It was really cold last night and when I went to bed I had to put the radiator on, some bed socks and my dressing gown on top of the duvet, I think winter is back.
Despite the cold I had a reasonable sleep and woke at 7.00.
I waited till 8.00 to phone the hospital on the direct number for the ward. It took ages to answer but eventually they did, I was then put through to another phone and the nurse said she would find out how Jon was and the next thing Jon was on the phone.
He sounded very distressed and asked me to bring him some drinks in that had the push/sip tops on as he couldn't hold a cup and straw. I couldn't get much sense out of him but he said the water was horrible and could I bring some cold water in, too. I told him I would be in later. Visiting is 2.00 - 8.00 but I hoped they would let me in.
Heather called to see how he was and we had a chat. I then took tot out for her walk as I didn't know how long I would be out at the hospital.
I took a bottle of lemon squash and a bottle of cold water (just as well we have a water filter) and when I got to the ward the doors were locked and there was nobody on the desk to let me in. I waited around and then a nurse came along and let me in and said it was fine to see him.
He really wasn't happy and said he had had a bad night and his breathing wasn't right and they had had to give him something. He told me the epidural hadn't worked before the op as they hadn't been able to get it into his back and that was why he was in so much pain when he came round and it took them a long time to get it under control.
He told me they had brought breakfast to him on a tray and it was a big bowl of rice crispies and a carton of milk, nobody had opened the milk for him and with only one hand and lying down it was impossible for him to do it. He had a dish of tinned pears but once again he couldn't cut them and nobody helped. He had a carton of juice which he asked one of the nurses to open for him and then they couldn't find a straw. He pretty much gave up then and that was when I phoned and why he was so upset as he said he feels so useless. You read about elderly patients having this problem and if they are in hospital for a long time it is no wonder they are starving.
He was very grateful for the drinks I took in and was obviously very thirsty. They have now increased his fluids through the drip as he is not putting enough out and his mouth is not so dry. I am not sure why it took all night to realise this.
The nurse told me they had taken the self medication morphine from him and put him on a morphine drip which seemed to be controlling the pain better. I did say to her that he was grumpy and she said yes he was but she was quite used to it and she understands he is frustrated at feeling so weak and angry at having a bag he did not want.
One thing I did find amusing this morning was listening to the visitor of the man in the bay opposite. I haven't seen him but they are obviously Maori and from Whakatane as I overheard. The visitor was reading the death announcements to him from the newspaper!! 'Beloved father and husband to etc etc' and all the funeral details and what was happening after!! Not sure I would like her to visit me in hospital.
I stayed till 10.30 and left as he just wanted to sleep. It is quite funny in a bizarre kind of way that he has asked for ear plugs as it is too noisy!!! At home, he can never hear a thing!!!!
The owner of the company called me when I was in the hospital but i didn't want to speak in the ward so said I would call him later. I bought a coffee on my way out and sat in the car and tried to call him, he had told me he was on the way to Auckland but as I called my phone said it was out of credit!!! I now had to find how to top up this new phone and couldn't find the number. A few deep breaths later and I calmed down and decided to go to the supermarket and buy a top up voucher - simple solution when you are not in a panic.
I bought the voucher and some custard type puddings and a paw paw that I thought Jon might like and sat in the car to try Mark again. The phone rang, someone answered and then it cut off so I imagine he must have been in a meeting. So far he hasn't called again. I then rang my friend Carol and went over to see her and had a cuppa.
I got back and was starving as I had forgotten breakfast so I had a sandwich and then went back to the hospital.
They told me he had not been well and had sickness and so they had given him something and also put up a bottle of paracetamol by drip which went through while I was there. The nurse said he hadn't eaten any lunch but she said it wasn't unusual for the first day after surgery but she did say he can have anything he wants but he didn't want the fruit or custard I took in.
The afternoon tea lady came round and they gave him some Fortisip which is a protein drink. When he woke i gave him some of that but for most of the time I sat listening to an audio book on my iPod and he slept. I left again at 4.00.
I got back and fed the dog and had a cup of tea.
I went back to the hospital around 6.30 and saw a big improvement. His pain is now well under control and he was actually making sense when he was speaking. He said he wanted to stay awake till 8.00 when they would come to do his obs again but he could hardly keep his eyes open. He told me that last night the man in the bay opposite and who is now beside him had been talking on his mobile till 10.30 last night. He asked the nurses to tell him to stop but they didn't which is why he had earplugs in today. He said he still can't hear when he takes them out but they do block out the noises.
They brought him dinner tonight but once again nobody to help him eat it. He said he wasn't hungry anyway but would have liked the ice cream and jelly. I will go in tomorrow and help him with his lunch and dinner. He really is not a good patient and I am glad I am not his nurse at the minute!
The nurse came in for his obs and also gave him an injection into his tummy to thin his blood. She gave him lots of pills including some large panadol tablets but he couldn't get them down so she gave him liquid instead. He has a small cushion on his tummy which he presses on when he coughs and it is not so painful.
The nurse told him it was a good looking stoma and he said he hadn't seen it yet and didn't want to. The other nurse said he would be showing it off to everyone in a year. I don't think so!!
I got home at 8.30 and rang back Sharon who had left a message for me. I had some toast and now it is just gone ten o'clock so I think I might go to bed as I am so tired.
WEATHER
Clear blue sky but cold wind 16 degrees
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