Home and tucked in front of the tennis channel - astounded by the resilience and good humour of this man who has been through so bloody much.
Thanks to everyone's continued support, love and healing vibes...
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Monday, 29 April 2013
Sunday, 28 April 2013
An unjust turn of events..
Bugger, I knew i should have written all the good stuff when it was all going so smoothly and Doug was progressing so well - now we've had an about turn this weekend so all last week is a hazy memory - thankfully, my secretary posted pictures of the wonderful hot day out we had 'dancing through the tulips' in Skagit valley after Doug had a busy week of learning to speed type in occupational therapy; tottering backwards on a beam whilst counting 7 backwards and waltzing his eyes in all directions during physio and back sorting those pesky shapes and colours in speech therapy.
All these amazing new skills have been put to rest for a while sadly as Doug was readmitted into hospital on friday evening with chest pain. We did manage to cause a bit of a rumpus in our sleepy neighbourhood with sirens and flashing lights alerting the neighbours to our drama but i hadn't quite calculated on a fire engine attempting to squeeze its huge body down our tight, dead end drive and 5 burly officers bursting out...so apparently (note to self), when one calls for medical assistance...you get the fire fighters...no complaints however...
Unfortunately, the worse scenerio occurred and he has developed 2 pulmonary embolisms. We knew this was always the danger coming off Warfarin but the suddenness and ferocity took us by surprise - so fucking unfair! Pain relief was slow coming but finally by saturday morning Doug was lost in cuckoo land and today Doug came through the whole bamboozle and barrage of tests looking good (the new tan helps) and handling his readmission pretty well..they started a heparin drip and no sign of it aggravating a bleed - thank goodness.
A setback...but hopefully not for long...
PS he's in room 6260 at U of W... but not for too much longer i hope...
All these amazing new skills have been put to rest for a while sadly as Doug was readmitted into hospital on friday evening with chest pain. We did manage to cause a bit of a rumpus in our sleepy neighbourhood with sirens and flashing lights alerting the neighbours to our drama but i hadn't quite calculated on a fire engine attempting to squeeze its huge body down our tight, dead end drive and 5 burly officers bursting out...so apparently (note to self), when one calls for medical assistance...you get the fire fighters...no complaints however...
Unfortunately, the worse scenerio occurred and he has developed 2 pulmonary embolisms. We knew this was always the danger coming off Warfarin but the suddenness and ferocity took us by surprise - so fucking unfair! Pain relief was slow coming but finally by saturday morning Doug was lost in cuckoo land and today Doug came through the whole bamboozle and barrage of tests looking good (the new tan helps) and handling his readmission pretty well..they started a heparin drip and no sign of it aggravating a bleed - thank goodness.
A setback...but hopefully not for long...
PS he's in room 6260 at U of W... but not for too much longer i hope...
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Thursday, 18 April 2013
A week at home .....
Back by popular demand...! I guess you still want to know how the old bugger's doing now he's been released and running me ragged!! Seemed to have more time on my hands whilst he was in hospital!! :)
Well - remarkably well with some ups and downs - but certainly not as entertaining - now that he has his marbles back! Fatigue is huge and headaches come on thick and fast - trying to juggle ('limit') the pain relief is tricky....
woke up with chest pain one night causing a bit of a scare - a) coronary? b) embolism? (again), c) muscular? or d) wind? - after brief assessment (yes, lesser would have crumbled) - resisted 911 thinking it was likely to be either c or d ... thankfully it seemed to be one or the other or both and no further repercussions...
Week spent first trying to book rehab appointments - it might have helped had they 'faxed' (i know) the right patients 'rehab referral form' - wasn't until i found myself at Kinko (don't start me) looking at his discharge form thinking whose this Mr Shores when i realised we had someone else's treatment plan - looked as if it could work for Doug however. I'm sure people sue for less...
The rest of the week spent actually trying to find appointments for the next few coming weeks - eventually (i think finally due to pity) we scrabbled a few appointments together... most important (and seemingly most elusive) was for Speech therapy - and, not to "get rid of that ridiculous accent" as Flea pointed out, but for his higher cognitive reasoning... a happy hour was spent juggling and arranging shapes and colours as instructed.... happy memories of nursery school games came flooding back but the intense concentration near wiped poor Doug out...might have helped if i'd remembered to take his pain killers along - oops..
Then came Physio, Occupational and Vocational therapy all in a row... surprisingly not as exhausting as that lone speech therapy appointment - although they wiped me out just watching... well at least i can get Doug out walking with me and the mutts but it'll be a while before i convince him to come along to yoga...
