Helen definitely has communicating hydrocephalus. And she's not going to Oxford, she's off to Southampton!! They decided that because she will need ongoing assessment and regular reviews it would be better (and more sensible) for her to go to Southampton, even though her skull is in Oxford. The neuro team at Southampton general were on standby to receive her but unfortunately no one thought to inform the bed manager that she as coming! So there was no bed available. So they are trying again tomorrow. Of course if she deteriorates then it will be full alert, blue lights down the M3. Her GCS is stable, between 7 & 9/15.
I went to see Helen this evening after being up to my mums. She looks awful!! It was like looking at her when she was still in Oxford. She is really dopey, her eyes are mostly closed but when they do open she is staring off into space, her head is swollen and her skin looks really spotty again!! She has needed quite a bit of suctioning today.
While I was there her respiration rate went from about 24 to 35/minute over about 10 minutes and she was really struggling. Her chest didn't sound as if there was anything on it. The medical doctor was called and she was put on oxygen and had an ECG. When the on-call doctor came, he examined her and did some more neurological tests. They didn't think it was the hydrocephalus but needed to rule out anything untoward going on. She was suctioned just in case. She was given fluid, blood tests were taken, sputum sent off and another urine sample sent.
After the fluid started going through, her respiration rate came down and her heart rate came down from 150 to 130. Hopefully this has stabilised her enough. I told the nurses to call me during the night if necessary,or if she moves before the morning.