A Spanner in the Works

Well, it wasn’t quite what we’d planned to do on Friday, but there we are. Another trip to hospital. We thought we’d be in and out again, but no. John is still languishing in a ward-with-no-view – unless you count the concrete wall with a few windows in it?

The day had started all so swimmingly. We were getting on with a few jobs and John was looking forward to getting a catheter change – the one he’d got was playing up. All hunky-dory then, until the change was made. The nurse arrived just after lunch, all bright and breezy, but was unable to finish the job and regrettably injured John in the process.

She called a colleague, who arrived all bright and breezy, too. It didn’t take long for her to admit defeat as well though. Neither of them were very bright and breezy after that. “I’m really sorry,” she said,” but you’ll have to go to A a& E.” Oh, great.

We were there hours, of course. The nurse at the hospital had a couple of goes at getting the catheter sorted. No luck. “We’ll have to get a doctor to try,” he pronounced, after the third unsuccessful attempt.

The doctor was successful and we thought that would be it, we’d be on our way again. We waited. And waited. John was uncomfortable. I asked if there was anywhere he could lie down. No, sorry.

Anyway, the upshot was that at ten o’clock at night, the doctor came round and said they were admitting John. His potassium levels were a bit high. We groaned. John was resigned. “You go home,” he said, “there’s no point in you staying, I’ll be going up to the ward soon.” So I came away and John got up to the ward a 12.15 in the morning. It’s nuts, isn’t it?

Each day we have thought John would be discharged. However, each day there is something else. They weren’t so worried about his potassium levels now, they were worried about his output. “You’re not drinking enough,” they said. And then today, they were worried about too much urine production. Apparently, the trauma inflicted has stimulated John’s kidneys to go into overdrive. Just got to wait for it all to calm down. Oh, and by the way, here’s a drip for you and some oxygen….. bless him, he’s plugged in at all ends! Not a happy bunny.

Mind you, I wasn’t great company myself today either. I felt exceedingly grumpy all day – and even grumpier when I got to the hospital to find John pre-occupied with the Grand Prix on his laptop. But then, I thought to myself, it’s his pleasure so why not?

We had a bit of a chat but it wasn’t top quality. John was tired and kept falling asleep – missing my stimulating conversation and the action on the Grand Prix. After the racing had finished, I suggested he might want to watch the cricket. That turned out to be a poor suggestion. England were being slaughtered.

All in all, we’re a bit down in the dumps just at the moment – but maybe he’ll be out tomorrow?

Take care everyone. God bless.