I'm having to learn how to cook again although pleased to see the message didn't get through that Doug was now home and a few 'meals on wheels' miraculously appeared on the doorstep :) And i'm eternally indebted to Kimberly for sending in the super squad fairies who miraculously left our musty old house sparkling...
We should be in LA this week visiting Jack (i did consider a later flight but DOug wasn't playing ball) - anyway, we've had a few warm and sunny days but just as the barrage of appointments are over for one week and i'm thinking of a drive up to Skagit Valley and the tulip fields, then winter sets back in ...bloody freezing...
PS Southwest airlines - brilliant, Alaska - awful - i'd like to request no one flies with them ever again...
and just got the statement for his 25 day stay at Harborview Hosp $355,560.47 (and that doesn't include the bill for initial emergency treatment at University of Washington hosp)... fascinating break down of costs that i'm not convinced are too accurate - after telling me they "don't do physio in ITU" they still charge $1000 - hmm - mysterious!! still, they did a splendid job of saving his life - and for that we are eternally grateful ...
and yes, we're taking visitors and calls - so feel free.... oh and making visits...Doug managed the excitement of watching the Golf Open last weekend with Matt - whilst i escaped for a little retail therapy....anyone free for babysitting?
Well - remarkably well with some ups and downs - but certainly not as entertaining - now that he has his marbles back! Fatigue is huge and headaches come on thick and fast - trying to juggle ('limit') the pain relief is tricky....
woke up with chest pain one night causing a bit of a scare - a) coronary? b) embolism? (again), c) muscular? or d) wind? - after brief assessment (yes, lesser would have crumbled) - resisted 911 thinking it was likely to be either c or d ... thankfully it seemed to be one or the other or both and no further repercussions...
Week spent first trying to book rehab appointments - it might have helped had they 'faxed' (i know) the right patients 'rehab referral form' - wasn't until i found myself at Kinko (don't start me) looking at his discharge form thinking whose this Mr Shores when i realised we had someone else's treatment plan - looked as if it could work for Doug however. I'm sure people sue for less...
The rest of the week spent actually trying to find appointments for the next few coming weeks - eventually (i think finally due to pity) we scrabbled a few appointments together... most important (and seemingly most elusive) was for Speech therapy - and, not to "get rid of that ridiculous accent" as Flea pointed out, but for his higher cognitive reasoning... a happy hour was spent juggling and arranging shapes and colours as instructed.... happy memories of nursery school games came flooding back but the intense concentration near wiped poor Doug out...might have helped if i'd remembered to take his pain killers along - oops..
Then came Physio, Occupational and Vocational therapy all in a row... surprisingly not as exhausting as that lone speech therapy appointment - although they wiped me out just watching... well at least i can get Doug out walking with me and the mutts but it'll be a while before i convince him to come along to yoga...
I'm having to learn how to cook again although pleased to see the message didn't get through that Doug was now home and a few 'meals on wheels' miraculously appeared on the doorstep :) And i'm eternally indebted to Kimberly for sending in the super squad fairies who miraculously left our musty old house sparkling...
We should be in LA this week visiting Jack (i did consider a later flight but DOug wasn't playing ball) - anyway, we've had a few warm and sunny days but just as the barrage of appointments are over for one week and i'm thinking of a drive up to Skagit Valley and the tulip fields, then winter sets back in ...bloody freezing...
PS Southwest airlines - brilliant, Alaska - awful - i'd like to request no one flies with them ever again...
and just got the statement for his 25 day stay at Harborview Hosp $355,560.47 (and that doesn't include the bill for initial emergency treatment at University of Washington hosp)... fascinating break down of costs that i'm not convinced are too accurate - after telling me they "don't do physio in ITU" they still charge $1000 - hmm - mysterious!! still, they did a splendid job of saving his life - and for that we are eternally grateful ...
and yes, we're taking visitors and calls - so feel free.... oh and making visits...Doug managed the excitement of watching the Golf Open last weekend with Matt - whilst i escaped for a little retail therapy....anyone free for babysitting?
Monday, 8 April 2013
Home...Let the rehabilitation begin...
Day started with a call from Doug - "Guess what? Thatchers dead" - sounded like he was reliving the horror of the 70's...
Now home - bit of an anti-climax...much sorting and signing (clothes never found - don't believe he came in naked?!)... different opinions from different docs... rehab programs to be booked although "very busy so might not get in" - just as "the Haematologist is very busy and can't guarantee an appointment" - the most 'expensive health care system in the world' is seriously giving the NHS a run for their money.
