To please, please ask for your positive stories of people getting well having been on HDU/ intensive care

[grobagsforever]

DP was admitted last week and moved to HDU last night. They don't know what's wrong. He has fluid on belly, some kind of infection and impiared liver function. There is talk of moving him ti ICU. We seem to be waiting on endless tests. He is 35 we have a three year old and I am 7 months pregnant. I need him . Please tell me your positive stories of recovery from these situations.

It isn't personal. It can still fuck off though.

Well I take it personally.

Very.

Hi Gro, I've been following this thread for a while and want to say that you and your family are in my thoughts at this horrendous time, I can't imagine how you must be feeling but I'm very glad to hear that you're feeling defiant.
You have been given some wonderful advice - please please take it and get some RL support for yourself and to manage those suicidal thoughts so you are even stronger and better equipped for facing the coming weeks and telling cancer to fuck off.
I see you are open to alternative ways to help. It's just an idea but during early pregnancy I suffered badly from sickness and a friend had hyperemesis, we both found that acupuncture made a significant difference to our nausea; mine abated and hers improved considerably. It might be partly placebo, I just know it really helped.
I don't know if it would be possible for your DH but it might be worth a try, in addition to the meds?
Sending you hugs and best wishes.

Morning all

We'll DH sickness was much better yesterday, by my count we got about 1300 calories into him. Target of 1500 for today. Cancer can still fuck off.

He's been prescribed these cal shot things which he just brings straight up so we're going for more bread based things today as these soak up all the acid, bile etc. Why they ask patients with sickness to consume rich, milky paste I do not know.

Oh yes and his drain needs to come out today but they can't find a doctor, nor could they yesterday. I'm off to complain to PALS on Monday, people are sick 7 days a week.

It is because they are very high in calories.

Gracious me a drain, poor dh.
Why was that inserted? It may be that it is not essential that it is removed at the weekend? Possibly he needs an ultrasound prior to removing it?
Often on surgical wards the more senior nurses are trained to remove drains so may be able to do the job.
Wow 1300 calories, miraculous progress op, you must be so pleased.x

grobags You can get high calorie juice based drinks, maybe ask about those? The juice ones are usually for those who cannot tolerate high fats but may be suitable for your DH. I know one type is called 'Ensure Plus' but there may be others.

I hope you're taking care of yourself too.

Goodness Grobags I 'd be really surprised if there wasn't someone in the hospital capable of removing the drain. I think you should keep pressing on this issue. Whilst it 's not an emergency - it 's not ideal to keep it in as it can't be comfortable and is an infection risk.

Where is the drain from? Sorry to hear they couldn't find Dr in the hospital. Hope it comes out today.

sorry gro been trawling through my memory of working on a surgical ward. The staff nurses regularly removed drains. Providing they had stopped draining and all had settled it was a straightforward procedure.
Maybe check again with the ward staff today. Be a shame for him to have the drain in unecessarily.
:)

It's probably a pigtail drain which can be a bit tricky but there should be someone who can do it.

There must be a F1 about surely?

I know its quiet at weekends but if its causing him issues they can get someone there.

He shouldn't be left with it in over the weekend if its unnecessary

Why did they put it in? Does it need replacing or just removing?

Sounds like it is staying in until Monday as a small amount of fluid is still coming off. Going to to get a constant low level infusion of anti sickness drug sorted today. DH has done 500 calories so far today!

oh good news about the.infusion, glad they finally managed to find you one of those damn elusive.drs to sort out the script.for that.
I must have missed you posting about the drain going in. Has it helped at all? Was it post a particular procedure?

YAY for 500 cals.

Where is the drain?

There are lots of different types of high calorie drinks and soups, most of which are grim. So ask for alternatives if he can't tolerate the ones prescribed.

Here's hoping for another good day. Woo hoo to 500 calories! Thinking of you x

The fruit ones are much more palatable if they are chilled.
DD still didn't like them though.

Gosh this thread is bringing back some difficult memories.

Still, if our experiences help you any way, at least that is something positive.

Wow. DD1 had an NG tube and feeds to get the calories in. Other kids had buttons for their feeds.

When she could not eat or take feeds for peritonitis and typhylitis, she had TPN.

Such a priority to get calories in.

Hope you can get a ward sister or F1 to pull the drain.

Same here, Devere.

Massive amounts of respect to those of you willing to share difficult memories in order to help the op. Fantastic women all of you xxx

A nurse definitely removed a drain for me.

Good job with the calories!

Drain staying in until Monday as it's still draining a bit. Yeah the care up here on the ward is nothing like ICU. He still needs 24/7 care but I'm doing it. Poor DD misses me desperately. He had a bad episode today, they think he aspirated some vomit. Under control now but feels like a set back.

I can't live here forever. But I can't leave him. He must get stable enough to come home. I've just become a robot. And I'll remain a robot if I lose him. Two lives wasted. Oh what does it matter anyway. No one really gets to be happy anyway.

Oh yes, missed that it needed to stay in, sorry. Did he have some sort of surgery?

Is there someone who could take over for a few hours tomorrow so you can spend some time with your daughter?