spare a thought for rick

buxtonrabbitgreen

I am so impressed that you have kept everything together so well, passing your assingnment and working on your new business, and looking after Rick.
I expect he will be bored when he starts feeling better. A year is a long time to be off work.
Anyway I just want to say how pleased I am that it is all improvig for you all.
Sorry I haven't been to give blood, but last time I went they said I was anaemic so to keep it for myself LOL. Good luck to Rick and all of you.

journ

Aw Happy Birthday fsdss i hope you had the best day :beer:
I can understand Rick being depressed because he has been through so much and its like he has to start all over again .

You and Rick are always in my thoughts xx

fsdss

journ wrote: »

Aw Happy Birthday fsdss i hope you had the best day :beer:

i had the best day in the world - all i asked for was some smiles - and i certainly got a few of those. i also spent the day with those closest to me and really treasured their company.

dont know how i have managed over the past few weeks to keep insane and level headed but i know one thing for sure - without the help and support from here - i think i would have cracked.

dizzy_lizzie

Hello fsdss
Glad your day was how you wanted it hope your birthday brings with it lots of happiness for you and yours.
Luvz Dizzy x

scotpics

I hope Rick is ok. I had my spleen removed at 18 with similar problems of bleeding. Now 50 years old and combatting other things but what I'm saying is don't give up hope. Remember that, despite what the media says about the NHS, he's in the best possible hands and from my own experience, the nursing and medical care is fantastic. He's in my thoughts and prayers.

Just realised that there are 29 pages to this post and I wrote the above after reading just the first - doh!

I've now read them all and so, so pleased to read that Rick is out of hospital. Please give him my best wishes.

Reading the post brought back so many memories for me of my own time in ICU in 1999 (the 'other things' mentioned above). I can remember thinking as they wheeled me to the general ward that I looked like something from a concentration camp, I was so thin. The food thing too, couldn't drink coffee for ages and only wanted my Mum and Dad's home made soup! Hair too - mine fell out (as Rick's might) though it all grew in again and didn't fall out at once, just got really thin then went very dark and wavy before returning to normal. I was depressed too so keep that in mind. It's hard to go through all that and not be depressed, no matter how much everyone loves you, and like Rick I had lots of love given to me. The other things I remember are the bad dreams (weird ones like Rick) and the Tracheotomy, not being able to speak and the frustration with the people who couldn't lip read - nurses and my young sister managed to do it but parents and partner had great difficulty - like charades sometimes. The general ward had lots of older people too, which was frustrating as I was 40 and felt 25 and they were all in their 70's and bedridden.

He'll possibly be on antibiotics permanently now since without a spleen your immune system isn't so great but if he can do without them he should try. I managed it for 20 years with just a course in the medicine cabinet in case I got a chest infection. However, I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age 40 and had to start taking them all the time from then on.

As I said, I'm so pleased he's well and that things are looking up for you too.

shopndrop

Really pleased that Rick is doing well. He is bound to be depressed as life is not going to be as it was for quite some time but glad he is focussing on his theory driving test.

Happy birthday for yesterday and enjoy your weekend at Legoland. I won't be around for the next few days as it is my birthday at the weekend and OH is taking me away but I don't know where yet. I promise when I get back I will go and give blood.

Take care.

sleepymy

Hey fsdss, I've been following Ricks progress like so many other people and am delighted that he has pulled through such a rough time :T :T :T

I'm sure you know this already but just thought I'd mention it anyhow. If Rick is still having leg pain (and sleeps on his side) it may help him to sleep with a soft pillow between his legs. It eases pressure on the joints and if his legs are tender it helps ease the weight of one leg on top of the other. Also if he's resting in bed and wants to shift onto his side clutching a pillow, on it's side, to his chest helps to support the front of his body creating less tension on his muscles.

If his doctor thinks it's ok gentle yoga stretches can also help ease the pain. While out of the house, synthetic shoes/trainers are much lighter than leather and can make a world of difference to sore/weak muscles and joints. I'm sure at his age he's too cool to consider them, but crocs are terrific for cushioning steps and the orthopedic sole definitely does make a difference. They might be good for him to wear indoors (obviously I don't know how he's managing his steps i.e. dragging his feet etc and you'd be the best judge on this).

A memory foam topper may also benefit him, if you feel it would be necessary, they can help with a lot of the aches and pains caused by spending a lot of time in bed.

I know you work in health care so I do hope I'm not 'trying to teach my granny to suck eggs' as they say but thought I'd post in case I could be of any help.

Oh yes, tell him not to worry about his theory test, hubby has problems similar to dyslexia and passed his theory with 100% first time

Sleepy x

journ

fsdss wrote: »

i had the best day in the world - all i asked for was some smiles - and i certainly got a few of those. i also spent the day with those closest to me and really treasured their company.

dont know how i have managed over the past few weeks to keep insane and level headed but i know one thing for sure - without the help and support from here - i think i would have cracked.

fsdss I will always be here for you and and Rick
I always look forward in reading your post because i really do care xx

sillyvixen

happy birthday for yesterday!! all the best for ricks recovery and his theory test. hope recovry continues .... dyslexia shouldn't be a barrier for passing driving theory test . i am dyslexic and i managed it !!!!

fsdss

journ wrote: »

fsdss I will always be here for you and and Rick
I always look forward in reading your post because i really do care xx

i know you do and i am touched:D

scotpics - thanks for that it was really useful - Rick has lost his hair at the back and was worried - but he has a silly woolen hat stuck to his head at the moment. he has had bad dreams in fact he came out with a nasty story yesterday which he believed to be true - but we assured him it was a dream.

sleepymy - i do work in health care but my job is not clinical (behaviour side) and you have suggested some useful options - i will suggest the pillow between the legs and see how he gets on with that. my collegues are all clinical so i have been helped with stretching exercises to do. thanks for that. he's asleep at the moment.