Back in hospital in France: We were planning to... - MPN Voice

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Back in hospital in France

jointpain profile image
22 Replies

We were planning to return to Wales this weekend but my wife's temp went ballistic today so she is in hospital again. Having blood tests, four little bottles of blood removed too. An x ray of her chest. It is 1.50 am on Thursday. And we are both tired.

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jointpain
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22 Replies
ksos profile image
ksos

So sorry to hear this. Hope all turns out okay.

Kim

francesb profile image
francesb

Sorry to hear this, hope you can both get home soon, F.

jane13 profile image
jane13

So sorry to hear this. Do u have any insurance that would fund a medical repatriation, not immediately, but in a few days? Perhaps less of a strain than a normal flight? And if a normal flight get a wheelchair even if yr wife feels fine.

Tiredness always makes everything x2 as bad.

Hope things improve soon

karenmarie profile image
karenmarie

I am sorry about that. I hope your wife feels better soon and that she has signed up for a travel insurance in case something like this happens while out of home.

S031251 profile image
S031251

What a worry for both of you I do hope your wife’s temperature goes down soon and you can go home. Thinking of you .

Anna

pontygirl profile image
pontygirl

Hi

Sorry to hear of you're predicament, must be hard for you both.

As just said if you have to fly home on scheduled flight, Get Assisted Boarding. Arrive at Airport get you're wife sat down and go to Imformation Desk they will direct you to Assistance. Wheelchair for the good lady, you will go to a designated area to sit.

Once flight is ready for passengers you and wife will be taken to plane by Assistance staff and board first, get settled before the rest of the passengers board.

If it's Cardiff Wales Airport you fly into, the Assistance Team will meet the flight. You will be Last Off this end, but worth sitting extra 5 mins.

Assistance will help by pushing the chair leaving you free to collect the luggage. Takes the strain away and the normal rush to get seated ON or OFF aircraft. Hopefully family will meet you once back in Wales.

In the event that there is No Chair & Assistant waiting at Cardiff. Tell Cabin Crew they will have Assistance arrive ASAP. Not sure if Airbridge at Wales Airport I think Not. All Assisted Passengers and Spouse will exit aircraft onto a lift that will be at the door of plane.

You're wife will be pushed through All Procedures and Yourself First, No Standing in Line Waiting, much Easier for you both.

Apologies if you know the drill, just want to make sure you get that help. Us Welsh folk are fiercely independent.

Occasionally they may not have the Correct Numbers of Assisted Passengers on flight as said tell cabin crew. They will announce on Landing, All Passengers needing Assistance please Remain in you're seats.

PS

It will be a lift down from plane, confident there are Zero Airbridges at Cardiff Wales. ( LIFT is Hydraulic Platform , Very Safe) And you will traverse short cuts to Arrivals & Baggage. No Walking & Stress for wife and yourself.

Hope things improve for your wife and you have managed to get some rest at the hospital. Very Important for you to have some sleep.

Once home it will get easier for you both. Back on Terra Firma.

No Place Like Home When Not Well.

Good Luck to you Both

Mary x

mhos61 profile image
mhos61

Thoughts are with you.

You’ve had some great advice, really can’t add anything. I do hope you’re able to return home ASAP; everything seems so much better in our own familiar environment.

Mary x

harleydavidson profile image
harleydavidson

Really feel for you both. I hope you get home soon. Mel xx

babbittybumble profile image
babbittybumble

Hello to both of you I hope your wife is soon well enough to get back to Wales. Sometimes insurance companies will arrange for a flight nurse to accompany her home. which would be nice for both of you. Take care Gill

Superwoman profile image
Superwoman

Sorry to hear all is not well with your wife, let’s hope it is nothing to much to worry about, but best to be on the safe side and air on the side of caution especially where high temperatures are concerned, you will get back to Wales hopefully soon.

Jean

jointpain profile image
jointpain

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. Like pontygirl said we are fiercely independent, to our cost, no insurances, other than EHIC cards, but I understand the original splenectomy is free, we are liable for 18 euro a day while hospitalised plus an extra 18 euro for medication for the two and a half weeks spent in hospital. We nearly returned two weeks ago but the hematologist wanted us to stay for the biopsy results and JAK test. Which we did after talking to the GP in Wales.

Now it seems the final results as to exactly which MPN will not be available until July. We are in a campervan for our return, so no waiting in airports etc.

pontygirl profile image
pontygirl in reply to jointpain

Hello Again

How are you both doing? I hope there is some improvement to ease the situation.

Well I didn't give a camper a thought, whilst organising your flight home in my head. Blame it on having used the Assistance and a daughter who is a manager at International Airport. 😬

Right you purely need you're wife to be well enough to travel.

