Part 8 - Me n my bonce

My first experience of HDU? The alarms, someone's crashed, the defibrillator wheeled out about 20 people round some poor buggers bed! It was late all lights were on low but I could hear and see what was happening! The next day he crashed again! But he made it! Mum and dad got chatting to his family the guy had brain tumours and the doctors said to the family the next day there is not much else we can do for him, we need to make the decision to turn off the machines, his partner asked for time to think about it. The next day he was responding and getting better and stronger, he ended up leaving hospital before me! Another guy mum and dad got friendly with parents of in the family room had several brain tumours, he had lost 6 stone in weight, he also had a trackie and a NG tube like me! I think secretly both sets of parents used to compare us, they used to travel every day from the midlands to see their son, I was very lucky to have my parent so close!
During my first night I also got told off for using my buzzer as I needed suctioning! I was very upset and the next day worked on holding the yankeur myself so I could suction when I needed it and not get told off!
One night an older lady was brought in by ambulance, she came from Margate (Joan was her name) her daughter in tears speaking to the consultant she had several blood clots on the brain which needed removing which would mean surgery which was risky! I couldn't see her but in a way she reminded me of my nan, lots of family came to see her and they seemed to be a close family too! She even asked dad to massage her feet one day after he had done mine, but no chance I was lucky he was doing mine, even though she offered to pay too! By this point he had googled reflexology and had a picture of feet saved as his screen saver on his phone of the pressure points in the body as I had some trouble going to the loo! I'm sure it was these massages that kept me going, without having to spell it out to you all! My dad also had my hairband on his wrist from the day I crashed which he wouldn't take off and said he wouldn't take it off until I was out of hospital!
My chair also came with me to HDU I was hoisted into it to do my hour as often as physio's could come round which we later found out was 3 times a week, not really enough and the doctor of the ward kept telling me I need to be out of bed daily! Don't think he liked my mums response of well she can't do it by herself she needs help and the physio's only come 3 times per week and the nurses are not allowed to use the hoist! After that the nurses made my bed sit up so I could clear my chest if they couldn't get me out in the chair! News on my tracheostomy - I'm being downsized, this means a step closer to get rid of it! Maybe I will get to go on holiday with Aaron, Claire and the kids! I'm cutting it fine though only 3 weeks to go! If only I knew I still had 3 and a half months of staying in hospital and rehab ahead of me! Mind you probably a good thing! Awaiting speech and language therapists to come along to say they anaesthetists are aware you are waiting to be down sized and will be along to see you a whole week passed and nothing still, had they forgotten me? I couldn't tell you a lot about having my tracheostomy changed I was awake but sure I was dosed up with something! I just remember a tall guy and a lady came and it was done in what felt like seconds! At least this time they didn't have to stitch it to my neck like they did initially! It seemed to be from then I suffered a lot with being sick! I still wasn't eating or drinking still had my NG tube or some random flavoured milkshakes all mixed together (glad I couldn't taste it to be honest!) chocolate, strawberry, mocha, vanilla all in one tub! I had to keep having an anti sickness shot which they had to dilute but stung like hell going in IV! Blood tests were getting harder and as cannulas had to be changed every 3 days my veins were hiding and I was covered in bruises! I was referred for a PIC line which is a more permanent cannula as it can last upto 3 months as it is in the main artery, at least blood can be taken from it, I can have medicine and anti sickness shots through this too! The procedure was like a mini operation though! My emergency trackie bag packed put on bed, oxygen, portable suction, all seemed a bit overkill but best best safe than sorry! I had to put my arm in the most awkward position as it went into the inside part of my bicep, I could flinch and held my nurses hand (wow I held a lot of hands I realised from typing this!) and although it stung it hurt less than it did having blood taken from my wrists, ankles and feet!