A tale of two days -29/8 to 30/8 2024.
Not a happy two days!
I had a kidney stone diagnosed a few weeks ago that required removal under general anaesthetic. A procedure I did not anticipate with any pleasure.
Before I go further all the family have been totally amazing, caring for me. Particularly Alex who has juggled work schedules to be at the RBH with me, until very late at night and endured car breakdowns. And also the rest of the Illis for lending her to me and coping without her. And making me a comfy bed.
And big thanks also to Penny for travelling in post bank holiday traffic to mother sit on Saturday. And to the Roberts for lending her.
There was some discussion with Mr Khumar as to whether the operation should go ahead today . It was double jeopardy – taking the risk of sepsis, given there was a UTI infection already present ; or leaving it for a couple of weeks in the hope the antibiotics would clear the infection up. But hey, the antibiotics had not worked all summer, so I decided to agree to go ahead.
Well the day case turned into nearly 48 hours in hospital; four hours of general anaesthetic; failure to remove all of the kidney rock hatched within me ; 24 + hours of sickness and a really nasty headache; a catheter and effects of its removal. And somewhere within me lies a stent. That will stay there for 4 weeks until I go through the whole procedure all over again. Grr.
The stone was apparently massive and they bashed away at it for two hours but had to give up or risk more serious damage. Some of it remains for four weeks time. Mr Khumar said he thought it was the likely cause of the continuous asymptomatic UTIs I have been having.
I am told it will be more straightforward next time – they know what the task is now and hopefully it will likely be a day case.
Staff at RBH especially the surgeons, anesthetist with her great bedside manner; (I’m just playing with your hand while you breathe in oxygen) ; nurses and as for Victor and Victor in recovery… what a double act.
And then they even put me in a room on my own.to monitor me for infection and sleep apnea. Nearest you can get to bliss in a hospital. Food was off the menu that Alex had to choose on Thursday evening for me to eat on Friday. Just in case any of it stayed inside me.
I thought hospital food was supposed to be awful but the cheese sandwich I had with fresh salad was very tasty. The banana was pretty good too. And it stayed inside me. Not much else had earlier, not even water.
Ali was with me from arrival at RBH around 12.00 on Thursday until around 23.00 that evening. In between my moans and groans and projectile vomiting – as she described it.
She tried to reappear early the next morning but the car developed an issue which meant the AA became involved. A stone in a brake. Luckily, in the meantime, Dave was able to take my car to deliver George to a hockey day near Marlow.
The water wasn’t still in the first place but it did not run smooth anyway.
Friday ticked on with the nasty headache and more anti nausea meds delivered via the cannula in arm. My catheter was removed first thing and I suffered the usual after effects. ( no wee then urgent wee needs , associated with some pain).
They took bloods which showed I did not have sepsis or any other infection for that matter. Apart from the infection I took in with me. And other bloods indicated improving kidney function ( but since when?)
Then they scanned my bladder ( to check it was behaving itself) told me I could go home. To Alex’s, not home to mine.
I managed to leave a trail of drips of blood which became pools, along the corridors behind me as I exited the ward. An accumulation from where the cannula was that was released as I started moving.
A few nurses appeared with tissues to clean up the floor. Where was a mop and its missus, I wondered. Well the blood might have excited other people and got smeared everywhere if left. And Missus Mop was probably not in duty.
I was returned to a lovely comfy bedroom and a hot shower. I slept quite well intermittently apart from incessant need for the loo. In hospital I could not produce enough. Despite drinking masses of water.
The night passed and it is now Saturday afternoon. Penny has looked after me very nicely. A delicious sphagetti dish has stayed I side me and the headache has gone.
But nauseous memories linger. The Illis have been out and about and Pen has done a good job in their place.
Thanks to all involved in looking after me so well over the last couple of days. RBH I almost love you!
Thought for the Day
Without all the various ethnicities and nationalities of the people who looked after me, the NHS could not possibly function. I am grateful to every single one of them. Including the faces I did not see. I hope the Government and our countrymen come to appreciate the contributions made to our workforce by people from so many other places.
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