I don’t think so. It’s usually possible to tell if an infection is present by the state of the passed water. That looks OK and has no odour.
1 Like
No pain this morning sounds promising.
1 Like
Thanks Annie 
I hadn’t thought about an infection, which is always a possibility when using intermittent catheterisation. Another indication that it isn’t is that the pain does go away after a couple of hours. I suppose it wouldn’t if an infection was present.
2 Likes
@mart I hope the CT scan next Wednesday will give you clear answers. Please take care and don’t hesitate to seek help if the pain worsens.
1 Like
Thanks Pimmy I’m more learning how to live with a situation that has been stable for many years (since losing one of my kidneys) but has now kicked off again. I changed the procedures a bit yesterday and last night was pretty much OK. The consultant face to face meeting on the 13th of next month will let me know the state of play. Tumour biopsies and scan results will be in by then.
3 Likes
I’m wondering whether it could be post-op scar tissue pain that is stretching and contracting when you sleep and then wake, but adapts as the day goes on as part of the ongoing healing process. I guess that’s a complication of any surgery but particularly an organ that is constantly used. Hopefully it will get better over time.
1 Like
Yes I need to remember that although there is no outward sign of the op, it’s all happening inside the void.
2 Likes
@mart after you adjusted things. I truly hope the coming days are kind to you and bring you more ease. I’ll be thinking of you as you wait for the 13th, and I hope the results give you clarity and some peace of mind.
1 Like
It was quite a day yesterday. Not me this time but Mrs mart. I mentioned in the ‘Good morning’ thread yesterday that she was having difficulty breathing. Last Thursday’s treatment seemed to have done some good but It got worse around Sunday lunchtime. The cough was almost constant for 10 minutes. This isn’t just any old cough. The loudness and ‘raspiness’ of it has to be heard to know how bad it is. A head turner for those who have never heard it before. I was almost at the point of phoning either 999 or 111 (as recommended by the doctor) but it subsided in the end and we both decided we could wait until the pre-arranged doctors appointment yesterday afternoon.
The doctor was worried about the lack of improvement. The prescribed medications weren’t working as she had expected. The upshot was that she phoned for an ambulance to take her from the surgery to A&E. Logistically a problem because Mrs mart was in her power wheelchair. She was stretchered into the ambulance. I quickly had to come up with how to handle the wheelchair situation.
The best way was from me to sit in it and drive it out of the consulting room and up the ramp of our WAV. I’m no expert at driving power wheelchair but there we were. Mrs mart being stretchered out past all of the people in the waiting room, closely followed by me, sitting in and driving the wheelchair and accompanied the doctor. I manged to drive the chair up the ramp fairly well. Anybody watching would have seen an apparent wheelchair user, leap out of the chair and get the ramp down etc. I locked the car with the wheelchair now inside, got into the ambulance and went with Mrs mart to the hospital.
She was in an awful condition struggling to breathe and coughing almost constantly. Emotionally upset too and I stayed for some hours telling her I could handle everything and not to worry. I hated to leave her but I felt I really needed to get the car and the wheelchair home from the now closed surgery. Both very important items, especially the chair.
It was past the time that any busses were running but we have some good friends and neighbours we can call on. My friend came to get me and take me to the car so I could drive it home. My round at the pub next time I think.
I kind of suspected that something more than GP attention would be needed and so it was. In view of that, I should have gone a bit more prepared on my own behalf. Only one catheter with us so I could empty my atonic bladder if necessary. That was another reason for needing to get back home. Had it not been for that and the car/chair situation. I would have stayed at the hospital until chucked out. A good job I was there because Mrs mart couldn’t talk to the doctors to answer questions about herself. Some things that I was unsure of had to be written down on paper for the doctor to read.
I got a text from Mrs mart in the night. She said the cough had eased a bit but still breathless. I’ll be phoning and talking later. She will answer by text messaging.
3 Likes
So sorry to hear that Mart and it’s times like this that i wished I lived nearer and could have helped. I hope Mrs Mart is feeling better soon and can come home.
Take care mate and look after yourself because Mrs Mart will need lots of love and help when she comes home.
Man hug…
2 Likes
Thanks - She is on the ward now. I’ll be going there this afternoon. I hope to find she is a bit more comfortable than she was yesterday.
