As part of the transplant recovery programme I have to attend a checkup at the hospital every day to have my blood checked and have a consultation with the renal team, and the nurse to have my wound dressed. This lasts every day for the first 4 weeks, and then changes to three days a week after the first month, which is where we are at the moment, which is progress. Now, as part of the daily checkup, blood pressure is taken, and we have noticed a worrying trend. Whereas before the transplant I had hypertension, and had to have medication to lower my high blood pressure, now the situation seems to have reversed itself. Whereas normal pressure is 120/75, last week I attended clinic and it was 75/45, and I was immediately admitted back into the renal ward for observations and re hydration by a saline drip! As Miranda's mother would say Such Fun! Nice to be back again.
As if that wasn't bad enough yesterday my blood pressure was again very low and I was instantaneously transported like Harry Potter and his chimney travelling chums back to Ward 71 for another saline drip. However there was no bed available in &!, so I was pushed along in a wheelchair(I was too weak and dizzy to stand and walk upright) down to the emergency department where I was checked in, and taken through to the Assessment and Planning unit. Very conscious of the time I thought the drip would start soon, especially as it takes 2-3 hours to infuse, and I didn't really watt to stay in all day, not to mention my poor lift home who was left waiting outside pour moi.But wait, there's more...
In APU I overheard them saying that they didn't have a space for me either, and I was to be taken to another ward for a drip. I was beginning to feel like a particularly unpleasant and hard to cook ingredient on Masterchef, it seemed no one wanted me....boohoo.
Finally I ended up in a different ward altogether, ward 21, where they seemed to act as an over-spill ward for A&E. Oh well at least I had got somewhere to have my drip and then I could go home. Of course this was very optimistic of me, as the attendant nurse soon appeared with a set of pyjamas and told me to get changed ready for my admission to ward 71! I was flabbergasted and not a little put out. I was only supposed to be having a saline drip for 2 hours and then was free to go, however along the long and confusing route to the current ward, the original instructions has mutated into a full hospital admission, rather like Chinese Whispers, with myself acting as the misheard whispered word.
Mean while lunch came and I had almost resigned myself to a full hospital admission, which was slightly annoying as I had a full afternoon of recuperating in front of the TV planned.
So ipad in hand and after a couple of hours websurfing, the renal doctor from Ward 71 arrived. He was surprised I was in this ward as they were expecting me for a brief saline infusion in Ward 71! He saif he would sort it all out, and lo and behold he did! I was told by the nurse on 21 that an error had been made and that after this drip had finished I could go home! Imagine my relief, I would be home for Masterchef Australia!!
And indeed I was, though I suspect as my blood pressure is still on the low side I may end up back there soon. This morning I was 90/57 which is not normal, but a bit better than 75/45!
Oh well, I will just have to have more salt and MacDonald's.......Would I like fries with that? YES!
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