Early Risers.

[polybear]

We seem to be missing the wisdom of @iL Dottore over the past few days?  Hope all is ok.

[DaveF]

For the last couple of days I've sort of kept up with ERs. on my phone, but I was allowed to come home just after coffee time this morning.

 

So here's what happened after the colonoscopy on Wednesday morning.  At first nothing at all, all seemed well.  Then after tea while I was still getting rid of wind caused by the process I found I was losing blood along with the excess air from my gut.  The quantity got bigger.

 

As you read this remember that I live in Northumberland where things are often very different from other parts of the country, especially in some organisations like the NHS.

 

I rang 111, having navigated the menu the phone was answered on the third ring and I described the problem.  The operator asked me to hold on while she spoke to one of the doctors.  I was told that if I lost about half a coffee mug of blood over 2-3 hours that was nothing to worry about, a mugful or more and I must go to A&E.  I had lost more than a mugful so a friend across the road took to to the Northumbria Specialist Accident and Emergency Hospital which is only just over 10 minutes away.  We arived about 8.30p.m.  I went and checked in and was told a nurse would see me within about 30 minutes, a Doctor within 2 hours if needed.  She said that they put a rather longer time on the noticeboard just in case.  The whole hospital foyer is the waiting area, with two ovals of seats in the centre and other seats against the walls.  There were about 30 people there but after a few moments I realised that over half the people were family/friends with the ill person.  It was all very quiet and pleasant, many people were quietly drinking mugs of coffee.

 

The nurse saw me 25 minutes after I arrived, took blood samples and spoke to a doctor.  I was then asked to wait in the waiting area.  Just over 50 minutes later my name was called out, the doctor decided I needed to stay in the hospital as my salt balance was not right, having got the blood test results.  He also told me the hospital was technically full but they were sorting it out and not to worry.  He took me to an area within A&E with comfortable arm chairs along with a supply of water and I was attached to a drip.  Later on I was asked to move and was taken to one of the consulting rooms which have simple beds rather than just trolleys, given bed linen and told to get some rest.  The same was done with everyone else. In the morning I didn't get breakfast in case it would have got in the way of any investigations.

 

Next one of the porters wheeled me to the Ward which was still full but were in the process of discharging those ready to go home.  Again I was given an armchair to sit on, as was an elderly lady who was also waiting.  Then a table arrived, a jug of water with lots of ice cubes in it and a glass.  Then a cup of tea and 2 packs of biscuits arrived via the ward administrator who had checked with the ward consultant that it would be OK.  Next the chaplain arrived and had a chat, closely followed by the consultant who told me it was not uncommon to bleed and that during the afternoon I would have a sigmoidoscopy to look at where the polyps had been removed and that I haddone the right thing.

 

To be continued....

 

David

Edited January 21, 2023 by DaveF

[woodenhead]

I'm glad that you're getting treated well by the NHS, hoping you're properly on the mend now and in a few days not having any problems.

[DaveF]

Carrying on from where I left off sitting in my comfy chair inside the ward.  Northumbria is not quite like a lot of other hospitals, as it only does A&E most beds are in single rooms with a few 4 bed bits for people with relatively minor issues.  The ward has a corridor off the main corridor, along it are toilets etc, then you get to the administrator's area, followed by the nurses area and the rooms for patients.

 

While I was sitting lunch came, I was told there was one for me but I would have to wait until after the ordered ones were distributed. So a few minutes later I was eating mince, dumplings, carrots, sprouts, and mashed potato followed by a blackcurrant cheesecake along with more water and tea.  Next I was moved to a bed in the 4 bed area - each bay is much wider than normal being about 12' feet wide making it feel spacious.  None of the rooms are square, most have at least some curved walls.  I was asked if I had medication - I don't, and BP etc were checked.  Then 2 nurses wheeled my bed down to the small endoscopy room, on the way we passed another patient in a bed returning from it.  Fortunately the corridors are "double track".  