Anyway, the ICU team were stupendous and we thank them with utmost gratitude. The lovely nurse today bade us farewell with just minimum medication - for pain and poo - and off we went!
Doug currently snoozing on the sofa - then his pile of blankets started walking across the floor - hadn't realised Dora had quietly snuck herself underneath! Woke up up at 7pm asking for cereal for breakfast - good start!
Great news but there's always a down side to everything - and alas this means an end to my wonderful meals on wheels service - thank you all - was very tempted not to mention him coming home!! :) It really was an unexpected welcome - thank you again to Page for organising it...and all those who generously contributed...
Thanks for reading and resisting calling me all this time - i've had nearly 4,000 'page views' in the past month - a testament to the concern for Doug or my riveting updates?!! Also appreciated all the notes, emails and cards sent - sorry if i didn't reply to all - but they have helped us get through this - as putting this in writing has helped me... we've passed that last bend and on that now looking not so long road....
Doug said a week ago "you should write a book" - and his colleague Dan replied "she already has"!
Now home - bit of an anti-climax...much sorting and signing (clothes never found - don't believe he came in naked?!)... different opinions from different docs... rehab programs to be booked although "very busy so might not get in" - just as "the Haematologist is very busy and can't guarantee an appointment" - the most 'expensive health care system in the world' is seriously giving the NHS a run for their money.
Anyway, the ICU team were stupendous and we thank them with utmost gratitude. The lovely nurse today bade us farewell with just minimum medication - for pain and poo - and off we went!
Doug currently snoozing on the sofa - then his pile of blankets started walking across the floor - hadn't realised Dora had quietly snuck herself underneath! Woke up up at 7pm asking for cereal for breakfast - good start!
Great news but there's always a down side to everything - and alas this means an end to my wonderful meals on wheels service - thank you all - was very tempted not to mention him coming home!! :) It really was an unexpected welcome - thank you again to Page for organising it...and all those who generously contributed...
Thanks for reading and resisting calling me all this time - i've had nearly 4,000 'page views' in the past month - a testament to the concern for Doug or my riveting updates?!! Also appreciated all the notes, emails and cards sent - sorry if i didn't reply to all - but they have helped us get through this - as putting this in writing has helped me... we've passed that last bend and on that now looking not so long road....
Doug said a week ago "you should write a book" - and his colleague Dan replied "she already has"!
Sunday, 7 April 2013
What a difference a day makes...
New day...new Dougy...
took my sound advice after calling this morning and got in the shower....just some other grooming bits to do once i got there....and a walk round the whole perimeter of the ward without huffs and puffs and curses - even tried the pretend stairs...fun manoeuvre getting back down...
wasn't keen on the frozen mango pieces i took in - healthy change from icecream i thought - said they tasted of fish... thought his taste buds were off kilter - but they did!!
Basic nursing care is a little wanting...managed to persuade someone to change his bed whilst he was sitting out... guess they just think he's doing it all himself... which he can...just needs a little reminder! Guess we should be happy that he's considered a low dependent patient... the short term memory loss though needs some help now and again...
But, really good day - able to hold court with many lovely visitors and minimal pain relief...although he just called this evening wondering where we where and with a thumping headache...
Looking good for the big escape...just have to write my list of many questions to ask the team that keep popping up...
funny symbol popped up on the dashboard of the car driving home...'catalytic converter malfunction' - any ideas??!!
took my sound advice after calling this morning and got in the shower....just some other grooming bits to do once i got there....and a walk round the whole perimeter of the ward without huffs and puffs and curses - even tried the pretend stairs...fun manoeuvre getting back down...
wasn't keen on the frozen mango pieces i took in - healthy change from icecream i thought - said they tasted of fish... thought his taste buds were off kilter - but they did!!
Basic nursing care is a little wanting...managed to persuade someone to change his bed whilst he was sitting out... guess they just think he's doing it all himself... which he can...just needs a little reminder! Guess we should be happy that he's considered a low dependent patient... the short term memory loss though needs some help now and again...
But, really good day - able to hold court with many lovely visitors and minimal pain relief...although he just called this evening wondering where we where and with a thumping headache...
Looking good for the big escape...just have to write my list of many questions to ask the team that keep popping up...
funny symbol popped up on the dashboard of the car driving home...'catalytic converter malfunction' - any ideas??!!
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Discharge? I don't think so...
