A bit of a blip ...

Had two phone calls from Dad today. One around lunch and one around 4.30 to say he was still on the ward and they weren't sending him anywhere today. When I got there at visiting was a bit surpised not to find him sitting in his chair, instead the curtains were round the bed and I could see a couple of feet around his bed which weren't Dads. I headed back to the desk just to check that it was still Dad's bed and they hadn't moved him. Yeah it was him behind the curtains and he'd been for an x-ray today and they'd found some fluid around his lungs so were just inserting a drain. I went and sat in the day room for 10 minutes or so. I then headed back to the ward and there was Dad lying on the bed. A quick u-turn by me as they were just heading back in to clean up around Dad. I thought it was blood, turns out it was fluid. It was red, it was liquid, I'm in a hospital - an easy mistake !

Dad was a bit rough and in some pain. They'd given him a local anesthetic and then inserted the drain and then stitched him. Dad said it was worse that his op (I don't think so!) The Dr came back and checked and they'd drained over a litre of fluid off. He said the body has around five litres so Dad asked for a beer to make up the fluid!  They are going put an IV line back in just in case they need to put him on some fluids later to keep his blood pressure up.

The two guys that were a pain have gone today (cheers all round!) and there's only one other person in Dad's bay so hopefully he'll get a decent nights sleep tonight which will no doubt help. At one point they came in to x-ray the guy opposite so us three visitors had to shufty up by the door whilst Dad just lay there opposite!

Fingers crossed once the fluid is all drained off he'll be back on the road to recovery.

Back in civvies today

A couple of phone calls to the ward and I established that Dad wasn't moving anywhere today, so popped in visit him tonight. He was very popular this evening ... as he also had another two visitors ! Dad was in his element with three ladies sitting around his bed. It's a good job the other two guys in his bay don't have visitors ... as Dad certainly has his fair share. I think he had at least three at afternoon visiting.

A week after surgery and Dad has showered and is in back in civvies. He's done a few laps today and even two flights of stairs and he has passed the physio part. In fact he got awarded a badge. He can put that on display with his 11 - 100 mile challenge walks.  They did bring him a zimmer frame to try and Dad "carried" it along with him. I think that was the point where they decided he didn't actually need a zimmer frame!

Dad has definitely joined the "Zipper Club" now and was showing us his new zip (look away at this point if you are squemish!)

Just noticed that it looks like he's wet himself in the photo ... he's not, he'd just had a drink and I think he's sprung a leak on the wound. I think he needs some bath sealant on that wound :)

Dad is doing good. He probably needs a week or so somewhere to recuperate a bit more and hopefully he'll be moved in the next day or so.

He's doing good

Been to visit Dad tonight. Had a frantic half an hour earlier when I got in from work and found two missed calls (close together) from Dad's ward. I tried desperately to get through to them on the phone but no one was picking up. All sorts of things were going through my head, especially why hadn't they phoned my work or mobile number or even left a message ! When I did manage to speak to someone it was nothing urgent they just wanted to talk to the family (me) about looking into discharging him for convalescent care.  Communication is one of the things that needs sorting in Health Care. Nothing has moved on in the two years since I had all this with Mum.

When I got into see him Dad was on good form. He's had all the stitches out now - so not much holding the middle of him together ! He's had some blood tests today and there is no infection so medically he's fine, he just needs to build up his strength. He's walking a bit further and he's done a few laps of the corridors. They did suggest a walking frame but not sure Dad is keen on that idea!  He's had his lunch and evening meal in the day room.  His new glasses, case and chain (more of string) went down well and the new slippers have now got the "worn in" look to them!

I said yesterday he's now at the end of the corridor (bed 31) and the next place is out of the door.  At the moment they are possibly looking to discharge him to Stadium Court but when (and if) we are not sure. If you are planning on visiting Dad, keep an eye on the blog and as soon as I know he's on the move, I'll update. Would hate for someone to find a parking space, pay parking only to get up on the ward to find they've just booted him out! Dad will be glad to be out as there is one particular guy on his ward that drives Dad (and everyone else) nuts! I think Dad is looking forward to moving on, he's been in there a week today. It will probably be better for me visiting him there and hopefully parking will be much improved !

He's been moved again !

Been visit Dad tonight and he wasn't in his usual bay and bed 15, so frantically scanned down the list and he's been moved to the end of the corridor .... if they move him any further he'll be out the door ! This is a much quieter bay of 4 beds and a less dependent ward. Dad has been up and walking on his own. He's been down to the day room which is looking very festive. He is off the catheter and has several visits to the toilet - he did go in to detail which was a bit TMI (too much information!). The first visit to the toilet was with a physio and they just wanted to see if Dad could sit down on the toilet and get up himself ... Dad had to reenact the whole scene by dropping his pyjama bottoms! Trust Dad !

