Sunday afternoon and its raining.
But......last night I slept through the night for the first time without needing painkillers in the middle of the night. Was suffering by the time I woke up though and it was a toss up between staying still and minimizing pain and moving to get pain killers but knowing that it would hurt!
Thinking tentatively about my first adventure out tomorrow to go to the cinema to see Percy Jackson and the lightning thief (the grown ups that we are). This is the first time I have made it this far in the day without needing to sleep - it just goes to show exactly how unrestful being in hospital is.
Heart still a bit irritable, all I have to do is move and my heart rate shoots up but it settles reletively quickly too. The current challenge I have is finding underwear that does not rub. Having got diferent scars on each side, one is higher than the other this is a challenge that is proving tricky. If it doesn't rub on one side it does on the other. I feel I need to invest in some supersize super high granny pants that come up to my tummy button so that they will not rub, now that will look attractive to match the browny yellow colour my right arse cheek is due to some spectacular bruising!
Right husband is getting his daily sport fix - time for me to go lie down and read.
Sophie
Sunday, 2 May 2010
I'm home home home home home home
It was soooooo good to sleep in my own bed, though hubby is relegated to sofa for now, both of us too scared of knocking me in the night.I'm amazed by how good my hip feels, compared to my last one I already feel like I am 4 weeks down the line instead of just one.I am now terrified of general anaesthetics (having twice had heart problems after them) and have decided if need screws removed then I will have it just under a spinal/epidural.Also having had my left screws out unless I look to see the incision I can't actually tell I have had anything done to my left hip.Fresh air is so good too, have got balcony window wide open, hospital was so stuffy.So releived to be home. Though originally I had planned to go straight down to my parents I now have to stay in London for a week or so, the hospital have asked me to incase anything goes wrong with my heart - nice to know how much faith they have in me - however based on last weeks performance it's probably justified.Just relaxing watching tv now.
Sophie
Sophie
Friday, 30 April 2010
Home Home Home Home Home
It's Friday and that means home for Sophie. My heart has behaved itself so hopefully when my caridiology consultant comes round he will say OK to go home. Westy (my husband - I call him by his surname as we were friends first and that's how I know him, Adrian still sounds odd even after 7 years) has a meeting from 4-5 and then he will come and pick me up. It means we will be travelling home in rush hour but if we use Addison Lee it is a fixed price. I really hope I don't get carsick - after last one I got terribly car sick for 6 weeks - interestingly what cured me was my second bout of pericarditis, when I came out of hospital after that I wasn't car sick any more.
The first thing I am going to do when I get home is le on the bed and have a long proper cuddle with Westy, I've missed that closeness so much.
Then some yummy pasta and pesto for tea.
Then sleeping in own bed with a duvet and a new nightie.
Had my last shower for a while (as can't get into ours at home) and have to wait a week before going down to parents, in case any thing happens they want me close to London for a while - nice to know how much faith they have in me.
Primmee and Jaques cane to visit again this morning which is nice.
Just going to rest today as last night I couldn't sleep, the patient opposite me has a special mattress which is not functioning and keeps going off all night with a really loud annoying beep, and am sure the journey home will tire me out.
Despite all the ups and downs I feel this time it has gone better. The pain has been much better controlled and the movement I have in the hip is just so much better that the left. I think the second one is definately easier as you know what to expect. The unknown of everything with the first one is a massive burden that is just not there this time.
Okey Dokey time to divulge in daytime TV - homes under the hammer!.
Bye
Sophie
The first thing I am going to do when I get home is le on the bed and have a long proper cuddle with Westy, I've missed that closeness so much.
Then some yummy pasta and pesto for tea.
Then sleeping in own bed with a duvet and a new nightie.
Had my last shower for a while (as can't get into ours at home) and have to wait a week before going down to parents, in case any thing happens they want me close to London for a while - nice to know how much faith they have in me.
Primmee and Jaques cane to visit again this morning which is nice.
Just going to rest today as last night I couldn't sleep, the patient opposite me has a special mattress which is not functioning and keeps going off all night with a really loud annoying beep, and am sure the journey home will tire me out.
Despite all the ups and downs I feel this time it has gone better. The pain has been much better controlled and the movement I have in the hip is just so much better that the left. I think the second one is definately easier as you know what to expect. The unknown of everything with the first one is a massive burden that is just not there this time.
Okey Dokey time to divulge in daytime TV - homes under the hammer!.
Bye
Sophie
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Plans for Home
Well today was a good day overall, finally! I feel like I have turned a corner, but being Sophie I have still managed to make it difficult.
Monday - This was the muscle spasm day - I was so uncomforatble all day as the muscles in my leg were going into spasm but a little bit of diazepam seemed to do the trick - and also completely zonked me out. Kept the PCA up today because of it, other than that pretty uneventful - Oh Mr Lee bought me a really yummy chicken and avocado sandwich from Fitzroy patisserie (I love that sandwich shop).
