Frieda in Hospital
Frieda's spell in Nambour Hospital, Intensive Care
Sam
48 Nelson St
Golden Beach
29 October 96
Dear Marg and Doug,
It is hardly necessary to point out to you that it is now less than two months to Xmas and that time is flying. I once remarked to Dad that time seemed to be passing quicker than it did when I was younger. His reply was about what you would expect from him 'at my time Sam, I find it is a continuous procession of April Fool's Days'.
Having wasted that bit of space I will get down to business.
You have been getting bits about Frieda some in order and some not, so I thought I would try to set out what happened more or less in sequence. Starting at the beginning, just to be different.
Frieda first went into hospital in the evening of 26/9/96, now that date is easy to fix as it is Archie's birthday and we had spoken to him about an hour earlier. It had been a pretty ordinary sort of a week.
We had an early nine holes of golf. Good enough for her to go out with the girls on the Tuesday, this was 18 holes but in a kart.
Enjoyed it and wasn't unduly tied when she finished. Concert Wednesday evening.
Thursday she was a bit flat, but nothing out of the ordinary. She quite happily spoke to Archie. About an hour later, she came out and said 'I think I should get some oxygen'. At that time of night, the only place was the Cal Hospital. So off we went, I think we both expected to be home again in an hour or so. That wasn't to be. I had a ring in the morning from the Andrea A'Hern Hospital to say that she had been transferred to them. I spent most of the day there, she didn't seem to be responding to treatment After tea I went back again.
Frieda thought she was more comfortable in a chair and she wanted me about so I camped on her bed, with the permission of the Staff. We settled her down about 10 o'clock. In the early hours the Sister in Charge sent for the doctor. He told me that if he could get a bed he would transfer Frieda to the Intensive Care Unit at the Nambour Hospital. I returned after a shave and a clean up to find her packed and waiting for the ambulance. I packed a few things and followed (this is 28/9/96).
Much the same performace, not responding to treatment and very distressed with her breathing. I found a bed for the night and a bit of tea and returned to the Hospital. About 10 o'clock as there was nothing I could do I left for bed. I had been warned that they might have to put in a breathing tube. During that night they did just that.
When I returned on the morning, there she was, a tube in her mouth and another in her nose, small tubes going to needles in various places and wires running in all directions. An interesting pattern showing on a screen and various thing that went 'beep' at times. If you haven't seen an ICU in action then I wouldn't bother. It isn't a laugh a minute. 'Intensive' is certainly correct, 1 patient - 1 nurse and enough recording of this that and the other to use up a tree in half no time.
There she was, out cold and doing practically nothing for herself. One dope to paralyse the muscles fo the chest so that she wouldn't resist the inflow of air. Another dope to create amnesia so that she wouldn't remember the horrible things they were doing to her. Then they tell you that inspite of all this the patient knows that someone is there and tending to them. So I sat and stroked her hand and talked to her, when I ran out of conversation I recited poetry. She continued in this state of suspended animation until Thursday 10/10/96.
The only change in Frieda's condition was that they had replaced the tube through her mouth for one direct into her windpipe. During this time she puffed up considerably through fluid collecting under the skin, her skin being very fragile at any time a number of breaks and abrassions occurred. Thursday 10/10/96 was the day when they started to get her out of sedation. For a time that was worse, the eyes were half open, but it didn't look as if there was anyone at home. The next day it was better, at least there was some signs of recognition in the eyes. Now the job was to see if they could wean her off breathing with the machine. This slowly happened, the machine was there and kept a bit of pressure on the air, so that if she tried to breathe it was a bit easier. The next step was to get off the machine.
There was a 'T' piece that fitted onto the 'tracky' tube, using another 'T' piece they replaced the machine with another that blew a slight breath of warmed-moist-oxygen-enriched air through the 'T' piece, it was there but you had to suck it in. The first reaction to having to do the work was one of panic, I won't be able to get enough air in. That was Wednesday 16/10/96. The second session without the machine was easier, a bit of barracking and encouragment seemed to help. The next step was to try 'eating' and talking.
The lower end of the 'tracky' tube is help in place with a cuff that is inflated, so that it won't flap round and so that things can't get past it into the lung. A revolting looking mixture of thickened orange juice was used, to this was added a blue colour. Not for artistic effect but so that if some of it got into the wrong place it would show up easily. Three small spoonfulls, then the suction was put down the tracky tube, no blue so all was well. Talking was interesting. Take a deep breath, then put a finger over the tube, breath out and speak, enough air would get over the voice box to make a noise. She played her audience well, say something to the Doctor, in a funny squeaky voice 'I love you'.
The next move was to get her into a General Ward, that happened on 22/10/96 and that is where she is now 27/10/96. Only one tube, the one into her stomach, for a bit of supplementary feeding during the night. Now it is a matter of building up her strength until she can go into a re-habilitation ward,(unit I think they call it). She has quite a bit of improvement to make before that is possible. The opinion I have been given is that it will probably take about 6 months to get right, which will probably be to about the same degree of activity as she had before the attack.
So far it has been a free ride, just a reprint of the letter I wrote to Jock a couple of days ago. Now I will have to start work. I had a ring from a Doctor yesterday afternoon saying that they were going to transfer Frieda to the Rehab Section today, would I bring in some clothes and a pair of shoes. I thing it might be a bit sudden, but I can't fault their judgement so far. The gear is packed and we will be right to go shortly. First to ring the hospital so that I know where to find her. I think the biggest shock, since she became conscious is the terrible weakness. It shouldn't be when you stop to think about it. She had been unconscious for 10 or 11 days, during that time she did practically nothing for herself, except keep her heart beating. Normally if you are in bed you move around, turn over, sit up, lie down and move your legs from side to side. Frieda did none of these things, turned over, arms and legs moved, even breathing was down to a bare minimum. It was a great effort the other day when she managed to touch her own nose. This is coming good fairly quickly, she can now move her legs round and lift one of them, wriggle her shoulders and butt. Very small things but each day there is a visible improvement.
What is perhaps the biggest thing is that she is now working with nature, she has a goal and is working towards it.
Before she was just there. The Doctors and Staff were doing a job on a body and there wasn't much, if any, will apart from the animal will to keep on going. It's time I stopped, I am getting confused and will probably confuse you as well.
It has been a pleasure to speak with Anne at times, she has a laugh that comes over the phone very well. My first time I got Ross, which was mildy embarrassing. He carried it off quite well, I think it had happened before.
Welcome back, I hope you had a good trip and will look forward to hearing about it at a later date. That should really be at the start of the letter, but I hope you will excuse. I have only been in the shed to collect things for the past four weeks or so. I have managed to keep up with the garden more or less. I have had to throw away a lot of beans after having allowed them to over grow. I will have to watch the Zucchinis and little pumpkins.
Love to you and yours from both of us here.
Love
