Flying solo

*Robin*

This is a true story:

When SIL was very ill in hospital she needed help to eat. Every day DB and self took turns to go in at lunch and dinner times because the assistant whose job it was, always tried to force the food in very fast - she had too many patients who needed assistance in the time allowed, which usually resulted in SIL vomiting.
SIL was too sick to tell us much about what was happening, so both DB and I always checked her file where the nurses noted salient details at hand-over. We knew what medications SIL was prescribed from discussions with the consultant, but one day I was surprised to see that a particular drug had been changed the previous night. As it happened I was familiar with the replacement med, and knew it was definitely *not* one which was appropriate for treating SIL's illness..

The lady in the opposite bed rarely got visitors so I was accustomed to talking to her as well, but on this day she had been deeply asleep since I arrived, her meal untouched next to her bed.
Instinct sent me across the room to do something I had absolutely no right to; I looked in her file. Sure enough, the previous night she had been given SIL's drug, and SIL had got hers..
In the morning the over-worked nurses had obviously just looked at each patient's chart and repeated the doses which had been given the night before..

Staff Nurse hurriedly called the consultant when presented with both files; all colour drained from Mr G's face before he whisked the other lady - who was actually in a coma - off to ICU. Shocked, he said:
"One more dose would definitely have been fatal for Mrs Xxx - thank God you noticed!"

The effect on SIL was not so drastic, although the switch would also have been life-threatening for her in another few days.

Mrs Xxx spent a couple of weeks intubated in ICU, then did eventually return to the ward; she survived - but it was a *very* close call.

The moral is that patients who have someone looking out for them, involved and prepared to question what's being done if something doesn't look right, have a much better outlook than those who don't.
It's not the fault of medical staff that they are expected to look after so many people they often simply don't have time to pause and think..

please-let-me-be-lucky

Robin, your support and views have been nothing but a blessing to me. Please don't let anyone make you think otherwise. Xx

Bubblesmum

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Robin, your support and views have been nothing but a blessing to me. Please don't let anyone make you think otherwise. Xx

So well said.... And another who appreciates your support to me and others - sending hugs

missrlr

Hi Robin. Feel I have issued something with the comments above so I will just say the fish sounds mouth-wateringly tempting, the story horrifying (but rings of truth, poor people involved on all sides!). So pleased CD is improving irrespective as to the source or combination of reasons.
Love and light xx

Dansmam

:beer:Hi Robin, just catching up, thanks for the solar panel updates, will pass that info on to the girls. They've been out of power and phone credits for a couple of weeks at a festival - or it seems that long to a pretending not to be anxious mother. Now in Hungary. It is raining there too :rotfl:Rush hour in Budapest is apparently a challenge...but the driver gets 100 driver points for safe arrival at destination (chez random acquaintance from previous festival). Am almost happy living all this vicariously, but so want to get away and drive too!
I'm still trying to get my head round CD being a snowdog - I saw her as a clever collie cross kind of a hound. Hope the anti. bs. etc see off the nasties completely very soon.
Lucky you with the fish. Must persuade oh it's time the little fishing boat had a chug out to sea. We were awash with mackerel this time last year
Happy gardening, hope it stays dry for you!

mcculloch29

I mentioned before that I saw CD as a collie cross, possibly with a bit of Lab. The reason snowdogs never entered the radar is that most that I have met have been the polar opposite to CD, if you'll pardon the pun.

I'm sure it was Samoyeds that were particularly thick when the subject of which breed was smartest was researched, which given their great beauty, points them up as the himbo/bimbos of the canine world.

I'm so pleased CD is well enough to be bolshy. Hope it continues.

*Robin*

Diary and Dear, dear Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Lucky - a thousand thanks for sticking up for me.

Of course all of us can decide for ourselves whether the comments of others are actually appropriate for our own situation or not; there's nothing to get offended about from either PoV. For me, one of the huge benefits of the internet age is that it gives us access to ideas we may not have thought of - Lord knows I have benefited from this many times when someone has presented a different perspective to an issue I've been struggling with, and I dearly hope most MSEers can say the same..

