Handhold, in HDU with respiratory failure and terrified

[Seafour]

Just that, is anyone awake?

Hotsteppa sleep evades me.

thanks for your reply, because I only ever go into an HDU setting now my care is much better and mostly safe but on the spinal ward the "care" was atrocious. The story I told of Mel is shockingly one of many such cases I witnessed. I was on a cohort bay of four beds and during the four weeks I was there post op I became unconscious numerous times to be discovered by my PA, dh or other visitors. On one occasion I had to phone dh to ask him to phone the ward and get me some help, my legs had gone into a contracture spasm and I had been buzzing for help for 20 minutes, because I didn't get the medication I needed quickly that spasm lasted for 9 agonising hours. If dh hadn't helped me to get ready for bed it would often be midnight before someone came to help me put my splints on, I always brush my teeth before bed but was made to feel like the most demanding, unreasonable person for politely asking for a bowl to spit into.

But it's the culture that allows that shoddy, dangerous care to go unchecked that is the real danger.

Just four hours to go, it will be time to get up soon.

After surgery I will go to intensive care where the nursing will be exemplary but then I move to surgical HDU where I've been before but the staff don't "know" me, I will be completely wired just in case something is missed.

Late to the thread but just to say that I'm thinking of you today Seafour and best wishes 💐

Start of a new beginning. Have a great day, see you on the other side.

I'm here Seafour, still thinking of you, still wishing you the best.

I loved seeing your pictures Sea, mitch to my surprise. I thought it would spoil the picture of you in my head, the one I formed from your voice. But instead I see you. The you that writes so beautifully, and the you that has led a really interesting life so far and has so much more to share. I like that woman. A lot. Thank you for sharing that you with us too. So generous of you.

Almost. It's a big day for you. Don't worry though. We shall only double park the bus in dire emergencies. Such as running out of champagne or the dogs eating all the good snacks 😁

A very wise MNer gave me this advice when I needed it: All shall be well. All shall be well. All manner of things shall be well. Julian of Norwich. I hope her words comfort you as they did me.

Pavlova welcome and thank you.

Well fairly predictably I haven't been to sleep, it needs to be said so I will say it, just in case.

If it all goes tits up and I don't make it out the other side of this, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making the last ten days so much more bearable, I have felt supported, valued, cherished and befriended in equal measure. You have made me believe that I will have friends who I can laugh and cry with once again, that I'm interesting and good company and above all that I can make people smile, laugh and not take life too seriously. Remember me when you walk, when you see beautiful colours.

Right that's quite enough of that - I have a day to get on with. The bus is fuelled up and ready for boarding.

One last thing, when the champagne cork pops at 6:00pm tonight you must raise a toast in the way that my Grandad taught me "Shampoo for our real friends and real poo to our sham friends" he was a wise and wonderful man.
I often wonder if my former friends still use that particular toast, we always did when we were together.

We are having people round for supper tonight, one has just finished chemo for breast cancer and is starting radiotherapy. She loves choral music, sings in a choir and I have a vinyl of the Messiah so was already going to have it on in the background so now it will be playing for you as well. God bless for today and your recovery.

I woke up wondering how you'd slept, although I'm not surprised you didn't sleep much. You can and you will get through this. No ifs, no buts. We need you back here as the bus is too big with you and your personality keeping us all going.
I don't think a woman as strong and amazing as you is going to need it but I'll wish you good luck all the same. We'll see you on the other side of this and I hope you're comfortable when you do come around from the operation

Thanks for the pictures- ditto what Sofarsogreat says.

My first thought on waking this morning was of you. In the last ten days you have touched and changed lives - not just those of us who have posted but the many many more who have been reading along.

We’re all here caring about you, cheering you on and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Swathes of all good things to you, your family and the Fabulous PA.

The photos are lovely, good love and luck for today, stay strong and get stronger x

Woke this morning thinking about you and will be wishing you well all day. Much love

All the very best for today @Seafour we'll all be waiting for you once it's all over with gentle hugs x

All the very best wishes to you today.
I only discovered your thread last night and it has stayed with me during the night wakings with my daughter and now I've woken up thinking of you.
Everybody is sending you well wishes xxx

I’ve been reading but not posting and wanted to let you know I’m here and thinking of you.

Good morning, you've been in my thoughts a lot, although rl has kept me busy. Picture 19 Brownies with hammers and the accompanying risk assessment...

I'll tuck my euph on the bus if you can find a page of oom-pahs. I'm not a great player, but enthusiasm replaces skill. Messiah fits you perfectly, and I'll keep it in my mind today (although I'll be practising Christmas music, it's crazy season for brass bands)

Love your pics. Thank you for sharing them. Gentle hugs and lots of love from my corner of bucks.

(and welcome to the fabulous PA, your awesome reputation goes before you!)

Dammit you have me in tears first thing. Thinking of you today. Will wait for news from thefabulouspa later.

Morning @Seafour - I'm thinking of you and wishing you lots of luck today.

Last post, love to everyone on the bus, paper pants on and I'm in theatre.

Sea, sending you love, hugs, tea, gin, flowers, cake, whatever but most of all a huge thank you for making me think about life so very differently since I clicked on your first post x

I'm praying for you. They are so glam those paper pants!

Very late arriving to wish you all the very best today. I have been following from the beginning and am so very inspired by you and your strength
I've been on mumsnet for years soaking up all the great advice but this is only my second ever post
But I really wanted to add my very best wishes to you on this journey and like everyone here I will be waiting for positive news when you are safely on the other side of theatre
Sending all my positive thoughts to you today

Rock those paper pants... We all should have signed them with a sharpie plaster cast style (before you put them on!)

Think mines a coffee, white and a small sugar . Want a biccie

Right, choral warm up starting at 10am sharp.

Now's the time to go to the loo, make sure you have your score & a sharpened pencil.

Are we all good to go?
And have we got any tenors?
(I've just got to Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted.)

Sorry I'm late for choir practise, just been reminding myself of the tonic sol fah hand signals! Gosh, this is bringing back some happy memories.