We’ve been to see my mother in hospital this morning and although she’s still in intensive care, she seems very perky. She’s got wires going in and wires going out everywhere, but my brother has totally banned me from singing her the Athlete song called “Wires”, like I did last time.

She’s looking pretty good considering she was on the slab for a full ten hours and had four blood transfusions – apart from her oxygen tube, which was lopsided so it made her look as if she had been given a really dodgy nose job at the same time and it had got accidentally squished over to one side. She had no sleep though as the woman in the next bed had spent the entire night shouting “HELP ME” and moaning a lot. She was still doing it when we were there. Really awful. Nobody seemed to be paying her any attention. I SO couldn’t work in that environment, after standing at the foot of my mother’s bed, listening to her neighbour’s mournful pleas and looking at all the bruises up and down my mother’s arms, I thought I was about to pass out. Pathetic.

The physio was already there, trying to encourage her to do some leg exercises. These days they want them moving and up and about as soon as possible. Very different from before. I wonder if it’s more about needing hospital beds than for the good of the patient. But I suppose as much movement as possible is a good thing as long as it doesn’t affect wounds.

It’s a huge relief that she’s had the operation and is feeling OK. She’s very hopeful that they have managed to remove the sciatic pain she’s had constantly for the last five years. It’s too early to tell. But am keeping everything crossed for her.

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10 Comments
  • aussie friend
    February 17, 2010

    She is so brave and lovely. Having had neck pain for about six weeks last year and feeling like it was a huge effort just to be civil to anybody, I can’t imagine the stamina it takes to put up with that sort of pain for so long. Please give her all our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery and fingers crossed she will be pain free from now on.

  • Tim aka Dotterel
    February 17, 2010

    Oh yes, absolutely. And as for getting moving, it’s better to be out of hospitals as soon as possible these days.

    Here’s to a swift recovery.

  • Di Foden
    February 18, 2010

    I understand that moving soon is good, by I must admit a touch of nostalgia for the days when poor patients were coddled and told to rest a bit. I’m sending her good vibrations.

  • Shiny
    February 18, 2010

    Sending love and sunshine for a quick and full recovery xx

  • Carah
    February 18, 2010

    Glad she’s out the other side :-). Send love from all of us up here (Tigs and all). xx

  • Crystal Jigsaw
    February 18, 2010

    My fingers crossed also. How awful to be listening to the poor woman in the next bed. Why don’t the staff do something? It really irritates me. I know I don’t know the full story but it’s really not fair on the other patients is it.

    CJ xx

  • Mud
    February 18, 2010

    So good to hear positive news!

    Now, Janelle tells me that my blog is being bloshy and won’t accept comments form you. Most strange! I’ve just tried to leave comment and it did let me…. mind you, your blog sometimes ignores me too…..

    Try again tomorrow? If all else fails, drop me a line on notenoughmud@live.co.uk and I will take action!!
    x

    • Family Affairs
      February 18, 2010

      Phew. Message got through – I will try again tomorrow but think it’s a prob with my wordpress and not having an account and bla boring bla. Will email you otherwise Lx

  • Lucia
    February 18, 2010

    Everything crossed here too. Glad to hear she still has some ‘perky’ about her.