 

I had the examination, it was decided no treatment was needed but that I should stay in for a few days for observation just in case bleeding continued.  The nurses wheeled me back, again we passed a bed carrying another patient to be looked at.   Now I was back in the ward it was time for more tea and biscuits, after that I investigated the bedside TV and radio, which is free to use.  There is also a phone which is free to use for those without a mobile - being only A&E patients some people arrive without phones and personal things.  The usual checks continued until high tea time, this time roast beef, carrots, cauliflower and roast potatoes followed by mousse with more tea and water.

 

Later on it was time for supper, more tea and biscuits after which it became quiet as people went to sleep.

 

The next morning (Friday) I had breakfast - Weetabix, toast and tea and had more checks done, including my temperature.  There was consternation that my temperature was 34.8C, a second reading was taken which gave 35.4C.  I had to explain that is normal for me.

 

More to follow.

 

David

Edited January 21, 2023 by DaveF

[The White Rabbit]

29 minutes ago, polybear said:

We seem to be missing the wisdom of @iL Dottore over the past few days?  Hope all is ok.

 

And it's been quiet from the TLC of Wales too. Fingers crossed. Likewise for David - that's the sort of treatment the NHS should be giving. 

 

 

Afternoon awl. Another chilly, murky one. Freezing fog to start with, then it started to clear and some blue sky showed - half an hour later we were back to fog again. Tchah! 

 

Weather like that does not do my calculator any good, it doesn't like dull weather and cooler temperatures. No, I haven't got a new (low-maintenance) pet to take for walks but one of the things that broke last week - or so I thought - was my remaining calculator. (Two others, including a good Texas Instruments one, expired at the end of last year and with not being able to work, I haven't replaced them yet). It's only a cheap one but it's handy for checking ratios of photo dimensions - I'm trying to work through in my better moments and set a few up for posting on here and some for the print shop, whenever I'm able to get there. No sign of life in an evening, naughty words spoken and it was placed on the 'to go to the bin pile'. Tried the following morning just as a forlorn hope and it came to life. Twas a sunny morning. Since then it works on sunny days and hibernates on dull ones, sleeping in and taking 16 hour snoozes. What other feline traits will it adopt I wonder? 

 

I'm happy enough with technology per se - it's when it doesn't work that I get cross. Trouble is, I find it doesn't work reliably more often than it does do what it says on the tin. 

 

I noticed https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/21/next-stop-twatt-my-tour-of-britains-fantastically-filthy-placenames today - some placename background as well as the rude examples. 

 

[New Haven Neil]

A'noon from a Frazzled Fraggle.

 

Hope all is OK Dave, the NHS is managing, as usual, to cope, but who knows how.  Been there, managed it in the past, got the blood pressure to prove it. (Newcastle City Health BTW - not far from you!).

 

Woke at 0315 hrs, to s sound of a car door - thought the next door lot (the 'Clampetts') were back from Antigua.  Woke again 0330, to the thump once more, twice, three times...up out of bed, turned out the side gate (large & heavy) hadn't been shut properly by a delivery and we hadn't noticed and the wind had got up.  So out in shorts quickly grabbed, coat, crocs and er, not much else.  Boy it was cold! So of course it took ages to get back to sleep, and my dodgy foot was complaining loudly about getting cold and being used without orthotics when I went out to shut the gate properly, pah!

 

So out half asleep this morning for a walk while Mrs NHN was Pilated, then was forced to get Tesco'd in the Big City for a 'big shop'.Pah again.  Looked at some cars on the way home, I need something higher to be able to get in and out of easier.  Realised that my budget and aspirations do not match.  Might wait until after this summer's surgery to see how the foot is, and if I can manage a clutch again it will make choices a bit easier, but I do admit I have got to like my automatic, despite initial misgivings.  And no, I won't be getting anything electric.  It is a blind alley.  Noted the car park by one garage has several spaces now devoted to charging - nothing in them.  ic engined cars parked on the pavements though, due to less parking. Rant!

[polybear]

22 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

I noticed https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/21/next-stop-twatt-my-tour-of-britains-fantastically-filthy-placenames today - some place name background as well as the rude examples. 

