I have developed a cold! Now to most people this isn't major news but for me living with a chemo patient it is the worse possible thing that could happen. Today is also Ian's treatment day so because we are so aware of the dangers of a low white cell count, Ian phoned the consultant to see if he should attend. Well I should say tried to get through to him but in fact was sent from pillar to post because the consultant wasn't available and the consultants secretary was on leave.The call was then redirected to the ward where Ian has his treatment, they didn't know the answer so redirected the call to Oncology out patients. They also couldn't help so the call was once again redirected to a staff nurse on the Oncology ward. She finally put him in touch with the Oncology ward sister who, after locating his notes, said that his cell count was high enough for treatment to commence. She did say, and asked for it not to be taken the wrong way, that Ian should try to keep well away from me and even sleep in separate beds. Easy in a house, little difficult in a narrowboat! He is having to go it alone today as it would be hardly fair for me to infect all the other patients. I just hope he doesn't catch my cold because last time he caught an infection when he was on the first round of chemo back in 2009, he got pneumonia and was hospitalised for nearly 3 weeks!
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| Ratcliffe power station viewed from the disused Derby Canal. The Erewash can be seen in the distance. |
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| Our bungalow (now has tenants) with the lock cottage to the side. |
6 comments:
Hi Irene,
Must be a very stressful situation. Be assertive (without aggro) with the NHS staff. They need to be told these days.. And told..
I've got my own thing going on with them at the moment. Can't go into detail, but I'm having to diagnose & command treatment for something myself at the mo. It's ridiculous. I see the specialist tomorrow, & after the letter I received will have to "remind" him of the problem...
Hethx
Hi Heth,
Its not so much the consultant who is the problem but all his side kicks! They appear not to talk to each other! Hope all goes according to plan tomorrow and its not to serious.
Irene
Xx
Why oh why does the NHS feel the need to give you the run around, especially as it is so important for you to know what to do. Finding the right person to talk to is a nightmare.
Fingers crossed your cold is not to bad and fingers crossed even tighter that Ian does not get it. J xxxxxxxxxxx
I'm supposed to be going to a specialist this afternoon. (Second time). Instead I've been given an appointment in a nursing department that has no idea of the problem.
Boy are they gonna get told or what. I'm going to have to kindly explain that I need to go back to the specialist (second time) as promised!!
Pillar to post in the hope you'll go away??? It seems so!
Hethx
Probably too late now, but for future reference.
You know when you see Japanese people walking round wearing a surgical mask? It's not to stop them catching a cold/flu (which I think they're not effective at doing anyway), but to stop them infecting someone else.
Given your circumstances, it couldn't do any harm. And I guess you won't be too bothered about looking a bit silly either :-)
Hello Anonymous ( Please leave a name. Its so much nicer to know who I am replying to )
I didn't even give that a thought. I am pleased to report though, that my efforts in not coughing or sneezing near him worked as he never caught my cold.
Irene
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