24 hours in hell in A new era

I literally don't even know where to start. I was working Friday night, and as giddy as a kid at Christmas knowing it was my last night after a long month of the things. I'd seen john earlier in the day and he was still feeling sickly off the tablets but otherwise ok.

So I'm in work and get a message from him saying he's on his way to the hospital and that his head felt like it was going to explode. Thank god for small mercies, I only had 5 patients so was able to nip off the ward to see what was happening with him. They couldn't decide between severe migraine or viral meningitis so admitted him. I spent my whole break sat on an assessment unit with him, and they found him a bed just before I had to go back to the ward which I was thankful for.

They eventually discharged him yesterday afternoon, after loading him with every pain med under the sun. Strangely they didn't send him home with any medication at all, just advise to repeat the whole process again if the pain returns. They also never really got to the bottom of what was causing the pain, although the treatment for both is strong painkillers.

So I'd come home from work, was trying to catch a little sleep in between messages from John updating me on what was happening with him, when my mum came up and told me my grandad wasn't very well and that my dad was round there.

Not conducive to sleep, having two people you love unwell! I ended up getting ready and going round there to see what was going on. To make matters worse, it was my grandma's 80th birthday yesterday, and it was totally overshadowed by all this. I think she was a little upset. Obviously worried about my grandad, but his stroke had ruined their anniversary and now this, we had to cancel her birthday meal at a fancy restaurant and ended up eating Chinese takeaway off our knees. As a friend pointed out though, at least everyone who loves her was in the room.

My grandad had been vomiting, had a little fever, and was generally unwell. I worry because he's diabetic and obviously with not eating and drinking his sugars could have dropped. I checked them for him, he doesn't seem to be able to do them himself since the stroke, and they were a little low, so he had a dextrose tablet and the out of hours doctor eventually came to see him.

He diagnosed a water infection, left some antibiotics and antisickness tablets and made it look easy! He was a really nice guy and definitely put everyone's minds at ease. I've just messaged my grandma now and she said my grandad's had breakfast and managed to keep it down which is good, and that he's going to get a shower and get up in a bit so at least he's taking it easy. He's usually up at the crack of dawn!

In the whole thing, my Aunty was driving me mad. They don't actually bother themselves to be there when the drama's going on, but she's always got something to say. Her sister and niece are type 1 diabetics, and because of this she thinks somehow she's an authority on the subject. I said to my mum, when she's put maggots in a diabetic foot ulcer, then she can talk to me about it as if I'm the one who knows nothing, until then, she doesn't even know how to actually check his sugars to she needs to pipe down!

I usually hate playing the nurse card, but on this occasion, I actually know more than you, I actually know how to look after a sick person, it's what I'm trained to do, it's what they pay me for. She hasn't lived with her sister for 30 years, do you have any idea how much things have advanced in that time? What little knowledge she has is outdated and probably dangerous.

Pleased to report both patients are doing well today but it was 24 hours of hell, with a birthday bash thrown in, absolutely manic.

Weird and worrying, but also wonderful.

Xx