Liver and Cherry - Page 24

Sundae · 12-10-2015, 08:55 AM

When we got there, the female paramedic - who'd been driving - went to check me in and scare up a wheelchair.
I entered A&E in style, vomiting blood into a (new) cardboard hat.
Oddly enough I was wheeled straight into a side room rather than left in the waiting area.

All was well until I knocked the (new, clean) hat down the side of the bed. In leaning over to see where it was I suddenly felt ill again, and tried to get off the bed.
Bloody vom all over my slippers, jogging bottoms and jumper (all now binned).
I also felt the spasm clench my body to such an extent that there was a significant back door exit too.

I was cleaned up at this point, I know that much, then wheeled to another area where I was advised I would be going straight into surgery. A lovely Dr then botched three attempts at fitting a canula before a Nurse took over and got two in at first attempt. I had another fitted later, jingle all the way.

I was fully sedated, and barely came round when wheeled to the Gastro ward.
I do remember that I kept removing my oxygen mask because it made me feel sick, so they stuck tubes up my nose. They also had someone sit next to me, and having become concerned at my breathing I was whisked off for an X-Ray to check I wasn't bleeding internally.

I knew at this point my varices had burst, leaking blood into my stomach, which led to the vomiting, but I don't remember when they told me this.

Back on the ward I was advised that I would be transferred into isolation as soon as the room was available, and it was as they started to move the bed that I was sick again. That was the last time, but necessitated another clean-up. I wore disposable mesh knickers the rest of my stay (and they really chafed) and an incontinence pad for the next three days.

When I reached my private room I had a catheter fitted and was on oxygen for the next 24 hours (I think). I had four separate drips - saline, vitamins, anti-biotics and something else I can't remember. Possible two different types of vitamin, possibly plasma. It was touch and go as to whether I had a blood transfusion due to the amount I'd lost.

Sundae · 12-10-2015, 09:06 AM

During my stay I initially had hourly checks on my blood pressure and temperature. I think the catheter was in for three days - I may be wrong there. It's hard to remember the very beginning and slightly difficult to calculate as I arrived in the very dead of morning and lost a fair section of time to anaesthetic.

I know I was Nil By Mouth for over 24 hours.
This was especially hard while I was still vomiting blood. They gave me those little sponges on sticks, soaked in mouthwash. I was eventually allowed to do this for myself, and progressed onto water.

The varices were "banded" initially, but I had to have another endoscopy later in the week.
They wouldn't knock me out because of the danger to my liver. So I thrashed and retched and choked up bile, fully conscious the whole way through. It took them three attempts, and I think in the end they wished they'd listened to me and taken the risk of giving me a general rather than local. I did warn them. You can do all sorts of unnatural things to me - stick just about anything where it doesn't belong. But expecting my oesophagus to behave normally and accept things travelling in the right direction seems to be beyond my capabilities. I'm not proud of it - I'd far rather it was easy.

It took me the best part of two hours to stop crying afterwards.
I honestly rather would vomit blood until I died than go through that again. But yay! I have to in two weeks! I can only hope it's the same team and they remember and listen this time.

I also had a 30 minute sonogram - the longest I've ever had.
She wasn't as jabby as some have been, but given my throat was raw and it was 30 minutes of holding my breath then letting it out, it was a miserable experience.
I was also badly bruised, and still am, under my left breast. I showed it to Mum and she said I had worse bruising than she did after her lumpectomy.

Yes, Mum & Dad came up to see me.
It was supposed to be a surprise - they were coming up for the Victorian Fayre on Sunday.
When she told me I put the phone down and cried and cried. I'd just ruined everyone's weekend.
They had a good time, but of course it wasn't ideal.

Sundae · 12-10-2015, 09:11 AM

The problem with varices is you don't know you have them.
I did - know I mean. But you can live with them for years without knowing, and a lifetime without any problems from them.
Mine just decided it was bursting time.
Because they bleed into the stomach, there is no pain, no warning (although I'd had a mild stomach-ache for a week or so, which I did mention to my Doctor, but she would not have been able to diagnose anything at that point)
You don't even taste blood. Just suddenly start bringing it up.

