So we arrive at PRUH and go straight into A&E and hand in my letter and notes. We are advised to take a seat which is fine. After some time it's clear that my notes and whatever the letter says isn't really speeding up my admission. However after a bit I'm called into the assessment area where my blood pressure is taken again and of course it's still high. I'm also asked some questions however there doesn't seem to be any indication being 'fast tracked'.
I return to my seat and wait a bit longer then I'm called by a nurse who takes me into a side room and inserts a Cannula. As you all know this doesn't hurt in the slightest but allows bloods to be taken freely without inserting any more needles as it's effectively now 'on tap'. She also takes a few blood samples and lets me go back to my seat.
Probably 25 to 30 minutes later I'm called again, this time by a lady doctor who takes me through to the A & E 'ward' for want of a better term. I'm taken to my little cubicle and I sit on the bed and Lisa on the chair. The doctor asks me some questions, looks in my eyes again and suggests I need an ECG. 2 nurses duly arrive and wire me up. At this point all this is happening fairly quickly and again they are checking my blood pressure.
The first doctor arrives back with a senior colleague who has a look in my eyes, says a few things to the first doctor, and then she looks again. The more senior of the 2 then suggests to me that my high blood pressure is the cause of the blurry vision and part of the internals of my eye had swelled up because of the pressure. It's starting to sound serious, I'm not usually ill that much let alone being in a hospital. Anyway she then says that although I didn't realise as in general i felt fine that this was a serious medical emergency and it needs to be resolved before further damage of the eye or other parts of me.
They lay me down and advise they will need to get a blood pressure drug into me and that tablet form wouldn't be fast enough and in needed to be an 'infusion' which would be entered via the cannula. They spend some time tracking down what they are looking for and also I am later told questioning somebody else as to why I've been waiting in reception when I needed to be on medication. They seem to have trouble locating whatever they are looking for and seem to be on the phone asking about alternative infusions which could do the job. After a little while they must have found what they are looking for as I'm given 10ml of it via the cannula as an initial dose.
All throughout this there are of course other things going on in A&E which you try to look at to avoid your situation whilst all the time listening out for any conversation which may include your name which of course there were quite a few. In this listening out I hear that it looks like I'll be staying for 2 to 5 days, they later tell me this directly. It's all a bit of a whirlwind at this point but things seem to be happening and I'm told I'm waiting in A&E until they can get a bed on a ward.
Seemingly quickly I am then moved not to a ward but to a side area which seems to be for patients not on A&E any further but kind of in transit elsewhere but requiring high attention. In here the is some reasonably comical confusion as they are trying to get a machine working which allows unattended admission of IV drugs. After swapping the machine out and some confusion in how you set it up to deliver the correct amount over the correct time I am all connected and being administered 50ml of my infusion over 60 minutes.
In no time at all we are told a bed is free and we are off to CCU. At this point I didn't know what CCU you was but in no time at all I learn it's Coronary Care Unit. I am deposited on a high dependency ward where i am continuously connected to heart monitors, BP monitor and of course my ongoing infusion. It's now probably about 9pm I think. On my arrival on the ward I note it's ward of 4 beds with the other 3 being occupied by elderly woman who from time to time screamed out. I am in the corner still a bit shocked from the days events and not really knowing what's happening.
A nurse comes and gives me water etc and i am laying in bed. Lisa at this point has gone home as her mum was looking after the little one and needed relieving.
So at the end of today I have learnt I had a dangerously high blood pressure and have gone through something of a roller coaster ride and am now on a high dependency coronary care ward. Who'd have though that would have happened!
Monday, 12 November 2012
Why it went downhill.
As in the previous post i mentioned that on J's birthday whilst she had fun my day went downhill, and here's why.
J's birthday was on a Monday and over the previous weekend I had noticed something odd with my right eye and me being me didn't think too much of it so carried on. I was in the office on Monday morning (the home one, not the Reading one) and thought this is silly why not just visit the optician, so I google the number of a local one that looks pretty good, Steven Harris Opticians in Locksbottom, the friendly receptionist advised that the next free appointment was the following Saturday however she then said if I could come in 20 minutes time Mr Harris was free and would see me himself, I duly agreed.