2 Likes
Hugs to you Mart … sounds a real anxious time that you’ve had. I hope things settle down for you and Mrs M … you know, reading your post you sound a real loving couple who are strong for each other.
A hug for you both.
4 Likes
2 Likes
I visited this afternoon. She cannot talk without the cough starting but the breathing sounds less wheezy. Still very short of breath.
3 Likes
Hang in hang in there, Mrs Mart !!
2 Likes
Sorry to hear about your wife @mart
I must admit I would have rung triple 0 straight away because the paramedics arrive within minutes and would tell you almost instantly whether she needed to go to hospital and they have the equipment to ease her suffering.
3 Likes
It’s maybe not possible for anyone else to know what they would have done. You have to be part of the situation really but I understand the viewpoint. Anyway, Mrs mart is still in hospital and has improved. Still cannot talk without the cough starting but breathing is now a lot easier for her. A camera down the throat has revealed some nodules on the vocal cords that they say can be treated with injections, done under general anaesthetic. The nodules can be caused by excessive coughing (yes) and too much talking (Hmm!). The treatment has included Nebulisers with Salbutamol and other things to inhale, also intravenous antibiotics. Seeing her better and able to smile is great.
I have been her carer for many years but now she sees herself as mine. We had the problem of my Nephrostomy dressing change to face but in the end, the ward nurse said it was OK for Mrs mart to do it. In spite of everything, she still wanted to. I didn’t put up too much objection because nobody can do it like she can. I took all the gear into the ward closed the curtain and we got on with it. All done now with a waterproof plaster over the top so I could have a shower this morning.
I won’t be visiting today. I have a sore throat and a cough. I was going to visit with our friend but she and her husband are off on holiday next week and I don’t want her to get anything from me. She will be visiting alone.
As well as visits, Mrs mart and I are communicating throughout the days via WhatApp messaging and video. I can hear her whisper but can’t always get what she is trying to say. Text messages mostly rule.
Tomorrow is my big day. There’s a meeting with the Consultants who are looking after my Prostate and bladder cancer. Also the Nephrostomy and general care of my remaining kidney. Of course, Mrs mart very much want so be there, so we are seeing about her being let off the ward so she can attend. I took her manual wheelchair in a few day back, so I’d push her from the ward to Out-Patients in that. I’ll have to mask up. It may not be possible but we will see what the doctors looking after her say about it.
2 Likes
That’s good news about Mrs Mart. Isn’t WhatsApp brilliant Mart. I downloaded it while we were on holiday after several weeks of pressure from our daughter. Amazing that we could talk to her and see her as if she was with us in the room.
Talking of ‘nodules on the vocal cords’ my foreman at one of the companies I worked for had to go in for the same procedure, he had no bother at all and was back at work the next day…Much to the disappointment of the lads…
I hope all goes well for you tomorrow and all your news is good news Mart…
2 Likes
I once had a nodule up my nose that had to be removed. The good thing about WhatsApp is that messaging, even with video, is free. Long may it be so.
1 Like
Today, the Urology Consultant said that the tumours removed from my bladder a few weeks ago were not related to Urology but to the Prostate cancer. I could feel an obstruction to pushing a catheter into the bladder many months back. I had to pay in the end to get it checked out as the GPs thought it nothing serious. That was when everything kicked off and all sorts of problems came to light.
Those tumours were what I was hitting up against with the catheter tube. This was before I was examined thoroughly and subsequently put on medication to slow down the progress of the Prostate cancer. Also the Nephrostomy tube was fitted because my last kidney was on the point of failing altogether.
Anyway, with the tumours removed and the medications now in place, they hopefully won’t regrow. They will be kept an eye on form now on I think. Might get a few more years yet.
One bit of good news is that I can keep going to the present hospital but under a different Oncology Consultant. The one at the moment is going to the Royal Surrey hospital in Guildford. Getting there would have been most awkward for me/us. I have three appointments booked for the coming weeks, probably because I’m being handed over.
I went to Mrs mart’s ward early this morning, got her into the wheelchair and we went to the appointment together. There is talk of letting her out later this week. She has to see a respiratory physio to teach her to cough better. I think she coughs pretty well as it is. Talking of which, I have a wearing cough that has made me feel a bit poorly. I had a coughing fit while on the bus home. Most embarrassing but at least I had a mask to put on.