Apologies for the absence. It''s been a long hard five days and I apologise especially for being behind with the CT work I usually share on here. This is the first time I have been up to blogging for almost a week!
The last few days passed in a bit of haze to be honest - from feeling unwell on Saturday night to all the hospital drama. Thank you to all of you who have messaged me, e mailed me, commented. It was nice to know there were so many kind friends and family right around the world.
I think the only positive was I wasn't aware at the time of quite what it would mean if it proved to be a clot on my lungs. Once in hospital you are just shuffled from place to place and you lose all control and just go with the flow. Plus the morphine did its job and I was in a pretty floaty place! The doctor must have thought I was crazy at one point as I apparently expressed concern that I hoped it wasn't a clot as it would mean lots of regular blood tests and I was really scared about that. Stupid girl. The blood tests would have been the least of my worries. Having said that - taking blood and giving drugs became a huge issue for me. I am not needle phobic. OK so I don;'t like to watch or anything but I am OK with it in principal. However, I have now had countless nurses and a doctor tell me I have 'rubbish veins!' I knew that - every routine blood test has always been a drama and in March when I had to have sedation for a gastroscopy they had five attempts to get a canulla in. The two days in hospital resulted in 4 canullas, three separate batteries of bloods and they were all traumatic. The worst was before the neuclear x ray (that was scary stuff on its own) when there were three failed attempts and on one of them they got the thing in then the vein swelled up and collapsed. That was the final staw for me really. I was so stressed after the injections that when it came to the test I fainted. Not sure if it was the stress, the chest infection, the fear, the goodness knows what neuclear stuff they pumped into my veins or the krypton gas I had to inhale. That was a definite low point.
I hoped that test would rule out a clot - but it didn't so I had the joy of another canulla for the CAT scan. However that was negative and I was finally released late Monday.
One thing we did notice - a wonderfully calm A and E on a Sunday early afternoon - a very different A and E at midnight. How the nurses keep their calm I have no idea. There was a fair bit of drink involved and quite a lot of shouting, as well as some people with really bad injuries. The people who work in A and E are saints!
I cannot speak highly enough about the NHS. So many staff looked after me, so many tests were done and all so quickly. When you go in with chest pains (which were bad enough to make me almost pass out with pain) they don't mess around. The staff were incredibly busy and yet found time to be kind and calm and reassuring. There were two stand out nurses who were simply wonderful and to have them phone and call me back in close to midnight when they were worried and then have reception staff waiting for me when we arrived was over and above. People who knock the NHS need to experience the kind of emergency care - and it was care - that we experienced.
My heart and lungs are in good nick and have had a full MOT and once the chest infection goes I will be right as rain. Who knew that spasms from intercostal muscles that were inflamed could be so painful. I am in far less pain now (though doped up) and am less breathless. I wonder how long it had been developing for as I had been increasingly breathless for a week. However, I am starting to recover and although meant to be off all week, I am going to try and pop in for a time tomorrow. It will hopefully help me feel more normal.
Anyway - I have missed sharing CT work as I wasn't well enough to sit at the computer. So although Pickle Barrel is over you can still get the lush kits. This page was made using a collection called Whitman by Little Feet Designs and features a very little Emily.
Today - and the last few days - I have learnt
- be grateful for the NHS
- be thankful for emergency care
- never take your health for granted
- trust your own body - you know it best
Today - and the last few days - I am thankful for
- friends and family and messages of sympathy and support
- the power of prayer
- my wonderful husband who stayed by my side throughout (apart from when they wouldn't let him as it was dangerous) and who held my hand and stoked my head through the trauma of needles into rubbish veins
- not having a clot on my lung - just a chest infection which will get better
So glad you feeling better! ,and the pain is easing,but don't overdue things.although I'm sure Nigel will be making sure you don't it must have been very worrying for both of you.
Take it easy and get your full strength back,mary X
Posted by: Mary D | September 23, 2015 at 07:35 PM
Karen, it's so great to see you back online! Praise God there was no blood clot! I know Nigel was a great help to you through all the trauma you faced, as he has always been your rock. Aren't we living in a wonderful age of medical care-- the amazing tests that can be done with machines, the answers which can be found through blood, and the medicines to help us recover and lessen our pain? Please take care and continue to rest.
Posted by: Barb in AK | September 23, 2015 at 07:47 PM
So glad to see you back, but rest and take it easy, and well done Nigel for being a strength when you need it and for keeping us updated.x
Posted by: Val | September 23, 2015 at 10:19 PM
glad to hear you are feeling better and on the road to recovery! Try to relax and take it easy as you have both had quite a fright!
izzy xxx
Posted by: isobel | September 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM