I never cease to be grateful to the staff of the NHS in particular and the concept of the NHS in general. I’ve said it before and doubtless I’ll say it again.
Last Thursday I came into the Day Surgery Centre of Ayr Hospital to have my kidney stent changed. It’s a necessary routine every 3 to 6 months. My particular surgery is complicated by all the damage done by radiotherapy back in 2008. The last change was 5 months ago and has been problem free since.
I went into surgery at 0930 and was up on the ward for observation overnight an hour or two later bright eyed and bushy tailed. The operation had gone well and, for the first time, no ‘cutting’ to get the instruments in had been necessary.
I was more than a little surprised therefore to be showing signs of imminent sepsis within a couple of hours. By late afternoon I was totally poleaxed and a lot of concerned medical staff were either taking readings or taking fluids out of me or putting fluids into me.
Today I woke feeling fairly human and at lunchtime had my first solid food (apart from two bananas) since last Wednesday. It was a baked potato with baked beans and cheese. Heaven. Discharge beckoned.
However I’ll have to be a patient patient. Apparently I won’t be leaving the ward until Wednesday or Thursday. The infection was both in my blood and urology systems and had threatened my heart
Hey ho. I feel unbelievably fortunate, however, having just learned that a friend in the States had a severe internal rupture which allowed everything inside to become one big mess requiring an operation with a 20% chance of survival and ages in ICU (and that’s just the barest bones of the story). He has survived but he’s a long way from the end of the story.
I’m writing this on my phone so I’ll end here and be back with you all properly as soon as I can. I might even try and catch up with some comments. Who knows?
The sepsis was very unfortunate for you Graham. I trust that you will soon be fully recovered and back in your home in a short while.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and keep recovering.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're on the mend GB, xx
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you seem to be over the worst of it - once again!! Now stay patient as long as is needed...
ReplyDeleteGraham - how awful! But I'm so glad you're on the mend now. Love and best wishes from us both x
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, so glad it was caught in time. Take care and heal well.
ReplyDeleteThat potato would have been divine after such a long wait. Glad to hear you are heading in the right direction now!
ReplyDeletePrayers as you've been in my thoughts
ReplyDeleteRapid recovery to you.
ReplyDeleteVery best wishes to you Graham. Thank goodness the Sepsis set in where you were, and where they could deal with it quickly. May the NHS continue for ever!
ReplyDeleteDear Graham, you're a bloomin mess.
ReplyDeleteThank The Fates for the NHS.
Sending you bottles of intravenous love
From that Scriptor chap, your little Bruv.
Dear little Bruv, I liked your rhyme
DeleteIt cheered me up no end.
Now that I'm out and and have the time
This thank you I do send.
Good job they got you sorted. I bet it was those bloody pigeons. They want shooting as they have killed a couple of folk in Scottish hospitals. I wouldn't have thought it beyond the wit of man to stop pigeons living in hospitals but what do I know. Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteHeal quickly Sir
ReplyDeleteYou do seem to attract this blooming sepsis bug. I had not really come across it until you told me about it. You were fortunately still in the right place to get treatment started quickly. Keep taking the meds and you will soon be back to your lovely home on Lewis.
ReplyDeleteTake care, David and Beverley
You are bushy-tailed? I should have recognised your vulpine traits before now. Fingers crossed you will be back on the island very soon - terrorising chickens and searching through overturned dustbins.
ReplyDeleteWe all have our little secrets, YP.
DeleteOh dear, that was bad luck. Sepsis is fast becoming the modern age equivalent of the plague, I think. Hope you get better soon.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear of your successful op, and (now) recovery. We all value the NHS, like you do. Good luck for your ongoing recovery.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that sounds bad - but good at the same time, as you were in such capable hands. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery!
ReplyDeletePS: I love John's poem :-)
It's good that they are onto your medical condition though, they seem quite thorough.
ReplyDeleteCrikey sepsis thats bad news. I hope they've killed all the nasties and you are on the mend.
ReplyDeleteOh, GB, I had no idea! You poor dear... well, you and Bear are in good company, eh? He's still got a few infections going at the moment... I am under orders from my mother to find out exactly what they are, etc.
ReplyDeleteTake good care of yourself, you are one in a million!
So sorry to hear it happened- relieved you are now ok! Home soon hopefully. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your good wishes. I was receiving them on my phone in hospital and they were of considerable help and comfort.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I had no idea, I've been away from Blogland for a couple of weeks. I hope you are home by now - I'm working through your posts backwards. What a thing to happen and indeed how lucky you are with that hospital, you have often praised these wonderful people.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be a week or so before I'm home, Jenny, but I'm in good hands.
DeleteOh, boy....I've been a bit behind in reading and responding to blogs...as you may notice....You certainly have been doing it tough there during my absence for Blogland!
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best, my friend....keep taking those positive strides forward. :)