Sue had a very bad night. HUGE pain – so we are not allowed to visit today, so she can rest.
I took some things she’d asked for to the hospital – left them with the ward receptionist.
I got back to my car and got a txt from her… thanking me, telling me she felt very much better…
It turns out…
The afternoon and night nurses ‘forgot’ to give her iv pain relief.
FORGOT TO GIVE HER PAIN RELIEF!
WHAT THE FUCK?
Her doctor and the ‘pain management team’ are very angry.
The rest of us are so angry we could spit.
It’s a very good thing we are not allowed to visit today – I want to hurt someone, I really do.
This is supposed to be one of (if not THE) best cancer hospitals in the country.
God help the rest of them.
She’s had pain relief now – has had a sponge bath and is sitting in a chair. The sooner she is well enough to leave the hospital, the better.
ninehundredandseventytwelverecipes 
Oh. my. god. Unforgivable. As an ex nurse (well as ex as a nurse is able to be — you never really stop) I just hate to hear this sort of thing. It really pisses me off. Afternoon shift AND the night shift? What is going on? I think you all should kick up a huge fuss, but hopefully the “pain management team” (WTF?) has already done so. (A “team” can draw up management plans till they’re blue in the face but unless there is sufficient staff to actually carry out the plans, they might as well not bother.
Thanks Judith. I’m planning to make myself very unpopular tomorrow, and make quite a fuss. This is not my natural style, and I confess to some palpitations at the thought. But Sue is usually so strong – right now she needs someone to do that for her – and it seems I’m it. We were all just appalled that she went through this – it must not be allowed to happen again – to anyone.
I hear you Janet. Courage, my friend. It is very hard when one is a non-confrontational type (like me) but you are so very right. Sue can’t fight for herself just now, so someone must step up for her.
Is there an update? How is Sue doing?
No need to rush the holiday decorations, it IS early. What does Sue want to do?
The sad thing, generally speaking, is that we tend to wait for dire times to make special memories, because we get so caught up in the day-to-day business of living. If only most of us could make every day special, in some way.
Continued purrs, purrayers and Light.
Quote from Buddha – “the trouble is, you think you have time.” Today was another bad day. They’ve changed her medication – and she has spent the whole day vomiting. I got to see her – but she was asleep…ish. We know in our heads that this is going to be a huge struggle, but seeing it… usually I am fine. Today – the Chaplain called while I was there. Sue was too ill to bother – and she is even less of a believer in religion than I am. But, for me – being a non-religious person is not the same as being a non-believer. I pray. I really do – even if the only thing I pray is…’thank you’ for … lovely days… cats… pretty flowers… for.., you know … the good stuff… small stuff usually, (my life is small ) but, small is good right? Usually,, when I come out of her room I am fine. There is no-one to be especially concerned. Today – the Chaplain was waiting for me…. it was not pretty my family says ‘I am their rock’ people – I am here to tell you – I have never felt more helpless in my life – more less rock-like. There is nothing rock-like about me at all. Sue has been given a ‘fighting chance”, but the fighting is all down to her. All we can do is cheer from the sidelines. Today, the opposition is winning. No matter how hard we cheer. This is all just shit right now. When I think I started this blog because of … food… fancy recipes… for fucks sake…(!) then she tells me… if we hadn’t started this almost no carb diet together… she would never have found this cancer… this cancer that is so rare and usually discovered by autopsy… FUCKINGHELL it can’t possibly be all down to diet… can it? PLEASE TELL ME IT CAN’T If I thought it could – I would be in the Square, shouting at strangers… (this is a small city – there really is a man who does that!) If you are at all worried about yourselves or your people… PLEASE research this… please. ACTUALLY – since – you people are the people I care about… LOOK IT UP! Please I’m not eating much these days, (but I sure as hell am drinking a lot.) Which doesn’t help actually ie the same shit is still here when your head clears the next morning.
Sad and unbelievable! I wonder if that nurse will be held accountable. Probably not.
Oh she will Bev. We are making a formal complaint. We want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. They need better ‘systems’ at the very least. XO
Oh I’d be way ticked off too. Hope your sister is doing ok.
Love Leanne