I think its been 3 weeks since I started on the new version of Rebif. I wasn't convinced when I heard that you are no longer supposed to keep it out of the fridge for any real time. Also needs more planning for holidays, but I digress.
So I thought I would just go for it, got it out of the fridge while I prepared so the condensation had time to go and then injected it. I inject manually into my stomach and my thighs and use the auto injector for my bum. I have hardly felt it! I have injected it 9 times and so far the worst stinging I have had is about equal to the least stinging I had using the old stuff! Great, much more comfortable.
I don't do anything special when I inject, just inject it and take ibuprofen immediately after or before. I have found I need to take a couple of paracetamol when I go to bed otherwise I wake up with a headache but I guess that is my body adjusting to the slightly different formula.
So all in all a big thumbs up from me!
So what else have I been up to....... Finished painting the porch - the first room we have completed, it is our porch now! New curtains (for decoration) and a lick of paint, quick and easy. Work is going well, training still but getting into a more hands on bit where I am actually doing work and sending letters. We start on the medical training tomorrow, the liver and substance abuse as a starting topic, should be interesting.
I have had an appointment with the Vocational Rehab Consultant, she was very nice! We had a chat, I told her how I am affected by my MS and she made some suggestions. She thinks I should get a parking space at the office immediately as I have to walk up a hill for 5 minutes to get from the car park to the office and it causes my ON to get worse and I get pain in my legs. She has suggested an ergonomic assessment and a chair that promotes good circulation and that I should be able to work hours that ensure I don't have to spend a long time in the car - which would mean I don't ever stay till half 5. There is also a plan in place so that if I have a relapse some of my work is taken by others and if I have to get the train because of a relapse which means I don't feel safe driving I can shorten my hours slightly to compensate for the extra time! All very good, except some of the above will be noticeable to my colleagues and they may want to know why. Haven't decided what to do get. I guess I should do what means I feel good and well at work....... I will wait for her report. I do think it is positive that they are that interested and seem to be happy/willing to make reasonable adjustments from the beginning!
And the high point - I went to see Bon Jovi at Twickenham Friday evening, it was great! I have been a Bon Jovi fan since I was about 14 and wasn't allowed to go with my friends to see them when I was 15 so I had been waiting for this for 12 years! It was brilliant, they sang lots of greatest hits and lots of newer stuff. They were on stage for almost 2.5 hours! Great lights and clever LCD screen things, it was great!! Soooooo brill!! Can you tell I enjoyed myself!! I was lucky in that the seats in front were empty so even when the people in the rows further down stood up I could choose to sit down. I survived unscathed as well, late night but could sleep in the next morning so got enough sleep.
So brilliant!!
Showing posts with label Injections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Injections. Show all posts
Monday, 30 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Yearly review
I had my yearly review appointment on Monday. It being my first one I had no idea what to expect. I asked my MS Nurse and she said it would be a review of the year and an opportunity for me to ask questions.
Firstly we went through what had happened symptom/relapse/life wise in the last year. He noted down everything, including my moving date and wedding date and my new job title. He commented that what I thought was one long relapse may well have been two at the end of last year (bit of a surprise) and that it had been a busy year.
He then did all the tests they can do easily, reflexes, finger to nose, pigeon steps, hopping on one leg, reading etc etc.
Then we discussed how I was getting on with Rebif, I asked a couple of questions. I asked about the migraines I am getting, we are going to leave further treatment and see how I get on as they seem to be under control, for now, and asked if this latest thing with my eye was a relapse - he said yes, which I thought it would be, just hoping it was more of an excaserbation.....
He rounded up by saying that he would like to leave things as they are and see how I get on. Said to let my nurse know if I have any relapses and gave me a bloods form, really useful at 5pm.......
Still it was a good appointment, he was thorough and helpful, listened and noted lots down!
