We all hang on a tiny thread...

You might have noticed I haven't been very active here this w/e. Well, on Friday night my wife was feeling very weak and occasionally getting faint. I suggested we go to the hospital but she just wanted to go out for a coffee "it'll pass". Fortunately, a friend turned up and convinced her to go to the hospital. By this time her face was white as a sheet. Got to the hospital (they have a sort of "clinic" section) and they ran some tests and confirmed she had quite severe anemia but they didn't know why. Just as she's filling out the forms to return home she faints in the doctor's office. We try to get her up again but she can't even sit up now for more than a few seconds before fainting again. Then she starts vomiting blood......All hell breaks loose, she's laid on a stretcher and they draw the curtain and I don't know what's going on but I can hear doctor explaining how she has to swallow this tube.

The doctor comes out and explains that she's got severe internal bleeding from, probably, a stomach ulcer allthough an endoscopy is required to determine that. I can see her and she's concious but the has a tube from her stomach coming out of her nose, which is just draining blood. She's also on a drip. Shortly afterwards she's taken to intensive care and all I can do is go home.

Well, to cut a long story shorter, it was a stomach ulcer and she lost a hell of a lot of blood. She had to have 4 or 5 blood transfusions and was in a critical condition for a while but she's now out of danger and the ulcer has healed, for the time being. Hopefully by tomorrow she'll be in a room, out of ICU.

It's been a stressful weekend and it's made me think. If we'd got to the hospital a few hours later, or if she'd gone to bed early and fallen unconcious in bed whilst I was asleep she probably wouldn't have made it. It's really shocking how someone can go from being apparently quite normal, laughing and joking with the doctor to being close to death all in a matter of a minute or two.

You also realise what's important in life and what isn't. HiFi isn't, neither are flash cars, neither is footbal.

Anyway, today she is doing a lot better and the second endoscopy showed the ulcer was healing and no longer an imminent threat.

Sorry if this post makes awkward reading, I just felt like writing it. For the next couple of weeks I probably won't be on the forum as much as I usually am.

Cheers,
Michael.

 

My best wishes for your wife, Mike. I hope she will soon be "like new".

I recently lost my father. He died from a stroke in the middle of the night, leaving us all totally unprepared for his death. The line between life and death can indeed be uncomfortably thin.

I try not to take this hi-fi malarkey too serious, anyway, but experiences like yours really do put things in perspective. I wish you strength to support your wife.

 

Michael, don't know what to say except I hope she gets well soon and that everything returns to normal for you guys as soon as possible.

Certainly brings things into perspective.

 

I will be thinking about you and I hope she gets better soon, its amazing what they can do with modern medical technology now. It also goes to show if you have a little complaint go and see the doctor even if you think its nothing because it may just safe you're life.

 

Michael,

Best wishes, and I hope your wife makes a speedy recovery. It sounds like she will from what you say. Disaster can strike at any time and we owe it to ourselves to live life to the full and enjoy it while we can. These kind of episodes certainly put things like cars/hifi etc into perspective.

The one year old daughter of a close work colleague of mine has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is currently very gravely ill. It certainly makes you think.

 

Sounds a pretty horrible experience, all that happening so suddenly whilst at the hospital, hope things turn out well and she's back to full health in as short a time as possible.

Best wishes

 

Hope all turns out well Michael. Mortality can be a scary thing, glad to hear your wife's out of immediate danger. Best wishes to you both.

-- Ian

 

Sorry to hear that Micheal.
From what you have said it seems your wife is getting better, so hopfuly not to much more for either of you to endure.
Best wishes to you both.

 

michael,
best wishes to your wife and to you. i'm glad to hear she's getting better.
cheers


julian

 

Best wishes to your wife Michael!

I hope she has a speedy recovery. Use this as a wake up call! Spend as much time LIVING and not just EXISTING.

 

Best wishes to your wife for a speedy recovery - sounds like it must have been pretty terrifying though

 

Best wishes to your wife, Michael. Hope she recovers quickly and is better soon.

 

Know (a little bit) the feeling. No.1 daughter got bacterial meningitis (the one that kills) at age 6. It seemed only like a very bad headache and it seemed to be getting better. Had the doctor not said over the 'phone, "Good, but I'd still like to see her," things could have been very different. As you say, it's at times like this when you realise what's really important in life.

Gute Besserung.

 

Glad to hear that she is recovering Michael. Must have been quite a scare I'm sure. Hope that all continues to go well from here on out.

 

Best wishes to your wife Michael, and long may the recovery continue.

 

It just goes to prove how frail humans really are, one minute fine the next ?.
I do understand the stress/tension/worry your going through, inner strength is also something humans have, when they need to, plus they are adaptive and ingenious and we cope, because we can
Best wishes and speed recovery, to the good lady Mike, take it easy, and just concentratebon the important things, like looking after her. Tone

 

Hi Mike

Best wishes to your wife and yourself.

Wish you comfort from friends and family and those around you.


All the best
Chris

 

Very sorry to hear about your wife Michael. I wish her a speedy recovery.

I won't dwell on my own experiences but suffice to say that suddenly you see life from a different perpective. As you say, you realise what's really important.

ATB.

 

Hi Michael,


I can only echo what the other have said. I hope every thing turns out alright for you both.

Best wshes & look after what's important to you in life.

regards

Dean
(SCIDB)

 

Yes, I echo the sentiments expressed here,had something similar,where I thought the person was actually dead as I had never seen it before,so I know the feeling too well so can empathise your situation and what a kick in the balls it is,and realise how fragile and precious life is,and it brings the reality of it all home that loved ones and life are more precious than chasing money,when your dead you can't take it with you.

Hope she gets well and makes and speedy recovery!