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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Been away a bit because we have had a horrendous incident happen with my uncle. He's 89 and my sister and I look affetr him - he lives in his own home near to both of us. Despite health problems, he is able to stay quite independent with our support and he is amazing - managing his money, driving short distances with ok about this from his GP and DVLA, doing his own laundry etc as well as having quite a good social life.
Unfortunately, this may all change for him now.
He recently had some new tablets prescribed for him as he has had itchy skin (a problem apparently associated with renal failure and kidney disease, - problems he has had for some time..)
Anyway, to cut a long story short he was given the new tablets but they were the wrong ones. They somehow managed to give him drugs for mental health problems by mistake.
He has never had any form of mental health problems and is now in hospital with lithium poisoning, this happened after we insisted with the out of hours emergency team that he must be admitted as he was having such difficulty drinking anything and seemed to be becoming worse and potential side effects are much more serious due to his kidney problems.
He seems now to be very slowly recovering but remains very unco-ordinated, shaky and although he seems to know what he is trying to say he is really struggling to string his words together. We are still not sure if the damage caused will be permanent, he is on cardiac ward at present but will be transferred to renal ward later today due to his history of renal problems.
We are waiting for the drug prescription to be returned so we can get to the bottom of why and how this terrible mistake happened, but have been told today return of the prescription may take 8 - 12 weeks - im sure that shouldnt be right but this is what the chemist says.
I have seen the chemist today and reported that there was no patient information leaflet given and to highlight that checks of administering such a medication to a known renal patient had obviously not taken place.
Lack of sleep, work rearrangements etc etc mean i now feel a flare for me is just lurking around the corner - sorry such a sorry story, i am just so upset about what has happened to our uncle & just needed to share with someone,
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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I am absolutely stunned by your story! It is disgusting in the very least and am speechless!
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this and find out exactly what went wrong here. It is appalling that the prescription is going to take so long to be returned ... ESPECIALLY under the these circumstances.
I don't know what to say apart from how much I hope your uncle makes a very speedy and complete recovery DESPITE the incompetencies that have put in the position he finds himself in.
Also, I hope you don't get ill as a result of the stresses this has now put you under.
Thinking of you
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Oh Lizzie, that`s a frightening story!! Your poor uncle - how on earth could they make such a horrendous mistake? I`m so sorry this has happened, and you will be feeling anxious and upset for him, as well as angry. It`s simply disgraceful, and first and foremost I hope your uncle recovers. I also hope this doesn`t send you into a flare, as stress will not help. Please take care, I`ll be thinking of you. Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Oh Lizzie, what a nightmare!
Your poor uncle! Was the mistake made by the doctor or the chemist?
I do hope he recovers soon, and you take care. Perhaps you could take a couple of days off to rest?
Love and hugs, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Lizzie, I was going to ask the same as Doreen, if its the pharmacist fault or the gp. Whichever, its appalling that this could happen, and with no leaflet to read to give an idea that they were the wrong drugs. I hope your uncle can get back to his usual self, he sounds an amazing man, best wishes to him and love to you BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009
Posts: 235
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Lizzie, I am horrified, what an awful situation. So stressful for you. I hope he reovers quickly and that you don't suffer a flare!
DEb x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Lizzie, that is absolutely disgraceful!!!
Is there anyone you can go to to ge the prescription returned quicker? There must be some medical organisation somewhere.
Meanwhile- I hope your uncle makes a good recovery. Look after yourself.
Love
maria x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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so horrid for your uncle do pray he recovers soon,such stressful time you all had. muhc lv hug melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Oh Lizzie - this is just terrible. That poor man - he must be so confused. It's right that you make a HUGE fuss about this and I wish you well with it. My thoughts are with your uncle and the whole family.
Much love and prayers for you all
Jeanxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Hi guys - thanks so much for your kind thoughts and support xxxxx
My sis is seeing our uncle today as i worked nights and hopefully talking to the renal team, although he was still on cardio ward last update. A good friend i used to work with is his named nurse - she is gorgeous - so sweet and kind and Uncle L is very pleased with her! ;)
The hospital are handling an investigation into negligence and this is taking the pressure of us a little so we can concentrate on our uncle which is good. Everyone in the village where he lives has been lovely.... although i think they may all be checking their prescriptions very closely! It wasn't the usual pharmacist on duty but no matter where the problem lies he should have given a patient information leaflet - Uncle L would definitely have read it as he is so very organised and once he had known it was not for itching, he wouldnt have taken it.
We are quite sure now that he knows what he wants to say but cant say it - due to problems with processing information and co-ordination - the more fluids he has the better - he was doing reasonably well last update but still very very poorly - more so because of kidney disease.
Trouble is he really only has about one quarter of a kidney that works properly - one is completely useless and the other not much better. But, we have known this for several years - he has been offered dialysis several times but declined this option writing us a letter "please dont try to change my mind - i am so grateful for you two but i really do not want to go for dialysis 3 times a week as it will get in the way of what i like to do..." (...as i said he has a good social life!)
