KiwiCat's updates

Have made it home long steady drive, muli stops along the way

Resting at moment

Finally, finally we’ve run out of weird symptoms and worries and the doctor has said I can be discharged and go home.

Honestly doesn’t quite feel really yet.

Of course, my transport is three hours away so I’m not going anywhere in a hurry, and then I’m under physio’s orders to stretch my legs at least once an hour on the way home so it’ll be an even slower trip, but we’ll get there.

I’ll sleep in my own bed tonight without constant interruptions. Bliss.

Well maybe, but I could be very happy with a boring tale.

It seems like every day there’s something new. Yesterday it was blood results suggesting an infection they can’t find, today my heart rate is inexplicably elevated. Which could be a result of the mystery infection but seems to have started after the antibiotic treatment and is trending up, not down.

So no release today, we need 24 hours to see if the source comes clear or if not then at least for the symptoms to disappear.

I feel like I’m on one of those exponential graphs where you get ever closer but never quite get to the end.

In other news, I’m to have some of the staples removed today. I haven’t counted them but there are considerably more than I had expected,  somewhere north of 50 I’d guess. They are going to remove alternate ones and see how it goes. They seem pleased with the healing there, at least.

Up early this morning for two rather nervous nurses to make multiple attempts to draw some blood so it can go down for testing early. The early testing is a great deal, but the extra holes in my arm and hand are unwelcome.

Anyway, perhaps this will be my last morning staring at this view. Not holding my breath,  but one can hope.

People pay good money for a view like this. Myself,  I’d happily exchange it for going home. But it seems that will hinge on my blood test results, as it has the last few days.

Meanwhile, one minor advantage of still being here is that today is the day my staples come out. So at least it’ll get done here and I won’t have to organise an appointment at the medical centre.

Small things 🙂

In spite of a dreadful night wrangling a drip that didn’t want me to move at all, by morning I had in fact managed a few good hours sleep and felt good. Pain was controlled, no nausea, ready to face the world and perhaps get home.

My nemesis, the drip line, is rather unfortunate. They had great access into my veins post operatively and all had been well, but they removed it when they thought I was going home. Which I didn’t. Then they struggled to get a new one in. The only success was in the crook of my right elbow, which meant I couldn’t bend or even move my arm without creating a blockage. It also meant my good hand was incapacitated, leaving me only with my splint-covered broken-fingered left hand to do everything.  Clumsily.

Add to that the need for two 6 hour drip feeds and I’m thoroughly sick of it.

But I’m finally free again. I’ve been for a brisk walk, I’ll post this, perhaps walk again and then get some rest.

Will I go home tomorrow? I don’t know.  I hope so.

No release today. My blood test results are showing something is wrong but they haven’t been able to identify it so I need some scans and further investigations. I’ve been told to expect to be here at least another 48 hours.

So. Friday at the earliest.

Who knows?

The plan yesterday was to send me home today unless there was reason not to. I’m now free of all attachments, dressed in my own nightie rather than a hospital gown, and generally mobile. That’s the good news.

On the less fun side, last night was my first night off the IV pain pump and it was Not Fun. I’m still sore this morning, not unbearably so but decidedly uncomfortable.

I’ve seen the doctors who will release me based on today’s blood test results but I still need to be cleared by the pain team and the physio.

Adding to the mess, yesterday the Hikuai rad got opened early, roadworks completed, and si I wouldn’t have the extra long trip home… but then today there’s flooding at Wade Road (just south of town) and a slip to the north, so Whitianga is completely cut off right now. The current storm isn’t meant to pass until about 3pm.

It’s true that the tide is likely contributing to the Wade Road flooding and it might clear in a couple of hours time, or it might not.

So I could be released but not initially to go home.

Quite the adventure I’m having.

Well it seems yesterday may have been the last major downhill on this crazy roller coaster ride of trying to get home.

Yesterday was horrible, but then I had a fairly good night and this morning I’ve been constantly talking to someone or getting cleaned up or disconnected. It’s now 12, my lunch should soon be here, I’m no longer connected to any wires or tubes or things that go beep in the night. I’ve had a shower and I’m now in my own nightie.

After lunch I’ll take a nap then go for a walk. We’re on track for discharge tomorrow. Which means a drive home in the worst possible weather, but still heading home.

On Friday I had a rough day, culminating in throwing up everything I had eaten that day including the most recent round of medication. Still, I had a good night’s sleep and felt a whole lot better so I thought we were on the mend.

But no. At morning tea, just as I finished a lovely cuppa and was halfway through a rich square of brownie I was informed I would have to go nil by mouth for 24 hours due to the vomiting. Not so much as a sip of water.

Meanwhile we tried again with the change of pain relief, which has gone undoubtedly better than it did on Friday but is still markedly less relieving than the previous drugs which were awesome.  (and likely highly addictive so I don’t get to have them back)

So last night was uncomfortable and then to cap it off this morning I threw up again.

Great.

There was a high risk this would lead to tubes in my nose but my surgeon is happy to give me another 24 hours first, based on blood tests and other results, and on top of that I’m now allowed sips of water. Yay!

All of which means that it will now be Wednesday at the earliest before they let me go home, and only if I stop emptying my stomach and am able to come off the drip pain meds.

So much for 3-5 days, but I’m being looked after.

In other completely random news, I could hear car engines rumbling on the road below and curiosity finally bit so I looked… and saw several hundred million dollars worth of cars creeping between the hospital buildings. I only thought to record just as a nurse came in wanting my attention but apparently it’s a Ferrari owners event for gut cancer. Who knew? https://www.ferrari.org.nz/event/gut-cancer-charity-car-show-at-new-world-kumeu/

The things one sees!

Yesterday was not fun. But it was also the third day after surgery so not all that unexpected that I felt rough.

Today is better. I’m free of almost everything, I enjoyed my breakfast,  I’ve done a solo lap of the ward and I’m now enjoying a cuppa and a piece of very rich brownie. I’ll do another walk in a bit.

Since they’ve only just removed the epidural this morning it seems likely now Monday will be discharge day, but it could still be tomorrow.

All in all I feel a lot more normal today, which is a real blessing.

Beautiful views, lovely room… I’ll still be pleased to leave 🙂