Margaret Hospital Experience (and Patrick's!!)
Update May 4th. Yes, I know, it is under April! Thanks for all the supportive messages I have received - much appreciated.
I took Margaret out today for a walk in the lovely, but windy, weather. It was a sobering experience. On the plus side, she was cheerful throughout but she walked extremely slowly and was obviously getting some gyp from her back. She stopped every 10m or so to rest (standing). Altogether, we managed about 100m along the Strawberry Line. She was kind-of game to walk on but, obviously, couldn't take into account the return journey! We mostly sat on various benches. It is tough to see her so physically constrained.
I had a meeting with Gemma this morning. The consensus of opinion is that her back pain and collapsing / feinting are unrelated. Her previous episode was on September 5th 2021. It is thought that she had low blood pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension) from getting up too quickly.
Belinda has offered to take us to Weston General on May 16th. How wonderful is that? Hopefully she will be allowed into the Fracture Clinic too, as she will be able to interpret any medical terminology.
I took Margaret out today for a walk in the lovely, but windy, weather. It was a sobering experience. On the plus side, she was cheerful throughout but she walked extremely slowly and was obviously getting some gyp from her back. She stopped every 10m or so to rest (standing). Altogether, we managed about 100m along the Strawberry Line. She was kind-of game to walk on but, obviously, couldn't take into account the return journey! We mostly sat on various benches. It is tough to see her so physically constrained.
I had a meeting with Gemma this morning. The consensus of opinion is that her back pain and collapsing / feinting are unrelated. Her previous episode was on September 5th 2021. It is thought that she had low blood pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension) from getting up too quickly.
Belinda has offered to take us to Weston General on May 16th. How wonderful is that? Hopefully she will be allowed into the Fracture Clinic too, as she will be able to interpret any medical terminology.
On Wednesday 27th, Gemma (The Care Lead in Ashmead) rang at 07:30. It seemed Margaret had collapsed .They called an ambulance. I got dressed quickly and whizzed over. The paramedics did lots of tests and decided she should go to hospital. We had to wait to get into A+E but not for long. I was sent off to a little waiting room for a short while. Dr Laura checked Margaret and rang Ashmead. Margaret was really quite agitated - caused by pain in her abdomen, was my guess at the time. She kept looking at me and talking gibberish, so I was very glad I was there. They decided on a scan and while preparing, gave her some paracetamol intravenously and a beaker of tea with a straw. Within 20 minutes she seemed almost 'normal'. She had loads of blood tests and two scans - mostly of her spine. Thankfully, we were allowed home and arrived (in a cab) just before 19:00. The carers put her straight to bed.
As well as being wearing and worrying, it was a tiring day. It just shows me how massively Margaret has deteriorated and what bloody hard work caring is.
I found that there was little recognition of dementia in hospital - not that the staff could have been any nicer in every other way. They kept asking questions which, of course, Margaret cannot answer or, worse still, answers with something which may be true or not. What happened? How do you feel? Describe the pain? My conclusion is that any doctor / nurse etc who is going to work with PWD (People With Dementia) should be trained at veterinary school as, with an animal, they have to diagnose without asking questions. This comment isn't totally tongue-in cheek!
I have the dubious pleasure of getting / taking Margaret to the Fracture Clinic on at Weston Hospital on May 16th. She may have a 'wedge vertebra'. How, or if, this is any way related to her collapsing remains a mystery to me.
As well as being wearing and worrying, it was a tiring day. It just shows me how massively Margaret has deteriorated and what bloody hard work caring is.
I found that there was little recognition of dementia in hospital - not that the staff could have been any nicer in every other way. They kept asking questions which, of course, Margaret cannot answer or, worse still, answers with something which may be true or not. What happened? How do you feel? Describe the pain? My conclusion is that any doctor / nurse etc who is going to work with PWD (People With Dementia) should be trained at veterinary school as, with an animal, they have to diagnose without asking questions. This comment isn't totally tongue-in cheek!
I have the dubious pleasure of getting / taking Margaret to the Fracture Clinic on at Weston Hospital on May 16th. She may have a 'wedge vertebra'. How, or if, this is any way related to her collapsing remains a mystery to me.
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