Lancaster and Lancaster Hospital

[Borlotti]

Just got back from on the train from Lancaster, and unfortunately my friend was taken ill in the Holiday Inn in Lancaster whilst on a walking holiday.  We enjoyed 4 days walking in the lovely Lune Valley.  Just to say that I left her in hospital with a major stroke, after her husband and children came up from London and I visited again on the train from London, Friday until Sunday.  She is stable now, but I can't thank the lovely nurses, the lovely staff in the Holiday Inn for the care that they gave to her and also to me.  In Lancaster Hospital I was given coffee, offered toast, as this happened at 5.30 am in the morning, and all the care the very lovely nurses gave to my friend.  Hopefully they will be getting her back to London soon in an ambulance with her dear husband, married for 54 years, but not too sure that she will get better treatment in London than Lancaster.  The people, even in the shops were so friendly and helpful.  Coming back to Euston Station in London was not pleasant, two beggers and I have lived in London all my life but it was so dirty and I was not in a good mood to give them money today.  I even got a free ice cream from Virgin Rail and the staff were so helpful for directing me to the right train, changed at  Preston, Stockport, then Euston.   My friend's husband and daughters managed to get a student flat in Lancaster University as graduation day had gone, and before that all the hotels, Holiday Inn etc. were fully booked.  Just want to say thank you very friendly, helpful people in Lancaster and Lancaster University looks good, even without the students, and if one asks for help people are great.  Seriously thinking of moving because as you now know I call it 'nuts alley' in lovely north London Enfield and outside Euston station was worse.

[Borlotti]

[cambourne7]

Sounds like shes in a good place thats as important as her condition from what i can tell at the moment.

But i left London years ago and never looked back i could not live there again and commuting to work there holds zero appeal to me. I remember driving to see my parents and as husband sat in traffic next to a busy high st one i had walked up and down to school for years a noticed what i though was a large cat but was actually a rat :( i live in the countryside and not seen one !! (well a half chewed one does not count hehe)

[manicscousers]

Hope your friend gets well soon, borlotti.
We live near Wigan but have a caravan near Lancaster. We've had it nearly a year now and love it up there. Keeping fingers crossed for a full recovery for your friend.
And that you feel better, too x

[lottie lou]

Hope your friend recovers soon Borlotti.  I left London also years ago - well I popped into Brum to visit a relative and got stuck here - over 40 yrs ago.

[caroline7758]

My parents retired to near Kendal and both have had excellent treatment in Lancaster hospital. And my younger daughter has just finished her second year at Lancaster university and she's loving it. 

[sunloving]

Aww so glad you have some good expereinces of lancaster , i lived there on the vale estate for three dreadful years in a town of wife beating idiots. Just dont cross the river and everything will be fine! Great transition city groups up there and an incredible edibles type movement but lots of scummy blokes and their idiot girlfreinds.

Bradford is such a breath of fresh air in comparison!! 
xSunloving

[Borlotti]

No more news of my friend yet.  Staying in the University accommodation was good, made me wish I was 18 again as I never went to university and it looked great. Also it is near the hospital and her husband can rent it by the week until September.  It means that her daughters can stay and look after their Dad, they are working on a rota.  Hopefully will have some news later in the week, but don't think they will move her until she can swallow baby food, on a drip at present, but I must say the nurses are brilliant, don't think I could do that job.  We did go to Kendal the day before she had the stroke, on the bus.  I suppose all towns have a good and bad side, but I certainly liked the Lune Valley, which was very quiet and peaceful.

[pumkinlover]

Hope that your friend improves, stroke treatment come on a lot recently. Still slow job.

[ACE]

That F.A.S.T. campaign looks the business. If they have got your friend quick enough a lot of the old problems can be sorted. Take notice everybody.

