Mum Gets Taken To Hospital

Mum Gets Taken To Hospital

Thursday, 5th March, was a good day, and on Friday morning we hoped for a repeat; instead it was a really frightening time.

I had checked on Mum at about 1.00 a.m., and she was sleeping like a baby; we checked on her again at 6.30 a.m., and she was still fine.

At about 8.45 a.m., the ladies arrived as usual to get Mum washed and ready for the day, but found she had been sick and there was blood on her shoulder, on her nightie, and of course all around her mouth.

We had to call the emergency ambulance; it arrived very swiftly, with the paramedics immediately attending to Mum and checking her out. Reluctant though anyone would be to get taken to hospital, this time there really was no choice but to go.

Even though it was still quite cold (really more for Mum and me, rather than anyone else!) luckily the sun was shining and it was a really beautiful day, so getting Mum out of the house and into the ambulance wasn't too stressful. The paramedics made sure Mum was well wrapped up in two blankets (I explained how we'd lived in East Africa - and we still feel the cold!) and I got her woolly hat on her head, so she was comfortable and warm.

After the checks and observations were all done - and were found to be pretty good - we set off for A&E. I went with Mum and kept her company, reassuring her all the time.

We were soon in a bay in A&E, and I have to say the procedures went along quite quickly. A couple of doctors examined Mum - one found she was very constipated, which we think is at least partially due to the fact she has been bed bound for nearly two weeks. Because of the oedema, the carers haven't dared to risk lifting Mum in the hoist, so she hasn't been on the glider, or sat in the leather chair, at all. It is a shame she couldn't be taken out of bed, as that all helps her natural routine.

A very nice nurse got a line into Mum, and took bloods, and then another doctor, specialising in elderly frail care, came to see us. She reassured me that even though Mum is well over 100 years old, they will do everything for her, and carry out all tests necessary to find out what it wrong; she also said they would X-ray Mum's chest and abdomen. All these requests were put into the system.

Yes, the wait was horrendously tiring, and tiresome; but we kept Mum company, and cheerful, and she dozed a bit. We rang Al, and he said he would drive up from Portsmouth; he'd also had a doctor's appointment that he had to keep, but he was able to rearrange it for an earlier time, so it all fitted together.

Wendy was also ready to come straight over, but then she discovered water dripping from the bathroom and kitchen ceilings! and needed to find a roofer who could attend quickly, and find out what had happened. Because Al was going to be with us, Wendy decided to get on with sorting out the roof problem; once it was fixed (it proved to be 3 tiles that had slipped, probably due to all the stormy weather we've endured over the past month!) she drove to us later in the evening, and stayed overnight.

So, back to Friday: Mum was moved to another bay in A&E, after which Bob took over for a few hours, so that I could drive home and got some breakfast. It had all been such a shock earlier this morning, I hadn't even had time to make a cup of tea! At 2.00 p.m., a bowl of cornflakes and a cup of tea went down a treat. I began to feel more human again.

Poor Al then got caught up in the worst of Friday afternoon rush-hour traffic; coupled with roadworks, and then an accident, it took him over an hour longer than he had anticipated to reach us. I made good use of the time, having a shower, and more tea and toast, and when he finally arrived, Al had time for a quick slurp of tea as well, before we set off for the Hospital.

By then, Mum had moved to Majors Lite, and then to Majors; there was another move to the Elderly (or is it Emergency?) Referral Unit, which was where we caught up with her.  She was a bit brighter, and very pleased to see Al.

We got Mum's teeth brushed, and showed her the birthday album I'd made for her - she doesn't remember all the cards that are in there of course, so every time we look through it, I tell Mum who has sent each card, and it's a fresh experience for her.

Al had also brought her a beautiful Mother's Day card; she opened it and was really pleased, and we put it up on the table where she could see it.

Mum had already had a lot of tests taken, including a chest x-ray and regular observations; then we were told Mum would soon be moved up to another ward, where she would be admitted for as long a stay as necessary to get her stabilised, with more tests and observations.

At last, a bed became available, and Mum was taken up to a 4-bed ward - ladies only - on the fourth floor; her bed was by the window, with a great view over the city.

It was such a shame Al could not stay over, but he had to drive back to Portsmouth; in due course Wendy arrived, and she did stay the night, so she would be ready to visit Mum first thing in the morning.

And so we all reached the end of a very long, tiring and worrying day. I know Mum has to stay in hospital for many tests and checks to be carried out, but I envisage all the to-ing and fro-ing between hospital and home that is coming up, will be seriously exhausting!

ADVICE TO SELF:  STOP MOANING!