Tuesday, now this was interesting:
Woke up and felt really sick and needed 2 lots of anti-sickness to get on top of it, I was also nil by mouth as I had an ultrasound at 10.15. That was the day the entire orthopaedic department decided to stop by and all I could do was nod and try not to throw up! I think it was all due to PCA. So we stopped it. Ultrasound went OK and although liver and kidney not completely normal yet both much improved compared to friday's scan. Then it becomes interesting - got back to ward, had lunch, had my first shower (which felt soooooooooo good) then decided to have a rest but then..............................
Extremely suddenly I had the most awful feeling of awfulness in my chest (the only thing I think it can be like is the impending doom we tell patients about when we give them adenosine) and the nurse standing near said I suddenly went white as a sheet, then I felt really sweaty and clammy and when they put me on the sats probe my heart rate was jumping around from 150-225. It was truly the most awful feeling I have ever felt. Anyway scared everyone, emergency response team called out, respiratory alkalosis on ABG and then quite quickly got better, then it happened 3 times in the space of about 45 minutes. Very bizarre and not somehting I ever want to experience again.
Saw my cardiology consultant today who reckoned because of the suddenness I probably had a true tachyarrythmia (like the one post op) and not like the sinus tachycardias I have with the pericarditis.
Felt much better in the evening. Mummy brought krispy kreme doughnuts mmmmmm and strawberries more mmmmmmmmm. And although had a bit of pain in the night am managing really well today on just paracetemol and tramadol. Might take some oromorph just before bed to get me through the night and help me sleep.
So...... fingers crossed as long as my heart behaves home on friday afternoon after reviewed by cardiologist again. Then need to stay in London for a bit so am close to the hospital incase anything happens - nice how much confidence everyone has in my ability to not get sick!
Right I think that is plenty for now, time for chocolate crisy cake yummy yummy yummy in my tummy!
Bye
Sophie
Monday - This was the muscle spasm day - I was so uncomforatble all day as the muscles in my leg were going into spasm but a little bit of diazepam seemed to do the trick - and also completely zonked me out. Kept the PCA up today because of it, other than that pretty uneventful - Oh Mr Lee bought me a really yummy chicken and avocado sandwich from Fitzroy patisserie (I love that sandwich shop).
Tuesday, now this was interesting:
Woke up and felt really sick and needed 2 lots of anti-sickness to get on top of it, I was also nil by mouth as I had an ultrasound at 10.15. That was the day the entire orthopaedic department decided to stop by and all I could do was nod and try not to throw up! I think it was all due to PCA. So we stopped it. Ultrasound went OK and although liver and kidney not completely normal yet both much improved compared to friday's scan. Then it becomes interesting - got back to ward, had lunch, had my first shower (which felt soooooooooo good) then decided to have a rest but then..............................
Extremely suddenly I had the most awful feeling of awfulness in my chest (the only thing I think it can be like is the impending doom we tell patients about when we give them adenosine) and the nurse standing near said I suddenly went white as a sheet, then I felt really sweaty and clammy and when they put me on the sats probe my heart rate was jumping around from 150-225. It was truly the most awful feeling I have ever felt. Anyway scared everyone, emergency response team called out, respiratory alkalosis on ABG and then quite quickly got better, then it happened 3 times in the space of about 45 minutes. Very bizarre and not somehting I ever want to experience again.
Saw my cardiology consultant today who reckoned because of the suddenness I probably had a true tachyarrythmia (like the one post op) and not like the sinus tachycardias I have with the pericarditis.
Felt much better in the evening. Mummy brought krispy kreme doughnuts mmmmmm and strawberries more mmmmmmmmm. And although had a bit of pain in the night am managing really well today on just paracetemol and tramadol. Might take some oromorph just before bed to get me through the night and help me sleep.
So...... fingers crossed as long as my heart behaves home on friday afternoon after reviewed by cardiologist again. Then need to stay in London for a bit so am close to the hospital incase anything happens - nice how much confidence everyone has in my ability to not get sick!
Right I think that is plenty for now, time for chocolate crisy cake yummy yummy yummy in my tummy!
Bye
Sophie
Sunday, 25 April 2010
So back to today
My blood transfusion has made soooooooooo much difference. I couldn't work out why I felt so completely awful yesterday.
My friend who has been on nights came to see me again this morning and we had a good grumble about the failures of the day before - and then she got me a bacon roll which was yummmmmmy - simple things hey!
Have then managed to get up with the physios - walk a few steps - sit in a chair for half an hour before the nauesea became overwhelming and had to get back into bed - also had another wash. Can not wait for when I am well enough to have a shower.
