Friday 29/1/21
36+2
I started antenatally expressing. I was informed to do it for 5-10 mins a day but just like at work, I find it quite addictive. I spent 40 mins yesterday getting approx 0.6 mls out -so close to 1ml! but I ran out of time. This morning, I have an E12 so I managed in 20 mins to get 0.1ml. Maybe I'll find time tonight. I need to take regular breaks or I'll get neck pain from looking down while I do it. I'm getting nervous about pushing something that is approximately 3kg through my vagina, let alone let myself get induced. Women are brave, how do they go through this?
Today I bumped into the old old boss of small ICU (she's returned from a secondment) and gave me some feedback - she said, the acting NUM pushed for me to go to neuro in my last 2 weeks because I'd not complained much this pregnancy (or that I've had a good one). But I then said everyone's been so nice, and I have diabetes with insulin - they've let me not do nights so I can titrate the insulin so. Pregnancy has been easy (but then again, I haven't had it totally easy considering the GDM).
I think a lot of first timers especially get really precocious. Or if they have a small body type, they feel it a lot more gaining 14 kg from say 50 or 60 kg whilst I've gained somewhere between 0-5kg (thanks to GDM diet) and I'm heaps taller so the watermelon in front of me only looks like a small watermelon. It's nice to know people have decided I've not been a winger.
Pick your battles. If you win one, make sure your gracious and a trooper. No nights, is a huge win. Makes me want to stay until 38 weeks but we all know that would be pushing it... (plus I should take a break, even if it feels like I'm always on a holiday when you only work 3 days a week.
She didn't have homeless looking feet. That's what I noticed first on my assessment.
And for 71 that's pretty good.
Plus she's obviously a migrant (Chinese) and they typically are not homeless.
Turns out she's a hoarder that lives in community housing, a 1 bedroom apartment that she pays for out of her pension.
However due to her hoarding, she is unable to use the bathroom (and I assume, quite likely the bedroom also) and so she showers at the swimming pool and train station (thereby giving her a homeless like appearance to those in the community). Her son is somewhat estranged but the way he put it when I finally got the chance to meet him was that she was 'very independent' (and I assume, like most hoarders) - unlikely or unable to take assistance or be dissuaded away from their belongings or their living situation. As much as their family would like for them to cohabitate in clean and peace, the hoarding may inevitably get in the way.
She had a grade 5 SAH in the bathroom at a major train station about 10km away from her home suburb, and was seen to collapse (her saving grace) to which she was then rushed to our sister hospital and then transferred to us. They completed brain surgery to clip and secure the aneurysm, however she remains GCS terrible (4), with likely bad outcome. Best scenario: nursing home with various level of function.
I was talking to the social worker - there is limited ability for her son to go to her apartment and clear it out due to legalities. However when he asked for her house key and belongings (literally 3 bags of junk: some food - apparently she rummages in bins, but to be clear, I've done that in the past under the more acceptable? title bin diving. Almost feel like getting back into it again if the GDM clears nicely... We'll see... -- and one of the bags was wet? There was a pencil case with random papers, a bag of masks, some face sheilds etc. ) I gave them back to him because I know we don't want to keep any belongings in ICU unless they're toiletries or a patient's phone if they're a GCS 15. So he now has the power of the key to open the place up and figure it out. I'm sure the landlord wouldn't take issue with him clearing it out. I'd turn a blind eye if I were them.
That being said, I don't disagree with allowing her to hoard in her apartment. It's a terrible shame but it is her autonomy to pay rent to a place she cannot live in. I guess the problem with her son is that if he allows her to sleep at his place, then technically, she would be considered "moving in" and perhaps she may loose her community housing.
Hoarding is a horrible illness.