Dad arrived back in Inverness on Monday at lunchtime he's in ward 6C. He's very tired and has been unable to sleep since he got back. The ward he is in is very noisy even during the night - last night one of the old boys was trying to get into somebody else's bed whilst they were still in the bed!
There was talk yesterday of Dad getting home so he was on the phone to me first thing as excited as a puppy. However the consultant has decided that Dad's heart rate is too fast and that he has to stay until at least Friday. He's going to be so disappointed but he's better to stay than come home and have to go back again.
Miraculously he's managing to wear his leg for short times so he's no longer confined to the bed area.
So now I think it just a case of rest and recuperation.
More news as I have it.
Love Lala
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tea party & pirouettes
When we visited Dad on Saturday afternoon he was in great spirits. No hanging about he wanted to be wheeled down to the cafe so a wheelchair was found. Whilst trying to figure out how to transfer him to the chair Dad stands up, pirouettes (he'd have given a ballet dancer a run for their money!) and plonks himself in the chair. "Right lets go!".
So of we went for tea and cakes. SK came over from Dundee so we had a right little tea party to ourselves.
Returning to the ward the transfer from chair to bed saw another ballet performance interspersed with a hop and a jump! He's had the leg on - just to get from the bed to the loo - but he said it was agony. The staples came out yesterday so hopefully things will improve this week.
We stayed until 4:30 by which time he was getting tired so we left him reading his get cards which Mam had brought down from home. I dictated a thank you message from Dad for the church blog. You can read what he says at http://www.hiltonchurch.org.uk/index2.htm .
Today he is supposed to being transferred to Raigmore but when I spoke to the hospital last night he was running a temperature. They think it is a urine infection so he's been put on antibiotics and are awaiting the result of a lab test. If it is that then intention is still to discharge him to Raigmore. I have to 'phone the hospital around 9 this morning to find out what they have decided.
Once I know what's what I'll update you with the news.
Love Lala
So of we went for tea and cakes. SK came over from Dundee so we had a right little tea party to ourselves.
Returning to the ward the transfer from chair to bed saw another ballet performance interspersed with a hop and a jump! He's had the leg on - just to get from the bed to the loo - but he said it was agony. The staples came out yesterday so hopefully things will improve this week.
We stayed until 4:30 by which time he was getting tired so we left him reading his get cards which Mam had brought down from home. I dictated a thank you message from Dad for the church blog. You can read what he says at http://www.hiltonchurch.org.uk/index2.htm .
Today he is supposed to being transferred to Raigmore but when I spoke to the hospital last night he was running a temperature. They think it is a urine infection so he's been put on antibiotics and are awaiting the result of a lab test. If it is that then intention is still to discharge him to Raigmore. I have to 'phone the hospital around 9 this morning to find out what they have decided.
Once I know what's what I'll update you with the news.
Love Lala
Friday, January 18, 2008
Much and Such
SK and Richard visited Dad yesterday evening and found him in relatively good spirits and was pleased to see them.
The only thing he has managed to eat is a bar of chocolate - I suppose that's better than nothing at all. He's finding being immobile terribly difficult and frustrating. He's very impressed with the Aberdeen limb fitting department so I assume from that they are trying to find a solution so that he can wear his leg.
The heart monitor was still attached and it was showing that the heart was still running a bit fast. Dad thinks he'll get up to Raigmore on Monday or Tuesday but the nurse told me that it would probably be Wednesday and only if the heart rate had settled down.
If there is any more news today I'll post it later otherwise I'll give you an update after we visit tomorrow.
Love Lala
The only thing he has managed to eat is a bar of chocolate - I suppose that's better than nothing at all. He's finding being immobile terribly difficult and frustrating. He's very impressed with the Aberdeen limb fitting department so I assume from that they are trying to find a solution so that he can wear his leg.
The heart monitor was still attached and it was showing that the heart was still running a bit fast. Dad thinks he'll get up to Raigmore on Monday or Tuesday but the nurse told me that it would probably be Wednesday and only if the heart rate had settled down.
If there is any more news today I'll post it later otherwise I'll give you an update after we visit tomorrow.
Love Lala
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Persuasion
I was really hopeful that Dad would have been taken to the 'phone box today but Mam didn't get her call this afternoon. So when I spoke to the nurse tonight she said that Dad was a bit down so I explained to her that he just needed to speak to Mam. So she agreed that if Man phoned tomorrow at 3 Dad would be wheeled out to the nurses station and she could speak to him then.
However just before we left the 'phone rang and who should be on the line but Dad! I'm that pleased for them both. She told him we would be down on Saturday to see him and that cheered him up too.
Today hasn't been particularly good for him. His heart is racing and he has been put back on a monitor and kept in bed all day.
He is right upset about not getting his leg back on. At the moment the wound is held together with staples so there's not even a chance of trying it out. We can only hope that heals really quickly.
