Roger had an O.P appointment for Mr. F's clinic yesterday. He wasn't very well, although he has not vomited or had stomach pains for ages. Anyway, they discovered there was pus coming out of the new stoma, no wonder there is a tender area surrounding it. They took a swab and we are waiting for the culture results to come through, then hopefully the GP will put him on the correct antibiotic to kill that one off. Just checked and the results aren't in yet.
He doesn't have alot in reserve these days, so when he starts to go down hill it happens quickly.
I await a phone call from the GP.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
We Think We Have a Breakthrough.
I was telling one of my oldest friends with whom I email most days, about Roger's symptoms. She said "It sounds like a stomach ulcer to me! I have a duodenal ulcer, so I speak from experience."
I started researching on the net and to my amazement I noted the presenting symptoms: 1.) Anaemic like symptoms (the district nurse, our GP and the out of hours emergency doctor all thought Roger had anaemia) 2.) Fatigue 3.) Weight Loss 4.) Vomiting 5.) Loss of Appetite Then I read that because the duodenum connects to the small bowel if there's an ulcer it may cause blockages from time to time. That was the hospital diagnosis this time........a blockage that eventually had cleared itself, and Roger's stoma is in the small intestine. I thought BINGO!
Roger was sick so much that he was on tablets to protect his stomach when he was admitted this time. They asked me about this, on the ward, and I told them that we'd been told when he was last discharged, that he must take them every day for at least 2 weeks. They took the medication from me, locked it up and told me he would be given it every day. He was never given it! Nobody has even mentioned stomach ulcers, and he was told to eat what he liked and, In a bid to fatten him up, let's say I have been generous with the fats.
Roger came home once again on Friday. I've told him of my findings and between us we have devised a strict diet, little and often, no fats or oils, no spicy food and nothing acidic. No alcohol, but he gave that up over three years ago anyway, and no drugs that could irritate the stomach.
We believe as a result, we spent a lovely night last night. Very peaceful, very relaxed, no vomiting, no pain. Today we've had a good day so far, and it's 5.00pm now.
We are cautiously excited and optimistic that he's truly on the way up now. Hallelujah!!!
I started researching on the net and to my amazement I noted the presenting symptoms: 1.) Anaemic like symptoms (the district nurse, our GP and the out of hours emergency doctor all thought Roger had anaemia) 2.) Fatigue 3.) Weight Loss 4.) Vomiting 5.) Loss of Appetite Then I read that because the duodenum connects to the small bowel if there's an ulcer it may cause blockages from time to time. That was the hospital diagnosis this time........a blockage that eventually had cleared itself, and Roger's stoma is in the small intestine. I thought BINGO!
Roger was sick so much that he was on tablets to protect his stomach when he was admitted this time. They asked me about this, on the ward, and I told them that we'd been told when he was last discharged, that he must take them every day for at least 2 weeks. They took the medication from me, locked it up and told me he would be given it every day. He was never given it! Nobody has even mentioned stomach ulcers, and he was told to eat what he liked and, In a bid to fatten him up, let's say I have been generous with the fats.
Roger came home once again on Friday. I've told him of my findings and between us we have devised a strict diet, little and often, no fats or oils, no spicy food and nothing acidic. No alcohol, but he gave that up over three years ago anyway, and no drugs that could irritate the stomach.
We believe as a result, we spent a lovely night last night. Very peaceful, very relaxed, no vomiting, no pain. Today we've had a good day so far, and it's 5.00pm now.
We are cautiously excited and optimistic that he's truly on the way up now. Hallelujah!!!
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Out & In
Roger spent the last few days feeling less than alright at best. He feels sick alot, but the main worry is if he takes even 3 or 4 steps he's gasping for breath. The district nurse, the out of hours emergency doctor and his GP all think it is due to anaemia, and it was thought he may need a blood tranfusion. We were awaiting results of blood tests when last Monday evening he actually started vomiting (he's on anti sickness drugs as well) and that was so scary for both of us. Immagine being sick and gasping for breath at the same time! I put him to bed(when he lies still he breathing is ok), but we had a fairly disturbing night culminating in an ambulance dash at 6.00am to A & E.
