Newsfrom John (the other Boss)

[john]

Hello all,
Hope things are good for you as Springtime approaches.
Thought I'd give you a quick update to let you know a bit of my own health news!
Saturday night I had a big gastric bleed which meant rushing me to the A and E at the Royal London Hospital. I was admitted immediately because this is my third bleed, and because if it is left for a day or so gastric bleeds will prove fatal!
So tons of drips, blood transfusions and an endoscopy, culminating in injecting super-glue into the leaking gastric vein whilst undergoing gastroscopy.
Then three days of endless drips, blood tests and medications until finally they let me out last night!!
My infusions were due on the day I was admitted, so two days later I was doing my subcut in my hospital bed being watched in awe and amazement by the acute admissions staff!
Now I need a month of rest, observations, a CT scan of my guts and another "let's have a look down there to see how it's doing" endoscopy to look forward to!!
I missed this forum, and am glad to be back to "normality"
John

[floopyjim]

Blimey John! Hope you are feeling better and you heal well. I was going to use the phrase 'you've been in the wars' but that doesn't seem to cover it!

You are in my thoughts John, take it easy and keep us updated as to the state of daytime TV!

James.

[john]

Thanks Jim.......it is wonderful to be home , as they say, you go into hospital to get treatment, then go home to get well!
Glad to read you're getting on the right road....keep that up!
John

[mali42]

Hi John

It sounds like you have been through the mill again but thankfully you are home now and on the mend,

Spring is certainly on its way now and I love this time of year.

Get well soon John.

Malcolm

[s162216]

Hi john, sorry for the late reply.

Like Malcolm says it sounds like you've been through the mill, but I'm glad that your alright (me and Glo were getting worried!) and am home and getting well. Take it easy and be as positive as possible, even if you are having to think about all those potentially unpleasant further tests/procedures later. If you ever want to have a chat at some point to take your mind off things then feel free to call me, I've got a new number which I'll PM you over shortly.

Hope you're doing O.K,

Sam.

P.S, like you say it's amusing how medical/nursing staff in hospitals always seem to be so amazed by things that are so normal to us the patient sometimes, like you with your SCIG. I get the same with my insulin pump as when I spent a few days in the QMC, Nottingham a few years ago it kind of got on the staff bush vine that "there was a patient in B3 with an insulin pump!" and next thing I know I'm getting doctors from all over the place just "popping over quickly" to talk with me about it as most had never come across an actual person with an insulin pump. At one point I even ended up "hosting" a mini-conference with two consultants and two registrars where they talked with me about it for 10 minutes or so! I hope they were O.K with you doing your SCIG and it didn't take too much discussion, as in my experience the staff tend to be very cautious (perhaps rightfully) with things they have little to no experience with.

[john]

Hi All,
Well a week has passed since I was released on good behaviour, and I guess I'm feeling a lot more like my old self! So far so good!
However today I noticed that the oral thrush has returned so I'm straight on to it with fluconazole...looks like I'm going to be living with thrush from now on!!
I haven't the energy yet to do my volunteering, really hoping that next Thursday I can resume where I left off!
I seem to be doing oK with the prophylactic septrin, and I have gone back to the old doses of all my other meds, because it's just too much of a coincidence tht this latest bleed should happen a week after my doses were reduced!!
Thanks for the good wishes - John

[marksmom]

John- how scary! Hoping you're up to speed soon and feeling better! Glad you are home at least, there is nothing that helps you appreciate the comfort of your own home than being in a hospital.

Best wishes,
Rachel
Mom to Mark, 13, CVID

[john]

So true Rachel!
I am on the mend....when it gets a little bit warmer I shall be out taking the air and getting some exercise!!
Hope all is well with young Mark, and if I haven't said so before, it's lovely to see your name on the games page....Glo and I get a bit lonely there sometimes!!!
Take care - John

[gillie]

Hi John. It's obvious that I haven't been on-line recently to catch up on news. What a scary time you've been having! I'm so glad to read that you're feeling more yourself by now. I've been really busy in the garden, as by now I have nearly 3 years of neglect to rectify!It's hard work, but I'm loving it now I have the energy and the stamina to really give the jobs some welly. Love to Sue as well as you.

[john]

Hi Gillie,
Such good news to hear you are back gardening....we always picture you in your beloved slice of paradise!
I get better each day....meant to go for a walk this morning but it was much too cold for me...since I've been having these bleeds I am anaemic and also on beta blockers, so at least I know why I am feeling the cold!
Sue is well into the garden and allotment though, and our clivias are about to grace us with 56 glorious orange and yellow bloms!
We hope to be in Devon soon after Easter, I'll check with you nearer the time as to whether you will be home!
Lovely to think of you feeling so good Gillie
John xx

[mothergoose]

Hi John
I hope by now you have made a full recovery and are back living your daily life, sorry to read you had to go through that.
My son was in a big hospital for 10 days in Jan after an injury.
I went to help him. I stayed in the hospital with him, I had to do my SCIG weekly treatments in his room. I was extra careful about aseptic practises because of the hospital setting. I
I had gone to his aid very suddenly so I was not very well equipped with supplies. I had all the basic things I needed to do the treatment but no tray or table that I could clean for my treatment etc. Before doing the treatment I asked his nurse if it was okay for me to do my treatment in his room, funny enough I didn't find they cared for my son that well, (maybe because I was there 24/7 to tend to him), but they seemed to bend over backwards to get me anything I needed. Only time they seemed to acknowledge I was there for the most part. Maybe they just didn't want me getting sick and then being unable to do all my son's care.
Yes I am a little cynical, it was not a get expirence for either my son or me, it is the major trauma centre for where I live, so that's a little scary.
By the grace of god my son is recovering very well and is expected to make a full recovery, for that I am Truely thankful.

[gillie]

Hi john. I'm a bit concerned because I haven't heard from you and Easter's come and gone a long time ago! In the meantime I've acquired a second grandson, born on April 27th. He's called Edward, but known as Teddy. I hope you're well. I'm still fighting for control of the garden, but I'm winning
Love to you and Sue.
Gillie.