Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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Hi
Well I sure had a different week. On Thursday morning David tried to wake me as he brings me a cup of tea when he has one at about 4.30am & I wouldn't wake up & couldn't sit up properly. He pressed the button on my alarm & spoke to the alarm co who sent out an ambulance. They were puzzled & unsure what was wrong so called mica ambulance. They took me with bells & lights (apparently) to Monash hospital emergency. By the time David got there they had already taken chest x-ray & I was on my way for head ct.
I think it was that afternoon I was taken to ICU with head of ICU & Prof something with me so quite a parade (according to David). I was there for a couple of days as was very sick. I finally came too to try to talk-croak, Friday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon I was moved to a ward but opposite nurses desk & apparently they could see me easily. It was a private room as I have a "hospital acquired bug", all nurses etc had to dress in the yellow gowns & gloves every time they came in to me.
I got very good care in the hospital both in ICU & in the ward. The food was reasonable but small portions which was funny sometimes or they would forget some of the cutlery which was funny.
On the Monday night, I think, I had a horrible feeling where I felt like I was being pushed into the bed, I had a very painful pain in the neck, shoulder & hot poker down left arm & leg. I rang for the nurse & when she came she brushed it off as I had laid on the left side to long. I was very frustrated as know when it is that or not.
When day shift came on, told that nurse as still had no use of left side & he immediately did all tests & told me to stay in bed. Then he must have called the Dr's as they came up very quickly & did all sorts of tests. It was the Professor & 2 other Dr's & they ordered blood tests, urgent MRI of neck & head. They didn't happen till almost 12 hours after I had the issues but not till mid/late afternoon.
One Dr admitted that the delay could easily have meant nothing showed on the MRI, it showed nothing new.
Next morning I saw physio again & went for a walk with walker & managed to walk a bit further than previous day. She said she was happy for me to go home if the Occupational Therapy cleared me. She had left me & the OT followed in pretty quickly, she gave me some hints on how to manage with only the use of one hand as my left hand is hard to reach up & use.
I had Dr's coming & going both talking to me & doing all sorts of sensory & reaction & vision & strength tests. They cleared me to go home & I just needed the OT to check me in the shower & dressing in the morning which she did & with some hints from her I was ok.
I left there about 11am & with a stop at shops where David got a couple of things was home by 12.
I am tired a lot, struggle to walk & without one hand its hard, I have learnt ways of being able to help that hand get reach & exercise with that hand & stretching the fingers so they don't stay clamped closed in a fist.
Just giving you run down on basics of last week. Not happy as 2 weeks before had pneumonia & in hospital for a few days between Christmas & New years.
Well I sure had a different week. On Thursday morning David tried to wake me as he brings me a cup of tea when he has one at about 4.30am & I wouldn't wake up & couldn't sit up properly. He pressed the button on my alarm & spoke to the alarm co who sent out an ambulance. They were puzzled & unsure what was wrong so called mica ambulance. They took me with bells & lights (apparently) to Monash hospital emergency. By the time David got there they had already taken chest x-ray & I was on my way for head ct.
I think it was that afternoon I was taken to ICU with head of ICU & Prof something with me so quite a parade (according to David). I was there for a couple of days as was very sick. I finally came too to try to talk-croak, Friday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon I was moved to a ward but opposite nurses desk & apparently they could see me easily. It was a private room as I have a "hospital acquired bug", all nurses etc had to dress in the yellow gowns & gloves every time they came in to me.
I got very good care in the hospital both in ICU & in the ward. The food was reasonable but small portions which was funny sometimes or they would forget some of the cutlery which was funny.
On the Monday night, I think, I had a horrible feeling where I felt like I was being pushed into the bed, I had a very painful pain in the neck, shoulder & hot poker down left arm & leg. I rang for the nurse & when she came she brushed it off as I had laid on the left side to long. I was very frustrated as know when it is that or not.
When day shift came on, told that nurse as still had no use of left side & he immediately did all tests & told me to stay in bed. Then he must have called the Dr's as they came up very quickly & did all sorts of tests. It was the Professor & 2 other Dr's & they ordered blood tests, urgent MRI of neck & head. They didn't happen till almost 12 hours after I had the issues but not till mid/late afternoon.
One Dr admitted that the delay could easily have meant nothing showed on the MRI, it showed nothing new.
Next morning I saw physio again & went for a walk with walker & managed to walk a bit further than previous day. She said she was happy for me to go home if the Occupational Therapy cleared me. She had left me & the OT followed in pretty quickly, she gave me some hints on how to manage with only the use of one hand as my left hand is hard to reach up & use.
I had Dr's coming & going both talking to me & doing all sorts of sensory & reaction & vision & strength tests. They cleared me to go home & I just needed the OT to check me in the shower & dressing in the morning which she did & with some hints from her I was ok.
I left there about 11am & with a stop at shops where David got a couple of things was home by 12.
I am tired a lot, struggle to walk & without one hand its hard, I have learnt ways of being able to help that hand get reach & exercise with that hand & stretching the fingers so they don't stay clamped closed in a fist.
Just giving you run down on basics of last week. Not happy as 2 weeks before had pneumonia & in hospital for a few days between Christmas & New years.
Or do the doc's think that does not matter since you came out of it (eye roll)?
Have they hooked you up with an OT?
How are you typing??
I found it fatiguing to type
I was using the one finger hunt & peck but one of the OT's here at the hospital I live in showed me that most pc's have a on screen keyboard that you use a mouse to use. So you do not have to hold your arm up.
Over the yrs my ot helped me finding other ways to do things that saved energy. or kept me independent
When I was at home my ot there said I had so much energy each day & I had to decide what I wanted to spend it on.
one of the best things she suggested was not to dry after a bath/shower.
I put down flannels on the bed.
after the shower I would put on a terry cloth robe & lay in bed cuddled in the flannels & rest.
depending on the day 5-10 min's
or on bad days a sleep of an hr.
I also did not have the full use of both hands. So I understand the frustration
Sending you warm thoughts & a hug
hang in there
I will continue to pray for you. Please, keep us posted. God Bless you, Lynne