Other than that I just don't seem to have had much in the way of down time. I am still unpacking and seem to be busy at the weekends, or relaxing...! The new job is going well so far. I am in training at the moment, 2nd week and I am coping well with it. I get home at a sensible time and am managing to go out or do things a couple of evenings as well. The ON is getting better finally. When it is humid the ON gets a little worse but the trend is towards it clearing. The normal tingling is there with the humidity as well but I guess that is par for the course now!
Oh, got to the new Rebif finally, first injection Monday evening. I will give my experience of it, and an overview of my technique to go with it sometime after my first week.
What else, well we are still unpacking, I have turned 27 and I am trying to drum up enthusiasm for getting back to Weight Watchers tonight.......
Firstly we went through what had happened symptom/relapse/life wise in the last year. He noted down everything, including my moving date and wedding date and my new job title. He commented that what I thought was one long relapse may well have been two at the end of last year (bit of a surprise) and that it had been a busy year.
He then did all the tests they can do easily, reflexes, finger to nose, pigeon steps, hopping on one leg, reading etc etc.
Then we discussed how I was getting on with Rebif, I asked a couple of questions. I asked about the migraines I am getting, we are going to leave further treatment and see how I get on as they seem to be under control, for now, and asked if this latest thing with my eye was a relapse - he said yes, which I thought it would be, just hoping it was more of an excaserbation.....
He rounded up by saying that he would like to leave things as they are and see how I get on. Said to let my nurse know if I have any relapses and gave me a bloods form, really useful at 5pm.......
Still it was a good appointment, he was thorough and helpful, listened and noted lots down!
Other than that I just don't seem to have had much in the way of down time. I am still unpacking and seem to be busy at the weekends, or relaxing...! The new job is going well so far. I am in training at the moment, 2nd week and I am coping well with it. I get home at a sensible time and am managing to go out or do things a couple of evenings as well. The ON is getting better finally. When it is humid the ON gets a little worse but the trend is towards it clearing. The normal tingling is there with the humidity as well but I guess that is par for the course now!
Oh, got to the new Rebif finally, first injection Monday evening. I will give my experience of it, and an overview of my technique to go with it sometime after my first week.
What else, well we are still unpacking, I have turned 27 and I am trying to drum up enthusiasm for getting back to Weight Watchers tonight.......
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Move-day!!
Well move day is rapidly approaching and we appear to be more or less ready for it! We will be without broadband for a while so no blogging or reading of blogs at home and work will have put the filters in place to stop us looking at anything that, well anything......
Weight watchers this week was better than expected but that is all I am saying - I am starting again on the 7th May!
My MS is behaving itself still and I have had no letters telling me to stop taking Rebif, all good at the moment!!
Right, hopefully I'll have lots to report on next time I write :o)
Weight watchers this week was better than expected but that is all I am saying - I am starting again on the 7th May!
My MS is behaving itself still and I have had no letters telling me to stop taking Rebif, all good at the moment!!
Right, hopefully I'll have lots to report on next time I write :o)
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Weight Watchers Week 7
Having decided to go on Wednesday this week due to a few things I was a bit worried I hadn't done very well. I was wrong! I lost 3.5lb getting my first 'silver 7' and reaching the dizzying heights of 9lb lost! I thought the trousers I put on today felt a little looser.......
Other than that, the houses seem to be going well. Completion on my place is imminent, we exchanged last week - I will have money again!! B's should exchange sometime next week and complete sometime soon after fingers crossed.
I should be getting the new formulation of Rebif in my delivery next week. I have high hopes that it won't sting as much as the old one, especially, in my case, in my thigh. It is stinging as I type..... Bit late tonight on the stabbing. I forgot to get it out of the fridge this morning as I was on leave today (for reasons I will be able to explain at some point) so out of my routine and then forgot this evening, again routine and by the time I remembered to get it out of the fridge it was 8pm and I then had to leave it an hour.......still I have no plans for Friday so it doesn't matter if I do it late.