 

 

"............that CCTV cameras had to be pointed at every Fu*king sign in town. "

 

🤣🤣

 

23 minutes ago, DaveF said:

Carrying on from where I left off sitting in my comfy chair inside the ward.  Northumbria is not quite like a lot of other hospitals, as it only does A&E most beds are in single rooms with a few 4 bed bits for people with relatively minor issues.  The ward has a corridor off the main corridor, along it are toilets etc, then you get to the administrator's area, followed by the nurses area and the rooms for patients.

 

While I was sitting lunch came, I was told there was one for me but I would have to wait until after the ordered ones were distributed. So a few minutes later I was eating mince, dumplings, carrots, sprouts, and mashed potato followed by a blackcurrant cheesecake along with more water and tea.  Next I was moved to a bed in the 4 bed area - each bay is much wider than normal being about 12' feet wide making it feel spacious.  None of the rooms are square, most have at least some curved walls.  I was asked if I had medication - I don't, and BP etc were checked.  Then 2 nurses wheeled my bed down to the small endoscopy room, on the way we passed another patient in a bed returning from it.  Fortunately the corridors are "double track".  

 

I had the examination, it was decided no treatment was needed but that I should stay in for a few days for observation just in case bleeding continued.  The nurses wheeled me back, again we passed a bed carrying another patient to be looked at.   Now I was back in the ward it was time for more tea and biscuits, after that I investigated the bedside TV and radio, which is free to use.  There is also a phone which is free to use for those without a mobile - being A&E patients only some of people arrive without phones and personal things.  The usual checks continued until high tea time, this time roast beef, carrots, cauliflower and roast potatoes followed by mousse with more tea and water.

 

Later on it was time for supper, more tea and biscuits after which it became quiet as people went to sleep.

 

The next morning (Friday) I had breakfast - Weetabix, toast and tea and had more checks done, including my temperature.  There was consternation that my temperature was 34.8C, a second reading was taken which gave 35.4C.  I had to explain that is normal for me.

 

More to follow.

 

David

 

VSBT's

Bear has decided that if I ever have a Heart Attack (hopefully not.....) it'd be quicker and a whole lot better to get a Cab up to that Hospital.  Free Telly & Phone?  Not sure of the exact price but around here you'd be looking at a tenner-ish a day for telly.  As for parking prices....best check the credit limit on the flexible friend first......

Yep, Rant.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

if I lost about half a coffee mug of blood over 2-3 hours that was nothing to worry about…

Will you be keeping that mug just for visitors now?

[Tony_S]

6 minutes ago, polybear said:

has decided that if I ever have a Heart Attack (hopefully not.....) it'd be quicker and a whole lot better to get a Cab up to that Hospital.

Well , I had mine a few hundred miles east of New York. Fortunately I was convinced it was indigestion. A couple,of other people who had reported to sick bay on the ship got airlifted off that morning by the US Coastguard. It was a couple of weeks later when I finally decided perhaps I should see my GP. 

[DaveF]

So here I am on Friday morning after breakfast having got dressed, shaved and so on.  I decided I wanted a walk so checked with the ward sister who said OK, but to let the ward clerk know in case they needed me - and to take my mobile with me.  I just walked around the place, up to the main entrance and along the path at the side of the access road.  It was nice to get some fresh air.  On the way back I stopped at the shop to get another couple of books, a newspaper, a book of crosswords and and a pen. 

 

I returned to the ward in time for the mid morning tea/coffee and biscuits and spent the rest of the day reading, doing crosswords, watching TV and so on.  I was interrupted as usual for the BP, temperature checks.  The chaplain came and gave me communion and chatted - he used to work quite close to the school I taught at near Lincoln, but after I had moved away.  I also had to have more bloods taken.  I have veins which are very easy to find but blood usually will not flow out of them.  One doctor on the ward said I may just have very efficient valves preventing back flow - they vary from person to person.  In the afternoon I had to do a getting up and standing test to see if my blood pressure drops when I get up as if it does it may cause falls.  My blood pressure went up sharply as I stood up which is good news, so I can't be old yet.

