All 3 chickens stopped laying today

[Seagazer]

Thinking of you all today.

[Chickvic]

Thinking of you and your family (((hugs)))

[Plum]

Glad he's back and hope he continues to make improvements. Thinking of you. x

[Shirl]

Thank you for all your kind thoughts.

 

The meeting at the hospital wasn't great. Most of the time was taken up with the Dr asking us what had happened to Tom. It turns out the only medical information they have is the report given to the air repatriation company by the Alicante hospital. It has only Tom's condition on transfer rather than anything else. The Consultant wasn't available so we only got to speak to a Dr who knew very little of Tom's condition and prognosis. Tonight I took in the report we had which was given to us when he was transferred from ICU to high dependency.

 

On the positive we were told that they hope to eventually transfer him to Putney or Northwick for rehabilitation but we will have to wait for that. They also hope to be able to put a tube into his stomach to feed him before that.

 

His infection means he has eveloped a rash all over his body. Literally from head to toe so he is very sore and uncomfortable. We haven't been touching him because of this. The occupational therapist was going to try getting him into a wheelchair but due to his rash it will have to wait. A cream arrived this evening so hopefully once he has had this applied it will help sooth it.

 

I took his boys in for a visit but Tom looked really down and was unresponsive so they got bored quite quickly so we only stayed 45 minutes. Hopefully next time I see him he'll be feeling better.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm sorry you didn't get better news . Are you going to have a chance to speak to the consultant soon? What a shame about the rash - he really doesn't need that, does he .

[Shirl]

No unless the consultant happens to be in the ward when we are there then we are unlikely to see him. He doesn't even visit the ward every day. You're right he really could have done without the rash. He looks so miserable.

[Lesley]

Oh, I do hope he's more comfortable soon Shirl

 

I know what it's like trying to see the consultant, we've had plenty of that recently.....waited 4 hours one day just to see the on duty doctor, who was also the ward doctor. Be politely assertive, you do really need to speak to them.

[Seagazer]

I'm so sorry the meeting wasn't very helpfull and that Tom is so uncomfortable.

[Patricia W]

I would reinforce Lesley's advice that you need to be persistent in seeking to speak to the consultant. Find out his name and see if you can phone him directly.

 

We had to do this when my Mum was ill. Another interesting aspect was that my husband ( who has a PhD and can be called Dr - although he never normally uses the title) got through instantly when he said Dr so and so would like to speak to Mr xx!

 

Shouldn't happen - but it does.

 

Tricia

[Shirl]

We know the consultant's name but at the moment they don't know much. Tom is in the local hospital which doesn't have any neurosurgeons. He is on a stroke ward. Apparently the hospital are "taking advice" from the nearest hospital with a specialist neurology department. His scans haven't been seen by the neurosurgeons though. I can't really see that the neurosurgeons or consultant can tell us much at the moment because no-one that can read the scans has looked at them.

[Shirl]

Good news today. My sister was at the hospital when the occupational therapist was with Tom. The OT spent quite a long time with Tom and managed to get him to follow a couple of basic commands (turn his head and close his eyes). There were a lot of commands he didn't follow but my Sis said he looked as though he was trying (eg opening his mouth). It is the first time someone official has acknowledged that he can hear and understand what we are saying. It is such a relief to know we aren't imagining the responses that we are getting. It is a long road ahead but we have hope. Have a drink for Tom because if he could he would be celebrating.

[Plum]

Big news and small steps.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's fantastic news . I wanted to ask earlier if he was at all responsive (after you mentioned him being less responsive) but didn't like to.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Shirl, that's great news, the longest journey starts with just one step........or something like that !

 

Sha x

[Seagazer]

Thats really good news.

[The Dogmother]

That's positive news Shirl .. small steps, but in the right direction.

[Helly Welly]

Baby steps, but oh so important. Great news Shirl, i hope his improvement continues. I'm sending an extra big hug, and a drink, as i'm away for the next week.

[mostin]

Fantastic news to hear

[Valkyrie]

Brill news. Hoping for the next good news soon.

[Shirl]

Been a little while since the last update. I haven't seen Tom in over a week as I've had a cold. I still have the remaining cough so I don't know when I'll get to see him.

 

Anyway for the last 3 days Tom's breathing has been bad. It's like he forgets to breath every few breaths. It comes and goes so isn't constant. The hospital sent him for scans and xrays and can't see any reason for the problem so they say it is down to his brain not sending the right messages. The consultant actually told my mum to expect the worst. My mum and sister have spoken to the consultant again with regard to the hospital's refusal to resuscitate if required but he will not change his stance. He says that if they did resuscitate then Tom would be left with even more brain damage and would probably be on a ventilator permanently and that ICU would not accept him. We are hoping and praying that this isn't the beginning of the end.

[Plum]

So sorry, it's really hard for you. Hugs x

[littleleicesterfox]

Aww Shirl, that doesn't sound too good

 

I'll have my fingers crossed for you all.

 

I hope your cold gets better soon as well x

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it. All the best.

[Olly]

so sorry to hear that.

[Willow]

So sorry to hear things aren't going well Shirl. I was wondering how he & you were doing.