I'm back! Diabetes care in hospital

[mg_2204]

Hello! I came back home today, after a 6 day stay in hospital. Glad to be back! :)

Turned out I had a series of very large fibroids measuring up to 14 cm in diameter. Pelvis from **** the surgeon said... Received 4 units of blood after surgery. Crashed she next day. Yet another unit of blood. I don't remember much of it. Was put in HDU (High Dependency Unit) 48 hours. I had a nurse with me every minute. Unfortunately when you don't mobilize quickly you develop a chest infection. Quite a challenge to cough when your belly's been open up all the way 2 inches above (yep!) the belly button. Anyway. Nil by mouth 4 days. Had 5 IV lines; 3 in the left arm, 2 in the right one. Hooked on heart monitor. Had a drain, a cathetar. On oxygen 2 first days.

Diabetes care has been excellent. The overall care I was give was just extraordinary! Stopped Metformin on the day of the op. Was put on an insulin drip after op. Sugars checked hourly for the 3 first days. Then sugars crashed (to be expected?) to 4.7 mmol/L. Was put on a glucose drip. Sugars went up to 13 mmol/L but only 24 hours later. When I was able and allowed to eat menus were just great. Low GI. Sugars stabilized a bit later.

They made me feel I was the only patient in the hospital. Everyone was so kind, nice, and understanding. My diabetes care was a priority to them. Even if I had a hard time and op turned out to be quite difficult, it made things easier somehow.

I am exhausted. Can't sit very long on a computer chair. In fact just realized how much hospital furniture is adapted. Here at home chairs, sofa, recliners are too low. Even the toilet is too low. Ack!

Now the challenge is to keep sugars low. Must heal.

Take good care everyone! I know I sure will. xx

[lelggren]

Glad to hear that you are home, and on your way to a speedy recovery! :) I am also glad that they took such good care of you. That is not always the case at hospitals.

Take care! and let people wait on you hand and foot ;)

[Mister Q]

**** and I thought my week was **** last week!! Glad your Ok and on the mend.

[Dewey]

Hello! I came back home today, after a 6 day stay in hospital. Glad to be back! :)

Turned out I had a series of very large fibroids measuring up to 14 cm in diameter. Pelvis from **** the surgeon said... Received 4 units of blood after surgery. Crashed she next day. Yet another unit of blood. I don't remember much of it. Was put in HDU (High Dependency Unit) 48 hours. I had a nurse with me every minute. Unfortunately when you don't mobilize quickly you develop a chest infection. Quite a challenge to cough when your belly's been open up all the way 2 inches above (yep!) the belly button. Anyway. Nil by mouth 4 days. Had 5 IV lines; 3 in the left arm, 2 in the right one. Hooked on heart monitor. Had a drain, a cathetar. On oxygen 2 first days.

Diabetes care has been excellent. The overall care I was give was just extraordinary! Stopped Metformin on the day of the op. Was put on an insulin drip after op. Sugars checked hourly for the 3 first days. Then sugars crashed (to be expected?) to 4.7 mmol/L. Was put on a glucose drip. Sugars went up to 13 mmol/L but only 24 hours later. When I was able and allowed to eat menus were just great. Low GI. Sugars stabilized a bit later.

They made me feel I was the only patient in the hospital. Everyone was so kind, nice, and understanding. My diabetes care was a priority to them. Even if I had a hard time and op turned out to be quite difficult, it made things easier somehow.

I am exhausted. Can't sit very long on a computer chair. In fact just realized how much hospital furniture is adapted. Here at home chairs, sofa, recliners are too low. Even the toilet is too low. Ack!

Now the challenge is to keep sugars low. Must heal.

Take good care everyone! I know I sure will. xx
Marie,

Glad to hear you're safe & sound....sorry you got the infection (& yikes on everything else you had to go through! :eek: ), but glad they took good care of you. I sure hope & pray that the continued road to recovery will be even smoother from here on out. Thanks for keeping us posted and glad you're a-ok!! :love:

[camjen1]

Gosh you sure were put through **** these past few days. I'm glad your at least out of the hospital and on the road to recovery.

I found it hilarious about your comment and coughing! I know all to well how it feels. Wait until you have to sneeze! :laugh:

[sydneya]

So glad you are on the mend, Marie. :nurse: And sorry for your mis-er-a-ble week. Keep the coughing coming. When I heard your sense of humor, I knew life would be good for you again. I do empathesize with you. I had to force cough after C-sections. Nurse had me put the pillow on my tummy and cough. I wasn't too cooperative, but enough to keep pneumonia away. It was a very punny, quiet hack.:whistling Once was never enough.

Be nice to yourself. Let everyone else do the work and wait on you. Good healing!!!

[Penny]

Marie, I'm sorry you had such a bad week, but glad you are home and mending. It sure is nice to have good people taking care of you if you have to be in the hospital. I lost my belly button with my second C-section....no inny or outie, just a scar.

