We have just got back from France where my partner received excellent emergency brain surgery. The symptoms were constipation and increasing confusion after midday. The first trip to urgences resulted in laxatives which I had explained didn’t work so 3 days later we were back again and this time after explaining we thought it was serious an MRI revealed a a 3 cm subdural heamotoma. The transfer to the regional neurological centre took place the next day and the following morning brain surgery took place , 4 days after the surgery we wer heading to Lille in a hired car driven by our son to get the Eurostar back to London. We have travel insurance and hope that any shortfall by EHIC will be covered, but are delighted that there are no residual problems so far. All the staff at the hospital were exceptional so thank you French health care.
I’m sure that everyone reading this thread will wish to join with me in wishing you all (patient, partner, extended family) a full recovery and a return to normal life as soon as possible.
Thank you Robert for your kind words, it has been a difficult time but everyone has been so kind and helpful that I can’t complain about a thing. Our family have been wonderful and the nursing staff all came out to give hugs and best wishes, the dr’s popped in to wish us Bon voyage apparently one dr said he was like his grandad and planted kisses on his forehead and cheeks, we couldn’t have found nicer people anywhere. Now we all hope that all goes well and we will take each day as it comes but we do appreciate your kind words, they sustain us.
I’m sure that indeed all will be well in time. After all, the patient has been discharged from a specialist French hospital, and they would not do that unless confidence was high that all will be well.
You have all had a very bumpy ride compressed into a short period of time, but at the end of the day there will be good things that will come from it, even though there may be some ‘new normals’ that arise.
One thing that will be natural is that you will find yourself worrying more about the patient than he worries about himself, so that makes you a ‘patient’ as well, and so you personally should not shy away from receiving support in whatever form, and from whoever, it may be offered.
Eight years ago I was carted off to the hospital with Stage 4 Lymphoma blood cancer. I don’t have it now, and haven’t had it for the last seven and a half years, but I still find myself having to comfort and reassure my wife that everything is fine with me from time to time.
You will both come through this time much the stronger because of it.
Talk together, laugh together, cry together, hug one another each day, and then determination, perseverance, and your love for each other will see you both right.