Steve and I arrived at St Barts to be shown to Steves bed for the next week and it was in a ward not a side room. The last 2 times he has been in, he has been in a side room. Such a small thing seems not something to be worried about but knowing how ill Steve becomes on this treatment, we were both upset at the thought of him having no privacy as he goes through the treatment. It was a tiny area which we couldn't imagine how it would work with Steves machines and drips that he needs throughout the week. Also it meant that I would not be able to stay with him as the visiting hours are from 10am to 8pm. Steve spoke to the sister to see when their would be a room available and explained how he felt about being in the middle of a ward whilst he goes through the treatment. She said she would find out but didn't think one would be available that day............. nor could she say when one would be available.
The registrar who was on duty came to see us and said she had spoken to Tom (Consultant) who felt the treatment could start tomorrow but that would be the latest that it could start. Steve decided that as were here that he would start the treatment and hope that they got a room before the side effects kicked in.
So..... when we thought we were on our way to beginning the treatment the registrar came back to advise us that their weren't enough nurses on the ward, so nothing could happen today!!!
They offered that Steve could stay overnight in the hospital and start the treatment first thing in the morning but when you have to be in hospital the last thing you want to do, is stay in when you don't need to!
After some bloods were taken, we were asked to report back to the ward at 8am tomorrow for the treatment to begin, when hopefully a side room and most importantly some nurses would be available.
I do hope they have a room for Steve tomorrow I really don't know how we will both cope with him being in the middle of a ward. I just want things to be as easy as possible, this treatment is hard enough without having to be concerned about waking other patients up or being asked to leave at 8pm. I know I wont be able to leave him, so may need to be incognito when it comes to chucking out time!!! I'm trying not to make a fuss in front of Steve as he doesn't need that, he has been quiet today, it has been easy to forget about today for the last few weeks but even Steve cant ignore it when we arrive to the hospital
Neither Steve nor I could face getting the train back home and then back again in the in the morning, Steve was exhausted and both of us felt like it was later than it was! Which was about 3pm.......
So rather than going home Steve and I are staying in my nurses accommodation across from the hospital.
It is so lovely to feel like you have this unexpected day handed back to you, we had both built ourselves up for the fact the treatment was beginning and to suddenly be fortunate enough to have tonight wandering around London was a lovely experience and all the better because we didn't have any plans and so could feel like tourists looking through shop windows! catching the bus! Which I'm ashamed to say I haven't been on one for years!!
Well fingers crossed that tomorrow everything will have fallen into place and Steve starts his treatment with no side effects! (Think that's going to take more than simple finger crossing but here's hoping!!)
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