I am still well, coming to realise that I feel soooo much better when I don't drink alcohol the night before so it is really not worth it, but in general I am fine. Still have the same left over bits as before but its all ok.
Oh and I have an appointment with HR and my manager in a couple of weeks to discuss the Occi Health report......should be fun!
Other than that, the houses seem to be going well. Completion on my place is imminent, we exchanged last week - I will have money again!! B's should exchange sometime next week and complete sometime soon after fingers crossed.
I should be getting the new formulation of Rebif in my delivery next week. I have high hopes that it won't sting as much as the old one, especially, in my case, in my thigh. It is stinging as I type..... Bit late tonight on the stabbing. I forgot to get it out of the fridge this morning as I was on leave today (for reasons I will be able to explain at some point) so out of my routine and then forgot this evening, again routine and by the time I remembered to get it out of the fridge it was 8pm and I then had to leave it an hour.......still I have no plans for Friday so it doesn't matter if I do it late.
I am still well, coming to realise that I feel soooo much better when I don't drink alcohol the night before so it is really not worth it, but in general I am fine. Still have the same left over bits as before but its all ok.
Oh and I have an appointment with HR and my manager in a couple of weeks to discuss the Occi Health report......should be fun!
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Weight Watchers week 3
Good morning all. Well I weighed in at one pound less last night. Not bad considering I ate out three times. I met a friend for dinner Wednesday and had grilled Seabass and then the weekend was B's Birthday so I took him out for dinner Friday evening and we went out and watched the rugby Saturday and then had a curry.
http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/index.asp
On Friday night I took B to a new 'Gastro pub' on the Peacock Farm development in Bracknell, called Peacock Farm strangely enough. It serves Badgers beer and the meals we had were very good. You can search for Hall and Woodhouse Pubs via the link above (one day I will find out how to do pretty links). I would thoroughly recommend eating and drinking at Peacock Farm, the food is good pub food and is reasonably priced and the beer is well kept (apparently) and very tasty (from experience!!). Two courses and drinks for two cost around £40. You must remember to book though. It is probably the fact that it is new but if you want lunch or dinner any day of the week you have to book.
I seem to be stable with the MS symptoms at the moment. I occasionally get slight worsening, usually when I am tired (like now) and am feeling like my legs are really struggling to get my body up stairs. Having said that a combination of MS, weight and lack of exercise are probably causing that.......
I have an annual review appointment in June, sent through by the hospital with no prompting from me! I gues my MS Nurse may have had something to do with it but I am so pleased I am under a Neurology Department that seems to get things done. Oh another MS related thing, I had a letter cc'd to me by my Neuro and it seems that my liver enzymes (guessing its them) have risen slightly. I have to have an extra blood test in a month to check on them and I am hoping its just a blip and they stay put or go down again. I know it is a side effect of Rebif and apparently fairly common at that but I am a little concerned because I am getting on well with Rebif and would prefer not to change.
Still we shall see.......
http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/index.asp
On Friday night I took B to a new 'Gastro pub' on the Peacock Farm development in Bracknell, called Peacock Farm strangely enough. It serves Badgers beer and the meals we had were very good. You can search for Hall and Woodhouse Pubs via the link above (one day I will find out how to do pretty links). I would thoroughly recommend eating and drinking at Peacock Farm, the food is good pub food and is reasonably priced and the beer is well kept (apparently) and very tasty (from experience!!). Two courses and drinks for two cost around £40. You must remember to book though. It is probably the fact that it is new but if you want lunch or dinner any day of the week you have to book.
I seem to be stable with the MS symptoms at the moment. I occasionally get slight worsening, usually when I am tired (like now) and am feeling like my legs are really struggling to get my body up stairs. Having said that a combination of MS, weight and lack of exercise are probably causing that.......