Watched the marathon - cound't see anyone I knew - it is so inspiring everytime and yet I know I will never do it - leave those challenges for others - semm to give myself enough just with normal life!
Slept this afternoon and then lovely husband there when I woke up. Now for some 24 cathing up.
Sophie
My friend who has been on nights came to see me again this morning and we had a good grumble about the failures of the day before - and then she got me a bacon roll which was yummmmmmy - simple things hey!
Have then managed to get up with the physios - walk a few steps - sit in a chair for half an hour before the nauesea became overwhelming and had to get back into bed - also had another wash. Can not wait for when I am well enough to have a shower.
Watched the marathon - cound't see anyone I knew - it is so inspiring everytime and yet I know I will never do it - leave those challenges for others - semm to give myself enough just with normal life!
Slept this afternoon and then lovely husband there when I woke up. Now for some 24 cathing up.
Sophie
Day 3 Post op
Ok, so it has taken me a few days to get up to the stage that I ahve felt well enough to write on this. I did try on day 1 (23rd) but was doing it on my iphone and the technical challenges were completely beyond me - was able to put the ttiles in but nothing else!
So today we have finally made some progress - but its been a turbulent journey already.
1 - post op - I have no recollection of this but I had an arrythmia with a HR of 150 and systolic BP of 60, 1 magnesium infusion later and I had stabilised, my only memory is the ITU consultant saying they might put in an arterial line - luckily that didn't happen.
2 - 1st night - no sleep but no surprise there - had been having some weird right abdo/back pain.
3 - Day 1 post -op - stayed in ITU, abdo pain still there, had USS which showed dilated bile ducts and intrhepatic ducts (no idea what that means) and a slightly bright right kidney with a bit of fluid around it - the consultant very disappointedly said - nothing for me to drain - I was very relieved
4 - 2nd night - OK, got some sleep, had really nice bed bath and felt so much better - and really didn't care about the nurse seeing and washing everything - in fact felt better for being clean. My skin had been really itchy from the surgical scrub so was nice to be rid of that (and the slightly orange tint!)
5 - Day 2 post op - nightmare - my own orthopeadic team failed to come see me, ITU discharged me back to the ward with an Hb of 6.5, the ward left me without pain relief and anti-sickness for 4 hours - all in all too much. I felt so let down by the NHS and my collegagues - normally I'm all for the quiet life but believe me someone will be hearting about this!
6 - 3 units of blood later, and some sleep and things are starting to look a bit more positive.
Sophie
So today we have finally made some progress - but its been a turbulent journey already.
1 - post op - I have no recollection of this but I had an arrythmia with a HR of 150 and systolic BP of 60, 1 magnesium infusion later and I had stabilised, my only memory is the ITU consultant saying they might put in an arterial line - luckily that didn't happen.
2 - 1st night - no sleep but no surprise there - had been having some weird right abdo/back pain.
3 - Day 1 post -op - stayed in ITU, abdo pain still there, had USS which showed dilated bile ducts and intrhepatic ducts (no idea what that means) and a slightly bright right kidney with a bit of fluid around it - the consultant very disappointedly said - nothing for me to drain - I was very relieved
4 - 2nd night - OK, got some sleep, had really nice bed bath and felt so much better - and really didn't care about the nurse seeing and washing everything - in fact felt better for being clean. My skin had been really itchy from the surgical scrub so was nice to be rid of that (and the slightly orange tint!)
5 - Day 2 post op - nightmare - my own orthopeadic team failed to come see me, ITU discharged me back to the ward with an Hb of 6.5, the ward left me without pain relief and anti-sickness for 4 hours - all in all too much. I felt so let down by the NHS and my collegagues - normally I'm all for the quiet life but believe me someone will be hearting about this!
6 - 3 units of blood later, and some sleep and things are starting to look a bit more positive.
Sophie
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Panic
So its 9pm the night before, beer and wine has done something to calm my nerves as has talking to my mum, best friend and mother in law on the phone for almost 2 hours in total until my husband got home from work.
Massive nerves and butterflies.
Have had so many good luck texts and e-mails from people, I'm so grateful fo everyones thoughts.
So current plan is to tr to sleep. Get up at 04.30 to have one last bit of bedroom activity with husband for a while, shower and then shave legs so smooth as possible then head of to UCLH for that 07.00 start in good old K-pod!
lets hope I sleep
Sophie x
Massive nerves and butterflies.
Have had so many good luck texts and e-mails from people, I'm so grateful fo everyones thoughts.
So current plan is to tr to sleep. Get up at 04.30 to have one last bit of bedroom activity with husband for a while, shower and then shave legs so smooth as possible then head of to UCLH for that 07.00 start in good old K-pod!
lets hope I sleep
Sophie x
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