Once there we had the usual nightmare of trying to find a vein to insert a canula. In the end a young doctor did it in his neck, (the only option left) with the aid of an ultra sound machine.
Blood test revealed that his haemoglobin was good. X-Rays showed no evidence of clots and the chest was clear, so they're still trying to figure it out.
I left him on the ward at 2.00pm and came home to catch up on some sleep, only stopping briefly enroute to buy mince pies. I felt I needed a treat!
Once there we had the usual nightmare of trying to find a vein to insert a canula. In the end a young doctor did it in his neck, (the only option left) with the aid of an ultra sound machine.
Blood test revealed that his haemoglobin was good. X-Rays showed no evidence of clots and the chest was clear, so they're still trying to figure it out.
I left him on the ward at 2.00pm and came home to catch up on some sleep, only stopping briefly enroute to buy mince pies. I felt I needed a treat!
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Roger's Home!
Just to quickly report, (because I don't have much free time) that Roger did get home on Thursday. The discharge procedures took all day, and were finally completed by 6.30pm. We got in just after 7.00pm and were pretty exhausted.
He is as weak as a kitten, and has lost 2 stone in weight. I am trying to feed him 'good stuff', home made soup etc, but he has the usual pattern of eating disorders (it was the same last time) so it's not easy by any means.
Nurse comes in daily, and she's arranging for his GP to drop by and take stock of the situation.
Anyway it's good to have him under our roof again!
He is as weak as a kitten, and has lost 2 stone in weight. I am trying to feed him 'good stuff', home made soup etc, but he has the usual pattern of eating disorders (it was the same last time) so it's not easy by any means.
Nurse comes in daily, and she's arranging for his GP to drop by and take stock of the situation.
Anyway it's good to have him under our roof again!
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Good News And Bad!
On Monday evening the consultant came to visit Roger. The good news is that they are considering Thursday as a possible discharge day, which is great!
He also broke the news that when he reversed the reversal operation, because it had to be done quickly, as an emergency, the stoma was plumbed into the small intestine. It cannot stay like this permanently, and therefore he will ultimately have to have yet another operation to connect it permanently to the large intestine. Mr. F will discuss it further when we see him in out patient's clinic.
Unfortunately it was after visiting time when he turned up to see Roger, so he was on his own when he received the news, and was quite upset, as you can immagine!
Anyway we will now concentrate on getting him as fit and fat as possible for future surgery.
He also broke the news that when he reversed the reversal operation, because it had to be done quickly, as an emergency, the stoma was plumbed into the small intestine. It cannot stay like this permanently, and therefore he will ultimately have to have yet another operation to connect it permanently to the large intestine. Mr. F will discuss it further when we see him in out patient's clinic.
Unfortunately it was after visiting time when he turned up to see Roger, so he was on his own when he received the news, and was quite upset, as you can immagine!
Anyway we will now concentrate on getting him as fit and fat as possible for future surgery.
Friday, 11 November 2011
I Hardly Dare Blog!
I hardly dare blog this, but it's the 3rd day running that I've visited Roger to find that he hasn't been vomiting. He hasn't been feeling sick, and he's eating and drinking normally, and beginning, I think, to put some weight back on ever so slowly.
Mr. F wants him on antibiotics for 2 more days and then wants to observe him for 48 hours of not being on any medication. If all that is successful then a discharge date will be discussed.
Oh Happy Day!!!
Mr. F wants him on antibiotics for 2 more days and then wants to observe him for 48 hours of not being on any medication. If all that is successful then a discharge date will be discussed.
Oh Happy Day!!!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Don't Let It Get Any Worse........ Please!!
Yesterday afternoon was one of the worse moments of my life without a doubt. Roger was sitting in a chair when I visited, and said he was feeling a little better. He told me that it was imperitive that he drinks plenty, as there has been some kidney damage through dehydration.