SK is planning to go over tomorrow evening so I'll update you with her news tomorrow.
Love Lala
However just before we left the 'phone rang and who should be on the line but Dad! I'm that pleased for them both. She told him we would be down on Saturday to see him and that cheered him up too.
Today hasn't been particularly good for him. His heart is racing and he has been put back on a monitor and kept in bed all day.
He is right upset about not getting his leg back on. At the moment the wound is held together with staples so there's not even a chance of trying it out. We can only hope that heals really quickly.
SK is planning to go over tomorrow evening so I'll update you with her news tomorrow.
Love Lala
Forwards & Backwards
Dad was moved to ward 50 late yesterday afternoon. The nurse I spoke to said that he was a bit down so I asked if there was a 'phone he could use and was told that there was only a public 'phone and with the leg problem he would have to be wheeled there and they would see what they could do that evening - there was no call. They are going to see if they can manage it this afternoon. I can't believe somebody can be so far from home and has to remain isolated because they can't get to a 'phone themselves.
Before Dad went down to Aberdeen I spoke with his doctor about the source of the graft veins as I was concerned because his leg was was covered in grafted skin. I was told not to worry there were plenty of other sites they could use, so on Sunday we were disappointed to learn that the grafted skin had been opened up. However last night's news just about floored us, they have also taken a vein from his stump which means that he can't wear his artificial leg and so wont be able to get around. It's unlikely he will be able to wear it for several weeks and as the top is made to fit him specifically he'll probably have to have anew one made and then get used to that one. He's just spent nine months getting used to this one. No wonder he's down.
The nurse thought it would be Monday or Tuesday before he is transferred to Raigmore so I think I'll go down on Friday with Mam.
Apart from these traumas they say he is getting on well.
Hopefully we'll hear from Dad this afternoon and I'll have the news straight from the horses mouth next time.
Love Lala
Before Dad went down to Aberdeen I spoke with his doctor about the source of the graft veins as I was concerned because his leg was was covered in grafted skin. I was told not to worry there were plenty of other sites they could use, so on Sunday we were disappointed to learn that the grafted skin had been opened up. However last night's news just about floored us, they have also taken a vein from his stump which means that he can't wear his artificial leg and so wont be able to get around. It's unlikely he will be able to wear it for several weeks and as the top is made to fit him specifically he'll probably have to have anew one made and then get used to that one. He's just spent nine months getting used to this one. No wonder he's down.
The nurse thought it would be Monday or Tuesday before he is transferred to Raigmore so I think I'll go down on Friday with Mam.
Apart from these traumas they say he is getting on well.
Hopefully we'll hear from Dad this afternoon and I'll have the news straight from the horses mouth next time.
Love Lala
Monday, January 14, 2008
Promotion
Dad was moved this morning from ITU (in the basement) to the high dependency unit (on the top floor). They have kept him in bed because he still has two drains in his tummy. They were hopeful that those would be out today but when they rolled him on his side more fluid drained so maybe things will have been resolved by tomorrow. The drains were giving him a bit of pain in the morning but the nurse I spoke to this evening said that was now under control.
It will be much easier when we can speak to him and get first hand how things are but that wont be until he's moved on to a ward.
More news as I know it.
Love Lala
It will be much easier when we can speak to him and get first hand how things are but that wont be until he's moved on to a ward.
More news as I know it.
Love Lala
A day of mixed messages
The day started of with a journey to town on snow rutted roads and an expectation of a terrible journey to Aberdeen only to find that once we were on the Nairn road the snow had gone and the roads were clear.
With the expectation of bad roads we had set of early and arrived at the hospital 2 hours ahead of visiting. We duly arrived at the high dependency unit to find that Dad hadn't been shifted after all and was still in ITU. So we'd just spent 2 hours hanging around the corridors when we could have been visiting!
The decision not to move Dad was made because because his heart had gone out of rhythm and was racing at a good old lick. They were giving him medication to bring it back to normal. He was still heavily sedated and was still in bed. None of the post operative tubes had been removed. So the information I was getting on the 'phone from the hospital didn't quite match up to the reality.
Poor soul, with being kept flat for four days he'd developed a bed sore so he's been put on a a special air mattress to relieve that. As he's still on the morphine he wont be feeling that at the moment.
Kerri - having the humour of a 14 year old - thought the effects of the morphine particularly funny and intends to tell everybody that her Gramps was stoned!
We stayed until four taking short visits each - SK & Richard came over from Dundee again - and then left Dad to sleep. I told him about this blog and asked did he have a message and he said to thank you all for praying for him.
When I came home I 'phoned and spoke to the doctor and he said that the heart was now back in rhythm and that he was doing well. The intention was to transfer him straight from ITU to a ward today which given the progress so far seemed a bit odd. He expected Dad to be discharged in five to seven days. As Dad hadn't even gotten as far a chair that seemed very optimistic, I suspect that was generic advise rather than particular to Dad.