He is looking a lot better now he can get about. Just got one IV line to come out now and that should be out tomorrow.  He's eating well and drinking. The scars and bruises are on full show but they seem to be healing good. I took him a couple of Get Well cards and straight away Dad noticed one of the stamps hadn't been franked and said save that stamp, I can reuse it - a sure sign that he's feeling better.

The new slippers are on and Dad even walked over to the bin to drop his old ones off - well I wasn't going to touch them. I think he should have dumped them in contaminated waste! However he has managed to break his reading glasses so that's a new pair of readers needed now.

This was Dad earlier tonight reading his Get Well cards

Many thanks to everyone that sends their best wishes ... I turn up with a list so I can tell Dad.

Up and sitting in his chair

I rang and checked on Dad earlier today and they said they'd had him up and out of bed. Hopefully that'll help convince him even more that he isn't quite ready to be knocking on those pearly gates !

Got there early tonight so I made sure I got a parking spot so was in to visit him as soon as the doors opened at 6.30. There he was up and sitting in his chair. Those hospital pyjama bottoms aren't really suitable for sitting in a chair with the gaping fly ... but his modesty was soon covered up as I dragged his blanket off the bed! That's definitely not what a daughter wants to catch an eye full of !  They are slowly removing various tubes and he has some lovely bruises appearing. They've had him up and for a small walk but Dad was a bit like bambi on ice so they got him back in bed ! Hopefully tomorrow they'll get him going a bit further.

He has had a ticking off tonight for the state of his slippers. I know he doesn't like shopping but I could have got him some new ones! I'm not having my Dad walking around in slippers that his toes are peeking through (and no they're not mules he's wearing!). So I've been get him some new ones on my way back from the hospital. I've actually got two pairs so he can try them on and see which ones he likes best! If he likes them both he'll get the other pair at Christmas!

Dad is much brighter and alert today. Been laughing and joking about his hallucinations and he's decided he ain't doing drugs if that's what it is like ! He's had quite a few visitors today and now his shelf is full with Get Well cards !  He's eating well and drinking and when I left he asked for his book to see if he could read a bit which is definitely a good sign that he's on the road to recovery.

I took him a collage of some "selfie photos" that I'd taken of me and him and the collage from his 80th Birthday cake and that cheered him up.  This is a photo from Le Tour in Yorkshire earlier this year ... I've told him his moto is now "put me back on my bike" ...

Many thanks to everyone that has sent their good wishes, folk who have phoned and emailed me. I tell Dad it all and how yesterday he had nearly 150 hits on his blog !

Sunday visiting

Well today has been a day of visiting parents ... first Mum this morning in her residential home and then Dad this afternoon. Set off for visiting Dad early as I thought I'd be better placed to get a parking space. How wrong was I. I visited every car park on the Hospital, together with another little black car that was circling round with me. I even went off and tried on the other site and that road took me back to A&E so I circled that car park again and as I was leaving a couple were walking back to the car park, so I asked them if they were going and they were. I stalked them back to their car and I'd got a space - 20 minutes after I'd arrived at the hospital ! So much for getting their early.

However the lack of parking was soon forgotten as I entered Dad's ward as he was much brighter today. He was sitting up in bed and I soon as I turned up the oxygen mask was off. I started dishing out the treats I'd got him and everyone I got a "no I'm eating that", "no I'm not drinking that" but I opened the grapes and he ate one and opened a carton of orange and he drank that ! He also had a cup of tea. His friend also turned up so between us we kept the conversation flowing. We managed to convince Dad that he wasn't knocking on those pearly gates just yet and once Dad realised he was no longer in Intensive Care he did start to believe us! Dad also realised that "he'd been away with the fairies" and all those people that he was convinced had visited him yesterday might have been in his dream !  We talked about the bike and cycling and where yesterday he'd said he was never riding again today he talked about his next "adventure" on the bike and it was me and him cycling around Westport Lake. That's definitely an improvement! I did say he needed to ask for a supply of whatever Lance Armstrong has been on for all those years for both me and Dad! 

Hopefully later this afternoon they were going to try him sitting in the chair. He'll feel better for that as the others on the ward are up and about.

I left him with his supplies and several get well cards.  So both parent visits went well today.

back on a normal ward

I rang up to see how Dad was this morning and they told me he'd been moved from Critical Care and back onto the normal ward which was great news. Rang on and off through the day but never got to speak to anyone.

