no point in taking me back to the woodshed for another washout as there wasn’t any infection in the wound. I was mightily relived.
“Unfortunately we can’t let you go home with it still oozing”, he said, “so we’ll leave things alone for a couple of weeks”.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think he must have realised that I wasn’t happy about this as he said, “these things take time so we will have to be patient”.
I really felt like saying to him, “it’s alright for you to say that as you’re not stuck in here”.
I could hear Big Mouth complaining to one of the nurses about how long he had been in hospital. He had been in for three days. Try six weeks and four days, Pal !!!!
That afternoon Louise, the auxiliary nurse, changed my drainage bag to a different one as the other one wasn’t sticking to my skin very well.
“This one is much better”, she announced, “with it having a tap at the bottom of the bag, so not only will we be able to measure how much is in there, it won’t need changing as much”.
Norma popped her head around the door.
“Can I have some blood from you”, she asked.
I let out a moan,
“Mary”, she yelled, across in the direction of Mary’s room, “I was right”.
“I’ve just come from Mary’s room”, she explained, “and I said you were next to have some blood taken and that you would complain…”.
“Thanks!”, I replied.
Louise turned to Norma, “I don’t mind doing it”, she volunteered.
“Ok”, replied Norma.
A little later Norma came to give me my tablets.
“Just thought I’d let you know”, I said, “that it only took Louise one go at taking some blood – and she didn’t hurt”.
Norma was not amused as it always took her at least two attempts, and she usually hurt.
“That’s for saying I would complain”, I said….
Doctor Zara popped into say hello as she had been working nightshift so hadn’t been around much. She explained that she was a little upset as she had just failed her driving test.
“What did you fail on”, I asked.
“A faulty clutch”, she replied, “I borrowed a friends car and I happened to mention that the clutch was faulty. He failed me because I was driving a defected car”.
“Was that all you failed on”, I asked.
“Yes, “she replied, “I can drive, it’s just that I don’t have a UK licence. I worked as a doctor in America for six months so have a US licence”.
The men in the bay opposite were having a conversation about women and what uses they were in society. Big Mouth replied that they were only fit to be chained to the kitchen and do what ever ‘their’ men tell them to do. He was getting very close to been punched in the face !!!
As there were only two night staff on duty due to one of the nurses phoning in sick, Mary and myself jokingly offered to go around and do the patients ob’s. They thanked us for the offer but said no. I thought we would have done a brilliant job…
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Day 47 – Mummified
Sunday 25th October 2009
The crepe bandage dressing that Sister Charlton had put on yesterday didn’t survive the night. When I woke the bandage was around my ankle, though the dressing had thankfully remained in place. I unravelled the bandage and wrapped it as best as I could around my hip. I’d never make a good nurse….
“Here’s your lunch Marie”, announced Sister Clarke, as she came into my room.
I looked at the plate she was holding, “no jacket potatoes and salad”.
“Not today it seems. It’s vegetable curry”, she replied, opening the two plastic packets and emptying the contents onto the plate.
“Sadly we couldn’t get the steak and chips you asked for”, she winked.
“No problem”, I replied, “how about sausage, chips and Pease pudding”.
“Urghhh”, she said, scrunching her face, “Pease pudding with sausage and chips”.
“You should try it, it’s lovely”.
“I like them Pease pudding but not with sausage and chips”.
“You don’t know what you’re missing”, I laughed.
Susamma, one of the staff nurses came to change my dressing after lunch and I was wrapped in so much crepe bandage, that I looked like a mummy !!!
I was really pleased that John had brought me some sandwiches that afternoon, as by the time the dinner trolley had arrived at our end of the ward, they had ran out of food. Surely someone on the ward would have informed the catering department how many patients there are on the ward. You couldn’t make it up…
Popped into see Mary after evening visitors had gone and she gave me a ‘friendship’ key ring. That was so sweet of her. When I got back to my room I attached it to the zip on my reading glasses case.
We made a promise to go out for a steak and chips meal when we leave hospital. I really wanted to keep in touch with her as she was a lovely lady. She really made my time on ward 44 bearable and I didn’t know what I would have done without her.
My hand, where the Venflon line had been inserted, was really itchy and sore. They’re only supposed to be kept in for 72 hours and it was getting close to that time now. I still had another day of IV antibiotics so another line would have to be put in. Where, I don’t know, as all my veins were shot to pieces.