Doug spends 3weeks in icu and within days of acute car they want to kick him out! As long as I can do 24hr watch duty at home! Considering his continuing need for regular heavy pain relief, barely out of bed - he managed a stagger down the corridor, and continuing aches and pains, not to mention recent (perhaps still) hydrocephalus... I would think another CT scan prior might be advisable... At least they've refrained from the torture of another lumbar puncture as the pressure was down yesterday. Think it might be wise to give it a day or so before booting him out...new doc (who knew nothing about him) and social worker seemed almost relieved...where did this idea come from?! Certainly not on the cards yesterday....
Least his sore throat seems to have disappeared although I began to not take that seriously when he moaned about the flavor of the menthol and butterscotch lozenges...
Rallied for a Skype chat with the lovely Davies Family. And then not a great day... :(.
Dinner's here...and it's only 4.30pm...no wonder he can't work out night and day... Alas he lost another room buddy in the middle of the night ..hopefully to another floor and not beyond...but it all sounded pretty dramatic....
Least his sore throat seems to have disappeared although I began to not take that seriously when he moaned about the flavor of the menthol and butterscotch lozenges...
Rallied for a Skype chat with the lovely Davies Family. And then not a great day... :(.
Dinner's here...and it's only 4.30pm...no wonder he can't work out night and day... Alas he lost another room buddy in the middle of the night ..hopefully to another floor and not beyond...but it all sounded pretty dramatic....
uncomfortable day.
So, despite the Neurosurgeon telling us that the pressure reading from the lumbar puncture yesterday was normal, it in fact wasn't! So, a repeat, ever more painful one, was performed this morning...which did show a normal reading... We hope...!! Reassuring eh?!
Then a sore throat seemed to consume the day.. His lovely nurse was unavailable so some surly male equivalent of Nurse Ratched came (clearly very put out at having to deal with 'someone else's patient') with pain meds and made the mistake of turning to me snarling "well, does he want them or not"... I doubt if he'll do that again. Needless to say that there are nurse managers coming round (rather like hospitality) checking if all is fine with the care...can't figure if its normal practice or if they have me clocked as 'trouble' :)
Little set back but continuing progress......
Then a sore throat seemed to consume the day.. His lovely nurse was unavailable so some surly male equivalent of Nurse Ratched came (clearly very put out at having to deal with 'someone else's patient') with pain meds and made the mistake of turning to me snarling "well, does he want them or not"... I doubt if he'll do that again. Needless to say that there are nurse managers coming round (rather like hospitality) checking if all is fine with the care...can't figure if its normal practice or if they have me clocked as 'trouble' :)
Little set back but continuing progress......
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Three weeks today...
Three weeks ago, to this hour, I walked back into our upside down world from that long flight back..and now Doug is untangled and finally bidding his time before release on Acute Care, down to minimal medication and assistance. Yet bizarrely, doesn't seem to relish a return home too soon.. Can't imagine why not...
An unpleasant lumbar puncture showed no abnormalities and ct scan revealed some fluid retention causing occasional headaches....which hopefully, will eventually resolve itself..
With memoriest of my favourite scene from 'Out of Africa', i gave Doug a shampoo ...not exactly pouring jugs of fresh warm water over his head but with this rather exciting all in one shower cap device....stick it in microwave, pop it on, let it soak, quick rub and voila...clean hair! Must get some for next travels...
Sadly, yesterday, i received some devastating news regarding several friends and wonder if there's some malevolent storm passing over... it puts even our difficult circumstance into perspective....
Keep well everyone X
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Chef at large
Arrived as Doug proudly returned after a long walk from the kitchen having successfully fried an egg and made a cuppa without burning the hospital down....(occupational therapy passed - tick)
Thus graduating to the acute care ward (3rd floor, still west wing, rm 350) after a l-o-n-g 3 week stay in ICU but I don't think his stay here is going to be fo much longer....room big enough to party but his room mate isn't too communicative...
Only further excitement later today is for a lumbar puncture which prompted a rendition of Spinal Tap... oh and Jane's visit with the wooly hand knitted hat....
Happy chappy with phone in hand looking forward to receiving calls, texts and visits 206 850 1306 (8 hours behind UK).
we knew he'd had enough when Jane asked if he was ready to go home and he responded with "nah, i like it here"!!
Thus graduating to the acute care ward (3rd floor, still west wing, rm 350) after a l-o-n-g 3 week stay in ICU but I don't think his stay here is going to be fo much longer....room big enough to party but his room mate isn't too communicative...
Only further excitement later today is for a lumbar puncture which prompted a rendition of Spinal Tap... oh and Jane's visit with the wooly hand knitted hat....