Anyway, he has continuously amazed the medics in the past by doing so well with diet changes etc. Only just over a week ago he had a very positive appointment with his consultant and good blood results... and now this - hopefully his fighting spirit will pull him through. We know he's on borrowed time with his kidney probs but just hope he can get back to living life to the full for a while longer.
The ambulance men who took him to hospital on Sunday were great - teasing him about his lady friend who had phoned earlier. Once the one chap realised how deaf my uncle was, he has now got his own future well planned out saying he will have to start playing his music extra loud in the hope he will have the ladies round him too when he's 89 telling him whats going on and looking out for him - he thought maybe the secret of getting to 89 might be cos he couldnt hear if they were nagging him!
Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, will keep you posted ~ love Liz xxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 56
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The local chemist recently gave Mandy the wrong tablets. Luckilly she noticed the different spelling on the box and took them back where they were exchanged for the correct medication.
Does make you wonder how many go undectected though.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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OH Lizzie! I am just reading this now and am absolutely horrified! Your poor dear Uncle! I am so very relieved to hear he is being taken care of so beautifully by you and your sister and your nurse friend.
I hope a proper medical negligence investigation will ensue, and that your Uncle will receive a formal apology.
What a brave soul he is!
Much love, and prayers for his full recovery,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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how is uncle doing lizzie?
Have had several incidents like this- all of them relating to hospital pharmacies actually.
there should be a form to fill in about clinical incidents have you seen this yet?
Jenni xxhow to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Hi Lizzie, Have been thinking of you. Has there been any improvement?
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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My Uncle came home a few days ago sorry cant work out when - been on automatic pilot all week, when someone told me it was Friday at work i was really shocked! My sis and I have kept working and been there with our Uncle alternately, it has been really difficult and so upsetting to see him frustrated by these problems, which should never have happened,
My sis and I ararnged GP visit two days ago as we were very worried about how he (and we) were coping - his usual doc came out - he is lovely and knows our Uncle really well. He arranged immediate ambulance to local cottage hospital, felt had been sent home too early but understood there had been concerns about a norovirus outbreak as well as other bugs going around,
but this time he will not come home until full assessment including physio, and an intermediate care package will also be arranged. Our uncle thought was the right thing too. The effects would not be so profound i think if it was not for kidney probs my uncle has, yesterday we thought there were visible signs of a possible stroke but all physical obs do not show any signs, so likely due to toxicity, will discuss with docs early next week. He is drinking really well,
i did not visit today, will go tomorrow - spent the afternoon in bed with a bad back - Uncle almost had a very near fall down the stairs three days ago with me standing behind him. I managed to prevent him falling all the way from the top, he was ok but it shook me up a bit, now we are looking into getting a stair lift installed.
The forest hospital where Uncle L is now is right in the middle of the woods and you can see birds and squirrels in the trees just by his bed, he is right by the window. Someone saw deer the other day so he's on the lookout in case they come back again.
A and E department at city hospital are handling the investigation - which is good as we just do not have the time or the strength for this right now. My sis went to see the lady at the chemist - she got in contact herself which i thought was really brave, she is devastated, i am sure she can think of little else and we have said we (nor our Uncle) do not want to punish her but just to make sure same thing never happens again, just so devastating for all concerned.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and wishes and for keeping me sane as always xxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Dear Lizzie,
Just to let you know we are praying for your dear Uncle and hoping that he will recover and heal from this trauma.
I think the lady in the chemist is suffering her punishment very greatly already, however I agree this must be dealt with in order for it to never happen again.
Much love to you,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Lizzie, I`m glad there is better news of your uncle - the Cottage Hospital sounds like a very good idea : I don`t think there are many such places left! Anyway, hopefully he will gain in strength, and be well-looked after until he gets home again. You must be worn out - hospital visiting is stressful in itself, even when one is fit and well. I hope your back gets better soon, and you can take things a bit easier. Your uncle is very lucky to have you and your sister looking out for him. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Hi Lizie- good to hear that things are starting to get sorted.
Easier said than done- but please try to get a good rest and look after yourself
love
maria x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Visiting every day still but between us all we have a steady stream of visitors arranged so sometimes just a flying visit meaning more family time later. Yesterday Uncle L much brighter and improving slowly, looked much better colour so hopefully on the recovery route now. He had seemed terribly depressed a few days ago which is not surprising but we had a really jokey afternoon yesterday before I went to work and he not only smiled but even laughed out loud a couple of times!  My sis and I are planning a "day off" each this weekend. The Occupational Therapist will come out to the house before he comes home to do a full assessment of support needs. Things are looking better and he is pleased to have spotted a deer just outside his window! Thanks for caring about things - You have all been such a help to me! Love Lizzie xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Lizzie,
I'm so glad Uncle L appears to be on the mend!
My mum-in-law was in hospital for three months followoing a stroke and I remember how absolutely draining it was mentally and physically. My partner and I were visiting on alternating days and it was very difficult so I certainly feel for you.
It's so important that you get all the support you need when he comes home and I'm glad the GP is setting that in motion for you. The hospitals seem so keen to throw patients out without any thought for the circumstances they are going home to or the strain on carers.
Glad to hear it's more positive!
Joanna
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