Very briefly...last night was pretty rough. Richard thought he was going to die. The day was pretty routine but punctuated by two visits from Professor Hanna both of which left a smile on Richard's face and confidence in his heart. Constant moist oxygen altered with a nebuliser to get the phlegm broken down. I wanted to stay the night at the hospital and luckily they had the same room available. I went up around midnight leaving Richard sounding pretty awful and told him to call me at any moment he felt like he wanted me near. The call came at 3am and Maria, the duty nurse said he wanted me. He was very agitated and said he thought he might be dying. I got Maria and another amazingly sweet nurse to come over and tell him how well he was doing (no lie), all his vital signs looked very good and it was just going to take some time to get rid of the infection. This put him in a better mood and by 3:30 he was asleep holding my hand and we pretty much stayed that way until 5am when he woke and said he felt a lot calmer. They kicked me out at 6am and I went back to sleep upstairs til 8:00. He seemed a bit better and full of purpose when I returned and he shooed me off to take the car back to Earl's Court and get back by 10:20 for a big doctors meeting about him. I did that but when I returned I had to wait til he was finished with physio. By the time I got back he'd already done two walks around the ICU unit and was being taught coughing techniques.
Janine, the day duty nurse, set my mind at ease saying he was doing really well and we shouldn't get worried.
Signs of progress: he had a bowel movement! (momentous occasion), they've reduced the concentration of his oxygen by about half and he is getting excellent saturation levels which shows that the lungs are improving, I think. They turned off his epidural and will remove it tonight if he's still comfortable. The neck iv should be removed this evening and he is scheduled to have his SALT (Speech and Language Test) later today to access how his throat valve is working as it must stop liquids and food from getting into his bronchial tubes before they let him drink and eat.
When I left around 12:45 after the panel of doctors had done their assessment and seemed pleased with the progress, Richard seemed determined to do lots of walking and practice his coughing. He said his life depended upon it. So he's still very nervous about his condition but feeling optimistic at the same time.
It's 2:19, I'm back at the flat and am going to sleep for a couple of hours or else I won't be good for anything.
Darlings,
ReplyDeleteIt must be terrifying - for both of you. How lucky that you have each other, imagine doing this alone? I hope that this next bit will be a bit easier, but it is a hell of an operation and it is going to be hard. Thank you for taking time and energy out of your already overloaded life to keep us all updated. Please give RT a big kiss from us.
XXS
dear rick and richard, remember me, Viv Johns? Adie has kept me up to date with what's going on with Richard and I so hope he continues to improve. Sounds like, with minor blips, he's being very brave. And, of course, with you beside him it must be a huge comfort for him. lots of love to both you guys who have been so kind to me (Miami). I am pleased Richard is getting organised with the walking and breathing and being the fighter he always has been. xxx viv
ReplyDeleteWow - what a day! How frightening for R (and by default you). However, the facts, figures and advice you are reporting sound like excellent progress. Hopefully the panics and the infection will be a thing of the past shortly. Love to think of you both holding hands through the night with all those machines etc.. whirring quietly around you. Did R pass the famous "leak test" of is that still to come? Your love and your quiet strength are quite inspirational. Thank goodness for you. Hugs. D&J
ReplyDeleteRick, not being familiar with blogs it has taken me days to find all this. I kept just reading the first page and wondering how things were...so reading all the earlier stuff knowing the set-back still to come was dreadful. Anyway, sounds like the darkness has passed, and please remind Richard that if he dies I have said that I will never speak to him again. Any news of the private room and the party??with love from Alison and all Raesides
ReplyDeleteDear Rick, you are doing a fab job, if I am ever ill I want you as my nurse! Tell Richard not to panic, James says the effect of a long anasthetic can give you bad dreams and make you a bit depressed or at least not at all like your usual bouncy (richard) self!
ReplyDeleteLove Sue and James