Happy chappy with phone in hand looking forward to receiving calls, texts and visits 206 850 1306 (8 hours behind UK).
we knew he'd had enough when Jane asked if he was ready to go home and he responded with "nah, i like it here"!!
That's it folks...he's a bit pooped but all good...
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Blimey!
Blimey! Doug may come home at the weekend!!!??? (and every one of those are valid). And i haven't even got the handrails fitted or the rubbery bath mat thingy ready. But Jim has offered to come build a ramp!
Wow, they kick them out faster then the NHS .. beds cant be economically viable once they leave $$ high dependency...
But YAY - just need to dust off the old uniform and i'm all set (should it fit)... Doug is doing phenomenally, fabulously, brilliantly... and so i shouldn't be surprised..
And he hasn't even left ICU yet...no beds in acute care - now, they're really giving the NHS a run for their money...
Oh my - does that mean the meals on wheels thingamajig comes to an end?! :(
Drama - Doug's phone lost 24 hrs (- i did suggest leaving it wasn't a great idea) - so, many a bag of soiled linen unturned - only to find it charging in a station near by - ooops...
Doug's recollection of 'where he is' is now, much improved - London, Edinburgh and now Timbuktu... he might be messin' with us..
All this effort and i'd just found free parking away from the 'ghetto' (as Miles called it) - a mere 4 blocks away...
What a day...
Wow, they kick them out faster then the NHS .. beds cant be economically viable once they leave $$ high dependency...
But YAY - just need to dust off the old uniform and i'm all set (should it fit)... Doug is doing phenomenally, fabulously, brilliantly... and so i shouldn't be surprised..
And he hasn't even left ICU yet...no beds in acute care - now, they're really giving the NHS a run for their money...
Oh my - does that mean the meals on wheels thingamajig comes to an end?! :(
Drama - Doug's phone lost 24 hrs (- i did suggest leaving it wasn't a great idea) - so, many a bag of soiled linen unturned - only to find it charging in a station near by - ooops...
Doug's recollection of 'where he is' is now, much improved - London, Edinburgh and now Timbuktu... he might be messin' with us..
All this effort and i'd just found free parking away from the 'ghetto' (as Miles called it) - a mere 4 blocks away...
What a day...
Monday, 1 April 2013
Doug Unwired
Doug unwired...and still unhinged...
Tubeless and trotting around icu in hot pursuit by Kurt and his mom by time I arrived. Cursing his hamstrings and (finally) physio arrived just as he got back into bed and nodded off... Not that she was going to let him get away with that...
Taking advantage of the tranquility whilst his room mate was in theatre... Watched half a Norman Foster documentary (recommended by Hugh thx) and he enjoyed it until nodding off, saying "he knew all that"! And then a pleasant afternoon with Greg and Kurt cursing those fortunate enough to be somewhere pleasant for their Easter hols and Doug deciding we needed to make up our own destination, as "no one would be any the wiser"... Think it started in the only logical place ... A wonderful cocktail - and rum and mango were involved...a beach, sunshine and final touches may require darkening assistance by a bottle as destination was definitely hot!
No move today (well maybe to that tropical island) hopefully tomorrow.....
Yikes I left his mobile with him...not smart as I hear he wanted to ring me in the middle of the night...be warned friends!
Ps Crises... on the home front...I don't see anyone signed up for the meals on wheels service for tomorrow... Surely a misprint ??!!
Tubeless and trotting around icu in hot pursuit by Kurt and his mom by time I arrived. Cursing his hamstrings and (finally) physio arrived just as he got back into bed and nodded off... Not that she was going to let him get away with that...
Taking advantage of the tranquility whilst his room mate was in theatre... Watched half a Norman Foster documentary (recommended by Hugh thx) and he enjoyed it until nodding off, saying "he knew all that"! And then a pleasant afternoon with Greg and Kurt cursing those fortunate enough to be somewhere pleasant for their Easter hols and Doug deciding we needed to make up our own destination, as "no one would be any the wiser"... Think it started in the only logical place ... A wonderful cocktail - and rum and mango were involved...a beach, sunshine and final touches may require darkening assistance by a bottle as destination was definitely hot!
No move today (well maybe to that tropical island) hopefully tomorrow.....
Yikes I left his mobile with him...not smart as I hear he wanted to ring me in the middle of the night...be warned friends!
Ps Crises... on the home front...I don't see anyone signed up for the meals on wheels service for tomorrow... Surely a misprint ??!!
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