MikeyBikey Is Unwell - Part II

[EMcKT]

I have my hair on the long side but hate how greasy it is now - beard also needs a trim. The rules on nails are ridiculous. I asked for scissors to cut my nails but was told I couldn't have them as I might hurt myself. I then asked a nurse if she could but it was a no because I am diabetic. Fortunately dressing packs come with disposable scissors. With the right nurse they can be left behind on the bedside table. An hour later, nails trimmed the scissors were picked by the same secret agent. Was it a nurse or podiatrist who cut his toenail? My understanding is in hospital any diabetic should have their feet attended to by a qualified podiatrist.

I lost about 10 kg during the first first two weeks as a result of illness and poor quality food! Since then I have dropped around another 5kg. This has dropped me from slightly overweight to mid-range normal. They have now decided I should take Ensure that plays havoc with my BG which was already tricky to manage!

1 feel for your brother! When I was on hospital for "balancing" aged ~14 we were a whole mix from about 12 to nineties As I recovered I got the job of Tea Boy collecting the cups after mid-morning and mid-afternoon yes. I got the impression the older patients enjoyed talking to younger people. The nursing also had more empathy and patience toward the he patient. Some nurses are quite rough.

We now understand that his toenail has not been cut as it might spread the infection........how he is expected to wear his slippers and walk is anyone's guess. There appears to be a Podiatry Dept but that's for feet !!!!! And not for inpatients . Only one foot person and he's part time. He does not appear to have his diabetes checked although they do finger prick each morning, much to his annoyance.
This is one of the big hospitals in Glasgow and the " flagship" one is not any better. It's a while since I have seen that side of the Health Services but I am appalled . It's a rehab ward full of elderly folk who are not going anywhere but care homes. Not a lot of rehab going on, most sleeping in the chairs or bed or staring into space. No stimulation and my poor brother is rapidly becoming the same. Cannot get home as he is not fit enough, his wife has her own care package and needs a wheelchair and has just turned 86, family are doing their best but from south of england. Communication from the ward is very poor and yesterday the patient in the next bed was wearing my brothers clothes when his wife came to visit. I must stop as this is becoming a rant and ........

 

[Leadinglights]

We now understand that his toenail has not been cut as it might spread the infection........how he is expected to wear his slippers and walk is anyone's guess. There appears to be a Podiatry Dept but that's for feet !!!!! And not for inpatients . Only one foot person and he's part time. He does not appear to have his diabetes checked although they do finger prick each morning, much to his annoyance.
This is one of the big hospitals in Glasgow and the " flagship" one is not any better. It's a while since I have seen that side of the Health Services but I am appalled . It's a rehab ward full of elderly folk who are not going anywhere but care homes. Not a lot of rehab going on, most sleeping in the chairs or bed or staring into space. No stimulation and my poor brother is rapidly becoming the same. Cannot get home as he is not fit enough, his wife has her own care package and needs a wheelchair and has just turned 86, family are doing their best but from south of england. Communication from the ward is very poor and yesterday the patient in the next bed was wearing my brothers clothes when his wife came to visit. I must stop as this is becoming a rant and ........

I don't know if Scotland have the same system but PALS might be a route to make a complaint to.

 

[EMcKT]

Thanks, they already have. Daughter is a senior editor with the Nursing Sandard and her husband is Chief Nursing Officer for the............Ambulance Service, so they know the buttons to push, but one does not want that to filter down and make his treatment worse. To be fair, it is the state of the NHS, be it Scotland or England or Wales thats at fault. No money, agency staff, wards short staffed and a huge drop in standards of care.
I have hikacked this thread and will stop here. I do not wish to offend any in the Nursing profession and I know there are some in the forum. I just find it so sad.........it makes me angry.

 

[MikeyBikey]

Thanks, they already have. Daughter is a senior editor with the Nursing Sandard and her husband is Chief Nursing Officer for the............Ambulance Service, so they know the buttons to push, but one does not want that to filter down and make his treatment worse. To be fair, it is the state of the NHS, be it Scotland or England or Wales thats at fault. No money, agency staff, wards short staffed and a huge drop in standards of care.
I have hikacked this thread and will stop here. I do not wish to offend any in the Nursing profession and I know there are some in the forum. I just find it so sad.........it makes me angry.