Please may I add that on further reflection my comment about Lucky's DS1 being old enough to cope with an emergency omitted to consider one important difference between him and my own DS2, who was younger when he had to learn how to help his brother in the event of DS3 collapsing (check for a pulse in the carotid artery; if yes put him in the recovery position, get out the oxygen and fix the mask correctly on DS3's face while yelling for assistance - or if no pulse, get him onto a flat, hard surface and start CPR, again while shouting for someone older to come to their aid..).
The difference is that it is natural for any older sibling to look out for a younger one, whereas normally Dad would be the person to guide and protect a child, so it must be particularly frightening for their situations to be reversed!
In any case Lucky, you know your own family best and I would not dream of pressuring you into a course of action which isn't appropriate for the situation. :grouphug:

Bubbles - thanks for adding your support; much appreciated.

Missrlr - it's ok, don't concern yourself; just somebody who castigated me for being too outspoken.. Not the first time it's happened and probably won't be the last, but I'd rather speak out and take the flack if it means there's a chance of a better outcome than if I'd kept quiet.

As for the true story about SIL and Mrs Xxx above, that certainly happened as related. The truly frightening, dangerous thing was that SIL's medication was in the form of a sub-lingual wafer which had to be given in precisely timed doses; if SIL happened to be sleeping when the medicine-trolley was brought round, it was normal practise for the nurse to simply open her mouth a little and slip in the drug which would just melt and get working.
If that had been done to Mrs Xxx while she was already comatose, she would have died [because SIL's medication and one of Mrs Xxx's create a lethal combination]; as it was, after two doses the doctors had a job saving her. I have always wondered whether they worked particularly hard on Mrs Xxx because they knew I certainly would have exposed the nurses' mistake if they'd lost her..

Dansmam - great to hear the girls are enjoying themselves!
If they've got sufficient funds I'd definitely recommend adding a solar panel to their kit - dare say it would be much cheaper to buy in Hungary than anywhere in the UK. Even though sunshine is a rare commodity in Wales at the moment my panel doesn't seem to be having any problems with keeping laptops, 'phones, DS4's Fitbit and the lights working properly - it appears to work more on brightness than actual sunlight. :T

Ooh - lucky you to have a sea-worthy fishing boat! Yes that's a wonderful way of spending some free time - I'd be interested in hearing your recipes for mackerel, as I only know one which cuts down the oiliness of the taste (poached in stout). Very healthy fish and plentiful, the cheapest of those we are all supposed to eat three times a week so it would be a boon to learn more tasty recipes.

Mcculloch, interesting that both you and Dansmam visualised CD as a collie-cross. As it happens we are staying with two collie-lab crosses at the moment; both beautiful girls but their characters are very different to CD's. For one they are much better trained, obeying their mistress without question whereas CD uses her own logic before deciding whether to do what she's told! Before she went blind I would have been confident in sending CD to fetch assistance if, for example I fell and broke a leg while out on a mountain, whereas I doubt the collie-labs would leave their owner's side.
Can't really comment on Samoyeds as I've never owned one; the least intelligent dog I've ever had care of was a Weimaraner - would never take on another of those, lol.

It's high time I turned off the laptop to see whether CD will repeat her heart-warming performance of yesterday.. Cantering around me in huge circles as we walked through the fields - amazing to watch!

joeyjimbles

Lovely to hear of all of your adventures. I feel positively house-bound in comparison, though I do get to hear Tom Jones in my own living room tonight....to be fair, I get to hear the boom of Tom Jones's PA system in my living room. He is playing an open-air concert in the park on the other side of the river from our house and as we are high up the noise travels.

I was horrified by your hospital story, and so relieved that a further disaster was averted. I wonder how often it isn't. Thank Goodness for educated and interested people who are prepared to stick their neck out like you.

