The wheels grind exceedingly slow but I have got a letter of apology(well sort of) from the Consultant who did the Endoscopy. He regrets that the Day Surgery could well have picked up on urinary problems and that A and E could have done better.
However I have yet to receive a response to my comments about the new 111 service. Medically trained staff there should have picked up what the likely cause of my problem was and pointed me in the correct direction.
My letter was sent on 1 February.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
It would be nice to report that everything was now in order.
For the last 5 days I had started to notice that urinating was becoming harder. It felt like there was a blockage though I could pass water albeit slowly. In addition I was suddenly needing to go to the toilet.
This morning I went to the Doctor. Thanks to Ev who had kept a specimen bottle in the house I took a sample with me. Even I could see that the contents were cloudy. Anyway the Doctor was most impressed by this, did some tests and said there was a urine infection. She prescribed anti biotics to take for 5 days. In addition to that she sent my sample to the Laboratory to check if there are any ooh nasties lurking.
Apparently infections are quite common with the use of catheters. This is quite a price to pay for a check on my digestive system.
The results from the Lab are due in a week's time. I'll let you know the results.
For the last 5 days I had started to notice that urinating was becoming harder. It felt like there was a blockage though I could pass water albeit slowly. In addition I was suddenly needing to go to the toilet.
This morning I went to the Doctor. Thanks to Ev who had kept a specimen bottle in the house I took a sample with me. Even I could see that the contents were cloudy. Anyway the Doctor was most impressed by this, did some tests and said there was a urine infection. She prescribed anti biotics to take for 5 days. In addition to that she sent my sample to the Laboratory to check if there are any ooh nasties lurking.
Apparently infections are quite common with the use of catheters. This is quite a price to pay for a check on my digestive system.
The results from the Lab are due in a week's time. I'll let you know the results.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Apologies for delay. Yeesterday was quite busy.
The District Nurse duly arrived as promised and removed said catheter. SHe also rang early afternoon to make sure I was able to urinate properly. I was instructed to keep drinking plenty preferrably water or Juice rather than tea and coffee.
I am pleased to say things are slowly returning to normal though having sudden urges to go to the toilet is a little disconcerting.
I have penned what I would call constructive criticism of my treatment at the weekend to the Island NHS Chief Executive. I shall let you know what response I get. I am still seething at what I still think was unecessary delay in being fitted with a catheter.
I'll also blog progress here.
The District Nurse duly arrived as promised and removed said catheter. SHe also rang early afternoon to make sure I was able to urinate properly. I was instructed to keep drinking plenty preferrably water or Juice rather than tea and coffee.
I am pleased to say things are slowly returning to normal though having sudden urges to go to the toilet is a little disconcerting.
I have penned what I would call constructive criticism of my treatment at the weekend to the Island NHS Chief Executive. I shall let you know what response I get. I am still seething at what I still think was unecessary delay in being fitted with a catheter.
I'll also blog progress here.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
This is the second time for me in writing this blog so here goes.
I duly had my "procedure" yesterday. As is their won't you have to report to Hospitals well before they put you under the microscope. Thus I got up at 530AM to have my pills as nothing was permitted to drink after 6.00AM. Our day ended at 2.00AM today. Quite a saga so here goes.
We got to the Hospital at 730 the appointed time. You could tell the day surgery unit does not normally function on a Saturday because the heating wasn't on. Anyway blood pressure etc. checked, I was ready for what was to follow. In the event I went into the operating theatre at 11.00. The procedure was very quick, a short jab with a needle and that was that. The good news is that nothing untoward was found except from a back up of phlegm which may explain the cough and occasional voice croak. The consultant said he would see me again in clinic in a few weeks time.
After tea and toast Ev took me home for about 2.00PM. I first noticed something was wrong an hour later when I tried to wee and found that nothing much was happening. At first I was inclined to think it was because up till then I had had little to drink. As Afternoon turned to evening it got worse.
On the Island we have a phone number for a non emergency but you need medical help fast. It's 111. I had interviewed the Manager of this line on my radio show and he assured listeners that the call handlers were medically trained.
At about 630 I rang said number and told the call handler what the problem was and that I had had anaesthetic that morning. She went away for a few seconds and then came back to say I should see a GP within 24 hours. Now on the Island the out of hours GP and Accident and Emergency are in the same building. I was offered an appointment for 730PM so off poor Ev and I went to the Hospital. We got there for 720 to find a room full of people all waiting to see one very overworked Doctor. In the event we found the system operated on a first come first served basis. Getting more and more uncomfortable we waited and waited. Eventually we got to see the Doctor at about 940. The 111 operator had filled in the details of what I had said accurately but the GP told us we had been referred to him incorrectly as a catheter would be needed and that was the job of A and E. He added that urine retention was one of the possible side effects of General Anaesthetic. Given that the call handlers are supposed to be medically trained you would have thought she would know to refer me straight to A and E.
