Hospital check up
I had my four week check at the hospital yesterday with my awesome surgeon Mr Brown. Everything is looking good!
At some point I need to learn when it’s not ok to make inappropriate comments though. He needed to *ahem* examine me and so a nurse was present. She was asking me to assume the usual lay on you left side, knees up position when I said “yep I’ve been here before!”
“Oh” she replied sympathetically “have you had problems and had to come in after surgery?”
“Nah I’ve just had years of this so I’m used to literally being in this position”
Anyway, Mr Brown was happy that everything seemed ok with my pouch. But when we discussed my bowel habits (actually is it still correct to say bowel habits? You know what with me missing my large bowel…) he wasn’t happy with the amount of times I’m going.
It’s currently around 15 times a day, it’s very sudden and urgent and I’m having continence issues. I’m having to wear pads to deal with that and it makes me feel like absolute shit (excuse the pun) My confidence is very low and I feel embarrassed and really fucking sad about it.
Anyhoooo Mr Brown asked how much loperamide I was taking, the answer is I’m not because no one told me I should be or prescribed anything. He wasn’t happy about that and said I should have been taking it. So he prescribed that and was hopeful that it would solve a lot of the issues I’m having, which would be AMAZING!
He then asked if I knew someone who runs a certain shop in Sheffield, I said I didn’t think so but that I did run this blog so perhaps they had read something here. He said they had told him that and so he’d better do a good job incase I wrote anything mean about him. I assured him I had only put lovely things about him!
It was a bit weird to know people are talking about this place and that it’s got back to my surgeon!! But it’s all good and I can hand on heart say, without any persuasion from him, that Mr Brown has been fantastic from the beginning. He always comes across really caring and like you are important, I’ve never felt like just a name on a sheet and his care has been amazing.
Going from 8 years at Rotherham hospital to asking to be moved to Sheffield my care had improved so much. Both the Hallamshire and Northern General (with the exception of bitch nurse from last year!) have been awesome and I can’t thank them enough.
You know you have a good doctor when both nurses and other patients have nothing but good words to say about them. When I speak to other IBD patients in Sheffield, everyone gushes about him and one nurse in hospital said “Ohhh he’s like a fine wine, he’s just getting better with age!”
So Mr Brown, if you happen across my little blog (because let’s face it, most people would DEFINITELY google themselves if they heard they’d been blogged about!!) you are doing an awesome job and I thank you from the bottom (fnarrr!) of my heart for your care over the last year.
I have to say loperamide isn’t the instant cure I was (stupidly) hoping for, it made me feel quite queasy last night and there was no impact on the amount of times I’m going to the loo. But obviously it’s something that’s going to take time to get in my system.
I had a pint of Orange juice yesterday as I was craving for it but it was not good. At least I’m assuming it was the juice! It passed thru my system in about an hour and left me on the loo about 10 times in an hour. OJ is now on my pouch kill list…
But I have to keep reminding myself that it’s early days. I’ll keep plodding on and I’m sure things will get better soon.
Love Sam x
“You know you have a good doctor when both nurses and other patients have nothing but good words to say about them.” Couldn’t agree more. Nurses that work with consultants all day every day don’t miss much. Generally they’re honest about it to patients.
Hope the blocker-upper works Sam.
“You know you have a good doctor when both nurses and other patients have nothing but good words to say about them.” Couldn’t agree more. Nurses that work with consultants all day every day don’t miss much. Generally they’re honest about it to patients.
Hope the blocker-upper works Sam.
Having experienced very, very, very minor “innards” problems over the years (I am 85 yo) I am really so impressed after reading your blogs. You sound like a very “gutsy” lady who is putting on a vey brave face and showing great determination while treating your own problems in quite a light-hearted way.
It must be a terrific help to have such a sympathetic and competent specialist on your case.
Well done!!! You sound a great lady. The vey Best of Good Luck to you. You have all of my admiration.
Fred.
Thanks so much for your comment Fred – it means a lot x
Having experienced very, very, very minor “innards” problems over the years (I am 85 yo) I am really so impressed after reading your blogs. You sound like a very “gutsy” lady who is putting on a vey brave face and showing great determination while treating your own problems in quite a light-hearted way.
It must be a terrific help to have such a sympathetic and competent specialist on your case.
Well done!!! You sound a great lady. The vey Best of Good Luck to you. You have all of my admiration.
Fred.
Thanks so much for your comment Fred – it means a lot x
Good luck in the future sam xx
Thanks Jayne x
Good luck in the future sam xx
Thanks Jayne x
Your a gutsy lady I admire you xx
Your a gutsy lady I admire you xx