UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Well here i go to Moorfields to spend a day observing patients and hopefully learning loads that i can take back with me to work! Am going to ask loads of questions, well i've never been quiet at the best of times!

I only have two rules with today ...

1) That i have a great time and get the most out of it!

2) That i remain BEHIND the desk and not become a patient again!

Hehehe ... well here goes! If anyone is a patient in 'A & E' today then say hi!! Will let you know how i get on later!

Sweet X x X

Yes, please do let us know how you got on. As Paul said though "as if you wouldn't"!

You will be in our thought today.

All the best

Andrew

Hi Sweet,

I woke up this morning and thought tuesday I'm sure I had to remember something today.

And then it hit me, today is your big day. So all the best, I hope it goes really well and I look forward to hearing of your progress upon your return.

Hehe came back a while ago but couldn't post about it as the internet was down!!! Aargghh!! Of all the times to do that!!

Anyway ... i had a fantastic time, really enjoyed myself and stayed until around six as i was having so much fun! It would be lovely if we could all see from the other side of a slit lamp as gee you learn so much! Stain is actually not the evil thing i take it as being as it does a perfect job really, i just hate the world turning yellow!

So i have finally learnt how to take an accurate visual acuity test and how to record it, can now do a Ph test much better than i was taught when i first started my job and have learnt that Moorfields have the most original method of irrigating eyes after chemical burns by using a babies feeder cup! Novel to say the least when most units use a giving set with a bag of fluids and / or a Morgan lens. Hehe but there you go, it does the job really well so why change it!

I got a chance to follow loads of patients through the department from contact lens problems, conjunctivits, foreign bodies, one fourteen year old with lime chemical burns, a lady who stabbed herself in the eye with a twig from a flower arrangement and loads with sudden vision loss, glaucoma and retinal problems. Hehe loads of fun, but you know not a KC problem in sight!! Hhmmm Were we all having a good eye day then? Or were you afraid i might attack you!!!

I also have a whole set on questions to ask patients presenting with a red eye, ocular trauma, photophobia and pain etc so have loads now to take back to work with me. They were actually really lovely and have said that i can drop back in anytime but i had to say that as a nurse that is fine, but now that i've jumped ship i never want to be an eye patient again!!! LOL!! Oh darn it, better scrub that until all my stitches are removed!!! Oh ... unless someone wants to change roles and learn how to do that for me, hehe we can all change places for a while!!!!!

So yes everything is fine I didn't step around the desk to join the queue of patients and i didn't book myself in for more stitch removal so all in all the day was a great success!!

Hehe now i need to go out and buy a thank you card with choccies to show my thanks for taking on a little welsh nurse asking tons of questions all day and surviving!!

Smiling Sweet X x X

Glad you had such a good time Some of that actually sounds quite interesting. Maybe there's an article for the newsletter (or at least a conversation down the pub) in there somewhere!

Good to hear that you came off completely unscathed, too. How much longer were the queues at the worst point then? Somewhat longer than at 1am I assume!

Well done Sweet and thank you for sharing your day with us all

Sweet,

Sounds like you had a great day. Johns idea about an article sounds good too.

Go on consider it!!

Hehe thanks for all the support! I did have a really lovely time and was glad of all the help they gave me.

Am not sure what articles John is thinking on but am kinda bogged down at the minute with packing up my little room in order to move but will think on it!

Also John yes the queues were a lot longer, two to three hours! Much better to turn up in the early hours of the morning, but i so didn't advertise that!!

Sweet X x X

Well done.

Thanks for reporting back (I didn't doubt that you wouldnt for a minute ), am really pleased that you had a good day and have seen things from the other side as it were.

Do you think you managed to pick up some extra knowledge that will help with the day to day work?

Paul