Thursday, May 22, 2014

A night in hospital


I woke up round 3am on Wednesday with excruciating pain in my right side and struggled into the kitchen to get a pain killer out of the fridge, then slid to the floor in agony, wondering how I could get to the tap for some water.  I realised there was a bottle of water within reach, so swallowed the tablet with water from the bottle, all the while coming out in a terrible sweat.

I struggled to my feet, went back to the bedroom and fluffed up the pillows but couldn't bend or raise my right leg to get myself in.  I didn't want to wake Philip, but after about an hour or so of suffering I had to, so went upstairs in agony and he drove me to the hospital (only 10 minutes away).

The service was wonderful!  They did an ECG, blood tests, temperature, BP and x-rays, and came to the conclusion since nothing was broken that it was possibly a pinched nerve in my right side.  I wouldn't have believed that pain could be so bad - I gave it a 10/10 level when I tried to move, but nothing when I was still.  A physiotherapist came to me round 8am and said I could go home, and that they would send a physio to treat me at home for a couple of days.

I've never seen so many medical people + ambulance officers + police.  I counted heads at the morning round - 10 doctors and 20 nurses - and ambulance men bringing in a patient. Just imagine the salaries bill for every hospital in the country if they're all like this.

When I was told I could go home, I didn't want to wait in the general area as I was in my pyjamas and brunch coat, so they put me aside in the police room.  It wasn't long before four police officers arrived with a grey/green looking yobbo and I guessed he'd been had up for drink driving and was about to undergo blood and alcohol tests.  When he suddenly asked for a vomit bag I though it was time I made my exit, pyjamas or no.  Poor devil apologised to me as I left!

This morning I went to my local GP who wrote a script for strong pain killers.  Nobody can predict how long I'll suffer - the problem could right itself at any moment, or take months. I'm still OK when upright, but find it very difficult to bend, sit or lie.

I, too, was amazed when I listed so many UK TV programs we have here.  Our ABC does very little, it seems, yet costs us a huge amount.  Mind you, it's hard to reach the high standard of your stuff, Winifred, even though we have plenty of local talent.  We've all been brought up on British programs and have come to love them.


3 comments:

Winfix said...

OH SAD that this has happened hope it does not take away your confidence at being alone. If you have squashed a nerve it will take time to return to normal - it is so easy to say 'have patience' when it isn't you suffering but sadly it is the only thing you can do - as well as have faith in your own body and it's ability to recover.
Take care xxx

frank said...

Get well soon Diane.

frank said...
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