So more news as I get it.
Love Lala
With the expectation of bad roads we had set of early and arrived at the hospital 2 hours ahead of visiting. We duly arrived at the high dependency unit to find that Dad hadn't been shifted after all and was still in ITU. So we'd just spent 2 hours hanging around the corridors when we could have been visiting!
The decision not to move Dad was made because because his heart had gone out of rhythm and was racing at a good old lick. They were giving him medication to bring it back to normal. He was still heavily sedated and was still in bed. None of the post operative tubes had been removed. So the information I was getting on the 'phone from the hospital didn't quite match up to the reality.
Poor soul, with being kept flat for four days he'd developed a bed sore so he's been put on a a special air mattress to relieve that. As he's still on the morphine he wont be feeling that at the moment.
Kerri - having the humour of a 14 year old - thought the effects of the morphine particularly funny and intends to tell everybody that her Gramps was stoned!
We stayed until four taking short visits each - SK & Richard came over from Dundee again - and then left Dad to sleep. I told him about this blog and asked did he have a message and he said to thank you all for praying for him.
When I came home I 'phoned and spoke to the doctor and he said that the heart was now back in rhythm and that he was doing well. The intention was to transfer him straight from ITU to a ward today which given the progress so far seemed a bit odd. He expected Dad to be discharged in five to seven days. As Dad hadn't even gotten as far a chair that seemed very optimistic, I suspect that was generic advise rather than particular to Dad.
So more news as I get it.
Love Lala
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Ice cream recovery
SK visited Dad yesterday evening, she only stayed for 10 minutes because he was so tired. She said he was very chirpy and told her all about the dramas of the helicopter ride. He's drinking a little and had ice cream for tea - Dad just loves ice cream!
Mam spoke to him on the 'phone and he said he wasn't in any pain and was doing fine.
The intention is to move him to the high dependency unit today so hopefully it wont be long before he is back on a ward.
We are travelling through to see him today with Mam & Kerri. We have 4" of snow here so we'll set off early in case the A96 is bad.
More news when we get home tonight.
Love Lala
Mam spoke to him on the 'phone and he said he wasn't in any pain and was doing fine.
The intention is to move him to the high dependency unit today so hopefully it wont be long before he is back on a ward.
We are travelling through to see him today with Mam & Kerri. We have 4" of snow here so we'll set off early in case the A96 is bad.
More news when we get home tonight.
Love Lala
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tea time update
Another good report from the hospital. Dad had the pump removed from his leg without any bother and they are very pleased with his progress. They can't see any reason he wont be moved to the high dependency unit tomorrow.
If SK has any particular news I'll let you.
Otherwise talk to you tomorrow.
Love Lala
If SK has any particular news I'll let you.
Otherwise talk to you tomorrow.
Love Lala
Saturday 12th progress already
I have 'phoned the hospital twice today and got good news both times.
First thing (7am) Dad was still being kept asleep until the surgeon examined him. They were pleased with his progress; the bleeding which had been a bit of a concern last night had stopped and his blood pressure was stable.
I 'phoned again at 12 and he'sd been woken up and taken off the ventalator. They were very pleased with his progress. He will be kept in the ITU until tomorrow as the pump inserted in his leg on Thursday night had to be removed - probably this afternoon - and he would need time to get over that.
I'm not sure exactly what happened on Thursday night as the CCU nurse said he'd had a comfortable night but when I spoke to dad he told me that he'd had a pain so severe that he was given morphine and that didn't kill it and that the pump had been inserted. I'll know more when I speak to the nurse in charge tomorrow.
I have to 'phone again at five and SK is going over this evening so check back later for further updates.
Love Lala
First thing (7am) Dad was still being kept asleep until the surgeon examined him. They were pleased with his progress; the bleeding which had been a bit of a concern last night had stopped and his blood pressure was stable.
I 'phoned again at 12 and he'sd been woken up and taken off the ventalator. They were very pleased with his progress. He will be kept in the ITU until tomorrow as the pump inserted in his leg on Thursday night had to be removed - probably this afternoon - and he would need time to get over that.
I'm not sure exactly what happened on Thursday night as the CCU nurse said he'd had a comfortable night but when I spoke to dad he told me that he'd had a pain so severe that he was given morphine and that didn't kill it and that the pump had been inserted. I'll know more when I speak to the nurse in charge tomorrow.
I have to 'phone again at five and SK is going over this evening so check back later for further updates.
Love Lala
Welcome to Dave's blog
I thought that this would be the easiest way to keep everybody up to date with Dad's progress and hopefully when he is home he can continue the blog himself. If only he knew what I had planned for him!
Love Lala
Love Lala
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