Hello I’m Douglas

[Gillette]

Thanks Dina so far the only thing wrong is how many attempts were made to get blood samples

Oh, crikey! I hope they won't want blood from me when I go there. It's not unusual for me to have to return another day because they can't get any of mine. I hope everything else is going ok for you.

[Gillette]

Dina, Lynne and Dis,

I think it must offer a degree of comfort that you all can chat about, and compare notes on, your clinic experiences?

The Manchester Amigos

Love Ellie.

Ha ha ha! Well, Lynne and I are already planning to go on the rampage in our powered chairs... The Terrible Twosome may have to expand into The Full Throttle Threesome, if Douglas has a powered chair, too!

[Dis1960]

Well they tried me with a fourth mask this morning for just over an hour so they want me to try it overnight for 3-5 hours

Last night they swapped the bed/mattress for a different bed / air mattress - not impresse

[Ellie]

Hi Douglas,

Did you find the 4th mask comfortable and are relaxed enough to give it a good try tonight? No sore patches?

And the air mattress may just be on the wrong settings - if you were OK on the standard bed & mattress, I'd ask to be put back on that if I were you, no point in trying the NIV overnight if you're uncomfortable in bed. One thing at a time !!

Best of luck.

Love Ellie.

[Gillette]

Sorry that it's not being straightforward for you, Douglas. I really hope you get sorted quickly and more easily than up to now.

[Terry]

I mentioned that my nose is almost permanently blocked with catarrh

Hi Dis,

Nice they changed your mattress when you were reasonably comfortable.

Sometimes our noses get blocked because we breathe through our mouth when asleep.

Love Terry

[Dis1960]

It never rains does it..now high blood pressure

[Lynne K]

Sorry about that Dis. Hope that medication sorts it out. Lynne

[Terry]

Hi Dis,

Hope you are getting on with the mask. See if there's any pressure areas and ask their advice about it and any other concerns.

Have you developed higher blood pressure since you have been in there?

Would not be surprised because its hard and stressful for many of us in hospital.

Love Terry

[Dis1960]

I think it’s being in hospital as the GP didn’t voice any concern about BP

Well I tolerated 8 hours in the mask until woken for blood pressure readings and blood gases sample from the ear lobe

For today the pressure from the Nippy 4 has been upped a smidgen and I’ve got through a test hour with that OK

Oh and the b.p. medication is administered in spoonfuls Of strawberry yogurt

[Terry]

That is good to last 8 hours, dis,

Tell us what pressures etc, it won't mean a lot to me but handy to have a record and Ellie knows About it.

I reckon your blood pressure issues are mostly to the stress.

Love Terry

[Ellie]

That's great re tolerating the mask overnight Douglas - it should make a positive difference to your overall wellbeing by increasing your energy levels, appetite and improving your emotional state.

I'm the same re BP! Put the cuff on me in a hospice, hospital, or even by my GP in my own home, and my BP shoots up

If you do have sustained high BP, at least it's easily and successfully treated with meds.

Any mention of fitting a feeding tube during this inpatient stay?

Take care.

Love Ellie.

[Gillette]

Hi Douglas,

Good news that you are tolerating the mask so well.

As for your BP, "White Coat Syndrome" is a well-known phenomenon. I don't have White Coat Syndrome but my BP would go sky high at the thought of having to eat strawberry yoghurt!

[Dis1960]

but my BP would go sky high at the thought of having to eat strawberry yoghurt!

This evening they used toffee yogurt YUK

[Gillette]

This evening they used toffee yogurt YUK

Oh, yeuch...