I was checked out by the psychiatric team, no idea if that will come to anything.
I have an appointment with my GP next week, I'm supposed to be going back in, in two weeks (no WAY am I going in the day before Christmas Eve) and seeing the Consultant in a month.

So am really just waiting around, trying to take care of myself, and hoping that this stay is the last in a long while. Because aside from the fact I have varices because of my cirrhosis, I didn't actually do anything specific to put myself in hospital this time, and yet it was the closest I've been to having something truly dangerous in my life thus far.

lumberjim · 12-10-2015, 09:28 AM

kee rist.

Glad you got help in time. Hope you get better soon.... and we can do those carols next year.

glatt · 12-10-2015, 09:41 AM

Good for you calling 111 when you did.

Clodfobble · 12-10-2015, 10:00 AM

Holy shit, Sundae. I'm glad you're out now.

BigV · 12-10-2015, 10:05 AM

Shame you haven't found a way to get paid for your writing, Sundae. Exciting reading, but horrifying to think it is not fiction, and it is my friend. Yikes.

Still, I'm glad you're on the mend. :-)

limey · 12-10-2015, 10:57 AM

Oh. My.

DanaC · 12-10-2015, 01:19 PM

Bloody hell, hon, that's an adventure and no mistake. So glad you are on the mend.

classicman · 12-10-2015, 08:44 PM

Ho Lee Shit

Sundae · 12-11-2015, 04:47 AM

I had terrible chest pains in hospital.
They were first mistakenly diagnosed by a Nurse as heartburn, so I choked down a thimbleful of ANISEED Gaviscon (barf, barf) and it made no difference apart from making me feel even worse with the clammy flavour of it.

They couldn't give me anything other than paracetamol (tylenol) because of my liver, my low blood pressure and my codeine allergy. Needless to say two tablets four times a day barely touched the sides. It was re-diagnosed by a Consultant on ward rounds as oesophageal spasms. To start with it hurt when I spoke, when I moved, when I tried to sleep, when I ate and sometimes just randomly.

This pain was so bad I was calling out in pain, and it made me cry on plenty of occasions.
I was quite pleased to hear it wasn't heartburn, as the people on afternoon TV adverts with heartburn just made a pained face and pressed a fist against themselves. They did not hold onto the furniture and try to suppress a scream with tears running down their face.

Eventually the pain started to subside (just in time for me to have another round of banding) and it only hurt very badly when I ate or moved.
Sadly, the meals were not well synchronised with the arrival of medication. One morning I was woken with my meds at 06.45 and breakfast arrived at 09.30. By that time the over-the-counter medication had easily worn off, and my first bite of toast made me howl with pain. That was the only bite.

Mum kept telling me I should have soft pappy food, but it wasn't my throat that hurt. It was an intense stabbing, clenching pain behind the breastbone, like being simultaneously stabbed and squeezed. My first sip of water of the day - at least to start with - prompted the same symptoms.

Mealtimes were a horror for days. Quite often the painkillers came after the meal. Sometimes arriving after my barely touched plate had been removed. Quite shocking really. But I understand that I was not the only patient, and being on a gastro ward, I would not the only patient who needed medication to eat. And they wondered why the invariable answer to the question, "Have you moved your bowels today?" was "Not yet."

The Consultant recommended I should get lactulose, but that never appeared.
The right hand rarely knows what the left hand is doing being ward staff and visiting Doctors.

Still - I was thoroughly checked out. X-rays, sonograms, banding, food, drink, drugs, showers, mesh knickers canulas and all. Can hardly complain when it left me without debt.

Big Sarge · 12-19-2015, 06:50 PM

Good God! I just came across this. I pray for your speedy recovery

busterb · 12-19-2015, 07:44 PM

Gal. Your scaring the shit out of me. After my last time in hospital.
Get better.

Sundae · 03-01-2016, 01:36 AM

Back in St James's. Taken in with chest pains, but heart okay. Looks like a recent viral infection hit my liver hard. Made me yellow as a camel.

Also possible knock-on issues with my pancreas; waiting for results of yesterday's ultrasound for that.

Will write up properly when I can.
But am safe if not well
Shame my 2016 resolution to stay out of hospital only lasted until the end of February!

xoxoxoBruce · 03-01-2016, 02:03 AM

Actually, near two months is pretty good for a New Years resolution, congratulations. However, in the future please break lesser resolutions.