I have an annual review appointment in June, sent through by the hospital with no prompting from me! I gues my MS Nurse may have had something to do with it but I am so pleased I am under a Neurology Department that seems to get things done. Oh another MS related thing, I had a letter cc'd to me by my Neuro and it seems that my liver enzymes (guessing its them) have risen slightly. I have to have an extra blood test in a month to check on them and I am hoping its just a blip and they stay put or go down again. I know it is a side effect of Rebif and apparently fairly common at that but I am a little concerned because I am getting on well with Rebif and would prefer not to change.
Still we shall see.......
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Catch up
Wow, how things move on. I don’t seem to have stopped for ever……. After B proposed we started looking at venues and getting round to telling everybody and then actually went to view a load of venues. We chose Newbury Manor Hotel, Newbury (doh) for a date in May 09, all booked and deposit paid. As soon as that was done I told everyone where it was and showed then the info and mentioned the no kids thing…. This bit went down better than expected but I can tell that my Nan wasn’t impressed. I think she was also disappointed that we are having a Civil Ceremony and not a Church one. Still people on the whole seem happy enough. I’ve had a few interesting conversations with my Mum about the guest list but we have come to an agreement, they pay for the wedding and they get to invite a few extra people. I thought that was a reasonable deal!! (Mum if you are reading this we are planning on adding money to the pot, promise!).
So after all that and the panic associated with having to wait until the next day to book it with the Wedding Coordinator and possibly losing the date we wanted, we started on the house front.
Mine seems to be coming together. The buyer is approved and all the paperwork should have gone in the post yesterday. I am definitely thinking that the end of March is possible!! Such a relief…….. B’s went on the market on the 31st January, the for sale sign went up on the 6th February and we had several offers by the end of the day on the 8th February. We accepted an offer from a first time buyer and the contract is already signed! We have been looking for the last week and a half or so. We have had several intensive evenings and an intensive weekend and viewed around 20 properties. We eventually walked into a property (that was on the market for 20k more than we could really afford) that we really loved and we put an offer in. It took all day but the offer was accepted at 5k more than we really wanted to spend but it’s a lovely house!
So after all of that I woke up today feeling really quite rotten….. B and I haven’t been in for the evening for a log time (well it feels like that) and I think my body knows it doesn’t have to do anything much today. The relief of getting those two things sorted has been immense; having said that I am assuming it’ll get worse close to completion time.
My MS seems to have behaved itself throughout though! I have the same little niggles and I guess a little more pain in my hand than I had before but nothing has got significantly worse. I count this as a bonus! I think as a result of having a very busy life I have been forgetting my date with a needle occasionally. I forgot Mon a few weeks ago and I forgot Mon this week as well. Still not a big panic as I just took it Tues, Thurs, Sat instead of Mon, Wed, Fri. Any other news for this catch up post? Nope don’t think so, I haven’t heard from Occi Health re my fitness for my job yet so I am still working at HQ.
That’s about it! Oh, feeling better and happier overall (ignoring today) than I have an a long time!!
So after all that and the panic associated with having to wait until the next day to book it with the Wedding Coordinator and possibly losing the date we wanted, we started on the house front.
Mine seems to be coming together. The buyer is approved and all the paperwork should have gone in the post yesterday. I am definitely thinking that the end of March is possible!! Such a relief…….. B’s went on the market on the 31st January, the for sale sign went up on the 6th February and we had several offers by the end of the day on the 8th February. We accepted an offer from a first time buyer and the contract is already signed! We have been looking for the last week and a half or so. We have had several intensive evenings and an intensive weekend and viewed around 20 properties. We eventually walked into a property (that was on the market for 20k more than we could really afford) that we really loved and we put an offer in. It took all day but the offer was accepted at 5k more than we really wanted to spend but it’s a lovely house!
So after all of that I woke up today feeling really quite rotten….. B and I haven’t been in for the evening for a log time (well it feels like that) and I think my body knows it doesn’t have to do anything much today. The relief of getting those two things sorted has been immense; having said that I am assuming it’ll get worse close to completion time.