So up I drive to Locksbottom which is about 5 minutes from us and park up and walk into the optician which is on the High Street, I then give a few details and take a seat. I get called and go into the eye test area. I'm asked why I'm there and explain and give the reason as 'I'm getting older and can't see as clearly out of my right eye as I used to so probably need glasses'. I'm run through a number of tests on my left eye which I pass fairly easier and am told my vision is pretty much perfect, I'm pretty pleased as this is probably my first optician visit for over 25 years, however the same can't be said for my right eye as nothing really seems to enable me to see correctly. After lots of looking I'm advised to go the eye accident and emergency as Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. I'm written a letter to take with me and after paying the test fee (£30 which seems reasonable) I head home to tell the family.
I arrived home and said to Lisa that the optician couldn't figure out was was wrong and he advised a visit to the eye A&E so we head there straight away. Upon arrival it's reasonably busy as expected however we are seen pretty quickly for initial assessment. The nurse does a few simple eye chart tests and then checks my blood pressure. It was high and she advised I visited my doctor about it and wrote me a letter to take with me for explanation. She also said that the eye doctors books were pretty busy and could we go back after lunch at 1415. We headed home for lunch.
We arrive back at about 1350 and are directed into a busy room and take the 2 last seats. However weather it's because we had came earlier or my case was possibly something different for them I get called first. I'm called by a fy nice doctor who initially comments on the blood pressure however quickly progresses to checking my eye out. He seems at first to be fairly not concerned about the blood pressure and suggested that whilst he was working in eye clinic he could prescribe me something for the high pressure however he would prefer it if my GP did it.....fine.
So he does quite a few tests including putting drops in my eye which makes me looks like a scared cat that enabled him to look quite closely at the eye internals. I'm then sent back to the waiting room for about the 7th time, it appears that my case has interested them. I'm then called back in to see a consultant who again looks in my eyes, says a few things and gets the previous guy to look again for experience. The consultant whilst clearly having my best interest at heart doesn't quite seem as cheerful or casual as the previous doctor. He then comments on my blood pressure which little do I know yet and won't find out for a while is most likely the cause of my blurry vision. He says that really my blood pressure needs to sorted before any eye treatment could happen as it's really really high. I get sent back to the waiting room again.
After about 15 minutes I'm called back into the clinic again and advised that they have booked me to see somebody at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH). They suggest popping home to pick up an overnight back as I may need to stay but to get there as quick as I can. Slight concerned now we head home. They have also given me a whole host of notes and a letter which they say will allow me to bypass waiting in A & E again and I should therefore be seeing the doctor as soon as I arrive. I thank them and head home.
I pack a back with a few bits and pieces and head to PRUH.
J's birthday was on a Monday and over the previous weekend I had noticed something odd with my right eye and me being me didn't think too much of it so carried on. I was in the office on Monday morning (the home one, not the Reading one) and thought this is silly why not just visit the optician, so I google the number of a local one that looks pretty good, Steven Harris Opticians in Locksbottom, the friendly receptionist advised that the next free appointment was the following Saturday however she then said if I could come in 20 minutes time Mr Harris was free and would see me himself, I duly agreed.
So up I drive to Locksbottom which is about 5 minutes from us and park up and walk into the optician which is on the High Street, I then give a few details and take a seat. I get called and go into the eye test area. I'm asked why I'm there and explain and give the reason as 'I'm getting older and can't see as clearly out of my right eye as I used to so probably need glasses'. I'm run through a number of tests on my left eye which I pass fairly easier and am told my vision is pretty much perfect, I'm pretty pleased as this is probably my first optician visit for over 25 years, however the same can't be said for my right eye as nothing really seems to enable me to see correctly. After lots of looking I'm advised to go the eye accident and emergency as Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. I'm written a letter to take with me and after paying the test fee (£30 which seems reasonable) I head home to tell the family.
I arrived home and said to Lisa that the optician couldn't figure out was was wrong and he advised a visit to the eye A&E so we head there straight away. Upon arrival it's reasonably busy as expected however we are seen pretty quickly for initial assessment. The nurse does a few simple eye chart tests and then checks my blood pressure. It was high and she advised I visited my doctor about it and wrote me a letter to take with me for explanation. She also said that the eye doctors books were pretty busy and could we go back after lunch at 1415. We headed home for lunch.
