What a difference a day makes!

I went to see Roger in hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He was very poorly indeed. In fact the worst I've ever seen him!
I returned home that evening with heavy heart. I got the phone call about 6.30pm. It was from the senior registrar on the chest ward. She told me that Roger has what's known as an empyema. A complication following pneumonia.
My medical dictionary gives the following description: "pus in the pleural cavity, usually secondary to infection in the lung or in the space below the diaphragm. It is a life threatening condition which can usually only be relieved by surgical drainage of the pus." She explained that they wanted to do just that, and they wanted to do it that night, and she was inviting me to come back in, so as to be near.
I rang Rob and Suze, who came tearing round to me. They hadn't eaten, so started to assemble a quick snack. Whilst that was happening, I had another call, this time from his GP to find out what was going on. I had hardly replaced the receiver when another call came from the hospital doctor. They had decided to wait until first thing the next morning. A) Because the patient before him was taking longer than expected and B)It was felt that it would be better to embark on it when everyone was fresh. In the meantime they had cross matched 4 units of blood, which he was about to be given. His haemoglobin count had sunk to 6. A normal male would have a count of around 12.something.
The next day was my birthday. The kids stayed with me and I went into the hospital feeling like a bit of chewed string. The thing I clung to was that nobody had telephoned in the night, so that was a positive! When I reached Roger's bed, he was sitting up, with a normal skin colour. The lights were on and somebody was home, as they say! He looked so well, I thought he must've already had the procedure, but no! It was all due to the blood they'd given him. He said he'd had a comfortable night.
Typical Rog, all he could do was apologise for not doing something for my birthday!!
We all went down with him to the department for his procedure. Then whilst he was in there(about 1hr.30mins) we went for a birthday lunch. I found myself suddenly hungry. Later he was back on the ward and everything went well, so we left him in peace.
I thought it was safe enough to pop out and see the latest George Clooney offering. Well! it was my birthday! Thankyou to everyone for the avalanche of birthday cards and flowers.

Suzanne

I Must Learn to Button it!

Why oh why did I open my big mouth? On Sunday it was all going sooooooo well! Monday morning at 5.00am Roger started to cough and cough and cough. The doctor came to see him and it seems that the infection he has on his chest has defeated the strong, massively strong antibiotics.

By early evening he was back in hospital, having become very poorly.

Went to visit him this afternoon, and he has been admitted to a chest ward, so at least they are experts in dealing with his condition. He is still very poorly, but they've put in a line intravenously and are giving him Tazacin and Teicoplanin. Apparently they are the medical equivalents of Domestos.

If he cannot clear the lungs by himself, then they say they are going to have to drain them. By this they mean surgically I presume, as this was said to Roger, and he relayed it to me.

I heaved a sigh of relief to have the whole of last night pass without a dreaded phone call to go in.
Every hour the phone doesn't ring can only be good for me, as it means he's fighting and winning!

It's a waiting game..........................................

Birthday Boy

16th Jan - 62 - and don't I feel it!! We had a birthday tea with Rob and Suze, Ben called and so did bro Mike so it was a good day.

I am still struggling to eat - no apetite, and since only what goes in is there to make me better, recovery is delayed.

Nearly all the snow has gone and it's a lovely day, I managed my first walk - albeit only 500 yards up the road and back.


The Day Following........the birthday was the best day yet for Roger. Took him for a short walk before lunch, which he enjoyed. He looks so much better, although he says he doesn't feel it yet. I told him actually feeling better is always the last thing to happen. Like the hairdo on programmes like "Ten Years Younger" i'ts always the last thing to happen.

If he carries on like this Mr. Shah will break into a tap dance when he see's him at O.P Clinic!

Suzanne

Home just in time!

As the snow began to fall we left for home, no-way could we have done it today. It looks beautiful - but not for traveling.

The hospital seems to have taken on board the infection from the scrotum and the pneumonia, and both are now under control. When the Distric Nurse(s) will make it through to us remains to be seen -

Opp No3

Operation 3 is now done - discount for bulk? back in side-room 3 on Hopkins Ward - I've got a reserve on this room now.

Having got the new infection under control - we hope - I could be going home tomorrow - somehow I wouldn't let the room go just yet!