February 1, 2008

Hi all,
I actually thought I had put ths in last night but brain is still foggy for sure. If its in twice, sorry.
Well I got worse over the weekend & probabaly should have gone to the hospital on about sundsay/monday but kept hoping it would improve & just be a hitch. I was wrong (of course).By Tuesday I couldnt move either leg so did the swing from hips walk with walker, very difficcult to say least & walls got a few bangs as well. Rang the hospital & spoke to one of the ms nurse & also a registrar & they said to go in to accident & emergency, couldnt get me into the day area where I could have seen a neuro & had the drip after & hope to come home.I used my monitoring button & got an ambulance to the hospital. Took about 20mins for ambo but that was fine as I wasnt an emergency. They took me into royal melbourne hospital which was funny as they didnt even know where the emergency entrance & started off at royal childrens - slightly skewiff there for sure.Got to Royal Melb & only had to wait about 20 mins for a bed in emergency which is quite good, was seen in the meantime briefly to be told they were waiting on a bed. Once I got a bed I was seen by a resident Dr who stuffed up big time, she agreed it was ms & said would get neuro registrar to see me, sent me off for an xray of my shoulder & no one knows why at all as was not even complaining of shoulder pain...go figure! Anyway I had been picked up to go in about midday & it wasnt till evening when I eventually saw the neur registrar, had seen other Dr's between as well so it was busy but weird too. When the neuro came it worked out better as by then I was not making much sence & couldnt remember what happened when - couldnt even work out what day it was. David was there so he was able to answer the neuro better than me. I couldnt remember what order things happened, like when my tongu went numb & started choking or when other things happened. She said I would def be admitted that night & should be started on the drip while in emergency to get it into me. That didnt happen but I got a bed on a medical (not neuro) ward about midnight I think & drip started about 1am after 3 attempts at getting thingy in. Ended up in top of left hand & very painful to say least. Next day I saw neuros & physio, ot & others, it was like a parade of people through the room to say the least. I got good care in there & the neuros came at least 2 times a day & I saw various others. They were talking rehab one day & then next day decided that I was improving (after 2nd dose) so could go to medihotel. Having not heard of that didnt know what was going on. Saw phyio, ot, neuros (again) & another lady who coordinated it all & within about an hour I was moved up to another floor to the medi hotel.This is supposed to be equiv to 3 star (hmmm..dont think I would rate it that high). Was interesting as I was plonked next to a bed & told that would be my bed  she would be back shortly. Next a lunch tray got plonked in front of me, with a will be back soon. Then a man was admitted to the room & told that was his bed. When he asked where his clothes were he ws told they would come up soon. He hadnt had lunch but had some operaton & just needed monitoring. It was a bit weird. Anyway another nurse came in & said I am moving you to a room opposite so 2 ladies in one room & 2 guys in other room. That was fine by me but when I said to her that all that had happened I had been placed next to the bed told me that was my bed. She apologised & explained a bit more about the system. There was transit lounge with a coffee machine & big tv, each bed had an individual tv with some foxtel channels (about 4) & a coffee lounge where i could get free tea or coffee, tee & coffee in my room with biscuits & just go down for hot water. Made much more sense then. In he medi hotel there is only 1 nurse for 8 patience & they do everything except the cleaning so they were run ragged. It was a different envvironment & good overall I thought. I was there as I needed another does of the iv but didnt need more physio or ot only the neuros who checked once more. Got that about 10pm & it leaked everywher so probable not all in. Canula was part out & boy was I glad it coame out after that as is was really painful & wrist was swelling up as well as hand which was probably from that.Got told next time when I think I am getting worse I should go in then not wait as if I had got in earlier I may have been able to hospital in the home or the medishotel straight away (after emergency). Live & learn but I must say overall quite pleased & impressed by the service & care at the royal melbourne hospital & much better organised than the others I have been too. had eye tests done & told considerabley worse but to talk to neuro at next visit not during flare up - heard that before. Also quick hearing check too.Sorry for such a long update but easier to put it all in one - hope it makes sense.Hope everyone is coping ok.Hugs to allSue