[Borlotti]

My friend is still in hospital in Lancaster, but they are trying to get a bed in the National Hospital, part of UCH, in Russell Square, London, but have to wait for a bed, then have to get an ambulance for her, as they can't hold the bed for long.  Her husband may have to pay for a private ambulance if they can't coordinate the transfer, so think that may be very expensive.  Her daughters have been brilliant, and doing a rota system so one stays in Lancaster with their Dad and going with him for 3 visits a day.  Her speech has got worse, but they are trying to get her to drink from a cup.  All the good work she did, she was a nurse herself, and did loads of charity work, and run the marathon, I am sure she will have loads of friends to support her and visit her.  Feel a bit sad tonight as we have done loads of walking holidays here and abroad, Hopefully things will get better as it has only been two weeks now. Nurses are great.

[manicscousers]

Sounds like a lovely family, good support team for their dad. Here's hoping they can get it all sorted soon x

[cornykev]

Wish them all our best B.
As Ace say's the F.A.S.T checks are very important and spotted early enough CAN make all the difference.

F.   Facial weakness
A.   Arm weakness
S.   Speech problems
T.   Test the signs and time for 999/112

[Digeroo]

It can take quite a time to recover from a stroke.   My husband had one six years ago and it has been long haul but there has been improvement and he is still getting better.

They said the most improvement would be in the first six months but that was not true and it took six months before we saw real improvement.

He has just been walking in the Lake District for the first time since the stroke. 

It is impossible to know how much improvement there will be.   Each case is different.   He lost all his nouns did not even know his own name.   Could not lift a spoon.

Everyone will have to be very determined.

All the best to everyone.

[Borlotti]

I am staying hopeful, but she is now dehydrated, and has an urine infection and the doctor asked her daughter about resuscitation, which must have been very upsetting for her.  At the moment she can't come back to London even by ambulance.  Might be going up there next week to give daughters and husband some support.  Hopefully better news soon.

[pumkinlover]

Sorry to hear that your friend is not so good now . Hope for better news.

[shirlton]

Hope that your friend gets better soon. So glad that she is getting looked after well.

[Digeroo]

the doctor asked her daughter about resuscitation

My OH spent 10 days in a coma after a stroke, and the subject of resuscitation was discussed.  He seemed to be being kept alive by machines.  I think they like to bring it up so you can have plenty of time to discuss feelings with family members and friends before a crisis point.  MY OH was furious with us for allowing him to be resuscitated though six years later he has a different view.  It was all very difficult, though it did not come to a crunch point for him.  He finally woke up.   We did not have to take a descision to switch him off, but it had been discussed.

For sometime there was nothing my OH could do.  He cannot read, watching TV meant very little except for nature programs, there was no activity he could manage.  You need to think about quality of life, I know it is very hard.   My OH has improved enormously but we had no way of knowing that that would happen.

My OH did not get dehydrated they had him on a drip.

My thoughts are with you. 

[Borlotti]

Just had to tell someone.  She came back by ambulance with husband and daughter to north Middlesex Hospital, and I visited her there last week.  Apart from getting lost, as building work is going on, the hospital is brilliant, she has her own room with en suite, unfortunately she cannot get out of bed to use it.  She was being fed through the stomach, which didn't seem too good, but now is eating baby food, even though it was chicken and she is a vegetarian, but she said 'yum yum'.  Her speech seems to be improving and she can now tell her husband a few rude words.  I hope to visit tomorrow, she has a lovely room in north Middlesex hospital, and the music was playing 'the sound of music', over and over again, which she seemed to like, but was driving me mad.  Next stop is probably Chase Farm Hospital (not so good).  The body is weak, but the spirit lives on.  I expect I will get a mouth full tomorrow, but I don't care, as that means she is getting better. Her children have been brilliant, and her husband, and she has many friends through the church, different friends she has helped over the years, so tonight I am feeling very positive.  She seems to be frightened of the hoist, which lifts her up to get in a chair, but the hospital seems to know what they are doing, and think they are brilliant, so will leave it up the experts.  More news tomorrow, hope it is good.  Thanks for listening to me.  Bless.

[lottie lou]

Great news.

[Jayb]

Good news.