Monday, May 28, 2012

MIGHTY GLAD TODAY IS BEHIND ME:))

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SNAPPED A QUICK PHOTO ON THE HOSPITAL GROUNDS ON OUR WAY IN THIS MORNING

Well, I’m glad today is behind me.  I will deal with the medical day’s ahead as I get to each one, but for now I can cross today’s event’s off the list.  Aside from seeing Doc Robot in the operating for a few seconds before they sent me off to LaLa Land I never saw him again.  But, Kelly did.  Following the surgery or procedure (not sure which is the correct term) he did talk to Kelly in the waiting room.  Kelly sent my Aunt Jean an email this afternoon & in it she said…..“ Hi Jean.... it's 4:00 and we are home !
All went well,  Al is sleeping. ( ya darn tootin I was)
The urologist came out to talk to me... he said the stone was very large and imbedded , that he had a difficult time getting it broken up....and hopefully the tube has not been narrowed by it.   Said it must have been in there for a long time to be so imbedded.  Tried getting the other large one out of the same kidney.. but was not sure how successful as it was around a curve (corner ) and seemed to be imbedded in a cyst”.

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OH NO, NOT ANOTHER WAITING ROOM PHOTO AGAIN

Rather than drag you through my whole day from start to finish, let me just give you some of the more colorful ‘pain’ parts.  For sure, I was expecting the intravenous to hurt because people have always had a problem getting that started in my hand.  Now, fully knowing that problem, you wouldn’t have thought I would make the following dumb mistake.  But, I did.  Nice Nurse person leaned over to me & said, “ would you mind if we have one of our paramedics do the IV because she is in training & part of her training program is doing IV’s.  I did remember seeing 2 Paramedic’s in the hall when I was being wheeled into a large room.  Because of my always, ‘eager to please personality’, I chirped out a meek, “Ok, that would be fine.”  What a mistake!!

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WAITING FOR MY NUMBER TO BE CALLED

I didn’t feel the young blonde trainee was exactly exuding a lot of confidence, or was that just my foreboding misgivings taking over.  The Senior Paramedic was a hulking chrome domed guy who I felt for sure was there for the express purpose of keeping me pinned to the bed…..or the floor!!  I knew I was in trouble when neither one of them could find a vein. They kept me making a fist & tapped & thumped the back of my hand to make the vein ‘pop’ as they called it.  This probably went on for a full minute.  Oh dear, where did that nice Nurse go.  Couldn’t find a vein & the big guy appeared to be sweating a bit as they both worked at & discussed back & forth what to do.  Finally, the young trainee decided to go for it…… & my right arm went for the side bed rail.  The ordeal was on & I was on the losing end!!   She probed & twisted, pushed & pulled, with the Incredible Hulk beside her trying his best to help.  I swear I nearly tore the right side bed rail off.  The nice Nurse suddenly appeared out of nowhere & got right in on the action, but to no avail.  It was too late & the damage was done.  I heard these words exchanged, which medical people may understand….. “bubble”, “I think she hit a valve", & “at least it didn’t blow.”  That last one sure unleashed a whole heard of nasty fear Monsters in my head!!  After about a minute the very apologetic nice Nurse thankfully pulled the IV needle out of my hand.  IV mission aborted.  I was about ready to abort myself right out of the Hospital!!  The young blonde trainee & her Sumo Wrestler counterpart immediately turned & walked away.  No goodbye, no explanation, no ‘apology’ no acknowledgement that I had even been there.  Guess they just figured they were working on another rubber training Dummy.  Well, they probably had the Dummy part right.  The nice Nurse made up for all that & quietly leaned over, speaking softly, & told me what she thought about what had just happened.  And, I will keep that thought to myself.

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TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES THE NICE NURSE SAID >>>

But, I still had a problem.  An IV still had to be inserted & I was in no frame of mind to have to go through all that again!!  Nice Nurse to the rescue once more & reassured me the Anaesthesiologist himself, in the operating room, would do it.  I expressed concern & her words to me were, ‘not to worry, the 'big bucks guys’ in the operating room know what they were doing.  And, I was about to find out she was right.