Don't worry about hijacking my thread - if anything it highlights two major issues with the NHS. The first is the lack of proper support for people with diabetes (particularly Type 1) and the lack of proper care for the elderly.. Falling into both categories having past 65 it's a double whammy. It was just commented that my before lunch BG were as rather high and I explained that being given an Ensure slightly after breakfast doubled my breakfast carbohydrates. She actually listened and could see my reasoning. Pity the dietician cannot do the same.

 

[MikeyBikey]

Some people may be following this thread and not all of my others so I am duplicating much of a reply to another thread. On Thursday just as the doctors departed one put in a throwaway comment something like "You will be on antibiotics for life" but was gone before I could ask for an explanation.

Yesterday was a Friday and the number of consultants/doctors drops markedly. Anyway one of Thursday's gaggle came to see me one on one. Right I thought "We need some answers!"

The explanation was quite easy and I wished they had explained weeks ago. I have got a nasty infection in my foot that until a few days ago responded to IV antibiotics as every time they tired an oral I got sicker (gastric issues, upper respiratory infection, etc). Of course not knowing the whys and wherefores if this my mind went into overtime as to when I was improving did I suddenly get D&V, a chesty cough,etc. It would not have taken long to explain what was going on but what I noticed with this stay is instead of one consultant treating you they nearly change by the day.

 

[silver minion]

Sorry to hear that Mikey. The infection and changes of antibiotics to try and clear it must be a strain on your immune system. I hope you get more answers and better care for your diabetes while you still in hospital. Sending you plenty of hugs x

 

[EMcKT]

Words fail me!!!!!! I am comparing this to my poor brother. He has been in hospital for other issues for nearly 14 weeks!!! Podiatry were requested at the beginning as he had a worrying toenail issue , and is diabetic. We don't cut toenails!!!! Well, maybe if someone had even looked they might have spotted something amiss.. 11th April a wee doctor appeared and looked at one foot. I questioned diabetic neuropathy as I was up in Glasgow and was visiting.......she looked at me as though I was talking another language !!!!! Shoved him on IV and oral antibiotics. Yesterday finally someone came......both feet are now badly infected swabs taken, x-rays to follow ........and they want to discharge him!!!!!! He will be 87 tomorrow . My heart bleeds for him, the appalling lack of care and then I think of you, MickeyBikey and I could scream. Take care.

 

[EMcKT]

Oh, he's now got a chest infection as well.

 

[MikeyBikey]

Oh, he's now got a chest infection as well.

Sorry to hear this. I am convinced that my upper respiratory infection and the "D & V" attacks were unrelated to the original infection that brought me in! Hope there is some improvement in your brother's condition.

 

[goodybags]

Some people may be following this thread and not all of my others so I am duplicating much of a reply to another thread. On Thursday just as the doctors departed one put in a throwaway comment something like "You will be on antibiotics for life" but was gone before I could ask for an explanation.

Yesterday was a Friday and the number of consultants/doctors drops markedly. Anyway one of Thursday's gaggle came to see me one on one. Right I thought "We need some answers!"

The explanation was quite easy and I wished they had explained weeks ago. I have got a nasty infection in my foot that until a few days ago responded to IV antibiotics as every time they tired an oral I got sicker (gastric issues, upper respiratory infection, etc). Of course not knowing the whys and wherefores if this my mind went into overtime as to when I was improving did I suddenly get D&V, a chesty cough,etc. It would not have taken long to explain what was going on but what I noticed with this stay is instead of one consultant treating you they nearly change by the day.

@MikeyBikey I think (like me) a lot of us on here, were & still are quite concerned and not 100% sure how you were / are
but then again they say when your not 100% the best place to be is in hospital (I hope that’s the case) and someone somewhere is taking good care of you

Keep posting & TC

 

[MikeyBikey]

On Saturday I was told the infection was unlikely to be Osteomyelitis but today the top man came round and confirmed it was. This explains the dreadful pain I was in in admission. The aim is to try to hold the status quo with medication and dressing as needed but initially weekly

Will probably take a few days "out" to process this development

 

[silver minion]

Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with osteomyelitis @MikeyBikey .I hope the consultant has a longer term treatment plan in place for you soon. As you say, it's a lot to process. Keep us updated when you feel able to. Sending hugs and best wishes. Know that we are all thinking about you.

