Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Tuesday 27 March 2012

An Update and Thank you all

Thank you all so much.  I cannot tell you how much your words of support have meant.

The Smaller Portion was operated on this morning.  He had to be at the hospital at 6 this morning and was warned that tardiness would cost him his place in the queue.  This meant real suffering for someone whose preference is to spring out of bed at the crack of noon.  With the help of his sister we were there on time.  Early even.

An incredibly convoluted admission process followed.  First he had to complete two forms.  Having done so, he was told to sit down in the waiting room.  Then they called his name again and issued him with stunning hospital wear including stockings, booties and a very fetching cap.  Having donned it he was told to sit down in the waiting room.  Where we waited.  And waited.  Then he was called again and had to complete another form, have his blood pressure taken and a sample vial of his blood taken.  Then, you guessed it, he was told to return to the waiting room. 

Finally he was called again, asked more questions and told to climb onto a hospital bed.  As they wheeled him off to the theatre I asked if they could ring me when the operation was finished, and tell me the outcome.  'Maybe.'  'Perhaps it is better if you ring the Patient Enquiries number at 10.30'

Which I did.  To be told he was still in theatre and to ring back in an hour.  Which I did to get the same response.  When I rang back at 12.30 I was told that he was in Recovery and would be for at least an hour and a half.  And to ring back.  And no, I couldn't talk to anyone in Recovery.  I finally established he was in a ward just before three.  The phone rang out the first time I tried to talk to them.  The second time, the phone was answered and I was told he wasn't there.  I said he was.  'Oh, yes so he is.'  Further interrogation reveals that he has had an ileostomy.  Sadness.  Both of us hoped it wouldn't be necessary.

So his sister and I decided the hospital has stuffed us around quite enough for one day and we would go and see him.  And the rotten remote for the car refused to function and consequently the car refused to move.  I got out the teeny weeny screwdriver set and got to work.  Nothing was going to stop me.  And it didn't.

When I got to the ward and went to see him he asked me what had happened.  THE ROTTEN FESTERS HADN'T TOLD HIM.  Oh joy, oh bliss.

I have had a glass of red wine and may have another.  I have told his sister (who has been nothing but helpful and who I wish to Jericho) that there are vegetable noodles for dinner.  If she would prefer something else she is free to forage.

Thank you all once again.


36 comments:

  1. O I'm so glad you've posted. I thought of SP just now at 8am in England as I knew it was today . . . but of course your today has already been!
    I have to rush to get kids off to school but I'm so pleased the operation is over with and the Sister is being helpful.
    Well done on fixing the remote and getting through all of this . . . Yes have another glass of red ;-)
    So good to hear from you. Wishing SP a speedy recovery . . . Look forward to your next post. Take good care. Hugs n love

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  2. Just sending love and kind thoughts and wishes to both of you .. xx

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  3. They didn't tell him?? Those rotten scoundrels!
    Unless they were waiting for him to be awake enough to comprehend their decision?

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  4. Oh my god, that's terrible. The fact your son has to live with an ileostomy and the way you were treated. AND that you had to break the news. Big hugs to you and your family. I really feel badly for all of you.

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  5. Just hoping all goes well and his recovery is swift. hope you are holding up OK. Hospital staff give me the poos sometimes and other times, they are amazing.Take care. xoxo

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  6. It doesn't sound nice at all. Best wishes.

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  7. what a rough road -- it seems that it really wouldn't be any less efficient for the hospital if they doled out a little kindness or compassion along the way. here's to a speedy recovery...

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  8. So very sorry for the rough time and bad news. Sure hope it (the news) improves, and rapidly. Sincere and heartfelt best wishes to you both!

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  9. Well that's over with...now on to the recovery. What turds they were in that hospital to leave you with bad news delivery. Good and healing thoughts headed your way.

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  10. What an ordeal! For all of you. I hope he will be OK - I'm sorry the outcome was not what you wanted.

    How lovely that your sister-in-law has turned out to be a friend during this time. I'm glad to hear from you - I've missed you.

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  11. so glad he came through the operation and is recovering.... so sorry he has an ileostomy... is it temporary or permanent? or have they indicated? sometimes hospital staff can be so stubborn! ugh

    sounds like it's been nice having the SIL there....

    prayers continue to go up for you all

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  12. Oh damn and blast, I was really hoping they did the big op. Still the good news is he seems to have come through this op well and hopefully will be quickly on the road to health. Keep smiling and enjoying the odd glass of wine. Hugs from Perth xxx

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  13. So sorry to hear that the ordeal was so unpleasant. And I'm sorry to hear about the ileostomy, I just looked it up on line to find out exactly what it is. It is not what you wanted to have to tell him, I know. Please accept my hope that life will return to some semblance of normal soon. Sending you lots of virtual hugs.

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  14. Compassion seems to be missing at this hospital. It takes so little to be kind and I would think that would be a necessary element to be taught and practiced at all health facilities.