My MS seems to have behaved itself throughout though! I have the same little niggles and I guess a little more pain in my hand than I had before but nothing has got significantly worse. I count this as a bonus! I think as a result of having a very busy life I have been forgetting my date with a needle occasionally. I forgot Mon a few weeks ago and I forgot Mon this week as well. Still not a big panic as I just took it Tues, Thurs, Sat instead of Mon, Wed, Fri. Any other news for this catch up post? Nope don’t think so, I haven’t heard from Occi Health re my fitness for my job yet so I am still working at HQ.
That’s about it! Oh, feeling better and happier overall (ignoring today) than I have an a long time!!
Friday, 21 September 2007
Together a bit!
Well since my last post I have pulled myself together a bit! Feeling much happier now although still tired and finding work hard. I am wondering whether I need some time off, I don't really want to but I think I might have to take a couple of weeks to myself, just to catch up!
I had a really good weekend in Bristol with B and B's parents. We had did the Bristol Bus Tour in the afternoon and then had a really nice dinner at a place called SevernShed. B raved about his meal so I guess it was really very good. I really enjoyed my dinner but for B to rave!! B's Mum seemed to like her presents and enjoyed her holiday so all in all a 60th Birthday success!! On the Sunday it was the Open Water Event which went well considering! About half the number of people turned up this year but that was to be expected after the July postponement. I was extremely tired afterwards and collapsed in a heap when I got home!
The injections are going well still, have had no problems with side effects or bad injection marks. My relapse is still hanging around, I can cope with the torso still its just annoying but my left eye is becoming a problem. I was single manned last night and had to split another crew so I didn't have to drive. This is one of the reasons I think I may need a week off........
As for work, I have had some good jobs recently and some fairly naff ones. Picked up a lady having an MI last night. She was absolutely fine the whole time she was with us. A little pale to begin with but on oxygen she started to pick up and her pain reduced. We took her straight to the hospital, where we were it wasn't worth waiting for a Paramedic, from arrival at scene to arrival at hospital it was 30 minutes, 36 minutes from call to hospital. Once we arrived at hospital they prepared to Thrombolyse, as they were putting the drug in our pt arrested, causing a major panic (not what I expect from a Cardiac Care Unit), I was asked (well screamed at) to put the crash bleep in, which I did, and after the arrival of a few more staff things started to look more organised and they managed to get a heart beat back.
I have no idea what the outcome was, we had to leave and get back to work. Unfortunately me being me I now wonder what I could have done quicker to get the pt in quicker. We were in the house just over 10 minutes, did the 12 - lead in the back and left, going very quickly, for the hospital.
Still, I will beat myself up for a day then sort myself out. Seem to spend most of my time trying to pull myself together at the moment, ah well, such is life!!
I had a really good weekend in Bristol with B and B's parents. We had did the Bristol Bus Tour in the afternoon and then had a really nice dinner at a place called SevernShed. B raved about his meal so I guess it was really very good. I really enjoyed my dinner but for B to rave!! B's Mum seemed to like her presents and enjoyed her holiday so all in all a 60th Birthday success!! On the Sunday it was the Open Water Event which went well considering! About half the number of people turned up this year but that was to be expected after the July postponement. I was extremely tired afterwards and collapsed in a heap when I got home!
The injections are going well still, have had no problems with side effects or bad injection marks. My relapse is still hanging around, I can cope with the torso still its just annoying but my left eye is becoming a problem. I was single manned last night and had to split another crew so I didn't have to drive. This is one of the reasons I think I may need a week off........
As for work, I have had some good jobs recently and some fairly naff ones. Picked up a lady having an MI last night. She was absolutely fine the whole time she was with us. A little pale to begin with but on oxygen she started to pick up and her pain reduced. We took her straight to the hospital, where we were it wasn't worth waiting for a Paramedic, from arrival at scene to arrival at hospital it was 30 minutes, 36 minutes from call to hospital. Once we arrived at hospital they prepared to Thrombolyse, as they were putting the drug in our pt arrested, causing a major panic (not what I expect from a Cardiac Care Unit), I was asked (well screamed at) to put the crash bleep in, which I did, and after the arrival of a few more staff things started to look more organised and they managed to get a heart beat back.
