Liver and Cherry

[xoxoxoBruce]

Hopefully it's just because the Docs want to check out her norks some more.

[DanaC]

Went to see Cherry yesterday evening. She's in pretty good spirits. Especially now the Dizcat is sorted out *smiles*

We had a good laugh. She's hoping to be home in a day or two.

She;s taken lots of photos of her room, hospital food, bruises from where the needles went in etc etc. Expect a full report when she returns!

[Carruthers]

Thanks for the update, Dani.

Good to hear that she's on the mend.

N

[lumberjim]

Yes, thanks Dana. Get better Cherry. You've had enough rest. Time to get back to work!

[DanaC]

Oh yeah, she said to say hi to everyone as well!

And she has a spectacular bruise on her hand where they tried and failed to fit a canula. Truly magnificent :p

I think knowing Diz is sorted out with foster care whilst she's in has taken a load off her shoulders. She can just focus on getting well and getting home now.

[fargon]

Cherry get better, we Love You!!!

[Gravdigr]

What they all said.

Get home.

[footfootfoot]

Sundae, that whole "The liver is evil and must be punished" thing was not meant to be taken literally! Get better and remember:

[Sundae]

Okay, so you know the beginning.
Except it turned out I wasn't picked up in a car but in an ambulance.
Which I though I had never ridden in before, but casting my mind back I did get a lift in one when I was knocked down on a zebra crossing.
This was a transport ambulance though - only pressed into emergency service in direst need, so I wasn't preventing some OAP the chance to be picked up in the midst of a heart attack.

When I arrived I was taken immediately to SAU, the Surgical Assessment Unit. It's a step up from A&E because you've already been assessed/ triaged by a medical professional.

The nurse tried to fit a canula into my left arm, but was unable after much poking about, so tried my hand. I did point out that the last time someone tried the veins blew, but hey what do I know? She got it in and got my bloods, but when she tried to clean it with saline my whole hand blew up. Oops. Canula came out and I was told they'd give me a rest and fit it later.

Five hours later I was called to see the doctor who stroked his chin at my supposed medical history and said (in a very Dr Carlton way) "There's no history of this in your notes..." to which I pointed out I had seen the GP for the first time that morning and he didn't have my notes either.

Palpated my chest cavity and abdomen. No pain. Low oxygen. Heart murmer. Ultra-sound scan recommended. By this time he admitted I was unlikely to get one today so would stay overnight.

So far, so reasonable.
Went back to the seating area and was soon moved to a different seating area, very similar but with no telly. Shame - I'd been enjoying getting the teatime quiz questions right.

Turns out I was considered an infection risk, having had diarrhea earlier that day. So they wheeled a trolley into a side room and suggested I'd be more comfortable there until a room could be found for me. Just as well, another few episodes later I appreciated the privacy.

[Sundae]

I was no longer considered Nil By Mouth, huzzah!
Sandwiches only on this ward as they were tempoary stay only.

Egg mayo and the ubiquitous cup of tea.

Then a new nurse called me back to the office to fit my canula.
She tried the crook of my elbow, poke, poke, no good.
So next was my wrist. "This'll be a squirmy one" she said.
"Please don't tell me" I said.
Success anyway. I have new body-jewellery.

Note snazzy trousers.
They were my favourites.
Good job as I was in them from Monday to Friday.

[Sundae]

After about an hour they created a room for me out of an assessment room and a trolley.
No pillows, no blankets and the understanding that this was for my own comfort; a real room would become available. Of course it didn't, until 20.00 THE NEXT NIGHT.

It was right in front of the Nurses's desk, and being an assessment unit this was busy all night, with the nurses acccepting admissions, trying their hardest to find beds and dealing with patient complaints, "It's disgusting! I've been here 2 hours now!" Try 22, mate.

There was one lady in particular who wanted morphine, but that could only be prescribed by a Doctor. She kept coming to the desk and wailing. If you ask me, she could walk and she could moan and threaten to go home, so she wasn't as bad as she was making out... a simple migraine floors me and I don't expect morphine for that. Probably being grossly unfair though - who was the one in through not looking after themself properly? Oh that would be me.

I'd spent the time allocated to getting together things for hospital in making sure Diz was okay, posting here, sending a message to my Mum and talking to Dana on the phone. In my defence I thought even if I stayed over it would be ONE NIGHT. So I had nothing with me.

They kindly provided a guest pack inc a sachet of shampoo, towels, a comb, a tiny cake of soap and toothbrush/ toothpaste. I guess they're used to emergency admissions. Or disorganised ones in my case.

[Sundae]

As mentioned previously, this ward ran mostly on bread and tea.
Breakfast and lunch (tuna & mayo).

Despite my suppsed ifectious state I was allowed off the ward and went dowstairs ro buy an overpriced apple. It was lovely.

[Sundae]

In between all of this I was wheeled down to have my ultra-scan by a man who had to don a plastic apron. And I was parked in an isolated area.
I think it meant I was seen more quickly as a sign advised that only one patient could be parked there at a time. so they didn't cross-infect and create a 28 Days Later situation I suppose.

Same old same old, I've had more than a few of these now. Breath in, hold, breathe normally, turn on your side, more smeary gel (on your only clothes) etc etc.

Back up to trolley to wait some more.

Then I got a room!
So eager were they to get their assessment room back that they sent me before the new room was ready and had to park me in a side room.
Yeah, don't worry, I'm used to that!

But at least when I got it, it was mine all mine.

[Sundae]

Bathroom with super-powerful shower (although mine at home is pretty good).

And me modelling NHS nightware chic as only I can.

[Carruthers]

I trust that you've been discharged and not just sent home for the weekend?