John in hospital

[jessup]

 
Sending lots of love and  to you both
I too am glad John is in hospital.  Now lets hope they can figure out what's going on and he starts to get better
It must be bloody frustrating putting up with the medical system there
You are such a wonderful person
Take a little time for yourself mate while John is in hospital

[Yvonne]

Saturday  I can't believe it, I went in to visit John and it was like looking at someone else he looked quite well. The Dr.'s were thinking of operating on him again to renew the scare, but after having 3 X rays on his tummy they decided to leave the wound alone and just have it dressed every day the same as the district nurse did it in the first place. They had put him on a drip for 12 hours (of what I do not know, as it was down when I arrived) said that he had became dehydrated and would now start feeling well and may be able to come home on Sunday.
John said they had tried to take blood from his left arm but could not find any veins so they have taken it from the arm with the fistula.  Will this be OK as we were always told blood or blood pressure should never ever be taken from this arm??  Yvonne

[willieandwinnie]

Yvonne, dehydration is a dangerous thing and I'm happy to hear that they have acted on that. He needs to drink more if he can. We have a standing order for the outpatient clinic for IV fluids because Len sometimes can't seem to drink enough. The really shouldn't be using his fistula for blood draws UNLESS they know what they are doing, we were told we should only let a dialysis nurse do it, but when I take Len for labs since I did he's dialysis, they let me draw from his graft, I'm more careful and clean the site better then any nurse I have seen. I pray that things make a turn here for John and he starts really feeling better. Take care of yourself too. 

[Yvonne]

  Monday morning 7.30 UK time. I had a phone call from John at 9.30am Sunday morning. Said the Dr. had been round and  he could go home today, would I bring in his clothes. I said to him I will give it a couple of hours, as we know from experience how long they take to discharge a patient. I got there about 11.45am. John was still in bed not looking that good, I ask him what was the matter and he said he had ask the nurse twice if she could change his dressing ready for discharge. She told John he was not top of the list she had much sicker patient to deal with than he, he must wait. So I sat down and waited till 12.30pm then I caught her eye and asked the same question, she told me in a very rude manner she was short staffed and she was in the middle of saving 3 patients that were dying. I said OK I'll come back at 3pm. I went off for a car ride, came back at 3pm and John was still lying there.
He said the Dr. had been in and told him his notes were now ready to go. So I found this nurse and said can you give me some indication of when you might find time to change John's dressing, she thew her hands in the air saying she hasn't got time she was now in the middle of putting up a blood transfusion for a patient. I said to save time just give me the new dressing I can do it I have done it many times at home, she said I was not allowed to touch it, I said can I talk to someone in charge, she said there was no one and off she stormed.
I sat there until 4pm I felt like pulling out my hair, then a nice male nurse came in, I said do you think you could change John's dressing please, he said he was not allowed either, I said in that case we were just walking out, he said hold on I see what I can do, within 10 minutes the head staff nurse came in she kept saying thank you for being so patient, I said I had not been patient we have just experienced the most traumatic day and has not done John any good or me. she had John's dressing changed and within a 1/4 of an hour of her coming in we were now on our way home got home at 5.45pm. John wanted to go straight to bed but I said no he had been in bed all day he must sit up for at least an hour. He does not look at all well again and the hole in his wound is even bigger now, the dressing the staff nurse put on fell off and I had to redo it. I went to bed last night but could not sleep as I was just going over the days events, got up at 1.30 because there was a knock on my door, it was an old lady from up the road that had decided to go walkies and had got lost could I take her home. I put on my dressing gown and shoes and took her back to where she lived, she had come out and shut the door and couldn't get back in, I walked her back to where she lived and tried banging on the door to wake her husband up she said he was hard of hearing and wouldn't hear me. I went back to my place and dialed 999 they said they would not come out I had to get a lock smith, I said this women in nothing to do with me and I have a sick husband to care for, they still did not want to know. I knocked up another friend from down the road and asked her if she could help me with this old lady. We both walked round the bungalow until we found an open window and I just kept shouting for the husband, he did in the end wake up and asked me what was I up to trying to break in, I said I have your wife here will you open the door and let her in.  It took him ages to come to the door as he is blind ( I didn't know that) He told us to take her in and put her to bed I think he thought we were his helpers that come in every day. Well you can imagine that toped off my day really well that was all I needed, I think I am now going away to have a nervous breakdown. Yvonne. 

[RichardMEL]

OMG that is horrible!!! Poor Yvonne.. you've had it all thrown at you all day and night and all you've tried to do is help and not be a pain to anyone!!!! I send you hugs from down under. I know that isn't much but I feel so horrid just READING your story and how good you were being - specially with the short staffed nurse. I mean geez if they can't run a department that's surely not YOUR problem. I think I would have gotten so frustrated I would have.. oh well I don't know what I would have done since you did all the right things - being patient, then asking to see the nurse manager/sister/whatever they call them there and got fobbed off. I understand changing a dressing is a minor thing compared to a lot of work nurses have to do but honestly you'd think they could take the 5-10 minutes (whatever) it takes to get John out of that bed because I'm sure they could have used it for another patient. I guess this is one of those situations where you abuse the NHS! As for the old woman who you just tried to help when you'd had so much already.. I admire your patience and willingness to help. Karrma is set to come back and reward you when you least expect it. The universe must work that way.

I really hope John will be OK!! You are such a fighter!!! 

[The Wife]

Yvonne, I'd be contacting the CEO of the hospital to inform them about the way the nurse treated the both of you. 