12-10-2015, 08:55 AM	#346
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	When we got there, the female paramedic - who'd been driving - went to check me in and scare up a wheelchair. I entered A&E in style, vomiting blood into a (new) cardboard hat. Oddly enough I was wheeled straight into a side room rather than left in the waiting area. All was well until I knocked the (new, clean) hat down the side of the bed. In leaning over to see where it was I suddenly felt ill again, and tried to get off the bed. Bloody vom all over my slippers, jogging bottoms and jumper (all now binned). I also felt the spasm clench my body to such an extent that there was a significant back door exit too. I was cleaned up at this point, I know that much, then wheeled to another area where I was advised I would be going straight into surgery. A lovely Dr then botched three attempts at fitting a canula before a Nurse took over and got two in at first attempt. I had another fitted later, jingle all the way. I was fully sedated, and barely came round when wheeled to the Gastro ward. I do remember that I kept removing my oxygen mask because it made me feel sick, so they stuck tubes up my nose. They also had someone sit next to me, and having become concerned at my breathing I was whisked off for an X-Ray to check I wasn't bleeding internally. I knew at this point my varices had burst, leaking blood into my stomach, which led to the vomiting, but I don't remember when they told me this. Back on the ward I was advised that I would be transferred into isolation as soon as the room was available, and it was as they started to move the bed that I was sick again. That was the last time, but necessitated another clean-up. I wore disposable mesh knickers the rest of my stay (and they really chafed) and an incontinence pad for the next three days. When I reached my private room I had a catheter fitted and was on oxygen for the next 24 hours (I think). I had four separate drips - saline, vitamins, anti-biotics and something else I can't remember. Possible two different types of vitamin, possibly plasma. It was touch and go as to whether I had a blood transfusion due to the amount I'd lost. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 12-10-2015 at 10:01 AM.

12-10-2015, 09:06 AM	#347
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	During my stay I initially had hourly checks on my blood pressure and temperature. I think the catheter was in for three days - I may be wrong there. It's hard to remember the very beginning and slightly difficult to calculate as I arrived in the very dead of morning and lost a fair section of time to anaesthetic. I know I was Nil By Mouth for over 24 hours. This was especially hard while I was still vomiting blood. They gave me those little sponges on sticks, soaked in mouthwash. I was eventually allowed to do this for myself, and progressed onto water. The varices were "banded" initially, but I had to have another endoscopy later in the week. They wouldn't knock me out because of the danger to my liver. So I thrashed and retched and choked up bile, fully conscious the whole way through. It took them three attempts, and I think in the end they wished they'd listened to me and taken the risk of giving me a general rather than local. I did warn them. You can do all sorts of unnatural things to me - stick just about anything where it doesn't belong. But expecting my oesophagus to behave normally and accept things travelling in the right direction seems to be beyond my capabilities. I'm not proud of it - I'd far rather it was easy. It took me the best part of two hours to stop crying afterwards. I honestly rather would vomit blood until I died than go through that again. But yay! I have to in two weeks! I can only hope it's the same team and they remember and listen this time. I also had a 30 minute sonogram - the longest I've ever had. She wasn't as jabby as some have been, but given my throat was raw and it was 30 minutes of holding my breath then letting it out, it was a miserable experience. I was also badly bruised, and still am, under my left breast. I showed it to Mum and she said I had worse bruising than she did after her lumpectomy. Yes, Mum & Dad came up to see me. It was supposed to be a surprise - they were coming up for the Victorian Fayre on Sunday. When she told me I put the phone down and cried and cried. I'd just ruined everyone's weekend. They had a good time, but of course it wasn't ideal. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 12-10-2015 at 09:54 AM.

