Son battled through again.

[Nanapal]

Hi all, been another difficult couple of weeks.

Unfortunately when care home nurse did routine catheter change nearly two weeks ago she made an error. Instead of inserting catheter through into bladder it was forced through to the side outside the bladder creating what is known as ‘a false passage’. He had no urine output and blood clots forming so nurse rang for ambulance. Upshot from this he got infection which caused an acute kidney injury reducing his kidney function and then sepsis set in - all happening within hours.

Dr was very, very concerned about him and spoke with us about the seriousness of his condition. Antibiotics and continual fluids flushing in and out of a large three way catheter followed. Our strong son showed his strength again and beat the odds - Drs have been so pleased and were surprised how quickly he responded to treatment.

Son is now medically fit just needs large three way catheter removed by urologists tmrow and insertion of normal catheter (via camera assistance) and discharge will follow. Dr has said all future catheter changes will need to be done in hospital by urologists to ensure this doesn’t happen again - we are happy about that as don’t want our to son experience this again.

Before this catheter problem son has been doing great since trachy was inserted on 1st December. He has had no problems adjusting to it, no seizures, infections and sleeping so much better. Without exception everyone who has seen him has commented on how much better he looks.

Next step is an appointment with James Cook hospital on 28th March for his Baclofen pump pre- assessment (this has been cancelled twice by them so 3rd time lucky). Hopefully this trauma he has just gone through doesn’t cause any issues with that and my next post can be about a successful baclofen pump insertion in the next couple of months.

Onwards and upwards we go.

Take care. Nanapal x

[New_beginning]

Yes onwards and upwards, all the best for 28th x

[Nanapal in reply to New_beginning]

Thank you NB.

I hope your husband is making steps forward with his recovery and you and family are ok.

Best wishes Nanapal x

[New_beginning in reply to Nanapal]

He's doing well, and as a family it's realisation this is our life now, must be another stage . More tests were carried out after consultant on 1st March we find out tomorrow whether injections being given. Hopefully I get update tomorrow x

[Nanapal in reply to New_beginning]

Time does bring with it a realisation and reluctant acceptance of our situations. Good to hear husband is doing well & 🤞for tmrow and future progress. x

[Miltch]

So sorry to hear what upset you have been through. Your son sounds like an amazing fighter and it seems he’s definitely heading in the right direction now.

He is very lucky to have a great, supportive, strong parent like yourself. ❤️

[Nanapal in reply to Miltch]

Thank you.

Son has been through many tough times and we as a family have been with him every time. As a parent it is heart breaking to see your child in pain ( 40 years old he maybe) but we are so proud of his strength and determination and that keeps us going. x

[MrsW69]

Hi, my daughter is still in hospital after a TBI plus other injuries. She is struggling to make any progress and we are at a loss as to whether this is normal or something is wrong. Any advice or information about the journey is appreciated.

[Nanapal in reply to MrsW69]

Hi MrsW69, sorry to hear about your daughter and hope I and others on this site can be of some help. Unfortunately with TBI’s there is no ‘normal pattern’ of recovery as each person is totally different in their responses. To be quite honest in the early days we found out more from the Headway helpline and from information online than we received from Doctors at our local acute hospital ( they totally failed our son but that is another story). Only when our son moved to a rehabilitation hospital did we really get to understand the total picture and what level of recovery he would have. Unfortunately our son sustained very complex medical problems after cardiac arrest and then subsequent hypoxic brain injury so his outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for. Nonetheless he is here after many difficult battles.

Keep asking many questions at the hospital re your daughters progress and what their plans are to help her recover such as physio/rehabilitation. It maybe a long journey for you all so accept any support you can and look after yourself - easy to say as I know I hardly slept when this happened to our son.

Very best wishes and please keep in touch and let us know your daughters progress. Nanapal x

[Unusual1]

What if the care home nurse does the same thing to another person? I think this might need to be investigated?

[Nanapal in reply to Unusual1]

Yes, we do intend to have a meeting with care home manager once our son is back. We hope lessons will be learned and appropriate training given where needed to ensure as much as possible this doesn’t happen to other residents. x

[cat3]

Thank goodness the catheter business is being dealt with by skilled medics and camera. This shouldn't happen (though I know it does, and in the most reputable healthcare facilities). But the nurse needs further training ; the fallout from this mistake has caused such unnecessary discomfort and worry, and when things were going so well.

Your boy has endured many serious setbacks, proving what a fighter he is, so I hope the catheter is sorted tomorrow, and his assessment for the Baclofen pump procedure is on time.

..... keep us updated Nan. 🤨🤞 Cat x

[Nanapal in reply to cat3]

Thank you Cat.

Just back from visiting and son is doing really well oxygen levels sitting at 96, 92 - 94 is his baseline. Heart rate and blood pressure also doing great - no knocking him down for long!

Nurses are hopeful for tmrow so everything crossed. I certainly will let you all know how he does over the coming weeks. x

[ksws]

Keeping everything crossed for you and your son NP xx

[Nanapal in reply to ksws]

Thank you for your support it is much appreciated. This site does so much to help whether by advice, encouragement or even just a listening ear when needed. x

[Alibongo60]

Hi Nanapal, what a set back but glad to hear your boy has pulled through and again doing so well now. I’m sure the nurse in question will not be wanting to recatheterise that would have been a nightmare for her too, they don’t intentionally want to cause harm to their patients unless there’s something wrong with them, she will have been mortified. Your boy is obviously a fighter he has overcome so many hurdles and continues to do so take care love Alice xx

[Nanapal in reply to Alibongo60]

Hi Alice, yes I agree whichever nurse it was will have been upset over it all especially when they are told of the very serious complications it caused.

Good news is had a telephone call from hospital at lunchtime and urologists have been this morning and inserted new standard catheter. All is good and Drs are arranging his discharge today if an ambulance can be obtained- this is sometimes a problem as son needs a paramedic ambulance incase suctioning is required on the way - hospital transport ambulances don’t have equipment on board or training. So 🤞he gets back home to Hawthorns today or tmrow at the latest and he can soon get settled back in.

Thank you for your best wishes. Nanapal x

[Teazymaid]

❤️

[Silkwood20]

Hi Nanapal, that sounded a frightening and harrowing experience. Yes indeed he is strong and a real fighter. My husband recently had an emergency admission to hospital due to oxygen levels suddenly dropping. All fine again now. The ambulance staff were brilliant, but as you say not always trachiostomy trained or kitted out. So they took his own suction machine and various bits of kit along with them.

[Nanapal in reply to Silkwood20]

Hi Silkwood20, yes son was very poorly but his strength and good hospital care pulled him through. Good news son arrived back at his home at Hawthorns at 6pm - no paramedic ambulance so one of the ward nurses went with him with suction kit etc in transport ambulance. Nurses have done this before when son waited two full days awaiting discharge and no paramedic ambulance to be had.

I am pleased your husband is doing ok now. So many ups and downs but somehow we manage to overcome them. x

[skydivesurvivor]

trying times!! Keep smiling!! Good luck

[Nanapal in reply to skydivesurvivor]

Thank you x