 

Lunch arrived - this time roast chicken, sausage, carrots and sprouts with roast potatoes followed by cheese and biscuits.  Had I been hungry I could have had soup as well.  For tea I chose a sandwich for a change - cheese and ham which was very well filled and some more ice cream.  Of course both meals came with more water and tea.

 

Two things I noticed about other patients - one arrived after the evening meal was over, so he was given one of the sandwich packs which are always kept in the fridge for late admissions along with some biscuits.  Another person's diet had been changed from soft foods to normal after the meals were ordered.  The nurse asked if he would prefer "real" food as she could ring the kitchen and ask for an extra meal which she would go and collect for him if he didn't mind waiting 20 minutes, which made him very happy.  Very good service.

 

The menu seems to be the same each day, there are about 12 different hot choices, a daily soup, 4 or 5 sandwich choices and salads.  The dessert choice is similar.

 

This morning (Saturday) I got up after breakfast, was asked yet again where my medication was (by a different nurse) and reassured another one that my low temperature was OK.  Then I saw the consultant who listened to how I felt and checked there was no bright red blood being lost.  I said that I thought the problem may in part have been the way I had to be positioned for the polyp removal and that one was pedunculate (stalked) which have a blood vessel in them and often bleed.  My position meant that some blood could flow back up the colon then it would find its way out later.  She agreed that was probably what happened.

 

Then I was told I could go home as soon as the canula was removed from my arm and that I needn't wait for the discharge letter, it could be posted in due course.  There was just time for my coffee before the canula went and I came home.  I suspect she wanted the bed emptied as soon as possible.

 

I do not enjoy hospitals but my stay wasn't too bad - the hospital does have an "Excellent" rating.

 

David

Edited January 21, 2023 by DaveF

[TheQ]

As a former resident of the now demolished Ashington hospital, I found them quite good too. I'm not sure the others in the 4 man ward were so happy, I had an extremely high temperature, and was covered in just a sheet, they turned off the heating and opened the windows. There was snow on the ground outside..

[woodenhead]

9 minutes ago, DaveF said:

The menu seems to be the same each day, there are about 12 different hot choices, a daily soup, 4 or 5 sandwich choices and salads.  The dessert choice is similar.

 

 

I guess they don't need to change, most people won't be in for more than a few days, and even then, most of us are creatures of habit so we have regular meals that repeat regularly.

[DaveF]

1 minute ago, woodenhead said:

I guess they don't need to change, most people won't be in for more than a few days, and even then, most of us are creatures of habit so we have regular meals that repeat regularly.

 

 

Being an A&E only hospital they do move people on quickly (usually after 4 or 5 days) to the other hospitals in the Northumbria Healthcare Trust or into a Newcastle hospital for some very specialist things.  I believe it is still the only specialist A&E hospital in the country, one of the "selling" points is that consultants are there 24/7.

 

David

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

We seem to be missing the wisdom of @iL Dottore over the past few days?  Hope all is ok.

Indeed. He may be taking his time to recover from visiting the UK.  

[Tony_S]

54 minutes ago, DaveF said:

was pedunculate (stalked)

A couple of years ago the consultant and registrar doing one of my colonoscopies were looking at some abnormal feature of my large intestine. They wondered what something was and decided to biopsy it and mark it for future examination. Trying to be helpful (a side effect of the conscious sedation) I said I thought it looked like a piece of rigatoni. The consultant said highly unlikely after the bowel prep. 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land.  Definitely an early night tonight, after last nights late night I can't stop yawning. But first its dinner time.

[russ p]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

 

 

Being an A&E only hospital they do move people on quickly (usually after 4 or 5 days) to the other hospitals in the Northumbria Healthcare Trust or into a Newcastle hospital for some very specialist things.  I believe it is still the only specialist A&E hospital in the country, one of the "selling" points is that consultants are there 24/7.