I have no idea what the outcome was, we had to leave and get back to work. Unfortunately me being me I now wonder what I could have done quicker to get the pt in quicker. We were in the house just over 10 minutes, did the 12 - lead in the back and left, going very quickly, for the hospital.
Still, I will beat myself up for a day then sort myself out. Seem to spend most of my time trying to pull myself together at the moment, ah well, such is life!!
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Feeling Sorry For Myself..........
I have felt pretty awful since Tuesday last week. I had to leave work early on Tuesday - an overtime shift - which I have never done before. I hadn't stopped for over a week and a half until yesterday. I have had headaches, migraines and felt generally yucky. Yesterday everything got too much. I was ok to begin with, then got a nasty headache and started feeling very sorry for myself. Nearly in tears a few times throughout the day, especially when B got home. Not his fault, I just worry a lot about the fact that I seem to be lurching from one thing to the next at the moment.
He keeps telling me that he loves me and wants to be with me but I can't help thinking why would he want me? I seem to spend half my time not feeling well, I get through work and then end up tired on the sofa, or in bed early. When I put my sensible head on I think well actually I was fine until I relapsed again, going out for dinners, cinema etc It doesn't make it any easier though. I have this constant nagging going on in the back of my head. I also don't want to keep saying it to him as I will start sounding like a broken record. I hate feeling like I need something, even if it isn't all the time.
What really prompted all this was waking up Sunday morning and realising that I have Optic Neuritis. I got through Sunday, I had to. Told D at work, told B in the evening and then woke up Monday morning and had to deal with it on my own. Its not bad, no real effect on my vision and mild pain. Nothing like last time, its just too close to being something that could take me off the road again, which scares me. There it is I am scared. Scared of loosing B, scared of not being able to do my job, scared about the future, just plain scared. I guess when this relapse clears up I will be back to my normal self - just feeling very sorry for myself at the moment.
On a lighter note B's parents visited at the weekend. I was at work both days but made it home at a reasonable time. We went out for dinner Saturday night and B cooked Sunday night. We are meeting them in Bristol next weekend for a nice meal so that should be good as well. B's Mum did some weeding which really needed doing! B and his Dad put up the shelves in the shower, typical Man thing with the instructions but they got it up in the end!!
I had my first full dose of Rebif yesterday morning, 44. I had a headache in the afternoon which may or may not have been caused by the Rebif, I will keep an eye on things. I took it in the morning as I am at work Wed evening and don't really want to be taking the high dose at work, just in case I have any problems. If I get through this week ok I will start taking it at work again.
So all in all some good times and a fair few bad times this last couple of weeks. I will pull myself together at some point.
He keeps telling me that he loves me and wants to be with me but I can't help thinking why would he want me? I seem to spend half my time not feeling well, I get through work and then end up tired on the sofa, or in bed early. When I put my sensible head on I think well actually I was fine until I relapsed again, going out for dinners, cinema etc It doesn't make it any easier though. I have this constant nagging going on in the back of my head. I also don't want to keep saying it to him as I will start sounding like a broken record. I hate feeling like I need something, even if it isn't all the time.
What really prompted all this was waking up Sunday morning and realising that I have Optic Neuritis. I got through Sunday, I had to. Told D at work, told B in the evening and then woke up Monday morning and had to deal with it on my own. Its not bad, no real effect on my vision and mild pain. Nothing like last time, its just too close to being something that could take me off the road again, which scares me. There it is I am scared. Scared of loosing B, scared of not being able to do my job, scared about the future, just plain scared. I guess when this relapse clears up I will be back to my normal self - just feeling very sorry for myself at the moment.
