My Family

[limey]

Is there a Red Cross patient transport service in your area? I think a post-procedure trip home involving two buses in the care of a pensioner should qualify you for a ride home with them.

[Sundae]

Thanks Limes, I've filled it out. Worth a try.

[Sundae]

Had my Gastroscopy today.

All went well. The timing of buses was lousy - had to catch one that arrived approx 1 hour before my appointment, because the next one was bang on apointment time.
Not worth the stress of getting caught behind a tractor or needing to run to the department (which I hadn't been to before.)

The wait passed easily though - attending Quaker metings is certainly helping me work on my need for constant cerebral stimulation. Good job too, my appointment was 14.50 and I wasn't called in until nearly half an hour later, aside from a preliminary blood check and talk-through by a nurse.

I asked for the painkiller AND sedation as my tough-as-nails-I've-had-three-children-naturally Mum said her first endoscopy was a horror and she couldn't believe she decided to tough it out. It wasn't painful, just unnatural and highly unpleasant. She's since had one with sedation and said it was no worries.

So I listened and took on board.

Now some people have sedation and are still aware of what's going on. They get to see their own gastroscopy/ endoscopy. Not me. I turned on my left side as advised, after the needle was inserted. I got a mouthpiece through which the tiny tube would be inserted and was told to bite down. The nurse stuck a tube up my nose - gently.

And then Diz was jumping all over the bed and waking me up.
But it was in fact just a nurse talking to me calmly.

Up I got, off for a cup of tea and a biscuit (gingernut if you must know.)
I was ravenous. Got my results and refused to wait at the bus stop over the road, but wanted to walk along and check out the convenience shops in the direction of travel. Until we got to a big Tesco - sent Mum ahead to the bus stop and bought some jerky and some fizzy sweets.

And yes, I did thank her very much for being willing to come with me and look after me, especially when there was nothing she could do except be with me.
It was explained that one of the reasons for needing an escort is that the sedation drug they use is similar in effect to a date rape drug, making you very susceptible to suggestions. Seemed to make me quite headstrong. Or maybe just more selfish. Anyway, I fell asleep 3x on the bus on the way home, so I guess it is still in my system. Up to 24 hours they say.

[Sundae]

For the medically minded amongst you.
My results.

[Sundae]

The next hurdle is the trans-jugular biopsy.
It's a 2.5 hour journey one-way.
Having cheerfully told Limey that it must be an in and out apointment as no other info was included in my appointment letter, I have since looked it up on the internet.

No.

This is much more serious.
We travel from Aylesbury to Milton Keynes to start with. approx an hour but may be 1.5 as we've heard rumours the direct bus is not longer running (local cuts.)
The MK to Cambridge - 1.5 hours.

I am then facing a procedure of an hour - one I have to lie still for completely and this time I will be conscious.
And after that - none of this mentioned on the little confirmation I received - I have to be monitored by a nurse for 3-4 hours afterwards.

Bearing in mind this will take me to 17.05 before I am even ready to leave hospital (and that's assuming everying is running on time and to plan), by the time we catch the coach back to MK, it's likely the Aylesbury buses will have stopped running by then anyway.

We're in a real pickle over this.
We've run through friends and rellies who might take us. Or just me, and drawn a blank.
Am going to call Addenbrookes tomorrow and see if they would be willing to put me up for the night. Anyone with experience of the NHS will be laughing like a drain right now. In fact I heard two nurses scoffing today about someone making a similiar enquiry at Luton & Dunstable (where I was.) "Yeah, don't worry love, we're just a hotel here!" they laughed after the phone was put down.

But what can I do?
Even if I chanced lying and leaving alone, I'd hardly be in a condition to spend the night in a bus station in MK alone.

Wonder if it's too late to check out sofa surfing in Cambridge?

[xoxoxoBruce]

So NHS didn't stick it up your ass this time.

[limey]

Check your email, Sundae, dear. Love from Limey & Dana xxx

[Sundae]

Feel like I want to cry.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mum can go into Cambridge for the afternoon, which makes it less a bother for her.
And any delays or problems are no longer a reason for gut-wrenching panic.

So, so kind.
I never even thought of something like this.

[Sundae]

For everyone else apart from Limey and Dana; the girls have booked Mum and I into a B&B close to the hospital on the night of my procedure.
We don't have to stress about it running late (don't they always?) or complications, or Mum having to sit alone in a waiting room for 5 hours.

The journey is still a pig, but Mum and I are well used to public transport - she used to go to Spain on holiday by coach every year (23 hours) and you know I've put myself about a bit on trains, coaches and ferries.
This time we can arrive, check in (no need for Mum to even come to the hospital as long as they have her mobile) and know that whatever time I am released I can creep back and sleep.

An overnight stay certainly wasn't in my mind because it wasn't in my budget.
And of all the things I tax my parents with, I never ask them for money now.
Not even on loan.
In fact I am more likely to ask them to hold onto money for me to keep it safe (like for my haircut last week and my bus fare yesterday.)
I'm not drinking it up any more, but I'm still not great with money.

Can you put a price on friendship and peace of mind?
I doubt it.
But I have it.

[Undertoad]

HOW EXCELLENT! Well done you northern gals!

[limey]

[glatt]

Yay!

[BigV]

thanks to you (pl) for helping my friend Sundae. truly, thank you.

[DanaC]

Would this be a good time to pull out the 'with friends like these who needs an enema' line?

[Sundae]

As in "This town needs an enema"?