Hope that is not too long coming

for you to get home.

Doctors in France will forward information on to Wales. And I'm confident once you are home you're wife will be referred immediately to Haematologist. Things will move from there, you will soon know which MPN.

My regards to your good lady and hopefully you have had some rest too.

Safe journey home both.

Kindest Regards

Mary.

Aime profile image
Aime

So sorry to hear you are having problems. Thinking of you both, sending E hugs and wishing your wife a very speedy journey back to health. Kindest regards Aime xx

jointpain profile image
jointpain

Well my poor wife is still there in hospital, she has had intravenous antibiotics, intravenous paracetamol, bloods taken, to grow in some bottles to see what is causing the fever, her temp went down last evening to 37, yet during last night went back up to 39.6 now the hematologist doesn't thing it is an infection. Does anyone have an idea what can cause this temp fluctuation, even if it is nothing to do with the MPN? She is quite lucid when the high temp comes, just feels hot and unwell. I must add she has a very high pain threshold.

pontygirl profile image
pontygirl in reply to jointpain

I'm retired from Nursing but I will put cash on it, wife has an infection going on. Once they have results from Blood Cultures, she will be treated with appropriate medication. Waiting game sadly, are they are happy with Spleenectomy?? No question of infection there ?? Wound is nicely healing??

This is all routine to staff, but hard on patients and family. It will not be long before results are in.

Take Care of yourself, wife is dependent on you driving you both home.

May today be good to you both.

Mary 🤞

jointpain profile image
jointpain in reply to pontygirl

Thank you Mary, saw the hematologist last night, he doesn't think it is bacteria infection, but won't actually say. Her temp was 39.6 a few times yesterday, I asked if it could be a fault with the hyper thalamus as that is in the brain, and she did have a clot and a bleed in the brain shortly after the splenectomy. He reckoned I should leave doctor google alone. I then asked could it just be the blood cancer, which he thought possible. When I try and think what could be going wrong, I wonder how her "old" blood cells are filtered out now her spleen has gone, and her liver and lymph nodes are now suddenly expected to cope with the job. Could it be a build up of knackered cells in her blood causing the increased bp and temp fluctuation? They stopped the penicillin tablets and iv yesterday morning and now are using Ceftazidime iv started at 2am this morning. By breakfast her temp has gone down to 36.6 so hope they have it sorted! Two days of normal temp they say she can leave.

jointpain profile image
jointpain in reply to pontygirl

Wrote too soon, Dr death just visited and temp is 38 hope he has other tricks in his bag

pontygirl profile image
pontygirl in reply to jointpain

Ok I understand you are really worried and scared for your wife I know. May I suggest leave the net alone for a while regarding Dr Whatsit.

They have something working on, if her temp came down for a time then spiked again, they are slowly getting there with medication.

All very worrying for you both, they will get control of it.

Are you near a Ferry Terminal?

if it were me once I had 2 clear days of normal temperature, I would be on first ferry home.

If you have long journey to a Port and need to break the journey up rest overnight etc. Choose your route and lay over in a town with large hospital in it. As a precaution that should a temp decide to manifest, you have help near by. Ensure you have her records handy so as a clinician can see what treatment and symptoms wife has presented with.

If you are close to terminal get on a ferry home.

Sadly French Culture in schools dictate they learn English very young. We sadly do not learn French at early age. Language Barrier is not easy on anyone.

Thinking of you both and hopefully BP & Temp will stabilise over weekend. Plan your Route Home whilst watching and waiting 👍

Mary.

Wyebird profile image
Wyebird

I do hope all is well. With all the blood they’ve taken a thorough investigation must be taking place.

pontygirl profile image
pontygirl

Hi There

Thank you for letting me know Joyce is due to leave hospital tomorrow.

You have a long journey ahead of you, take care both. Overnight layover's for rest is good. Trust you have all doctors notes handy, please god you will not need them during the days travelling.

God Speed to you both, she needs a Cwtch.

Good News you will soon be on Welsh soil.

Nos Dda & Cwtch to you Both.

Mary.

Angelinagaffer profile image
Angelinagaffer

How's things? Are you back in Wales, hope all is well , Best wishes Angelina

jointpain profile image
jointpain

Well Angelina, we are on our way! Staying tonight at the campsite at Chateaudun. Joyce got out of hospital on Wednesday, we left on Thursday staying at Nanteuil for two nights as Fred our dog had to see the vet for a new passport and have it stamped for the ferry on Sunday night. I phoned the Doctor in Wales for a double appointment, they can fit her in on the 16th July! Makes you blood boil?!! Receptionist then said to phone on the day we want to see a doctor to get an emergency 10 minute appointment on the day!

Bet you wished you hadn't asked now!!

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