    Hugs to you all. There might be a difficult road ahead, but be sure to take care of yourself also.

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  15. Hugs to you and your son and the rest of your family. I am so sorry the hospital treated you so poorly, but happy all came out in the end. Treat yourself with kindness, and I will keep you central in my heart and hopes. Peace...

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  16. And apologies, not your son but your 'smaller portion' husband. I have a friend whose son recently had a colostomy and he has been on my brain as well. It seems medical maladies have affected many of late. Peace...

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  17. Oh dear, what an ordeal. I hope the worst is over for you all, and SP will recover well.
    *hugs*

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  18. Oh, E-child, your troubles make mine seem like trifles. I do so hope that SP is recovering as well as possible. Perhaps you remember that our president, Dwight Eisenhower (long time ago) had an ileostomy while he was president. He recovered and resumed his duties. My step-father had a large portion of his intestine removed after a massive intestinal infarction. He also recovered well, though he had to be on a fat restricted diet for the rest of his life.

    I will keep checking to see how things are going for you and husband. Lots of love coming across the ocean.

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  19. EC, I send you, the Smaller Portion and the helpful sister in law all my very best vibes and good wishes.

    I hope that the rather slapdash approach of the hospital to keeping you updated will then change to a hugely brilliant recovery and post-op service provision.

    Red wine will help. As will chocolate! And cat cuddles....

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  20. I hope all the beat your head on the wall frustsration is over and you can get on with the getting well. I have backed doctors into corners to get answers; I hope you don't have to do that. Best wishes for a good recovery.

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  21. The waiting beforehand is rough on everyone, isn't it. Glad it's over and went reasonably well, and that the helpful SIL is there to share the burden. I second what Starting Over... (above) said about compassion. Sometimes one wonders why certain medical staff are in that line of work! Take care of yourself and rest as much as you can.

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  22. Dear EC, . . . I'm so sorry that the ileostomy was necessary and also that you had to be the bearer of the bad news. I'm sending good vibes and thoughts and prayers and healing white light. Please, in the midst of all this, be gracious to yourself. Peace.

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  23. The most important thing now is to move on and focus on the Smaller Portions recovery :-).

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  24. Oh, crap. Classic ACT hospital treatment. I had a similar experience with my hysterectomy a few years ago, mainly in the pre-op treatment. Poor SP, I'm so glad he had you to tell him sympathetically, even though my heart goes out to you for being the one to break the news. Hang in there. xx

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  25. i am so sorry to hear about the ileostomy, as well as the crappy behaviour from the hospital staff. keep thinking about you and sending good thoughts! i hope you can find solace in all those bulbs that needs planting.

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  26. That sounds like so much bull. I'm sorry he ended up with the ileostomy. My grandpa lived with one for 30 years after colon cancer. That was way back. I think a second glass of wine is in order!

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  27. Gee...how could we have guessed that you were ordered to arrive by 6am so you could wait all morning. Damn hospital. Damn ileostomy. Damn doctors. Damn all of it. What a depressing, dispiriting and exhausting ordeal.

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  28. Thank you all so very much. Life is a tad busy (read frantically so) here at the moment so please forgive me for not replying to each of you. He is doing better today. His specialist apparently did the ileostomy as a belt and braces measure and believes that it can be reversed in three months. Which, given our hospital waiting times means between six months and a year to wait. Sigh.

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  29. Oh well. Such a casual sounding aproach to patient relations. I am glad you fought back and got through. SIL is clearly helping, too. Best wishes and love from both of us.

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  30. I haven't even opened the lid of my laptop in ages feeling sorry for myself and my woes. This puts them into proportion. I know I don't post ever here really but I do read and I came here today and read your post. I just want to say I am so sorry about the ilieostomy, the way you were all treated and like everyone else here just want to say I am so sorry about all of it. You are in my thoughts.

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  31. Boy, those hospitals can be real stinkers sometimes! I'm sorry I was soooo prayin' that your fella wouldn't have to have an ileostomy. Booger!

    Know sweetie, I'm prayin' for a complete and speedy recovery. I'm glad ya have your sweet SIL there for support.

    Sendin' hugs and prayers your way sweetie.

    God bless ya and have a peaceful day!!!

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  32. Bless him and bless you! What an experience. If I drank, I'd had a glass with you.

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  33. So glad things went (relatively) well and SP is on the mend. Your tale does not make me any less cynical about hospitals! Sending you much love and good healing energy!

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  34. Sorry to hear of all the health worries, and I hope the recovery goes smoothly. It is dreadful waiting for the surgery to be over, and the time drags so slowly. Thinking of you.

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  35. Sending you love right this moment.

    Xxx Can you feel it? ))))))

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  36. Sounds like hospitals are the same the world over. Just catching up on your posts and sending a big hug as I can only imagine how stressful this must be for you.

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