The antibiotics have finished now and last night my Hickman line was used for the first time. So far it seems to be working fine and if the doctors are happy with it when they do the rounds later this morning I will be able to go home. Today! Yay! Of course I'm excited to perhaps be going home but I'm also relieved as my poor veins have just about had it. I never really have any decent veins in my hands and arms and the few that can be used have been well and truely pricked to death. It's got so bad that I'm now having cannulas put in my feet. And yes, it did hurt.
Hopefully later I will be packing my bag and going home to Hubby and the kids.Unfortunately everyone is at work today so if, no, when I get discharged later I will have to make my own way home. Nottingham has a really good transport system, including a tram stop at the hospital but I don't think I'm up to using public transport today. I'm going to splash out on a cab that will take me door to door. I would rather spend a bit of money but save my energy for seeing the kids later.
The kids have no idea that I might be coming home today; they still think that I'm having 14 days of antibiotics. Hubby and I decided not to tell them incase at any point the doctors changed their minds. We've learnt from mistakes we've made in the past that it's better to surprise the kids by coming home early than disappointing them by having to stay longer. The kids are with Hubby's parents today and I've been daydreaming about going round and surprising them. I can't wait to see the look on their faces.
If I get home today I will have to come back either Saturday or Sunday to have blood taken from my Hickman line. This is to check that the antibiotics have done their job and all the nasty bugs have actually gone. And all being well I won't be back until my clinic appointment to see Dr2 in October.
I did have to speak to the nurse in charge this morning though. Last night my pump alarmed saying there was air in the line. If air gets into your veins in a large amount it can be fatal so I buzzed the nurse. A student nurse that had been working on the ward came in and I asked her to inform the nurse. A few minutes later she returned and began to open the pump, taking the line out. Student nurses shouldn't handle IV's as you have to be a qualified nurse and complete another training course before you're able to put up drips, give IV medications etc. And lines such as Hickman and Picc's go straight into a vein into the heart so require even more training and careful handling so there's no way that she should have touched it. The nurse in charge was equally as horrified when I told her what had happened and couldn't stop apologising. Hopefully having spoken up will prevent her making a mistake with another patient that perhaps is too unwell or scared to challenge her.
But before I go and pack my bags I had to share this photo with you. I love finding interesting and funny things in hospital and sharing them to make you smile. Hopefully this will do just that. This photo is taken inside the ensuite shower room that I've been lucky enough to have.
Sensible request. Only trouble being... There is no door!
😄
NB x
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