One of the doctors arrived to set up a drip with fluids, so Roger got onto the bed. The doctor wanted to find a vein ( almost impossible with Roger) to take bloods. He had a couple of tries, but couldn't manage to find one. Roger got a little shivery after that, so I suggested he got under the covers and he dosed off. I scanned the newspaper until the consultant arrived. Roger then woke up to hear Mr F say he would like Roger to have an urgent ct scan to see if there is something they are missing, as he isn't exactly thriving.
After Mr F had gone Roger said "Who was that?" I said "That's your consultant. He did your op." He said "I don't know him" I said "You probably don't recognise him with his haircut." Roger then looked at me intently, and I asked him if he knew who I was. He said that he thought so. I said "What's my name" he said "Sally." I reassured him that I had to leave him for seconds, but I'd be right back. I then rushed out, grabbed the sister and said "Please come quickly, my husband doesn't know who I am." After that all hell broke loose! Roger was talking complete gobbledygook. He had four doctors around his bed doing all sorts of tests. I was told that they must take blood from the femoral artery in the leg, and they advised me to leave the room as it would be distressing to watch.
I rang Rob at that point and said "Please get here fast!" Sitting along the corridor with the sister, I became aware that everybody was running, doctors & nurses (like when you see a crash call on the tv hospital soaps) and I knew that Roger was the cause of it. Surreal!
Rob turned up then, and eventually we were told that Roger was calmer, and we could go in and be with him. He looked calmer, sitting up with an oxygen mask on. The registrar came in and expained that Roger had an infection that has gone to the blood. They had just given him an intravenous dose of a broad spectrum antibiotic, which he will stay on until such time as tests reveal what exactly it is, and they can then target it specifically.
Rob & I left the hospital feeling absolutely drained. By that time Roger was happy to be left, and was waiting to go down and be scanned. At least now we know why he kept vomiting.
To finish on an optimistic note..... a nurse from his ward has just this minute phoned to asked me to bring something in for him when I go. She said " He's back to his old self, It's amazing, and he remembers nothing of yesterday afternoon."
I'm sure It will be imprinted on my memory forever!
One of the doctors arrived to set up a drip with fluids, so Roger got onto the bed. The doctor wanted to find a vein ( almost impossible with Roger) to take bloods. He had a couple of tries, but couldn't manage to find one. Roger got a little shivery after that, so I suggested he got under the covers and he dosed off. I scanned the newspaper until the consultant arrived. Roger then woke up to hear Mr F say he would like Roger to have an urgent ct scan to see if there is something they are missing, as he isn't exactly thriving.
After Mr F had gone Roger said "Who was that?" I said "That's your consultant. He did your op." He said "I don't know him" I said "You probably don't recognise him with his haircut." Roger then looked at me intently, and I asked him if he knew who I was. He said that he thought so. I said "What's my name" he said "Sally." I reassured him that I had to leave him for seconds, but I'd be right back. I then rushed out, grabbed the sister and said "Please come quickly, my husband doesn't know who I am." After that all hell broke loose! Roger was talking complete gobbledygook. He had four doctors around his bed doing all sorts of tests. I was told that they must take blood from the femoral artery in the leg, and they advised me to leave the room as it would be distressing to watch.
I rang Rob at that point and said "Please get here fast!" Sitting along the corridor with the sister, I became aware that everybody was running, doctors & nurses (like when you see a crash call on the tv hospital soaps) and I knew that Roger was the cause of it. Surreal!
Rob turned up then, and eventually we were told that Roger was calmer, and we could go in and be with him. He looked calmer, sitting up with an oxygen mask on. The registrar came in and expained that Roger had an infection that has gone to the blood. They had just given him an intravenous dose of a broad spectrum antibiotic, which he will stay on until such time as tests reveal what exactly it is, and they can then target it specifically.
Rob & I left the hospital feeling absolutely drained. By that time Roger was happy to be left, and was waiting to go down and be scanned. At least now we know why he kept vomiting.
To finish on an optimistic note..... a nurse from his ward has just this minute phoned to asked me to bring something in for him when I go. She said " He's back to his old self, It's amazing, and he remembers nothing of yesterday afternoon."
I'm sure It will be imprinted on my memory forever!
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