 

David

 

Glad you are on the mend David,  your experience of hospital sounds better than mine in the Norfolk and Norwich food was absolutely horrible and TV and phone massively expensive.  Are you sure you weren't in an episode of the royal! 

[TheQ]

30 minutes ago, russ p said:

 

Glad you are on the mend David,  your experience of hospital sounds better than mine in the Norfolk and Norwich food was absolutely horrible and TV and phone massively expensive.  Are you sure you weren't in an episode of the royal! 

Last time I was in the N&N the mobile phone didn't exist in the UK, and TVs weren't available in the wards. Mind you, That was the old N&N in St Stephens rd, don't remember the food but I was used to the military .....

Edited January 21, 2023 by TheQ

[Winslow Boy]

5 hours ago, polybear said:

We seem to be missing the wisdom of @iL Dottore over the past few days?  Hope all is ok.

 

It is my understanding that HM Customs are currently questioning him at an undisclosed location, Paddington Green or Belmarsh? about three containers that were due to be shipped to Switzerland.

 

Rumour has it that they contained various food products, Eccles cakes, whiskey was another and had all been labelled for his personal consumption. 

 

I think there having some difficulty accepting that and believe that they are more likely destined for the black market in France where there's quite a market for Eccles cakes so I'm told.

Edited January 21, 2023 by Winslow Boy
Further info from contact

[polybear]

No idea what he sees in her......🤣

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64359316

[polybear]

10 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

It is my understanding that HM Customs are currently questions him at an undisclosed  place about three containers that were due to be shipped to Switzerland.

 

Rumour has it that they contained various food products, Eccles cakes, whiskey was another and had all been labelled for his personal consumption. 

 

I think there having some difficulty accepting that and believe that they are more likely destined for the black market in France where there's quite a market for Eccles cakes so I'm told.

 

 

Just so long as there's no scurrilous underhand LDC smuggling going on - or pizza

or oven chips

or curly fries

or mince pies

or turkish delight

or salted peanuts

or.......

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

Weather like that does not do my calculator any good, it doesn't like dull weather and cooler temperatures. No, I haven't got a new (low-maintenance) pet to take for walks but one of the things that broke last week - or so I thought - was my remaining calculator. (Two others, including a good Texas Instruments one, expired at the end of last year and with not being able to work, I haven't replaced them yet). It's only a cheap one but it's handy for checking ratios of photo dimensions

If you are using a laptop, and using relatively simple arithmetic, all the calculation functions you are likely to need can be found by searching "calculator". (At least for me in Chrome, I assume other browsers are similar.)

 

You don't even need to do that. Just type the formula in the browser search bar like:

6x9=

 

And it will produce the result and the calculator.

 

Similarly for converting units.

[Winslow Boy]

3 hours ago, polybear said:

Heart

 

10 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

 

Just so long as there's no scurrilous underhand LDC smuggling going on - or pizza

or oven chips

or curly fries

or mince pies

or turkish delight

or salted peanuts

or.......

 

I'll try and find out Bear but my contact has to careful as he doesn't want to draw to much attention, else Customs might start asking questions about why several containers come the other way marked 'model railways' say no more.

[Coombe Barton]

... Today was domestics and marking. Tomorrow is the same, but with more coffee so that I don’t fall asleep as I did today. ....

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/01/21/covid-down-flu-up/

[Ozexpatriate]

Odd weather this morning. I may have misinterpreted last night's weather forecast, swapping evening precipitation for morning precipitation. It looked dim outside and checking, decided it was tree-top fog, and decided to forego the waterproof layers (except for a jacket) for my walk.

 

It was probably about 1°C when I headed out. The moment I closed the front door the sleet started, and later mixed with snow, mostly snow and then light rain. Back from my walk there was more snow and wintry mix and later the sun appeared but only for less than a minute before the overcast closed in again. (EDIT) Later still, while still partly cloudy, the sunshine was bright at times.

 

It should be drier in the week ahead.

 

Edited January 21, 2023 by Ozexpatriate