By this time , it being Saturday, A and E was busy. The GP did tell us he would see what he could do given that I had been in since 720 and was very uncomfortable. We went back to the waiting room at about 950. Half an hour later we went through to the area and were shown into a cubicle. I could lie on the bed but Ev had to make do with an uncomfortable chair. However it was gone midnight when a Doctor came to see me. To be fair he was both pleasant and very competent. He took some blood tests to check if the kidneys had been infected and then applied the dreadful catheter with great care. We then had to wait for an hour till the results of the blood test came back. Thankfully all was clear.
Finally the leg bag was attached(the catheter had taken 60 mils of urine)and were were given a number of night bags to take with us. We left the Hospital finally at 1.45. The 4 hour waiting time was adhered to as A and E's clock only started when we went in there at 1020.
The District Nurse is coming in tomorrow to check the bag and hopefully remove it. If however I can't wee on my own she will have to come back and put it back on.
What a farrago. I'll let you know what happens.
I duly had my "procedure" yesterday. As is their won't you have to report to Hospitals well before they put you under the microscope. Thus I got up at 530AM to have my pills as nothing was permitted to drink after 6.00AM. Our day ended at 2.00AM today. Quite a saga so here goes.
We got to the Hospital at 730 the appointed time. You could tell the day surgery unit does not normally function on a Saturday because the heating wasn't on. Anyway blood pressure etc. checked, I was ready for what was to follow. In the event I went into the operating theatre at 11.00. The procedure was very quick, a short jab with a needle and that was that. The good news is that nothing untoward was found except from a back up of phlegm which may explain the cough and occasional voice croak. The consultant said he would see me again in clinic in a few weeks time.
After tea and toast Ev took me home for about 2.00PM. I first noticed something was wrong an hour later when I tried to wee and found that nothing much was happening. At first I was inclined to think it was because up till then I had had little to drink. As Afternoon turned to evening it got worse.
On the Island we have a phone number for a non emergency but you need medical help fast. It's 111. I had interviewed the Manager of this line on my radio show and he assured listeners that the call handlers were medically trained.
At about 630 I rang said number and told the call handler what the problem was and that I had had anaesthetic that morning. She went away for a few seconds and then came back to say I should see a GP within 24 hours. Now on the Island the out of hours GP and Accident and Emergency are in the same building. I was offered an appointment for 730PM so off poor Ev and I went to the Hospital. We got there for 720 to find a room full of people all waiting to see one very overworked Doctor. In the event we found the system operated on a first come first served basis. Getting more and more uncomfortable we waited and waited. Eventually we got to see the Doctor at about 940. The 111 operator had filled in the details of what I had said accurately but the GP told us we had been referred to him incorrectly as a catheter would be needed and that was the job of A and E. He added that urine retention was one of the possible side effects of General Anaesthetic. Given that the call handlers are supposed to be medically trained you would have thought she would know to refer me straight to A and E.
By this time , it being Saturday, A and E was busy. The GP did tell us he would see what he could do given that I had been in since 720 and was very uncomfortable. We went back to the waiting room at about 950. Half an hour later we went through to the area and were shown into a cubicle. I could lie on the bed but Ev had to make do with an uncomfortable chair. However it was gone midnight when a Doctor came to see me. To be fair he was both pleasant and very competent. He took some blood tests to check if the kidneys had been infected and then applied the dreadful catheter with great care. We then had to wait for an hour till the results of the blood test came back. Thankfully all was clear.
Finally the leg bag was attached(the catheter had taken 60 mils of urine)and were were given a number of night bags to take with us. We left the Hospital finally at 1.45. The 4 hour waiting time was adhered to as A and E's clock only started when we went in there at 1020.
The District Nurse is coming in tomorrow to check the bag and hopefully remove it. If however I can't wee on my own she will have to come back and put it back on.
What a farrago. I'll let you know what happens.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
The NHS works in odd ways sometimes.
The Hospital rang to say that they had had a cancellation. As a result I am to have a pre med this Saturday(21st.) and the actual endoscopy on Saturday 28th January.
For those of you who thought the NHS didn't do this sort of thing on a Saturday you are not alone. Hopefully this is just routine but I'll report back on 29th January.
The Hospital rang to say that they had had a cancellation. As a result I am to have a pre med this Saturday(21st.) and the actual endoscopy on Saturday 28th January.
For those of you who thought the NHS didn't do this sort of thing on a Saturday you are not alone. Hopefully this is just routine but I'll report back on 29th January.
Friday, 13 January 2012
I saw the ENT person yesterday.
He did a brief examination by sticking a machine up my left nostril(charming).
He wants to do an Endoscopy. This one though will be by general anaesthetic. It will involve sticking a steel tube down my throat(oh joy. He did say that he was probably being cautious but better that than missing something.
Apparently my throat is both tight and sensitive which explains both the dry cough and the difficulty in swallowing.
I have a 4 to 6 week wait for this and I shall keep you posted.
He did a brief examination by sticking a machine up my left nostril(charming).
He wants to do an Endoscopy. This one though will be by general anaesthetic. It will involve sticking a steel tube down my throat(oh joy. He did say that he was probably being cautious but better that than missing something.
Apparently my throat is both tight and sensitive which explains both the dry cough and the difficulty in swallowing.
I have a 4 to 6 week wait for this and I shall keep you posted.
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