We ain't down, we ain't down, we ain't down

[lizblackdog]

Mum's yellower than yesterday and swollen with retained fluid, but on the other hand, she seems stronger. Holding her hand a few days ago felt like holding a bundle of dry-rotted ancient twigs - like she might crumble if I squeezed - but today she felt like warm flesh and blood again. But she was so tired.

Finding out the specifics of what's actually going on with her is like playing Chinese Whispers with a team of Vorlons and Tamarians.. The doctor tells her things she doesn't understand, she forgets half of it and mishears the rest, tells me some of what she remembers mixed with some of her own theories, and tells my sister T something different. From what T and I can piece together, she may or may not have a chest infection, a urinary tract infection and an enlarged liver. Naturally, the doctors themselves won't tell anyone anything over the phone, next of kin or not, and are never available during normal visiting hours.

Spike's new harness still hasn't arrived, and I cannot, cannot, cannot walk him to Grimmauld Place (I have to go there daily to feed Maisie) again on the flat collar. Although I had his leash wound under his body to avoid pressure on his throat he was still wheezing by the time we got home, and the fox and three cats that crossed our path didn't help any. I'm going to accost Weed-Smoking Neighbour when he gets home from work and beg him to drive me over there tonight. I'm sure he'll agree if I a. offer to pay him and b. break down in tears. That way I'll only need to be gone for about twenty minutes. It won't be for much longer, anyway. Sister E should be able to come and take Maisie away by the weekend at the very latest, and the harness ought to turn up before then anyway - I ordered the damn thing eight days ago.

Maisie is very depressed, but she's eating and responding to being petted. Sister T went to visit her today and Maisie let herself be petted, which is a first, since she doesn't know T very well. T was so stricken at Maisie's unhappiness she phoned to ask me if she should take her home, but moving to two new places in the space of a week is only going to stress her more than she is already. It's bloody hard to walk out of the door and leave her, though.

And, for the icing on the cake, I'm coming down with a cold. Woke up this morning with a scratchy throat and a raw heaviness in the sinuses. I'm not sure if I even ought to be going near Mum with a cold, but there's no other family that can visit her at all (although there are plenty of her friends). I asked T for her opinion and she tried to convince me it was hay fever. Considering I've never had hay fever or any allergies before (I'm the only non-allergic non-asthmatic in a family of multi-allergy sufferers) I feel that's wishful thinking on her part. I don't know what to do.

I know I have at least two nurses on my f-list - if you read this, do you think I should avoid the hospital till the cold passes or not? I don't want to not see my mother, but I don't want to be a disease vector around already-sick people either.

The good news: It's cooler today.

Comments

[angriestangel.livejournal.com]

Aren't you able to make an appointment with the treating physician? Or at least get some info from the nurses? We had the same with my grandma and we were able to make an appointment, so that at least we heard the complete story without the fiction parts.

*hugs* in any case I hope things improve soon, but her being stronger should be a good thing.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try that when I go in tomorrow, yes. I'm just worried they'll make me wait three hours, with the dogs at home alone.

Though they're being very good. Or at least, I can't hear any barking when I'm at the bus stop and no one's complained yet, so I assume they're being good. Bless their hearts.

[kiss-kass.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, you're getting sick an awful lot. You might want to start taking some extra vitamin C or something to give your immune system a boost.

Feel better and I hope your mom gets better soon.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Yes. More than usual. Understandable after the meet-up where everyone had the flu already but it's unlike me to get sick again so soon. Of course stress and hanging out in hospitals is probably a factor. I was going to buy some vit C today but I forgot. There's some at Mum's house I can pinch when I go to feed Maisie though.

Thank you :)

[beebarf.livejournal.com]

Can the nurses not give you any info? At the very least you need to know how long she is likely to be there.

Sending relaxing vibes your way!

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

we've been told "weeks", though they didn't say how many. every nurse I've cornered says "you'll need to talk to the doctor". the doctors are clearly going to need a bit of hunting down.

thank you!

[angriestangel.livejournal.com]

The nurses should help you and fetch a doctor for you, or at least arrange a meeting for you .. with a specific time in an office so you know exactly when to go and you won't have to leave the doggies at home for too long.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.

[il_mio_capitano]

Throw yourself on the mercy of a senior looking nurse. They tend to know what's what.

My thoughts are with you - it's dreadful visiting a parent in hospital not knowing how it's going to turn out. When my dad had his accident it was just too heartbreaking seeing him and leaving him at the end of visiting was worse. He's a big guy - 6’2 and broad shouldered – an absolute rock and yet there he was this frail little old man looking lost and disorientated as to what was going on.

Try to look after yourself as well.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

that's it. the habit of relying on her is so strong, although it's been more the other way round for the last few years.

thank you :)

[nyecamden.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

thank you, sweetheart :)

[grave-medicine.livejournal.com]

Here goes the round of questions: are you coughing, sniffling or sneezing?

And I agree, find the most senior nurse there and approach her in a calm, rational way. Explain to her the doctors' absence and your mother's muddled condition and ask if you can just be told what you can do to help the situation.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Coughing and sneezing mostly, though I managed to control it today - not quite sniffling yet but I'm thinking I will be by tomorrow.

yes, I'll do that. thank you :)

[grave-medicine.livejournal.com]

Simple enough. Suck on some zinc, which is a bacterial killer, and load up on tea and fluids. When you go tomorrow, just ask for a disposable mask. They should be happy enough to give you one. You're a bit far gone to stop it in its tracks, but you don't have to stop visiting her as long as you have a barrier between your germs and her.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

I HAVE zinc! Yayy!

OK, I'll do that, then. They're very infection-controlly at the Bournemouth Hospital (there's been a lot of trouble with MRSA) so I'm sure they'll have masks. There's alcohol gel at the hospital entrance and the entrance to every ward that you have to rub on your hands.

Plenty of fluids. I'm averaging four litres of water a day at the minute, and thirsty all the time. I'm thinking I ought to go for a urine test as soon as I find the time: fat, thirsty, tired all the time and my aunt was diabetic. I'm thinking it's worth a check.

[grave-medicine.livejournal.com]

I'm rather envious of your hospital. We had to fight to get alcohol gel at our clinic and I regularly order twice as many masks as we actually receive. My doctor and I use them both quite frequently.

Worth it to check your blood pressure and for a UTI, as well. But a regularly scheduled blood sugar test doesn't hurt anyone, especially if they have the warning signals for it.

PS -- In case you didn't notice my posting during the day, I stayed home from work. Woke up feeling a bit crappy and decided not to run the risk.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

They've had infectious disease trouble in the past - nearly had to close down a couple of years back - so they've had to get very consciontious about it.

http://www.rbh.org.uk/infection_prevention/norovirus.shtml

yep. going to get checked as soon as Maisie's gone and the pressure's off me a bit. there's NO REASON I should be as tired as I have been now for weeks.

and you, feel better and make the most of the rest time! and thank you.

[huntingdon.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Hope you and your mother get better :)

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

thanks darling *loves*

[ex-ramona222.livejournal.com]

Gah, I hope you're all feeling better soon. I'm sure it is an all or nothing proposition, too. Damnably stressful situation.