(no subject)
Just got out of the hospital yesterday, after having been there over a week. The nursing staff and doctors were all great, but isn't there something that can be done to allow patients to actually rest while they're there? Frankly, I don't see why we can't be left alone for the 8 hours or so it would take for us to get a little real sleep, especially since the pump I was connected to that was dispensing my IV diet and meds would run out every so often and wake me up anyway. Surely they could wait to take BP/temp/oxygen intake until I was actually awake? But no. I never got to sleep for more than three hours at a stretch.
I went in for diverticulitis, which hit me in early October. I'd been being treated with oral meds, but that wasn't helping at all. After a second round of meds, the doc sent me to the hospital for more intensive therapy. So here's the rundown of events during my hospital stay:
Friday, 11/4: went into the hospital. They put in a PICC line, instead of a standard IV. This is a 2-chambered IV line that was inserted on the inside of my left arm just above the elbow. The tube is run inside the vein up the length of my arm and into my chest, opening up into a large vein right under my collarbone. They used a local anesthetic to get it in, and 3 hours later, once the numbness wore off, it started to hurt a little. They came to check it, but said everything looked fine, though there was a lump in my arm about an inch above the insertion point. The pain wasn't really bad, so they just let it go. Immediately, they hooked up a bunch of fluids and medications, and declared me NPO (nothing by mouth), not even water. I could have ice chips sparingly to keep my mouth/lips from drying out, but all nutrition and hydration would be through my veins until further notice, to give my colon total rest.
Sat/Sun: no events to take notice of, so I just sat around and wrote all day, then watched a little TV in the evenings when my man came to visit.
Monday: Got up that AM to pee and noticed this red rash all over my legs. Nowhere else, just my legs, and it didn't itch. Duly reported to the nursing staff, who reported it to the docs before morning rounds, and they decided it was my antibiotics, so they switched them and gave me some IV Benadryl for the allergic reaction. That was weird, because as soon as it hit my bloodstream I could tell you *exactly* where the end of the IV line was! It made my chest feel tight for a couple of seconds, and then I felt hot in my nether region for another couple of seconds, then that was gone and I got all woozy. It kept me from itching, though, so that was good.
Throughout the rest of the week, the rash didn't go away. They kept giving me Benadryl and changing antibiotics, so now I have a long list of those that I can't take.
Tuesday: They started me on a clear liquids diet. My first meal was lunch, and I had chicken boullion, Jell-O, orange sherbet, tea and apple juice. Keep in mind here that I'm diabetic, and none of that was sugar free. I told the docs and the nursing staff repeatedly that I'm diabetic. REPEATEDLY. Did they change anything and make dietary adjustments? No. Were they checking my blood sugars? No. That worried me, but I was so hungry after four days NPO that I didn't care. Ate/drank everything anyway.
Thursday, 11/10: My arm started hurting pretty badly. The PICC line nurse (her specialty) came to take a look at it, clean it up and change the dressing. I was all but screaming by the time she finished. They sent me down for a sonogram of my arm, and we found out I have a blood clot just above the insertion point, so the PICC line was taken out immediately. They didn't give me an IV to replace it because I was taking in meds/clear liquids by mouth, so I was good with that. They changed my diet to full liquids, including cream soups and pudding (also not sugar free). Started feeling nauseous in the PM. The nurse brought some drugs for that late in the evening. Next morning was better, but by late afternoon, it was back, and worse. Last meds of the day Friday and I was feeling pretty rocky, but kept them down anyway.
Saturday, 11/12: Got up throwing up and passing completely liquid diarrhea, so sick I could hardly hold my head up. The docs told me they think I have the flu, and put a regular IV into my right arm, starting me back on fluids and IV meds. I felt better pretty fast, but then in the afternoon, my right arm started to hurt. The sensation was familiar, but the place where I suspected the blood clot was on the underside of my arm, all the way around it from the IV insertion point. *sigh* So they sent me for another sonogram of this area, and sure enough, there's a blood clot in that arm, too, so they had to take the IV out of that arm. I was taking oral meds again by the PM and on my clear liquids diet, so they just kept me another day to see how I was doing.
Sunday, 11/13: Feeling better, no abdominal pain, just very weary. Doc said I could go home, and they discharged me around 3:30 PM. I'm on a special diet: bananas, applesauce, rice and toast, along with Jell-O, puddings (sugar free, of course), clear broth, cream soups. We dropped off my stuff at home and then went to the grocery store to get all my groceries, and when I got home, I ATE until I was full. *sigh* It was all stuff I could have, and I really enjoyed it. Went to bed stuffed, and slept most of the way through the night, just waking up briefly a couple of times, probably out of habit more than anything else.
I'm staying home today and tomorrow to finish recuperating and regain a little strength, and then I'll be going back to work on Wednesday. Got a bit of a headache and am still way tired, but we'll see how I do the rest of the day. I plan on taking it very easy!
Damn, it's good to be home again. Too bad hospitals don't come equipped with internet access in the rooms. ;-) I'd much rather surf the net than watch TV, especially during the daytime. There's absolutely NOTHING to watch until Law & Order comes on at 6 PM. Can't watch DVDs, either, which sucks.
Oh, well. I won't have to think about this again until after Thanksgiving, so we'll see how it goes. There's a colonoscopy and surgery to resection my colon coming up over the next couple of months, but I don't wanna deal with it till it's time.