Just in from visiting. Dad is now in a four bed ward in Coronary Care. Another tough visit as Dad was confused and upset which made me upset. I don't know what I was expecting at this visit, maybe miracles. When I got there one of the staff was trying to coax him to eat a yogurt. He'd eaten about half of it. He's drinking water though and we managed to talk him into eating a banana. He's still very tired and sleepy.

Apparently Dad has had visitors today which was nice as I wasn't able to make afternoon visiting. There was a bit on confusion as they turned up to see Jack Allen and were told there wasn't a Jack Allen on the ward but we have a John Allen. His visitor popped his head in the ward and said "oh that's Jack Allen".  Dad's name is actually John Allen but only his sister's family refer to him as John. It's actually a bit confusing on his ward of four beds as three people are called John and the other man is called Don ! I've told them to call him Jack !

Again didn't stay too long, Dad was really sleepy. Hopefully after a good nights sleep tonight he'll be feeling better. As they say tomorrow is another day !

Post-op update

I rang and checked on Dad last night. He was still sleeping and on a ventilator which apparently is normal after this type of op. They were going to let him sleep for a few more hours and then start to wake him. 

I've rang this morning to check on his progress. He's now half awake and still on the ventilator. They are going to run some tests on him over the next few hours and hopefully he'll be off the ventilator. I said I'd ring and check on him after lunch with the view of visiting later and they said he may be out of ICU and back on the normal ward.

He's had the op !

Dad's heart by-pass op was scheduled for first thing (not sure what time that is!). I knew it was a relatively big operation so I left it til after 2.00 to ring ICU and check but they told me he'd not returned from theatre and try later. I rang after 3.00 and was told the same. By this time I was getting worried so I rang the ward to see if his op had been delayed but they said he'd left the ward around 8.00/9.00 ish for theatre. I rang ICU again just after 4.00 and was told the same thing that he'd not arrived back again but to try after 5.00. By now I was getting really worried! Just got in from work and tried about 5.30 and he'd just arrived back and they were just settling him in. I said I'd ring again later to check he's settled in ok. Such a relief to hear he's in ICU I was getting worried especially after each time I rang and he was not back.

Dad asked me not to visit (nor anyone else) the first day in ICU as he'll have tubes in and equipment, plus he'll be drowsy and just want to rest so will check tomorrow and hopefully get to visit. As well as seeing how Dad is getting on I want to see what Pod 2 is like !

Will keep you posted.

A quick update ..

Just got a text from Dad from the hospital. He's got a nice big room so I assume he's in there on his own. He's scheduled for the first operation, so fingers crossed no emergencies come in over night.

There's been a lot of finger crossing these last few weeks !

He's there !

Well he's made it to the hospital (well I dropped him at the door). I've not had a phone call yet to say come fetch me back there's no bed !

He is scheduled for the heart by-pass operation and sorting out the leaky valve first thing tomorrow morning. I think the op should take a few hours so probably won't know anymore until tomorrow afternoon. He'll be in intensive care for a few days and then back on the normal ward.

Will keep the blog updated and many thanks for all the good wishes.

As Wednesday approaches ...

As Wednesday approaches we get another postponement of the op! This time it's postponed until next Wednesday (26th November). The same procedure - ring up on Wednesday afternoon to check bed availability ready for the op on the Thursday.

I've lost count of how many postponements we've had now ! I did think it might go ahead this week as me and Dad have tickets to go watch Revolution at the Velodrome in Manchester on Saturday night but at least Dad gets to watch the cycling !

Will keep you posted on any more updates

It's postponed again !

Dad's op has been postponed again - is this 4th or 5th postponement I've lost count! He was scheduled to go in on Sunday 16th with op on Monday 17th. However it's been put back again and he is now scheduled to go in on Wednesday 19th with op Wednesday 20th!

Crossing fingers hasn't worked so far ... his original date was 15th October, he could have been well on the way to recovery now if he'd had it done then!

Lastest Update

Dad has heard from the hospital again today. He is NOT going in this Sunday but hopefully it will be next Sunday (16th) with the op scheduled for Monday 17th. He needs another pre-op as it's been that long since his last and that will be on Monday 10th November. Again everything is provisional and subject to change at the last minute !

Dad was out doing his "big" shop when the hospital rang and left a message ... at least his fridge and cupboards are well stocked for the week.

Postponed AGAIN !

Dad has just had a telephone call to say they've postponed the op again!
He "might"be going in on Sunday now, with op on Monday but we need to wait and see.
Will keep you updated when we know more.

Keeping fingers crossed

We are keeping our fingers crossed that they have a bed for Dad tomorrow. He needs to ring up after 2.00 to check. He's been having his anti-bacterial washes again which I think have done something to his head as he's even cleaned up today !

Will keep you posted and many thanks for everyone that has sent Dad good wishes so far !