12-10-2015, 09:11 AM	#348
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	The problem with varices is you don't know you have them. I did - know I mean. But you can live with them for years without knowing, and a lifetime without any problems from them. Mine just decided it was bursting time. Because they bleed into the stomach, there is no pain, no warning (although I'd had a mild stomach-ache for a week or so, which I did mention to my Doctor, but she would not have been able to diagnose anything at that point) You don't even taste blood. Just suddenly start bringing it up. I was checked out by the psychiatric team, no idea if that will come to anything. I have an appointment with my GP next week, I'm supposed to be going back in, in two weeks (no WAY am I going in the day before Christmas Eve) and seeing the Consultant in a month. So am really just waiting around, trying to take care of myself, and hoping that this stay is the last in a long while. Because aside from the fact I have varices because of my cirrhosis, I didn't actually do anything specific to put myself in hospital this time, and yet it was the closest I've been to having something truly dangerous in my life thus far. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 12-10-2015 at 09:55 AM.

12-10-2015, 09:28 AM	#349
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	kee rist. Glad you got help in time. Hope you get better soon.... and we can do those carols next year. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

12-10-2015, 10:00 AM	#351
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Holy shit, Sundae. I'm glad you're out now. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

12-10-2015, 09:41 AM	#350
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Good for you calling 111 when you did.

12-10-2015, 10:05 AM	#352
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Shame you haven't found a way to get paid for your writing, Sundae. Exciting reading, but horrifying to think it is not fiction, and it is my friend. Yikes. Still, I'm glad you're on the mend. :-) __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-10-2015, 10:57 AM	#353
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Oh. My. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

12-10-2015, 08:44 PM	#355
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Ho Lee Shit __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

12-11-2015, 04:47 AM	#356
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I had terrible chest pains in hospital. They were first mistakenly diagnosed by a Nurse as heartburn, so I choked down a thimbleful of ANISEED Gaviscon (barf, barf) and it made no difference apart from making me feel even worse with the clammy flavour of it. They couldn't give me anything other than paracetamol (tylenol) because of my liver, my low blood pressure and my codeine allergy. Needless to say two tablets four times a day barely touched the sides. It was re-diagnosed by a Consultant on ward rounds as oesophageal spasms. To start with it hurt when I spoke, when I moved, when I tried to sleep, when I ate and sometimes just randomly. This pain was so bad I was calling out in pain, and it made me cry on plenty of occasions. I was quite pleased to hear it wasn't heartburn, as the people on afternoon TV adverts with heartburn just made a pained face and pressed a fist against themselves. They did not hold onto the furniture and try to suppress a scream with tears running down their face. Eventually the pain started to subside (just in time for me to have another round of banding) and it only hurt very badly when I ate or moved. Sadly, the meals were not well synchronised with the arrival of medication. One morning I was woken with my meds at 06.45 and breakfast arrived at 09.30. By that time the over-the-counter medication had easily worn off, and my first bite of toast made me howl with pain. That was the only bite. Mum kept telling me I should have soft pappy food, but it wasn't my throat that hurt. It was an intense stabbing, clenching pain behind the breastbone, like being simultaneously stabbed and squeezed. My first sip of water of the day - at least to start with - prompted the same symptoms. Mealtimes were a horror for days. Quite often the painkillers came after the meal. Sometimes arriving after my barely touched plate had been removed. Quite shocking really. But I understand that I was not the only patient, and being on a gastro ward, I would not the only patient who needed medication to eat. And they wondered why the invariable answer to the question, "Have you moved your bowels today?" was "Not yet." The Consultant recommended I should get lactulose, but that never appeared. The right hand rarely knows what the left hand is doing being ward staff and visiting Doctors. Still - I was thoroughly checked out. X-rays, sonograms, banding, food, drink, drugs, showers, mesh knickers canulas and all. Can hardly complain when it left me without debt. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-19-2015, 06:50 PM	#357
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Good God! I just came across this. I pray for your speedy recovery __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

12-19-2015, 07:44 PM	#358
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Gal. Your scaring the shit out of me. After my last time in hospital. Get better. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

03-01-2016, 01:36 AM	#359
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Back in St James's. Taken in with chest pains, but heart okay. Looks like a recent viral infection hit my liver hard. Made me yellow as a camel. Also possible knock-on issues with my pancreas; waiting for results of yesterday's ultrasound for that. Will write up properly when I can. But am safe if not well Shame my 2016 resolution to stay out of hospital only lasted until the end of February! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

03-01-2016, 02:03 AM	#360
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Actually, near two months is pretty good for a New Years resolution, congratulations. However, in the future please break lesser resolutions. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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