[valc3]

Marie, glad to hear you are home. That's great that you had such good care in the hospital. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

[londonlady]

Marie,
Delighted to hear you have done so well, after what sounds like a rough ride!!
Now, you must tell...did you have NHS care?? Delighted your diabetes was so well taken care of. It must be a worry when you are totally reliant on others to manage it for you, when so used to doing a good job yourself. I know I would find that difficult.
Testament to your positive attitude that you are home and up and about so quickly.
Keep up the good work!!:dancing:
L

[am1977]

I'm sure you are SO relieved to have this behind you... And we're so happy that everything went so well :smile:. Now you can concentrate on recooperating and feeling better.

Take care! ;)

[shanda]

Wow what a time you had! I'm glad you're back home and on the mend :thumbsup:

[KickStart101]

Hey Marie!! Glad to see you back...and talking. :D I was worried about
you. Well, it sounds like you have faired pretty good considering. It's
Nice to hear that they looked after you so well...so why are you exhausted??
Ha! ;) j/k.

Ya, I know what you mean about the coughing/cut abdoman problem(2
c-sections, 1 ovary removal here). Below the belly button, but still hurt
like heck when coughing/sneezing. They stapled me each time and I ripped
it open on the side one time from coughing. :vollkomme

Healing vibes and Good thoughts to you. I'm sure that your Family will help
out so you can focus on your sugars then you will heal quickly. Hoping that
you feel real Good soon(at least it's over). :thumbsup: :)

[mg_2204]

Thank you so much everyone! :)

Straight away I was encouraged to do breathing exercises (and did them as often as I could!) but I guess the ride was too rough and I was too weak. I don't cough as much now. And yes! I have experienced sneezing too. Let's just say that when the staples were removed it was a more enjoyable experience...

Not on the NHS. Went private. I would have never had that kind of care on the NHS. Nor in Canada as a matter of fact! When we came into the hospital a porter took us to my room. When I was discharged from hospital again, I was accompanied all the way to the car! Physio came in to see me often, had sessions of Pilates and breathing exercises in my room. She was called back when it was apparent I was developping a cough. My doctor came to see me every single day (first 2 days he came to see me twice a day). He came to see me Sat and Sun morning too! Nurses were extraordinary. Angels! Even the ladies serving the meals and beverages in between were lovely, kind, and compassionate. They always made sure I could reach everything before leaving my room. One offered to open a window because it was a bit hot in my room.

Penny, I had no idea such a long incision could be done. When they first told me it was above the belly button I said yeah right. Thought they were joking. I still have my belly button though. And OMG that part is so itchy at the moment!!!! ack

OMG didn't tell you guys about my sexy anti embolism stockings, did I??! They are thick, and white, and cover the whole leg. My doc wants all his patients to wear them starting just before the op. But when I was getting ready to go home I was told that I must keep on wearing them until the 6 week post op check up. NOOOOooooooo!!!! What a fashion statement they make. Especially with the extra big knickers because of the swelly belly. Will have pics a bit later in the week. At least you guys CAN laugh. I can't.

I am pleased! Fasting sugars this am 6.9 mmol/L. So getting there! Must increase my walks from 10 to 15 minutes today. It's sunny outside so will be perfect for a little walk later on. Helps keep the sugars low!

Take good care everyone!

[Georgia]

Glad all went well for you. Here's to a quick recovery...

[kgm0612]

I'm glad to hear your surgery went well and you were pleased with the care you received while in the hospital. Here's wishing you a full & speedy recovery!

Karen

[sydneya]

Just remember, humility is a good attribute, so keep wearing the thick stockings and big knickers. Well, at least in the name of comfort.

Glad to hear you sounding fairly chipper and holding on to the sense of humor. Let us know how you are doing, and keep up a good recovery.

[dacruzer]

Welcome back

[mg_2204]

Thank you so much guys! :)

Yep, keeping the socks on.

Experienced a slight increase in energy today. Just enough to get bored for 3 minutes and... went back to sleep. :sleep: 3 minutes is also the time it takes me to get out of my big comfy chair. Would make a good clip for World's Funniest Videos :biggrin:

Sugars are still doing fine. I am so pleased and yet so surprised! I was told to expect a real roller coaster but so far so good. As recommended I am on a high fiber diet and I must admit am into fruits at the moment. They usually make BG run higher. Well not at the moment! I think it's great. Did suffer from nausea Sunday and Monday - was it due to anesthesia or stopping Metformin for 5 days? I don't have a clue. Just glad it has faded away.

[HeatherP]

Glad to hear you're home and recovering Marie. Keep healing!

[mg_2204]

Thank you Heather! :)

Still doing fine. It's been 11 days now. I don't know if I should shout VICTORY!!! just yet. Wound is healing nicely -- for a change! Been taking a combo of vitamin C and Zinc for a few days now. What REALLY helps is that BG is in tight control. I have never ever had so many good and low fasting sugars in a row. Is my meter broken or what??! I was told to expect erratic BG levels for weeks. I'm just glad it isn't so.

[shanda]

That's fantastic Marie! :)

Glad to hear you're doing so well.


shanda

[mg_2204]

... and forgot to add : hospital rang me Friday. Just to know if everything was alright and if I had probs wit my sugars. I nearly fainted!

:)