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.
I visited this afternoon. She cannot talk without the cough starting but the breathing sounds less wheezy. Still very short of breath.
Hang in hang in there, Mrs Mart !!
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.