I hope today is better for you and John.

 

[drinkboy]

wow, Yvonne you have really had quite a weekend to go along with everything else.  I admire your patience in all this, especially with that old woman and taking the time to help with that situation.  You are handling everything so well and you certainly deserve a break and some good news.  Hopefully, you'll get both soon enough.  I wish you and John the best and I look forward to hearing a good update on John.

[paul.karen]

  weekend.

You have much strength and patience to say the least.
I hope both you and John can get some Rest in the NEAR future.
Godbless you both your in my prayers.
P&K

[rose1999]

Oh Yvonne how awful, as if you don't have enough worries.  The hospital story doesn't surprise me at all, that's the way our NHS is these days but surely the Police should have come out to that old lady - I hope you've had a more restful Monday and that John is recovering 

[Sluff]

Boy Yvonne you really need a break hun... I'm glad John is home, take care. 

[thegrammalady]

    more hugs, try to take care of yourself too

[okarol]

Thinking of you and John, Yvonne, and hoping things have improved. 

[Yvonne]

Hi thanks everyone. I did write a letter and posted off to PALS.  John didn't want me to post it as he said if ever he has to go to that ward again they will give him a hard time. I said we have to do it John for the sake of other patients, this nurse must learn how to handle peoples emotions as well as there well-being.
John's wound is still not healing, but it has stopped discharging a bit.  The Comunity nurse comes in once a day to dress it, on Tuesday she put on stitch like plaster on another part of the wound s she said that looks as though that might dehiss as well.  Poor John he looks like a little child lying in his bed looking really sorry for himself. I take him in his breakfast at 9am, the nurse comes in at 11am and John gets up for dinner at 12.30pm manages to stay up till 2pm then goes back to bed until the next day. Says he still feels very ill but can't put his finger on it. He is very quite as well, that's not John he is normally so chatty, I can remember in the old days he used to drive me round the bend he never stopped talking and giving advice, I wish I could have the old John back. You never know what is waiting round the corner for you do you. Thanks again for you kind letters Yvonne.

[drinkboy]

Thanks for the update.  At least his wound is not discharging as much, so that's a little step in the right direction.  I always used to look for little victories and build on those, so hopefully he continues improving. Glad to hear he is up for almost a couple hours anyway.  Keep being patient and hopefully things will get a little better each day or week.  John will be driving you up the wall soon enough with his chatter    ...you're doing a great job

[rose1999]

Yvonne I too had to get in touch with PALS to intervene on two separate hospitalizations for Dad.  Neither time was he treated badly because of it so tell John not to worry, in fact last time he was there he received the best attention he ever has - which may just be coincidence??

We are having a tough time too so I know what you are going through and am keeping you in my thoughts. 

[Yvonne]

Thanks Rose, I will tell John about your letter to put his mind at rest, I do hope your Dad improves. John is 73 do you think because of age the hospitals put them to the back? Another thing the nurses often point out the price of different medication they use on John, like a water proof film she put over John's wound she said thats another £5.00 worth. John said to her I am 73 and have paid NI for over 50 years. The hole in John's wound is packed with a silver padding every day goodness knows how much that must cost, but it seems to be doing the job. It has almost stopped leaking but not getting any smaller in fact it looks bigger. I'd be frightened of moving about if I had that wound, so I think that is why John stays in bed most of the day and night.  He sleeps most of the time and they say that in it's self is a healing process. Yvonne

[2_DallasCowboys]

Dear Yvonne,

Just wanted to send you a 
and let you and John know you are in my
thoughts and prayers.

Anne

[breezysummerday]

Hello Yvonne:

I am frustrated beyond words that John's nurses feel the need to point out the cost of medical supplies used.
I would be firmly advising them to stick to their job:  nursing.  Not nursing with salt added to the wound, so to
speak.  John has earned his NI benefits; working for over 50 years.  Good grief!!
Has the leaking stopped?  Is John eating better?

With John staying in bed, I am wondering if he uses an Incentive Spirometer?
It's a medical tool to help minimize fluid build up in the lungs.  You breathe into
it several times a day to raise a ball up to a certain goal.  In a way it mimics the
normal activity of breathing, as if John were up moving about.  Here is a pic of
one: 




Stay strong and shush those nurses up!  That is abuse in my opinion.


 

[Yvonne]

It was 4 weeks ago yesterday that John had his life saving operation. The nurse came in yesterday and was pleased with the wound and now only needs to come in every other day.  She's also put on a water proof dressing so John could get in a shower now. He is looking a little better and staying up a little longer but any excuse and he is back to bed. His eating is improving, I don't ask him what he wants, as he will just say he is not hungry, I just cook it and put it in front of him, I don't load up the plate only small portions and he seems to be enjoying food now. At last I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for all your kind words, what would I have done without you all,  Yvonne

[okarol]

Baby steps, little by little, he's making progress. i am glad to hear he is eating - I think that's encouraging - take care Yvonne!

[2_DallasCowboys]

Very good news, Yvonne!

I was so glad to read that John is
improving a little bit at a time.

Remember to take care of yourself, also-
  to both of you!


Anne

[pelagia]

This is good news Yvonne.  I am happy for you and John. 

[The Wife]

Good to hear that John is improving.   Hope you can find time to rest now Yvonne.

[kitkatz]

Just step by step now Yvonne. 

[drinkboy]

glad to hear that John is improving, in particular his eating.  That is great news, and hopefully he will continue to progress. Please make sure you are getting enough rest and eating well yourself.  Keep doing what you're doing and take it one day at a time.