Hospital today. Got the Big Cheese Consultant again, and narrowly avoided losing my temper when she suggested it was OUR fault they gave us a 3-week prescription instead of a 4-week! However, the big issue today was that the GP's surgery has not been letting us know when FL should be changing his dose of Warfarin, so he has dangerously thick blood at the moment - and it has been like that for two weeks - fabulous! She adjusted his Warfarin dose (double dose tonight and then slightly less thereafter) to thin it down. And we were told to make an appointment for another blood test at the GPs on Friday and "make sure" we get a result phoned through on Saturday. Considered arguing that the GP is shut on a Saturday, but I got a warning look from FL so stayed quiet.
Anyway - the Free Light Chain assay results were back. His ratio has fallen from 163 (one hundred and sixty three!) in July, to 2.1 (two point one!) in September. "Normal" is less than 1.6 (one point six). Get it?! GOOD NEWS!!!! So she is sending off another set of blood today and next time we may be looking at normality, and an end to the chemo! It won't be the end of hospitals or illness, because the best case scenario is remission not cure, but this is GOOD GOOD NEWS!
So we didn't pick any more fights with her, and headed off to the GP to request a blood test appointment for the Warfarin. We explained the Friday/ Saturday thing and stressed the urgency. And the receptionist gave a smirk and said "We aren't open on Saturdays". OK... so can we ring the hospital ourselves for the result? Oh no absolutely not, they wouldn't give it to a patient. OK... so what do they suggest? Earliest appointment available for a blood test? MONDAY! Monday afternoon, actually.
So we are going to Beauly for a long-awaited short break (tomorrow until Saturday) and FL will not have a new NRI (blood clotting) result until Tuesday... or possibly Wednesday!?!
And if anything nasty happens to him in the interim... I absolutely blame the NHS.
Anyway - the Free Light Chain assay results were back. His ratio has fallen from 163 (one hundred and sixty three!) in July, to 2.1 (two point one!) in September. "Normal" is less than 1.6 (one point six). Get it?! GOOD NEWS!!!! So she is sending off another set of blood today and next time we may be looking at normality, and an end to the chemo! It won't be the end of hospitals or illness, because the best case scenario is remission not cure, but this is GOOD GOOD NEWS!
So we didn't pick any more fights with her, and headed off to the GP to request a blood test appointment for the Warfarin. We explained the Friday/ Saturday thing and stressed the urgency. And the receptionist gave a smirk and said "We aren't open on Saturdays". OK... so can we ring the hospital ourselves for the result? Oh no absolutely not, they wouldn't give it to a patient. OK... so what do they suggest? Earliest appointment available for a blood test? MONDAY! Monday afternoon, actually.
So we are going to Beauly for a long-awaited short break (tomorrow until Saturday) and FL will not have a new NRI (blood clotting) result until Tuesday... or possibly Wednesday!?!
And if anything nasty happens to him in the interim... I absolutely blame the NHS.
6 comments:
wonderful news:)) enjoy the break away
hugs
Great news
India
Excellent news. My mum has had the same problem with Warfarin and tests and no one taking responsibility, so it seems the NHS south of the border is just as bad.
I hate it when people smirk in situations like that. I think that, in that moment, that person forgot that they worked in Healthcare and behaved like an office worker. It's infuriating enough when you come across that kind of attitude in the office - but it's usually just paper pushing - it's not people's anxieties or their health.
Put it behind you and have a great weekend...celebrate the good!
I'm thrilled for FL. I know it will be nice to get some normalcy back in his (and your) lives.
It's really unfortunate that you have to tolerate poor service in the NHS. If your local baker or butcher gave that sort of service, he'd be out of business in a short time.
YAY for FL :D That's ace :D Shame about the NHS idiots though. And Michael Moore thinks the NHS is better because...? Well, ok, in some respects it is, but it really needs some repairs and some etiquette lessons :/
PS. Want a bit of Smooshy? ;D
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