The men in the bay opposite my room were really noisy. As usually there was always one who liked to be the centre of attention and loved the sound of his own voice. He was extremely vulgar and kept swearing all the time, which set the other men off to do the same.
Doctor Miska called into see me and I told him about what had happened with my wound. He put his hands to his face in horror.
“You owe me some smarties”, I said.
“We never bet on it”, he replied.
I told him that I was thinking of asking if they could change the name plate on my door to read ‘Marie’s room’ and that I would like the room decorated as I was bored with magnolia.
He laughed, “where’s the positively I keep telling you to have”.
“And I keep telling you I don’t have any”, I replied.
“Be positive”, he said, putting his two thumbs up, then left.
Wilma, the miserable night nurse was in a jokey mood that evening which was most unusual. My bandage had been slowly falling down all day so by the evening it was in a bit of a mess.
“What have you been doing”, she laughed, when she saw the bandage.
She re-bandaged my dressing then took my blood pressure.
“114. That’s high for you. Are you feeling ok”, she joked.
It must have been raise by the thoughts of you being nice I thought to myself….
The crepe bandage dressing that Sister Charlton had put on yesterday didn’t survive the night. When I woke the bandage was around my ankle, though the dressing had thankfully remained in place. I unravelled the bandage and wrapped it as best as I could around my hip. I’d never make a good nurse….
“Here’s your lunch Marie”, announced Sister Clarke, as she came into my room.
I looked at the plate she was holding, “no jacket potatoes and salad”.
“Not today it seems. It’s vegetable curry”, she replied, opening the two plastic packets and emptying the contents onto the plate.
“Sadly we couldn’t get the steak and chips you asked for”, she winked.
“No problem”, I replied, “how about sausage, chips and Pease pudding”.
“Urghhh”, she said, scrunching her face, “Pease pudding with sausage and chips”.
“You should try it, it’s lovely”.
“I like them Pease pudding but not with sausage and chips”.
“You don’t know what you’re missing”, I laughed.
Susamma, one of the staff nurses came to change my dressing after lunch and I was wrapped in so much crepe bandage, that I looked like a mummy !!!
I was really pleased that John had brought me some sandwiches that afternoon, as by the time the dinner trolley had arrived at our end of the ward, they had ran out of food. Surely someone on the ward would have informed the catering department how many patients there are on the ward. You couldn’t make it up…
Popped into see Mary after evening visitors had gone and she gave me a ‘friendship’ key ring. That was so sweet of her. When I got back to my room I attached it to the zip on my reading glasses case.
We made a promise to go out for a steak and chips meal when we leave hospital. I really wanted to keep in touch with her as she was a lovely lady. She really made my time on ward 44 bearable and I didn’t know what I would have done without her.
My hand, where the Venflon line had been inserted, was really itchy and sore. They’re only supposed to be kept in for 72 hours and it was getting close to that time now. I still had another day of IV antibiotics so another line would have to be put in. Where, I don’t know, as all my veins were shot to pieces.
The men in the bay opposite my room were really noisy. As usually there was always one who liked to be the centre of attention and loved the sound of his own voice. He was extremely vulgar and kept swearing all the time, which set the other men off to do the same.
Doctor Miska called into see me and I told him about what had happened with my wound. He put his hands to his face in horror.
“You owe me some smarties”, I said.
“We never bet on it”, he replied.
I told him that I was thinking of asking if they could change the name plate on my door to read ‘Marie’s room’ and that I would like the room decorated as I was bored with magnolia.
He laughed, “where’s the positively I keep telling you to have”.
“And I keep telling you I don’t have any”, I replied.
“Be positive”, he said, putting his two thumbs up, then left.
Wilma, the miserable night nurse was in a jokey mood that evening which was most unusual. My bandage had been slowly falling down all day so by the evening it was in a bit of a mess.
“What have you been doing”, she laughed, when she saw the bandage.
She re-bandaged my dressing then took my blood pressure.
“114. That’s high for you. Are you feeling ok”, she joked.
It must have been raise by the thoughts of you being nice I thought to myself….
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Day 46 – Positive, my a*** !!!