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin just catching up with you. Glad CD is doing well but sorry the weather can't be better for you at the moment, hopefully will improve. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise that the majority of us value your input. I'm just sorry that anyone would think you mean anything other than well for us. And last but not least, congrats on your new grandchild

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSEers, :hello:

Joeyjimbles - how lovely that you got to listen to one of the World's best crooners from the comfort of your own home! At the Nest I have similar opportunities to hear performers at each local village's annual fiesta - it's never been anyone as famous as Tom of course, but usually very enjoyable nonetheless as the music bounces around the hills (am rather missing such treats at the moment, tbh ).

joeyjimbles wrote:

I was horrified by your hospital story, and so relieved that a further disaster was averted. I wonder how often it isn't.

According to an ex-SIL who retired recently after a lifetime in nursing, medical mishaps are far too common, especially now that hospital staff have such a heavy work-load and so many agency workers are employed.

I do prefer the Spanish system, where patients are either in single or twin rooms [with a bathroom], and a family member is expected to stay with their loved one most of the time (to plump pillows, help the patient eat, stave off boredom and tell the staff when there's a problem). The nurses only carry out medical procedures, and because there are no large wards where many strangers / patients have to live and use shared facilities, hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and C-Diff are virtually unknown.
It does mean lots more noise of course, because each department practically becomes a community with so many relatives coming and going from early morning until quite late at night.

Sun.A - thanks for your support; don't worry I've pulled on my thick skin again [;)] - still, can't help wondering why somebody would feel guilty because one of their relatives became ill (ie. did they do something to cause it)? ..Strange attitude, or am I weird for thinking that?
Sorry for moaning too much about the weather; it's the same for everyone and I didn't expect anything different - could have stayed at the Nest if I'd wanted to endure this year's baking heat-wave!
Just positive vibes for the new DGC at this stage please, at least until he is big enough to survive if he arrives as prematurely as her/his big brother!


Divo Four is working with our host to help someone else this weekend, and doubtless enjoying a bit of male bonding time. Before he left yesterday DS told me that CD woke him up just after dawn, crying. He took her out thinking she needed a pee, but after walking to the middle of the field she just leaned against his legs, wanting a cuddle.
Can't help being worried about CD, although the antibiotics appear to be working - she's drinking plain water by herself again and perks up when we go out for walks.
The long cantering loops haven't been repeated; she plays a game with me instead - walking away from the direction we'd been heading for about a hundred feet before stopping, sniffing the wind and listening.. I carry on for a bit then speak to her, at which she trots straight over to me and then veers off our path to repeat the performance.

A few days ago CD made it quite clear that she's fed up with the most recent vet's recommended diet of boiled chicken with rice / pasta / potatoes. Having thrown away two of her meals - much appreciated by the farm cats - I decided to roast some of CD's supply of chicken quarters for DS and self before they went bad.
When it was plated up CD came and stood with her nose overhanging my dinner (which has always been against 'house rules'). She made no attempt to touch the food, just waited patiently - then ate the lot when I fed her by hand; broccoli, spuds and all (I pinched some of DS' granola after CD cleared my plate ).
Yesterday she ate a similar meal from my fingers - but won't touch anything put in her bowl (yes, it's been scrubbed out just in case there was still a whiff of old food in it).

Am left feeling pensive and sad; don't think CD has a lot more time being m' companion. In human terms she is well over a hundred years old so I can't really expect much longer with her, especially since LP's bluddy infection has obviously taken a heavy toll.
Do believe the GP is improving CD's quality of life but it can't work miracles (and there's no way she will eat three times a day which means I've had to reduce the dose because it should always be taken with food).

Spends:
Gave DS our last £50 in cash; for 'phone creds, a gas refill and his expenses while off volunteering.. The food cupboards and fridge are getting quite bare now, so will have to venture out of this wonderful haven in search of a hole-in-the-wall soon (at least we lasted into the new month)..