On a lighter note B's parents visited at the weekend. I was at work both days but made it home at a reasonable time. We went out for dinner Saturday night and B cooked Sunday night. We are meeting them in Bristol next weekend for a nice meal so that should be good as well. B's Mum did some weeding which really needed doing! B and his Dad put up the shelves in the shower, typical Man thing with the instructions but they got it up in the end!!
I had my first full dose of Rebif yesterday morning, 44. I had a headache in the afternoon which may or may not have been caused by the Rebif, I will keep an eye on things. I took it in the morning as I am at work Wed evening and don't really want to be taking the high dose at work, just in case I have any problems. If I get through this week ok I will start taking it at work again.
So all in all some good times and a fair few bad times this last couple of weeks. I will pull myself together at some point.
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Now on 22!
Well I have been on Rebif, 22 for a week now. I have had no problems that I can attribute to the drug, which is great. I didn't sleep well Monday night but I can't put my finger on why, and I felt ill on Wed, but again I can't put my finger on what was wrong. No problems Wed night and no problems Fri night. I actually injected at work Fri night and worked the remaining 9 hours of my shift without a problem - really hope this continues with the 44!
On the down side I appear to be relapsing again. The left side of my torso is numb between my breast and navel. I didn't expect it so soon after the last one finished but I guess the timescales are right. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the Rebif helps slow them down. I felt pretty bad once I realsised I was numb again. Found it a little 'depressing' and it hit home that yes it is going to keep happening, nothing I can do about it, other than try to keep healthy and take the drugs. I have MS.......
Work is good, I am on my 3rd night shift and surviving! Was on my own Fri night, first time in a long time. Quite enjoyed it really, although I was bored. Still D has been back for these last 2 nights. We are back on our rota on Mon for 2 weeks which will be nice, then over to Windsor for 2 weeks. It is working out well though as I have a couple of extra weekends off! Woo hoo!!
On the down side I appear to be relapsing again. The left side of my torso is numb between my breast and navel. I didn't expect it so soon after the last one finished but I guess the timescales are right. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the Rebif helps slow them down. I felt pretty bad once I realsised I was numb again. Found it a little 'depressing' and it hit home that yes it is going to keep happening, nothing I can do about it, other than try to keep healthy and take the drugs. I have MS.......
Work is good, I am on my 3rd night shift and surviving! Was on my own Fri night, first time in a long time. Quite enjoyed it really, although I was bored. Still D has been back for these last 2 nights. We are back on our rota on Mon for 2 weeks which will be nice, then over to Windsor for 2 weeks. It is working out well though as I have a couple of extra weekends off! Woo hoo!!
Monday, 20 August 2007
Getting back to normality??
Its been a while since my last post as life seems to have got in the way - which is great!! Work and life in general seems to be getting back to how it was. I have been tired but nothing I can't cope with.
Work has been really good. I was in Slough last week and had a few good jobs, did my second cardiac arrest since coming back to work on Saturday morning - was one of the smoothest arrests I have ever been to mainly due the guys who worked there being really very helpful!
It started out as a chest pain with a description that led me to believe that the guy MIGHT be ill. Having said that I very rarely go out to chest pain patients who have simple easy cardiac chest pain symptoms and therefore there is very rarely anything wrong with them. We were going to a concrete building materials depot.
When we arrived we were calmly waved through to the warehouse area and met by a chap who gave me a brief run down of what had happened. He told me that the gentleman had been feeling fine when he got to work, he then started complaining of chest pain, vomited and collapsed. Very calmly he said 'he's now unconscious'. So I thought ok, he is probably ill then. As we went round a corner I saw a man doing chest compressions on another man. Due to the lack of urgency from anyone I hadn't been expecting this..... I turned to S and said, 'they are jumping up and down on his chest', to which S then went to get the defib. I got to the pt and assessed him. He had definitely arrested, half an hour after the start of our shift....... S returned and I confirmed the arrest to him.
