Georgina has been in hospital

My lovely daughter Georgina has been suffering for the past three weeks with a really bad cough, chest and ear infection.  “Freshers flu” had really gripped her. It was obvious to me as it would be to every parent she needed some rest.  But can you tell them? “No you cant!”

Since Georgina had been unwell she has been coming home most weekends to so say rest and recuperate.  I’m not sure this really happened.  Georgina was hardly ever at my house. 

This weekend started as usual.  I picked Georgina up from Cardiff University loading the car with all the dirty laundry.  Drove home.  The minute we arrive Georgina disappears to see her mates.  No change there.

Anyway in the early hours of the morning my bedroom doors blasts open with Georgina crying and screaming that her ear was really painful.  Well I was finding it hard to be sympathetic.  The number of times I had told her to go the doctor, wrap up warm, rest for a while etc only to be ignored.  However, I knew I had to put this one side at this point and do the compassionate bit.   After consoling her I called the duty doctor, Frendoc, who told me to give Georgina two ibuprofen, one co-coldamol and to see the doctor in the morning.  Great.  We duly followed her instructions to the letter.  We could all now go back to sleep.

Well one hour later the door blasts open again.  Georgina was screaming in severe pain and bouncing around like Tigger repeatedly saying  “Dad I’m in so much pain.  I don’t want to die.  Help me!”

This was serious.  I was straight on the phone to Frendoc and before I knew it we were in Ward 207 Frenchay Hospital.  I couldn’t believe it.  I have been backwards and forwards to hospital for the past two years with Caroline and now there is my daughter led on a medical bed.

What was to follow was even more disconcerting.  Following an extensive assessment, examination and blood tests the consultant informs Georgina

“… there are some irregularities in your blood”

I could only think “what is it this time?”

“your blood tests show that your enzymes are raised.  You have pancreatitis”

My jaw dropped.  I couldn’t believe my ears.  I had been diagnosed with pancreatitis only two months earlier and would not wish it on anyone let my own daughter.  Oh my god!

“Are you sure?” I asked disbelievingly.

“Definitiely” she replied abruptly.  “We need to do an ultra scan for gallstones…”.

I looked at Georgina.  She was already fed up and anxious about being in hospital.  Now she was trying to absorb this news and what the possible outcomes would be.

When the consultant left I tried to re-assure Georgina.  We were both in shock.  It didn’t make sense to me.  Surely she was too young to have a gallstone problem? The other main route for contracting pancreatitis is alcohol abuse.  Well I know Georgina had been out on “freshers” week and all that goes with it but surely not to this extent.  My head was spinning but the priority was to keep re-assuring Georgina.

Anyway Georgina had to stay in overnight on Saturday.  She hated being in hospital and having to stay in one place.  Leaving my daughter alone in the hospital that night was very difficult.  I didn’t know what to do for the best. I’m sure Caroline would have camped out on the ward all night.

Sunday morning I awake to about ten text messages from Georgina each of which telling me what to bring in

“Scissors”

“Hair dryer”

“Brush”

“Tooth paste”

“etc etc”

Georgina looked much better when I got to the ward. Obviously a night rest had done her a world of good.  My mum and dad turned up which was good and allowed me to go home to ensure Joe was alright.

At 3pm Georgina calls me

“Dad I’ve been kicked out of my bed and I now ready to come home”

“Great news.  I’m on my way”

When I met her on the ward Georgina tells me

“I haven’t got pancreatitis nor any gallstones”

My instincts were right.  I was relieved but exasperated at the same time

“What!  What have you got?”

“The doctor told me that I had been taking too many Nurofen over the past three weeks which has irritated both my stomach and my pancreas.  I have to eat a low fat diet and not drink alcohol for at least the next two weeks plus take Omezprazole”

Well I smiled.  I was relieved that it wasn’t pancreatitis.  I was relieved that the doctor understood the cause of the pain.  Most of all I was pleased Georgina was coming home.  However, I couldn’t stop telling her that she had to read and follow the instructions on medicine.   Was she listening? “Probably not!”