TUES 3RD JAN 2023
A busy day, with the NHS at its best – An 11am appointment at Guys in Older Persons Unit, this time for incontinence. I suggested to Julie we go early, go up to the Asthma Clinic just in case someone might be there to do some breathing tests. Had left a message on the nurses answerphone , to join many others after the new year long weekend, but didn’t really expect an answer.
The sister in the Asthma Clinic, Lindsay kindly measured the Feno, and offered to so some blood tests, very lucky. Down to have coffee and then a call from Louise, the nurse looking at the answerphone messages. Lots of questions and need for xray but how to get it.
Incontinence consultant , Dr Hariri so i’ll be seen by 2 men – Amir, and Fernande. Advice given, examination done, exercises given to do daily – not managed to start yet. No possibility of them asking from a chest xray. So down to Urgent care – no they can’t either. Only possibility is A and E at ST Thomas, imagine! To canteen to have baked potato lunch, and drinking lots of water. I can’t go home until I can produce a urine sample.
Finally back to manage to produce a urine sample. Blessed escape into a taxi. Good ride home and crawled onto beds. Then a call from Louise saying the bloods showed infections, and she would consult with the consultant to decide what to do. Then a phone call from Dr Hughes, one of the partners – lots of thorough questions, assurance that A and E would not admit me! – Id already said NO. He said he would phone me back Thursday lunchtime. Prescribed a different antibiotic, which the chemist kindly delivered. Another call from Louise to check I had heard from the GP
So the NHS really working! Very lucky I had the incontinence appointment as I hadn’t the strength to make my way to Guys for the asthma people alone
Today – Wed woke feeling a positive change, with plans for action. But to date little of this. And after this I do need to go and lie down again