It never rains it pours ☔️ update

[Nerak12]

Seen OH this pm. Looking much more handsome now his face has been fixed - most of damage on inside of mouth and not drooling anymore thank goodness. The bruise in his nether regions is massive and his appendages are somewhat larger than usual 😂, but actually quite uncomfortable too. He’s doing a good John Wayne impersonation!! Bless him. Anaesthetist came while I was there and they are going to put a nasal tube in for anaesthetic cos he couldn’t face another nerve block - can’t say I blame him - and they don’t want to undo any of the Max Fac work.

So fingers crossed for tomorrow afternoon and looking forward to him hopefully coming home Saturday/Sunday.

I let the train take the strain today and feel quite rested and relaxed. Friends cooking me dinner.

Thank you everyone for your amazing support. We are both touched and lifted as a result. Xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

Glad they’ve fixed his face - probably best I don’t comment on his “bits”..... but I’m sure he’ll recover in time! 😳😳 - just don’t make him laugh too much!

[scats]

Could they fix my hubbies face too please.

Seriously don't be too keen to get him home. My OH had an op last weekend and came home too soon, it was too much for both of us! Don't rush things the effects of the anesthetic etc last longer than you may expect.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with scats - local hospital sent OH home for xmas - I took him back on Christmas Eve and requested they mended him properly before they sent him back again! I couldn't cope ...

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

Jeff was on a bungee we took him back next morning with a raging temperature and confusion. They filled him full of antibiotics and sent him home again. I couldn't have managed without my son being there.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

It was as much mental as physical - but no options for family help here, they were all in the UK and working xmas day in the NHS!!!!

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

Same here. Coping with the mental exhaustion caused by the stress is the difficult part.

Our son was great at ferrying him to and from hospital we are forever grateful, but he wasn't there for the night time panics. Sodium levels were so low he couldn't think straight he should have stayed that one extra night. They gave him IV antibiotics, which it turned out he didn't need and gave his body something else to cope with.

Luckily his GP spotted his PPI which was causing the sodium problem and he's getting better at last.

When my mother was sent home from hospital they always checked that there was someone there who could care for her. Had they asked me I would happily have paid for the extra night for him.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

Luckily they were being very tight on the sodium levels - we had had to call the emergency service because he was almost collapsed after a long journey back in the summer - electrolytes in his boots because the previous hospital stay had resulted in a different mix of diuretic, one wasn't potassium-sparing and they didn't monitor it. They found that at A&E and admitted him to the stroke unit - part of ICU but handily it was empty so that was a comfort since they were a lot better about the whole thing, treated us as intelligent beings and told us he wasn't getting home until they'd worked out the diuretic problem! His sodium is always on the low side whatever we do.

Christmas was a totally different problem - first in for GI bleeding and sent home without getting THAT right. Then he developed an infection and deteriorated a lot in a few hours late on the 24th - I got shouted at by the taking surgeon for not taking him sooner! What was I supposed to do? Then he told me OH would be admitted - as if that wasn't what I wanted! But, bless him, when the results came back he went up to the ward to apologise to OH and admit there WAS something very wrong. And he was the one who dug his heels in and got the colonoscopy done that the others were blowing hot and cold over. But we are so well known there now - it does make things easier, we know who to try to see!

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

You must have been exhausted!

I'm hoping we won't have to go often enough to become well known!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

I got a lot of walking done! I couldn't park in the hospital carpark and the trains didn't work for all the hours needed! Still have to walk to the station ...

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

I would never had got there if I had to walk, but I do have family I can call on. I suppose that's the true cost of moving abroad, being away from family when you need support.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

Unless we lived around the corner it would be no different - they have to work nights and weekends and holidays! The paramedic daughter says we can't live in North Yorks (rubbish hospitals that are too far away). The other is a nurse in Scotland - which appeals except for the weather and not sure I want her around all the time in a crisis!!!!!

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

Our eldest son still shares our house. He works in IT (who doesn't). While supporting me he is working from his room holding a conference with USA and Mauritius!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

I have fun with late-night confernece calls with the USA, Oz and the UK! Reasonable time for all except me ...

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

That's the problem he has!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

To be fair the last was 10-11pm - OK for the yoof medics but for an ancient PMR patient it is less comfortable.

[scats in reply to PMRpro]

Yep I'm well asleep by then. It doesn't always last for long but I'm seldom awake after 10pm. You've been getting down with the yoof then!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

Well - probably in their 30s

[Hidden]

Oh Bless Him 🤦🏻‍♂️

Glad you took the train & letting someone cook you dinner is an excellent idea.

Take Care & Good Wishes for a Speedy Recovery 🍀

[Hidden]

If he does come home then plan....takeaways/easy food if he can eat. You can get a pee jar- name escapes me but in one pharmacy I saw was called a willy the whale 🐋. 🤭

Hopefully they will send him home with pain killers. I think you should both just snooze and rest . Take it easy.🤗

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Even in hospital mine demanded all the wires be removed so he could get to the loo and didn't have to use a bottle!!!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Typical🤣🤣🤣

[TooSore]

It sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Don't rush things though. Slow is better

[5lupins]

Glad things are improving at a good pace. Everyone is right about about him coming home. OH was dicharged four times last year and the first few days were really hard as he was upstairs. He was so pleased to be home but being responsible for a very sick person was very exhausting and scary. Good news is he is doing well and we have had a much better year, while he regains his strength for chemo.

Take care during the busy times ahead and good wishes to you both. J

[Jackoh]

Glad you have a plan and that hubby is feeling a bit better. Great idea friends cooking your meal- you need to conserve your energy. All the very best for his recovery. Xx

[Telian]

Encouraging news but just make sure he is fit to come home - poor man I hate facial/mouth injuries you're never able to 'forget' for a little while! Best wishes to you both. x

[Nerak12]

Thanks Telian. He’s finally just gone down to theatre to have his arm fixed. 50:50 wether be home today or tomorrow. Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Nerak12]

Well I hope it is tomorrow! It will be a long time before I forget the ambo ride a couple of hours post pacemaker surgery - ouch, ouch, OUCH!!

[Nerak12 in reply to PMRpro]

Ooh! I remember you talking about that. It sounded terrible. I will pick him up and fortunately the car is new with good suspension and I’m used to pulling a horse trailer so I give a very smooth ride - other road users (idiots) permitting!!! Xx