Saturday 24th October 2009
Positive, I’ll give you positive !!!!!! Yes, My old friend ‘Mr Leaking’ is back. Both my dressing and my bed pad were saturated. So much for being positive...
To say I was fed up was an understatement. I seemed to be on a never ending cycle of leaking, visit to woodshed, leaking, visit to woodshed. Would this merry-go round ever stop. My joking that I would still be in for Christmas was funny a couple of weeks ago, but it wasn’t now. If things continued, it would be a reality.
However I knew that I couldn’t let this get me down, otherwise I would end up being depressed. I would have loved to have a good cry, but knew that my face and eyes would become very red, puffy and blotchy – it always did, and I couldn’t have coped with people’s sympathy. So, I counted to 10 and tried to think of something else. My Guardian Angel, for once must have been feeling sorry for me, as Sister Charlton came into my room.
She put another dressing on top of the old one as Kermit had given instructions for it not to be removed. No sooner had she put the dressing on, the whole thing fell off.
“I’ll have to change it”, she said, “I’ll meet you in the dressing room”.
I wasn’t supposed to walk that far but I wasn’t going to tell her. It took me ages to get there but it felt so good to back walking again.
She had a look at the wound and said it looked fine but wanted to consult with Sister Clarke, as the surrounding skin was quite red. Sister Clarke took a look then advised that a dry dressing and a bandage would be best. No sooner had Sister Clarke left the dressing room when Sister Charlton screamed “CAN I HAVE SOME HELP PLEASE !!!!”.
My wound had started to gush out blood. Sarah was the first nurse to arrive.
“You’ve got a right mess there, haven’t you Marie”, she said, staring at my leg, which was streaked with blood and the huge puddle on the floor, which was getting bigger and bigger. A large pressure bandage was applied in the hope that would stop the bleeding.
A little later Sister Charlton popped her head around my door.
“How’s the pressure bandage”, she asked
“It looks ok”, I replied, looking at the pressure bandage, “it hasn’t leaked through so hopefully it has stopped”.
She came back a few minutes later with a bundle of dressings and bandages.
She gingerly removing the pressure bandage. There was a huge sigh of relieve all round as it had stopped bleeding.
Positive, I’ll give you positive !!!!!! Yes, My old friend ‘Mr Leaking’ is back. Both my dressing and my bed pad were saturated. So much for being positive...
To say I was fed up was an understatement. I seemed to be on a never ending cycle of leaking, visit to woodshed, leaking, visit to woodshed. Would this merry-go round ever stop. My joking that I would still be in for Christmas was funny a couple of weeks ago, but it wasn’t now. If things continued, it would be a reality.
However I knew that I couldn’t let this get me down, otherwise I would end up being depressed. I would have loved to have a good cry, but knew that my face and eyes would become very red, puffy and blotchy – it always did, and I couldn’t have coped with people’s sympathy. So, I counted to 10 and tried to think of something else. My Guardian Angel, for once must have been feeling sorry for me, as Sister Charlton came into my room.
She put another dressing on top of the old one as Kermit had given instructions for it not to be removed. No sooner had she put the dressing on, the whole thing fell off.
“I’ll have to change it”, she said, “I’ll meet you in the dressing room”.
I wasn’t supposed to walk that far but I wasn’t going to tell her. It took me ages to get there but it felt so good to back walking again.
She had a look at the wound and said it looked fine but wanted to consult with Sister Clarke, as the surrounding skin was quite red. Sister Clarke took a look then advised that a dry dressing and a bandage would be best. No sooner had Sister Clarke left the dressing room when Sister Charlton screamed “CAN I HAVE SOME HELP PLEASE !!!!”.
My wound had started to gush out blood. Sarah was the first nurse to arrive.
“You’ve got a right mess there, haven’t you Marie”, she said, staring at my leg, which was streaked with blood and the huge puddle on the floor, which was getting bigger and bigger. A large pressure bandage was applied in the hope that would stop the bleeding.
A little later Sister Charlton popped her head around my door.
“How’s the pressure bandage”, she asked
“It looks ok”, I replied, looking at the pressure bandage, “it hasn’t leaked through so hopefully it has stopped”.
She came back a few minutes later with a bundle of dressings and bandages.
She gingerly removing the pressure bandage. There was a huge sigh of relieve all round as it had stopped bleeding.
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