We arrive back at about 1350 and are directed into a busy room and take the 2 last seats. However weather it's because we had came earlier or my case was possibly something different for them I get called first. I'm called by a fy nice doctor who initially comments on the blood pressure however quickly progresses to checking my eye out. He seems at first to be fairly not concerned about the blood pressure and suggested that whilst he was working in eye clinic he could prescribe me something for the high pressure however he would prefer it if my GP did it.....fine.
So he does quite a few tests including putting drops in my eye which makes me looks like a scared cat that enabled him to look quite closely at the eye internals. I'm then sent back to the waiting room for about the 7th time, it appears that my case has interested them. I'm then called back in to see a consultant who again looks in my eyes, says a few things and gets the previous guy to look again for experience. The consultant whilst clearly having my best interest at heart doesn't quite seem as cheerful or casual as the previous doctor. He then comments on my blood pressure which little do I know yet and won't find out for a while is most likely the cause of my blurry vision. He says that really my blood pressure needs to sorted before any eye treatment could happen as it's really really high. I get sent back to the waiting room again.
After about 15 minutes I'm called back into the clinic again and advised that they have booked me to see somebody at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH). They suggest popping home to pick up an overnight back as I may need to stay but to get there as quick as I can. Slight concerned now we head home. They have also given me a whole host of notes and a letter which they say will allow me to bypass waiting in A & E again and I should therefore be seeing the doctor as soon as I arrive. I thank them and head home.
I pack a back with a few bits and pieces and head to PRUH.
Josie's Birthday
Well it's here, or it was, Josie's 2nd Birthday. Doesn't time fly?
After lots of present wrapping, and kitchen building the big was here.
There were plenty of presents for the little on on the day and she had a whale of a time unwrapping the large number of gifts she had received from various people.
I don't have much more to share about the day as for me the day went downhill from here.
After lots of present wrapping, and kitchen building the big was here.
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| Kitchen all finished |
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| I'm 2 now |
I don't have much more to share about the day as for me the day went downhill from here.
October Holiday
A week off of work in October and we were off to Saunton in Devon. I was looking forward to the week away not only for the week off as it's been busy at work but also it was the week of my birthday. We went late Sunday afternoon as whilst the little one slept on and off throughout the 5 hour drive she seemed pretty excited. We arrived at the house around 11pm and J went straight to bed as did we after turning on the Aga and boiling the kettle for some tea.
So Monday, first port of call after breakfast was to head for the beach. There are some great beaches in North Devon and Saunton Sands is a great one with a great beach side restaurant ( The beach side cafe/restaurant is actually part of the Saunton Sands Hotel. The food is excellent as is the service and they are extremely good with families. Beach info can be found at Saunton Beach info
Unfortunately today was the only day it was to remain dry, from Monday afternoon it rained continuously until we came home. We came home slightly early as the the weather wasn't really that great at all for a family with an almost 2 year old.
So Monday, first port of call after breakfast was to head for the beach. There are some great beaches in North Devon and Saunton Sands is a great one with a great beach side restaurant ( The beach side cafe/restaurant is actually part of the Saunton Sands Hotel. The food is excellent as is the service and they are extremely good with families. Beach info can be found at Saunton Beach info
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| J and I on Saunton Sands beach on 8 October 2012 |
Unfortunately today was the only day it was to remain dry, from Monday afternoon it rained continuously until we came home. We came home slightly early as the the weather wasn't really that great at all for a family with an almost 2 year old.
We did go to another attraction The Big Sheep, which is just passed Bideford heading from Barnestaple. Now its advertised as an all weather attraction and in most conditions I would agree. However the rain we experienced was monsoon like and whilst pretty much everything was open including outdoor attractions the weather was a definite downer. One thing though which i must commend the staff on was that they recognised the weather was bad ans extended all visitors tickets to be valid for the following 7 day meaning people could come back when the weather was a little milder. One thing that was very good though is the indoor 'soft play' area which is fun for kids of most ages I would say. There were also a number of very big slides which were great fun, even for those of us who were almost 37!
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| Slides and softplay @ The Big Sheep, Bideford. |
As you can see above the whole indoor softplay area is actually pretty massive, it also extends further to the right of the picture. There's also a pretty good cafe in there too which serves pretty much anything you'd want to eat or drink.
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