I think the worse thing about an impending operation or procedure or whatever someone is having done, is laying in a pre-op room waiting!!  Just laying there totally helpless, waiting & waiting & waiting.  Staring at the brightly lit ceiling with hospital sounds going on around you & all kinds of gruesome thoughts about what was coming next.  For sure I was dreading the next IV attempt amongst other things.  And then a young operating room nurse appeared at the end of the bed with a big smile & cheery attitude.  I use the word ‘young’ a lot these days because I seem to be at that stage now where more people are appearing to be younger than me all the time.  Now, how in the hell did that happen.

My operating room Nurse was just a wisp of a thing who I would have thought would have had trouble manoeuvring a an empty grocery cart down a wide shopping aisle.  But there we went, lickety split, smokin right out of the room, cranked a left hand turn & down the hall we roared.  She deftly made a couple of right turns & at one point had to throw on the bed brakes for a wide closed door ahead.  Ya, I know, beds don’t have brakes but I think I heard her running shoes on the floor screeching us to a full stop.  For sure I smelled rubber burning.  Once through the doors we were in a long hall with big windows on the left & 4 or 5 operating rooms on the right.  We were now getting down to the nitty gritty.  She brought me a netted cap to put on then got me off the bed in my open backed hospital gown to walk into the operating room.  Wow, what a Neat-O place.

My photographic eye was immediately filled with colors & compositions.  This was a very new operating room with what I suspect was state of the art equipment.  And, what a great looking bunch of equipment it was too.  I was instantly drawn to two large light pods with multicolour bulbs.  Groovy.  Stepped up onto a stool & laid myself down on the operating table with those really cool futuristic space ship light pods arrayed over top me.  Remember, I once worked at the Stratford Art Gallery & lighting art exhibits was one of the things I enjoyed doing, so I am attracted to lighting.  Things happened very quickly now as I noticed what appeared to be a frenzied pace with operating room staff busily attending to various duties all around the room.  People definitely seemed to hustling.  Something placed under my head, something rolled up onto my upper left arm, heart monitors on my chest, the wispy OR Nurse checks to see if my bum is far enough down the table.  It isn’t, so I had to do a bit of squiggling.  My right arm is stretched out on a table or something & strapped down.  The Anaesthesiologist & a male nurse are hovering over my right hand & talking in muffled tones.  There goes that tapping & thumping on the back of my hand again.  Oh no!!  But, just a short prick, a slight grundge & the deed was done.  Yep, nice Nurse was right….those ‘big bucks guys’ know what they are doing.  Doc Robot’s face appears out of nowhere & hovers over me for a few seconds & mumbles something.  He looks all green in his get-up.  Aha, I knew it…..Doc Robot is a Martian!!  More faces seem to come & quickly go as I am transfixed by those beautiful multi-colored light pods over me.  And then………I am looking at the numbers 12:34 in bright red fuzzy letters.

It is a clock on the wall across from my bed…….I’m in the recovery room.  Voices & hospital sounds again.  Unhurried people going by.  Someone beside my bed asks if I would like something to drink.  Darn right I would.  Probably the best gulp of Ginger Ale I ever had.  Kelly appears at the side of the bed & within maybe 40 minutes I am dressed, on my feet & rarin to get out of there.  Not so fast Mister!!  They place me in a wheel chair while Kelly heads off to bring the car around.  I am wheeled down the hall & onto an elevator.  Short trip down one floor to the main level & out to the main entrance waiting area.  Kelly rolls up a minute later, I thank the Nurse for not crashing the wheelchair & make my way to the car.  Wow, was it ever hot & humid outside.  A record breaking weather day.  I no sooner closed the car door when I suddenly realized I was hungry.  Kelly whips back into the Hospital & grabs me an egg salad sandwich from the snack bar in the lobby.  We were home an hour later.

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VIEW FROM MY WHEELCHAIR AS WE HEAD FOR THE HOSPITAL’S MAIN LOBBY

Aside from being dreadfully tired with a slightly heavy ache in my abdomen I didn’t feel too bad.  That ache soon began to worsen though so I popped a prescribed pain pill & twenty minutes later all was well, I was stretched out in my recliner & off to LaLa Land again.  No groovy lights this time though, just some wonderfully soothing ambient music.

