Good morning from a country in political turmoil. Welcome to Anarchy in the UK. (Great song from a great era). So how is my saga going. Well I have my meeting with my consultant later on today, fingers crossed 🤞🏾 on what he says.
However I have recently been struggling for breath so rang the hospital to explain. Just ringing out. Voicemail left. The nurse from a unit returned our call eventually and after explaining the situation she advised us to go straight to A&E. It was eventually agreed I should go to the chemo unit and collect a blood form as they needed me to have a blood test as she thought I may need a transfusion. This was 1030.
Took a taxi to the chemo unit where accompanied by my mother in law we ended up at the unit. I explained my conversation with one of the staff earlier, I may as well been speaking with forked tongue as they stared blankly at me before saying it wasn’t them who rang me and I needed to go to to the main desk to get the form. Duly done had bloods taken and went back to chemo unit. Again blank stares. A verbal version of tennis ensued before a minion (sorry if i am demeaning NHS staff) called the oncology team and confirmed they did want the results. The nurse then said an oncology nurse would come over.
The nurse duly arrived and explained my levels were low and I needed to go to A&E. Explained I couldn’t walk that far so chariot was arranged however mother in law was expected to wheel me uphill to the opposite side of the hospital. Not happening on my watch. Charioteer arranged, off we set to the den of iniquity. Like a Charles Dickens charnal house full of the debris of society. We where then ushered to a corridor with more people waiting before seeing a doctor.
Result transferred to a bed in A&E (I know lottery winner). To be informed I needed a blood transfusion. Bloods were then taken for a x match. Initially it was going to be 1 unit then 3 was mentioned and finally 2 was agreed upon, not by me I hasten to add. As each unit takes 3 hours.
The first unit was set up at 7pm and I was left apart from the hourly checks on BP and temperature. It was decided that as it would be early hours of the morning by the time I was finishing both units I would stay in overnight. However this was changed mid way through the first session when I was informed, for my second unit I would be moved to another unit, called S deck. Sounds clandestine, never knew where this was as when first session was over I remained where I was and then was informed I could go home when second session was complete. This was going to be early hours of the morning. I explained I don’t drive, our lass doesn’t drive and the bairns lived elsewhere. The nurse said something would be arranged nearer the time.
During this visit to Bedlam I was accompanied during the dark hours to the screams, curses and wailing of other individuals that would have been heard in other realms. Throughout this time I was offered one sandwich during the afternoon and one at 9pm. I think the nurse had an eye on the second one. It was finally 0245 when I was discharged. Enquiring about transport to get me home I was told an ambulance would take a few hours so I rang my son and he got up to collect me, this is despite medical professionals assuring me something would be arranged. It was a Carry on without the laughs. NHS short for NO Help Shown.
Apologies for my moaning it was a farce from start to finish. I hope your journey through this is better.
Appendix to my story folks. I saw the consultant today and the news is good. The chemo appears to be doing the trick, so it will continue until A. The tumour shows progression or B. I become so ill on it they call it a day.
Brain Man 