Anyone up? I'm at the hospital with teen ds

[crosbystillsandmash]

I'm desperately trying to stay awake but I keep nodding off and falling off my chair!
Ds has fallen asleep and is peaceful after being in terrible pain prior to coming to a&e.
He has suspected appendicitis

Is he waiting for the scan or the surgery? Does he have a drip in to keep him hydrated? I would be asking for a realistic assessment of when the scan would be and if it's more than a couple of hours ask if he can have some toast and jam. They are unlikely to read the scan immediately so that would give enough time for him to be clear for surgery even if they could do it as soon as his scan was read (again unlikely)

I am glad the way the way they diagnose appendicitis has changed. When I had it, it involved a rectal exam, no blood tests or scans.

Hang on in there OP. DS was told they might not be able to do him until the following day, then they fitted him in as the last one of the day.

I'm just so tired now, so not really thinking straight
No sign of anyone coming to see us and seemingly we're surrounded by disgruntled patients!

Thanks again for being there everyone!

That is a long wait. I hope you have a more comfortable chair on the ward.

Can you get some earplugs? Silicone earplugs are really good and might help your DS sleep despite noise from the other patients.

No experience here…but just sending you and your DS lots of positive vibes so he gets seen and gets sorted soon. You must be exhausted too! ☕️🍰💐

That is such a long wait. Try to get out for some fresh air, it'll do you good to clear your head and stretch your legs. Poor thing, hopefully he gets seen soon.

Well, I hope you get seen very soon OP and maybe other reading mask shirkers will think twice about the impact on the NHS.

Dh has just come to the ward door with a flask of tea, toast and chocolate! I feel awful eating it in front of ds but it's perked me up!

I had appendicitis at 13. Not keyhole surgery then.

I had the op and was was walking by the evening - desperate to get to the TV lounge to learn who had shot JR!

Are they providing you with a camp bed? They would if you were on the children ward.

Could he eat now if no surgery today?
Glad you have chocolate!

Hope he's sorted soon. It must feel an eternity all this waiting around. He must be starving.

How is he doing? How old is he? There are some ages you can chose children vs adult ward.
My ds had appendicitis. 2 days in hospital, keyhole surgery and then in bed for a few days but back at school 10 days after operation (because he was bored!).
He was sick, had a temperature and thought he was constipated. The doctor took one look at him and the way he walked and said he had it.
I was also looking forward to an early night that night but spent it in one hospital and had to be transferred at 2am to another one as no beds. But we're operated on within 12 hours of going to 1st hospital. This was just before covid though.

Oh hope things move on tomorrow OP! I had appendicitis whilst pregnant with DS- whipped out with keyhole (although told I would lose the baby as only 12 weeks he is now 19!) DS had it at 8 yrs old bless him- I remember 'sleeping' on a plastic chair next to his bed. Hope you get sorted soon. DS was so young he has no scars/signs it was ever done and recovered very quickly.

mrsfollowill
I too had my appendix out when I was pregnant.
At 20 years of age I had only been married a few months. I lived hundreds of miles away from my family.
I had felt nauseous for days but I put it down to pregnancy symptoms.
I went to GP's surgery, he said stomach bug, to eat lightly and rest.
Then I was sick in his office, bright green vomit! He still sent me home.

I went to bed but was in such agony that I knew I had to do something or speak to someone. We didn't have a phone (1975) and I could not stand up straight so I crawled on my hands and knees to my next door neighbour.
She was a star and called an ambulance. I had to go to a hospital miles away as junior doctors were on strike.
They couldn't find a vein in my arms to put in a drip so I ended up with it in my foot. I can remember begging the anaesthetist to take care because of my baby. He certainly did as she is 45 and had 4 children of her own!

No keyhole then but I recovered quickly and oh, the relief to not be in pain. It was worse that childbirth, as I discovered a few months later ☺️

A friend's boy had his appendix recently out after a period of nausea and then sudden pain. He was fine and back in school within a week.
Sending Love and Blessings to your son and huge thanks to you for your hard work.

Could he eat now if no surgery today?

Generally not, as while the plan may be tomorrow, that can change. It can burst and then become an emergency, or someone else may drop out of the surgical list for whatever reason which means they can slot him in earlier.

As long as he is on a drip, a few days without food is pretty rough. Please don’t eat in front of him though, that’s a bit rough, there must be a lounge or some general area you could go to for a quick bite. Having a coffee /tea while sitting with him is no issue as if he has a drip he won’t be thirsty.

I hope he has had his surgery and you are both fast asleep.

Don't worry I'm eating discreetly!

They can't operate until he's had his scan and he's still not had that unfortunately. They let him have something to eat last night and he's now nil by mouth again.

He's asleep at the moment and seems ok.
We want to go home and watch Christmas films!! I haven't even finished my Christmas shopping!

If it is any consolation I haven't even started mine.... I suspect I will be doing it on Amazon after Christmas day. I will put promissory notes under the tree. A lifting belt for DS- it sounds suspiciously simple so will bankrupt me. DD most likely vouchers for her favourite art shop. DH - who knows. He stopped drinking this year which means I can't get him the panic bought bottle of whiskey from Tesco.

I am pleased he has had something to eat and is sleeping. I guess he is on a drip to keep him hydrated or is he allowed fluids?

You must be so knackered - hope he gets his scan today and you can all go home

@Unescorted

If it is any consolation I haven't even started mine.... I suspect I will be doing it on Amazon after Christmas day. I will put promissory notes under the tree. A lifting belt for DS- it sounds suspiciously simple so will bankrupt me. DD most likely vouchers for her favourite art shop. DH - who knows. He stopped drinking this year which means I can't get him the panic bought bottle of whiskey from Tesco.

I am pleased he has had something to eat and is sleeping. I guess he is on a drip to keep him hydrated or is he allowed fluids?

You must be so knackered - hope he gets his scan today and you can all go home

I made a bed on the floor with my coat and 2 pillows, I was so shattered I actually slept for a bit, despite it being a very shoddy bed!!

Seems like an outrageously long wait for a scan, sending you strength OP, you must not be exhausted.

Could they not let you have a blanket or 2?

Hi, OP - just to say that I feel for you and hope it gets sorted soon! That long wait is awful... They are very stretched... Isn't it possible for you to switch with your DH, so you can get some proper rest - that's what we did when mine was in hospital last year. Not sure what the rules are now but it will take awhile and a few hours in your own bed can do wonders 😉 Hope all goes well 💐