 

[rebrascora]

Really sorry to hear that you still have the infection Mikey and I hope that they can eventually find an effective treatment and get you back home. Sending more (((HUGS)))

 

[Lesley P]

So sorry to hear that Micky hope your feeling better realy soon. Big hug from me xxx

 

[EMcKT]

I'm sorry as well. It's such a messy situation and the second that I saw my brother's foot last month I knew that I had seen it before. They seem to think that the antibiotics for the foot will help the chest infection as well.........I have no words of support for you other than hanging on in there and defend and argue your case as much h as you can . I do think about you a lot..........xxxxxxx

 

[saffron15]

@MikeyBikey I had a sudden infection in the joint of my index finger at the end of November from gardening no gloves.it flared up in 48 hours. Had a blood pressure check at surgery on second day. Nurse just couldn't be asked. The next day Saturday I went to my local walk in centre and nearly hit the ceiling when Doctor touched the joint. Sent to hospital for xrays and left with week of high strength antibiotics. It was first time I had heard of osteomylitis. I can remember the extreme pain. I cannot imagine the length of time of your pain nor the wide area of your body wracked with pain. I strongly hope you turn a corner very soon and get the health care you deserve.

 

[MikeyBikey]

@MikeyBikey I had a sudden infection in the joint of my index finger at the end of November from gardening no gloves.it flared up in 48 hours. Had a blood pressure check at surgery on second day. Nurse just couldn't be asked. The next day Saturday I went to my local walk in centre and nearly hit the ceiling when Doctor touched the joint. Sent to hospital for xrays and left with week of high strength antibiotics. It was first time I had heard of osteomylitis. I can remember the extreme pain. I cannot imagine the length of time of your pain nor the wide area of your body wracked with pain. I strongly hope you turn a corner very soon and get the health care you deserve.

Somewhat over a year ago as we seemed to be getting nowhere I suggested a week in hospital on strong antibiotics with regular (daily or at least every two days) dressing changes . I was told it was unnecessary as it could be dealt with in the community. Well it was not and I wonder if that week would have sorted it instead of being admitted as an emergency and hospitalised for months?!

 

[AndBreathe]

Somewhat over a year ago as we seemed to be getting nowhere I suggested a week in hospital on strong antibiotics with regular (daily or at least every two days) dressing changes . I was told it was unnecessary as it could be dealt with in the community. Well it was not and I wonder if that week would have sorted it instead of being admitted as an emergency and hospitalised for months?!

This has got to be worth a complaint to whomever has been guiding this along the way.

Of course, history can never be changed, but even if those concerned have to write their responses to the investigating person, it might well result in a change in practices or when escalations take place.

I get that "they're busy" and have lots of people to look after, but when they're dealing with you, their duty of care is to look after you, with a view to the best possible outcomes. As an outsider looking in, I'm not convinced all boxes were ticked for you.

Wishing you well, Mikey. You certainly could do with a lucky break somewhere along the line.

 

[MikeyBikey]

This has got to be worth a complaint to whomever has been guiding this along the way.

Of course, history can never be changed, but even if those concerned have to write their responses to the investigating person, it might well result in a change in practices or when escalations take place.

I get that "they're busy" and have lots of people to look after, but when they're dealing with you, their duty of care is to look after you, with a view to the best possible outcomes. As an outsider looking in, I'm not convinced all boxes were ticked for you.

Wishing you well, Mikey. You certainly could do with a lucky break somewhere along the line.

I think you are right as it was a two year saga that started January 2023. When I made the suggestion around a year later they should have thought "in the community isn't working, best have him in". If they had acted then maybe the infection would not have got in the bone leading to Osteomyelitis. Sadly there are so many ifs going back to when the "new broom" vascular surgeon had not cancelled the bypass behind the knee on that leg (and also angioplasty to the leg I lost).

I have come to hate the term "in the community". The podiatry service in this area went downhill after it went "in the community". I doubt I would ever had that nonsense if one podiatrist refusing to use the dressings recommended by the consultant (what was that all about?). Since my amputation I have encountered more services "in the community" and none was up to my expectations (one bizarrely outsourced to another Health Trust).

 

[PattiEvans]

@MikeyBikey I am sorry to hear of the latest development i.e. Osteomyelitis. Age 21 I fell on frozen snow and banged my forearm. A year and a half later the arm was swollen and hot. It was Osteomyelitis. Oral ABs did not work. I was referred to hospital where they opened up my arm, cleaned out the bone (leaving it hollow), packed it with antibiotics and sewed it up again. I was fascinated as they gave me bits of the bone in a jar, it looked like lace. That was 58 years ago and I have had no problems with it since. I hope your problem is as easily solved!