an answer of sorts
Entry posted by swilkinson
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He's back home at last. Ray should have come home yesterday but there was a delay in processing some of the tests so he came home today instead. He is now asleep on our pull-out sofa bed. Allan is still working noisily in the bedroom on putting the shelves into the built in wardrobe so I thought the lounge bed was a better idea as it is quieter in there.
I think just coming home in the car was excitement enough for Ray on his first day so I put in an apology for both of us for craft group this afternoon and our Lions Club dinner tonight. I think by the end of the week he might be feeling stronger but you all know what it is like to lay in a hospital bed for three weeks and do nothing much, it weakens you.
We got an answer of a sort. The blood tests showed chronic anemia and a kind of kidney disease that is related to pernicious anemia. It has a long name and I guess when we go to the kidney specialist on 18th September he will go into what it is, how it is to be treated etc. Of course it is often associated with long-term diabetes, particularly type 1 (Ray has type 2) so I guess it was something they were looking for. It inhibits the production of red blood cells, leading to anemia. Don't know if there is any treatment or what it will be. That and the chest infection are now blamed for the falls, the weakness etc and not a TIA. Though the doctor does admit that TIAs can be associated with the condition. What a cheerful thought eh?
I will plod on regardless. I got to see the social worker at last but she referred me back to my case worker, she said I needed a new assessment etc in the light of Ray's new condition. I guess I will put my name on the 14 week waiting list. She didn't have answers to any of my other questions either. I guess her chief function is nursing home placement for all the frail, aged people who come for minor surgery and as Ray has a wife/caregiver he is not her responsibility.
I do feel a little let-down by the system. Ray has always had excellent care in our hospitals in the past and I guess you can put all of this indecision and less than perfect care down to the lack of staff due to the viruses hitting our population right now. There seems to be so many of them this end of winter. Mind you it is officially Spring as of yesterday. Spring!!! At last.
We'll take it easy for the rest of the week, then I'll see if we can pull our life back together next week and get back to some kind of "normal". I think I need a lot of advice so will seek out some help from our stroke group etc and see if I can find out where this disease goes, what I need to look out for etc. There is always someone who has had experience in the area of kidney disease and knows what it leads to. Not that I really want to know, if you know what I mean. Sometimes ignarance Is bliss.
But for now I will just enjoy NOT driving to the hospital every day and and I'll try to keep Ray warm, well-fed etc. He is entitled to a little TLC. He is so glad to be home. That is until the next "traumatic event" I guess.
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