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MAIN ENTRANCE WAITING FOR KELLY…TODAY’S LAST PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM HERE AS WELL

As I type this tonight about 8 o’clock I am feeling not too bad except of course for being tired.  Not much pain urinating yet (just some burning) but I am well aware there could be so we’ll just see how it goes.  As if I had a choice eh…………Oh, & for you medical folks, they did put a stent in me somewhere.  Don’t know where it is & I’m thinking I don’t really want to know anyway.    Thanks to everyone for all your well wishes.  Much appreciated:)))))))))))))))))))

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KELLY ROLLS UP TO THE DOOR WITH THE BIG SANTA FE……….

Because this turned out to be a much longer post than I anticipated, I have foregone Groaners Corner………..

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AND I EVEN MANAGED TO SNAP A PICTURE OF WHERE MY EGG SALAD SANDWICH CAME FROM:))

46 comments:

  1. Dang! I really miss the Groaner's Corner when it is pre-empted.

    Anyway, glad you had a good day and are on the mend. Get well soon!

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  2. Al, you are a trouper! I too am mighty glad today is behind you. Hope you didn't moon too many people with your backless gown.

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  3. Glad everything went okay, and you survived the medics practicing on you.

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  4. Glad all went well I love your play by play action I cud picture it all Thanks for the smiles at your expense HUGS

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  5. The best part - when you get to go home!

    Glad it's over and you're hopefully resting well, dreaming of saquero and dusty trails.

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  6. Hope the para medic wantabees learn something.... sorry it was at your expense!! One can only hope that your experience caused them to reconsider their career choice. Be well!!

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  7. I'm not so nice. Way to many IV's in my life. I just say no thank you please use the next person in line. Thank you for your post today and Glad to hear you are on the mend and will continue to keep you in our prayers.

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  8. I know you'd take your camera with you! I seem to have missed the shot of you in the surgery gown???

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  9. Whew.

    IVs are the worst part for me, too. Those paramedics probably only put IVs in unconscious people, anyway, so no need for bedside manner or human kindness. Not that I'm dissing paramedics at all. They just need Dr. Robot's social skills.

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  10. What!!! I read all that and didn't get the Groaner's Corner.

    I am really glad to hear everything went OK. I was really surprised that you even wrote a blog post. Yes Al, you are a trouper.

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  11. Happy to hear all went well.

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  12. Know you're glad that's over with. I once went through the same IV experience with trainees while awaiting an emergency appendectomy. They never got it inserted, and the floor nurse wouldn't attempt it, either. Someone from the blood lab came up and did it on the first try. Hope the next few days go well for you.

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  13. glad to hear that all went well..it is funny to read about your rendition of what goes on in a hospital from the patient's perspective!..thanks for the smile..I have really good brakes too!..you described my job perfectly!..hope you feel better soon and are back to your old self!

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  14. I hear ya on the IV thing - I have terrible veins. Glad to hear all went well (except for the IV) and that you are home and feeling not too bad. Take care.

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  15. Glad to hear you're safely out Al. When you know that an IV is coming or you're giving blood drink lots of water. It will help them find the vein.

    That probably would not have helped in this case since you were probably on a 12 hour no water or food thingy before surgery.

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  16. I'm with BJ. Nobody gets to "practice" on my veins. And if you don't get it on the first try you aren't going to get another chance. Not quite sure I understand if they got the stones or not but I sure hope so and that you feel awhole lot better tomorrow.

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  17. Hey, what? No photo of Pheebs tonight? Sure glad you're back out of that hospital o.k. Let Kelly take care of you for a bit, and I'm sure you'll be doing fine!

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  18. YAY - glad that is all over - now relax and rest!

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  19. Glad to hear all went well and you're back home and able to write a blog. Quite an ordeal but....it's over!

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  20. Al - Glad all went well and hoping your complete recovery comes fast. Take care.

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  21. :-) So happy to have you back home and still blogging! Now get some sleep and we will see ya tomorrow at the Groaner's Corner!

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  22. I once made a big mistake, too, just before getting an IV put in. I said to the apparently inexperienced nurse something to the effect of "oh, I hate this part." That was enough to make her hands start shaking like a palsy sufferer. It was awful.

    Now my veins hide whenever a needle comes near.

