On Monday a nice man saved my life
On Monday a calm, confident and competent professional took the first actions that I honestly believe may have saved my life, or at the very least my left kidney.
Later, at Chesterfield Royal Hospital I was cared for in a high-tech environment with world-class facilities and staff. I was treated in a comfortable, spacious private room en-suite in the new surgical unit, and there was neither need nor incentive for me to make use of private medical insurance.
However things might have ended quite differently. I became ill over the weekend and after an agonising night I called NHS Direct and was put in the care of the out of hours service. I was told to make my own way to The Old Scarsdale Hospital. My wife drove me there and I was interviewed by an earnest young woman whose badge identified her as "trainee specialist doctor".
I presented with a high temperature, blood red face and acute pain in the lower abdomen. This doctor did not take my temperature which later showed to be as high as 39 degrees. Nor did she take my pulse or blood pressure. She asked interminable questions about my medical history as I writhed in pain, then after some feeling of my abdomen and a digital rectal examination her initial advice was for me to go home and drink fluids, take laxatives and painkillers. She left the room for some time to consult with an invisible colleague and her final advice was for me to omit the laxatives and visit my GP on Monday morning. I staggered from her office bent double and in a state close to complete collapse. I do not believe she served me well, but I don't blame her; it was a systemic failure.
When I presented at my GP's surgery on Monday morning, with exactly the same symptoms, Dr Sudeep Chawla performed the necessary preliminary examinations with speed, skill and maturity. Suspecting a volvulus or obstruction of the bowel, he took immediate steps to admit me as an emergency to hospital.
Within a few hours I was Theatre-prepped and in the Emergency Management Unit. I spent 2 days on a drip, nil by mouth, being pumped with intravenous antiobiotics and morphine, and on oxygen.
Tests, scans and x-rays showed that I did not have a volvulus, which was good news since it has a very high morbidity rate. About 1 in 3 men of my age do not survive a twisted bowel unless treated very promptly I believe.
However I do have a kidney stone lodged in my urethra. The infection in my blood and urine has been largely killed off by the intensive treatment I've received at CRH.
I might have endured immediate invasive surgery, but the patience of the doctors at Chesterfield and the attentiveness of the nursing meant that I was spared (perhaps only temporarily). At least now I know what, why and how the pain happens and what to do if it intensifies. I have to remain at home for 2 weeks and continue a regime of antibiotics and analgesics, with lots and lots of fluids. I've no appetite for food and have lost my taste for tea and my big addiction - coffee! These can only be good things in the longer term since I have become rather too well-upholstered.
I have to wait and monitor my "outputs" to see if (Oh Please God) my body's own mechanisms can break up this stone - it's an impressive 5mm - so I can pass it naturally. If it does not then I know exactly what I'm facing, and I know I'll be in the hands of very competent surgeons.
So what should I conclude. Well, if you're chasing me for copy or work or other deadlines, please understand that I'm still rather fragile and taking only light duties. I won't be travelling as I feel the need to stay close to the hospital in case I need attention. Also I'm still in pain but if you were to measure it on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say it's a 4 right now whereas it was an 11 on Sunday. I am planning to take a look at my email etc. some time this afternoon, and build a recovery plan.
I've got the best possible nurse in Viv, my wife. The kids have been, and I'm surrounded by messages and tokens of love and support. My Onlignment business partner, Clive has somehow conjured 36 hours out of his days to cover for my absence. I'm a very lucky man.
As for the Out of Hours Service, it appears to be the weak link in the system, staffed by bright-eyed but woefully inexperienced staff. I do not doubt the intentions of the woman who took my life in her hands on Sunday, but it would not have been a happy outcome for either of us if my epitaph read, "she was a nice, bright young woman who did all she knew"!
Later, at Chesterfield Royal Hospital I was cared for in a high-tech environment with world-class facilities and staff. I was treated in a comfortable, spacious private room en-suite in the new surgical unit, and there was neither need nor incentive for me to make use of private medical insurance.
However things might have ended quite differently. I became ill over the weekend and after an agonising night I called NHS Direct and was put in the care of the out of hours service. I was told to make my own way to The Old Scarsdale Hospital. My wife drove me there and I was interviewed by an earnest young woman whose badge identified her as "trainee specialist doctor".
I presented with a high temperature, blood red face and acute pain in the lower abdomen. This doctor did not take my temperature which later showed to be as high as 39 degrees. Nor did she take my pulse or blood pressure. She asked interminable questions about my medical history as I writhed in pain, then after some feeling of my abdomen and a digital rectal examination her initial advice was for me to go home and drink fluids, take laxatives and painkillers. She left the room for some time to consult with an invisible colleague and her final advice was for me to omit the laxatives and visit my GP on Monday morning. I staggered from her office bent double and in a state close to complete collapse. I do not believe she served me well, but I don't blame her; it was a systemic failure.
When I presented at my GP's surgery on Monday morning, with exactly the same symptoms, Dr Sudeep Chawla performed the necessary preliminary examinations with speed, skill and maturity. Suspecting a volvulus or obstruction of the bowel, he took immediate steps to admit me as an emergency to hospital.
Within a few hours I was Theatre-prepped and in the Emergency Management Unit. I spent 2 days on a drip, nil by mouth, being pumped with intravenous antiobiotics and morphine, and on oxygen.
Tests, scans and x-rays showed that I did not have a volvulus, which was good news since it has a very high morbidity rate. About 1 in 3 men of my age do not survive a twisted bowel unless treated very promptly I believe.
However I do have a kidney stone lodged in my urethra. The infection in my blood and urine has been largely killed off by the intensive treatment I've received at CRH.
I might have endured immediate invasive surgery, but the patience of the doctors at Chesterfield and the attentiveness of the nursing meant that I was spared (perhaps only temporarily). At least now I know what, why and how the pain happens and what to do if it intensifies. I have to remain at home for 2 weeks and continue a regime of antibiotics and analgesics, with lots and lots of fluids. I've no appetite for food and have lost my taste for tea and my big addiction - coffee! These can only be good things in the longer term since I have become rather too well-upholstered.
I have to wait and monitor my "outputs" to see if (Oh Please God) my body's own mechanisms can break up this stone - it's an impressive 5mm - so I can pass it naturally. If it does not then I know exactly what I'm facing, and I know I'll be in the hands of very competent surgeons.
So what should I conclude. Well, if you're chasing me for copy or work or other deadlines, please understand that I'm still rather fragile and taking only light duties. I won't be travelling as I feel the need to stay close to the hospital in case I need attention. Also I'm still in pain but if you were to measure it on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say it's a 4 right now whereas it was an 11 on Sunday. I am planning to take a look at my email etc. some time this afternoon, and build a recovery plan.
I've got the best possible nurse in Viv, my wife. The kids have been, and I'm surrounded by messages and tokens of love and support. My Onlignment business partner, Clive has somehow conjured 36 hours out of his days to cover for my absence. I'm a very lucky man.
As for the Out of Hours Service, it appears to be the weak link in the system, staffed by bright-eyed but woefully inexperienced staff. I do not doubt the intentions of the woman who took my life in her hands on Sunday, but it would not have been a happy outcome for either of us if my epitaph read, "she was a nice, bright young woman who did all she knew"!
posted by Phil Green at 12:48 AM
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