We did all our bits and pieces, attached the defib, CPR, initial airways, phoned for a Paramedic and S then went for the stretcher. The guys that worked at the place were great. The first aider was doing CPR (we even got a PEA rhythm for a bit) and about four others help with lifting the pt and getting him to the ambulance. The first aider was even going to come with us! I thanked him profusely when we let him out and got the Paramedic who had just arrived, in.
All in all this chap had the best chance. Immediate chest compressions, quick ambulance response and ALS on route to hospital. In the end it wasn't enough and his family in India lost a Son, Husband and Father. I suspect a massive heart attack killed him pretty much then and there but we tried.
Otherwise I have been to three diabetic hypos in four days and a couple of minor injuries. I have had some really good crew mates as well, which makes all the difference.
I worked an overtime shift today and start on my rota line with D tomorrow, although we are having to go to Maidenhead. Not sure how they decided on that. Put two people on a response car, makes a lot of sense...... We are now picking up an ambulance at Bracknell and driving over to Maidenhead once we are ready. That is not going to go down well with the crew and responder over there I guess, but I didn't ask, our station manager told us that is what we are going to do. I guess we will see what happens over the next couple of weeks........
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Finally!
They arrived! The chap had to ring as my road doesn't appear on maps or sat nav yet but he made it! They are now in Bs fridge and I have a small travel bag, an info pack and an auto injector. No big travel bag and no sharps bin, but I'm sure my MS Nurse will have one if it doesn't arrive by Monday.
I had three good shifts at work over the weekend. Friday was easy, no ill people and no drunk people! Saturday and Sunday were busy, busy! I was working with a good friend which is always good fun but we did work hard. We had to patients who had absconded from their nursing homes. The first had been out for a couple of hours and had not been missed by the home in question and the second had been missing all night, and had been reported missing, about 15 minutes after a fire door alarm went off. One had over heated, one was cold. Other than that I would like to say 'thanks' to the man who had a tonic clonic seizure in the back of my ambulance after the Paramedic had left, my headache had gone by the time we got you to hospital. However I was much more sweaty afterwards and lugging you back onto the stretcher hurt my back........
We also met an unusual number of really nice people, the obligatory call from a house 5 minutes from the hospital for a 21 month old with a high (40.4 C) temperature, and no history of febrile convulsions was dealt with as usual, without the energy to point out that a car ride to hospital would have been just as easy, if not easier. Still her history meant she should have a visit to the hospital so we bimbled back to the hospital and town that we were trying desperately to get away from!!
I am still struggling with my uniform and as it is so warm I am starting to stick to it, as well as it being to small. Need a bigger one.......vowed I would never have to go up a size. Still I need to be able to move so I will swallow my pride and (hopefully) get measured tomorrow. Oh well.......
I had three good shifts at work over the weekend. Friday was easy, no ill people and no drunk people! Saturday and Sunday were busy, busy! I was working with a good friend which is always good fun but we did work hard. We had to patients who had absconded from their nursing homes. The first had been out for a couple of hours and had not been missed by the home in question and the second had been missing all night, and had been reported missing, about 15 minutes after a fire door alarm went off. One had over heated, one was cold. Other than that I would like to say 'thanks' to the man who had a tonic clonic seizure in the back of my ambulance after the Paramedic had left, my headache had gone by the time we got you to hospital. However I was much more sweaty afterwards and lugging you back onto the stretcher hurt my back........
We also met an unusual number of really nice people, the obligatory call from a house 5 minutes from the hospital for a 21 month old with a high (40.4 C) temperature, and no history of febrile convulsions was dealt with as usual, without the energy to point out that a car ride to hospital would have been just as easy, if not easier. Still her history meant she should have a visit to the hospital so we bimbled back to the hospital and town that we were trying desperately to get away from!!
I am still struggling with my uniform and as it is so warm I am starting to stick to it, as well as it being to small. Need a bigger one.......vowed I would never have to go up a size. Still I need to be able to move so I will swallow my pride and (hopefully) get measured tomorrow. Oh well.......
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