    Glad to hear your procedure is over and was a success. What a relief to have all that behind you, eh?

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  23. Glad to hear things went well Al (well most of it anyway)
    Get well soon !!!

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  24. Incredible that you can post this wonderful, witty piece after a more than stressful day. Thank you for sharing!

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  25. Guess that's why it's call "practicing". Sorry you had to go through that. You will now be on the mend and headed for another dr.

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  26. Yep, very similar to my experience for sure. I felt my stent though, alot. Hobbled around for 3 weeks like a stick was up my... bum.
    Or my leg was broken (which was my excuse to others because telling them I had a 2X4 up my.. wasn't something I needed to get into)
    The stent hurt coming out. I hope you don't have that kind of hurt.
    I'm sure the nurse I had is still massaging her wounded hand, 4 months later!
    Glad everything seemed to come out okay, hope that's the end of those troubles!
    Cheers!

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  27. Just thinking of what you went through was enough of a Groaners Corner for me! ;c)

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  28. I usually ask for the IV team folks right off the bat, as I have had several of those bad experiences with the training people at the University Hospital here in Kansas.

    Glad it is all over for now, and after you have had it done once, it doesn't seem so intimidating the second time. I have had so many of these surgeries that I finally lost count.

    But the one thing I have learned is that you usually get thru the things without too much difficulty, so hang in there and they will fix you up in the long run.

    Rod

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  29. No need for Groaner's Corner. I'm pretty sure I groaned a couple times there.
    I think the waiting part is the worst. Nothing to eat. Kinda thirsty. No coffee (well, that's bad for those of us addicted to it)


    Hope you feel better soon.

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  30. Sounds like an exciting day that just whipped by for you. Glad all went well for you.

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  31. I drank my cranberry juice while reading your post... have enough other problems without adding stones to the repertoire... Glad it all went okay and that you're on the mend. Get well soon!

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  32. Glad your back with us Al........

    Heal up and get well...

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  33. I understand the "embedded" part..37 years ago there was no such thing as "blasting". they had to open up my back and dig a stone out of my left kidney..and a 3 week hospital stay..Better living through science!! Blog on, Dude, Blog on!! I told you this would give you great blog fodder and you didn't let us down!

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  34. Brought back memories Al--that's what I (Janna) used to do--operating room nurse. Glad you are back at home and things went well.

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  35. Glad all went well and hope you will be back on your feet in no time!

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  36. Wow... your story brings back memories for me... seems I have been down that road with the IV before... don't want to do it again! Glad it all went well... take you time in recovery!

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  37. YEP! I've made the same mistake with trainees... Now it's "give me the vampires". Glad all went well.

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  38. So glad you are on the mend!

    IV's are not fun, but consider the alterntive? NOT having your Happy Juice to sleep sleep sleep during a surgery is not a good thing either! HAHAHA

    In them old cowboy days, they took a swig of whiskey and bit on a bullet!

    I usually get 4 or 5 areas they try to attach the IV or even draw blood, before they get a "good one" I leave there feeling like a pin cushion and big bruises for a week at each area that is attempted.

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  39. Glad you're OK and home all comfy. No wonder you were having the occasional "ouch!" I think the worst part of any surgery or procedure is getting the IV. Those EMTs ought to have at least given you a "tata."

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  40. I am a retired nurse and would NEVER let a student work on me nor an intern!! Glad you are back home, hope all goes smoothly with your recovery.

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  41. Al, hope you get to feeling better soon. Enjoy La La Land!

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  42. I have only had two IVs the first by an anesthesiast the second by a nurse in the Recovery Room that did not like my blood pressure level. In both cases it was done so quickly and painlessly that I didn't even have time to build up my normal needle fear.

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  43. Excellent description of out-patient surgery. I hate it when they can't find the vein but keep probing anyway. Glad that is over with for now.

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  44. OK, I'm late but I'm No.44 commenter. Al, you are breaking your own records here. Boy, you had quite an ordeal in there. You must be happy as hell to be done with it.

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  45. Hey, Al. So glad you've got that behind you. I couldn't get on your site yesterday or the day before so I was starting to worry. I'm home from the coast after an encounter with Beryl. None the worse for war.

    Again, glad everything is okay.

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