Current Weather at Strickley

Sunday 4 September 2011

Just because you make a plan. . . .

. . . doesn't mean it will all go according to plan.

Yesterday after unloading/stacking the straw bales Henry briefly popped into the house before going out to get a new calved cow and calf. He put his waterproof jacket back on and felt something bite the back of his neck. He rubbed it and a bee fell off. It was painful so he immediately put some antihistamine cream on and went to get the calf. He was back in about 10 minutes, looking and feeling decidedly odd - tingling, itching, unable to hear, face swelling. We quickly decided that it would be faster for me to drive him to the hospital than wait for an ambulance. Five minutes later I dropped him at the door and went to park. He staggered into what used to be called either Casualty or A & E (now "Primary Care Assessment Unit", said "I've been stung by a bee" and was instantly surrounded by nurses. By I got in he was being wheeled into "Resuscitation 1". He was quickly assessed and given IV Piriton and injections of Adrenalin and Hydrocortisone and connected to a monitor. Over the next three hours he gradually returned to normal and after an ECG was allowed to leave (armed with pills for the next few days).

We were lucky that we can get to the hospital quickly, and were told with such an extreme reaction we did the right thing in not waiting for an ambulance, as time really matters. Henry has been advised to see his doctor as soon as possible for a prescription for an Epipen to have at home and in the car and tractor etc. If it happens again, a self-injection can give you an extra 40 minutes.

Westmorland General Hospital may not be like "E.R." (it's my Guilty Pleasure - I'm watching the entire series on Sky) or "24 Hours in A & E",  but they've never let us down and deserve all the plaudits they get. And they don't mind if you are wearing dirty smelly work clothes.

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