Updates on Anna (not so old)

[Nevets]

Fab news after a very very cold day at work...

Great to see you up and about, now take it easy

Love to you both from Steve and Paula x

[Ron Miel]

Ditto to all the above Anna. Great to hear from you once again. Don't try to progress too fast though, we'll hopefully all still be here when you are ready to meet. Meanwhile, take good care of yourself. David and Di

[missfixit70]

Can't believe I missed this one Fantastic to see you back on the forum Anna , just don't go doing too much too soon

[Triple/R]

With all the doom & gloom this year, crap weather,Anna's ailments etc; it's brilliant news to know your on the mend both me & Christine & of course everybody that knows you have been worried sick about you-----can't wait to see you & Jimmy on a meet somewhere,so carry on the good work Jimmy--YOUR A SUPERSTAR
All our love Ray & Christine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[aitch]

Great to here you are home and on the mend Anna

build your strength slowly - and I hope to meet you in a field sometime soon.

[mobilecat]

Anna its fantastic to have you back and wonderful to hear that you are recovering and getting better day by day . You had us all quite worried.

[westonwarrior]

Its great to see you back

but 1 step at a time and see you soon

[hogggman]

as kirsty said,i can`t believe we missed this!this is such wonderful news.take it easy anna,don`t do too much too soon,and we look forward to seeing both of you when you`re feeling well enough.
lots of love
jamie,sharon and family
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[not so old]

I realise now that I am a bit less confused(Still batty though )and that I may not have thanked everyone for their kind words and very warm welcome back to Bongo land, So a very big thank you to all of you who are helping me get through this. An extra big thank you to John for keeping you updated and lending an ear to Jimmy when he was obviously very anxious. Thank you all so very very much
I cant wait to meet up again before too long.
I guess you are all curious, as to what happened, so here we go........... I had Swine Flu, which after a couple of weeks, had not cleared and I had to go back to bed. A couple of days later I collapsed and was admitted to hospital.I was given Blood due to low blood count. I had difficulty breathing and was eventually put on oxygen, but still my condition deteriorated I was confused and I had pain and then no feeling in my limbs.At this stage I asked Jimmy to take me home to die(I was exhausted) I then went into heart failure and was transferred to "Critical care unit" where I was put on a ventilator,nose tube fed and had lines and catheters etc set in. Diagnosed ARDS and the family were informed on several occasions during the first week on ventilation that I wouldn't get through the night.
I had Pneumonia and my kidneys had failed also(MODS), so I was as big as a beached whale
Because I was fighting the Life support, I had to be paralysed as well as heavily sedated (I will never forget the nightmares) Jimmy was told by the doctor, that unless I could be moved to another specialist hospital in Leicester I would die, but they didn't think that I would last the journey, so it was decided to keep me there and do as much as was humanly possible to keep me alive. To everyone's surprise and despite all the complications my condition improved slightly and My kidneys started to recover and function, my heart was stronger and the fluid was leaving my body
Shortly after, I was temporarily taken off the ventilator and back onto oxygen, but developed a secondary chest infection, so I was put back on ventilator and had a tracheotomy for extra vent. I was again put into a state of deep sedation and paralysed. I was eventually awakened, but very confused, hallucinating and of course, still could not talk(Jimmy liked that ) Nearly 7 weeks off and on Ventilators by now. The nurses doctors and in fact everyone on this Critical care unit, were absolutely fantastic, caring,people and without them I would not be here, so if any of you are watching, Thank you for my life The CCU had only 6 beds but lots of doctors and nurses. I had a nurse with me 24/7 and another who helped with relief, lifting etc. Due to my hallucinating I could only see this unit as something like Startrek, it had so many lights and machines If any of my family ( they stayed with me in turn, day and night) Thank you.... I love you very much.
I was eventually weaned off the ventilator(nightmare), I had the Trachea removed and I could talk again(what a relief) I was taught how to swallow again, so that I could eat and drink eventually(Wow! that first drink, was heaven). I had lots of physiotherapy to help, breathing, moving etc. by this time I had been in hospital 7 weeks and was then transferred to the general ward for rehab. I had the feeding tube removed a week before coming home. I was told it would still be a while before I could go home and I was very depressed as you can imagine. I was still being lifted up by a sling thingy. Several days later I was out of bed with help/lifting and was practising sitting and standing with therapists. Not long after, I was taking a few painful steps. I did so want to go home, but was told No! Then the Doc came in one day and was discussing me going home for a day which might cheer me up. Next day I was informed that going home and if there was any problems I would be readmitted. I had been in hospital over 9 weeks by now
Great!!!! I thought.............. but it was hard without the 24/7 nurses!
I was warned of all the usual things and told there a possibility of hair and nail loss. My hair is coming out a bit, but the doc says that because it is thick I should be OK. My nails are distorted, but still there
I had help when I got home and my daughter stayed for a while. My bed was downstairs as we were instructed and I spent the first couple of weeks at home... In bed!. I now have a stair lift fitted,rails everywhere, the chairs raised, several zimmers, commode toilet raisers. You name it It looks like a retirement nursing home! I still have help where needed and therapist and doctor visits regularly. I recently had a bit of a setback as I have permanent damage on my left lung and the condition has accelerated my arthritis causing more pain and tiredness, but I am getting back on the saddle and ready to go again. I have told you what I know, but I do not remember much of the first 5 weeks in hospital and it is a lot of what the family and doctor have told me. I had never heard of ARDS or MODS and have just recently been checking it out myself. It is very rare, as my GP said and it is a miracle that I survived. Thank you all for your support
I have had regular tests and my oxygen concentration has improved again in the last week and I will be having a chest Xray in a couple of weeks to see what my lungs are doing. I'll let you know. I had my Trachea dressing removed a couple of weeks ago and it has healed lovely and I am walking a little better now with a zimmer. I have to nap after lunch as I get very tired, I have a great appetite and I am gaining weight rapidly. So... Sorted!!!! Eating lots of chocolates!!!!! I can not remember a lot of what happened and according to the doctors, that is a good thing, so this is as I remember and been told. No doubt there is a lot missing. If you enjoy a rubbish books, you'll enjoy this. One lesson learned.. God is out there, all you have to do is reach out with prayer,strength and hold on to the will to live that he gave us all.


Anna...Getting there

[mister munkey]

Anna...Getting there

New signature perhaps?

[francophile1947]

the family were informed on several occasions during the first week on ventilation that I wouldn't get through the night.

Thank goodness you didn't follow that path Keep on plugging gal

[Sar N Ade]

Crikey Anna, it was even worse than we thought, and so very hard on Jimmy and the family too.

We are all so grateful and relieved you are improving now.

Take care of yourself, it is going to be a slow journey.

Love and best wishes

x Sarah & Adrian.

[munroman]

Crikey Anna, after surviving all that, just watch out if you see Jimmy bringing home a silver bullet!

What a story!

[not so old]

Crikey Anna, it was even worse than we thought, and so very hard on Jimmy and the family too.

We are all so grateful and relieved you are improving now.

Take care of yourself, it is going to be a slow journey.

Love and best wishes

x Sarah & Adrian.

Thank you guys.
In case I didnt thank you ....Thank you also for your offer to help Jimmy on your way through to your family. It was a very kind offer and very much appreciated. I didn't get that message until weeks out of hospital. I hope you are well and I can see you both soon

Cheers Anna

[not so old]

Crikey Anna, after surviving all that, just watch out if you see Jimmy bringing home a silver bullet!

What a story!

Good job I didn't tell all of the story then Eh!