I just want to rest and get well from this ordeal, so I can go back to a somewhat normal life.
Putzed around a little on the 'net this AM and did some blog quizzes:
You Are a Prophet Soul
You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone.
Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people.
Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run.
No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way.
You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle.
Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings.
A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning.
You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer.
Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul
What Kind of Soul Are You?
Borrowed this one from Blue Cove. Thene I went into a blogthing frenzy.
Your Hidden Talent
You're super sensitive and easily able to understand situations.
You tend to solve complex problems in a flash, without needing a lot of facts.
Decision making is easy for you. You have killer intuition.
The right path is always clear, and you're a bit of a visionary.
What's Your Hidden Talent?
This isn't exactly a hidden talent. I mean, I already knew this.
You're a Freaky Kisser
When you kiss, you want to experience something new
A new technique, a new partner, a new piercing...
And your own personal kissing style is very unpredictable
There's no saying where your tongue or hands will go
What Kind of Kisser Are You?
*ahem* Well. This explains a lot. *snicker*
Your Rising Sign is Pisces
Dreaming and introspective, you're often lost in your thoughts.
Which is okay by you... you're inner world is pretty darn awesome.
And while you are inwardly confident, sometimes you seem a bit unsure.
People often handle you more delicately than they need to.
You love luxury, and even if you're a bit broke, you want things to look "rich."
Mysterious and demure, you keep secrets about yourself to remain an enigma.
What is Your Rising Sign?
Spot-on. So then:
Your Seduction Style: Prized Object
The seduction game you play is tried, true, and still effective: hard to get.
You know that the best seducers turn the tables - and get their crush to seduce them.
The one running has the power, and you're a challenge that is worth the chase.
You are a master of enticing and pulling back. Giving a little and taking some away.
You are controlled enough to know rewards come after a long seduction dance.
Even though you want to call, email, or say "I love you" first - you don't!
You're style is the perfect mix of hot and cold - so much so that you have many suitors.
Think Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's ... or any of those creepy guys from the Bachelor.
You're skilled at inspiring a chase. The real test is picking the person to slow down for.
What Kind of Seducer Are You?
This is so NOT me, but it was fun.
Your Personality Is
Idealist (NF)
You are a passionate, caring, and unique person.
You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals.
You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily.
Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings.
You seek out other empathetic people to befriend.
Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships.
In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily.
At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career.
With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone.
As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style.
On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.
The Three Question Personality Test
Are we seeing a pattern here? Okay, I'm compassionate. *sigh*
Arty Kid
Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique.
You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!
Who Were You In High School?
Also not a surprise. I even won my school's very first Art Award during my sophomore year. And I still have it.
The Keys to Your Heart
You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.
In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.
You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.
You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.
Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.
Your risk of cheating is 100%. You are not suited for a monogamous relationship.
You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.
In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.
What Are The Keys To Your Heart?
Y'know, that one that says my risk of cheating is 100%? That bothers me. It's been 20 years now with the same guy, and I've never strayed, nor do I want to. If that's not being suited to monogamy, what is? Huh.
Your Personality Profile
You are dependable, popular, and observant.
Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.
In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.
You are unique, creative, and expressive.
You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.
And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!
The World's Shortest Personality Test
Some right, some wrong on this one. Not popular and never have been. But I don't mind waving my freak flag every now and then. LOL
Your IQ Is 95
Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Above Average
Your General Knowledge is Average
A Quick and Dirty IQ Test
This one just ticked me off a little bit. How can my logic intelligence be lower than my math intelligence? It oughtta be the other way around! *pout*
Your Hair Should Be Red
Passionate, fiery, and sassy.
You're a total smart aleck who's got the biggest personality around.
What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?
I've been a closet redhead all my life, and months ago took the plunge to actually go there. I love it, and it's way past time for a touch-up. Even had one of the techs at the hospital ask if I were a natural redhead because of my crappy veins -- they have thick casings that tend to roll and leak under the skin every time I'm punctured, which is an unfortunate physical attribute of natural redheads. They're hard sticks when it comes to blood draws or IVs, and I have all the tendencies. Might as well have the hair color to match.
I went in for diverticulitis, which hit me in early October. I'd been being treated with oral meds, but that wasn't helping at all. After a second round of meds, the doc sent me to the hospital for more intensive therapy. So here's the rundown of events during my hospital stay:
Friday, 11/4: went into the hospital. They put in a PICC line, instead of a standard IV. This is a 2-chambered IV line that was inserted on the inside of my left arm just above the elbow. The tube is run inside the vein up the length of my arm and into my chest, opening up into a large vein right under my collarbone. They used a local anesthetic to get it in, and 3 hours later, once the numbness wore off, it started to hurt a little. They came to check it, but said everything looked fine, though there was a lump in my arm about an inch above the insertion point. The pain wasn't really bad, so they just let it go. Immediately, they hooked up a bunch of fluids and medications, and declared me NPO (nothing by mouth), not even water. I could have ice chips sparingly to keep my mouth/lips from drying out, but all nutrition and hydration would be through my veins until further notice, to give my colon total rest.
Sat/Sun: no events to take notice of, so I just sat around and wrote all day, then watched a little TV in the evenings when my man came to visit.
Monday: Got up that AM to pee and noticed this red rash all over my legs. Nowhere else, just my legs, and it didn't itch. Duly reported to the nursing staff, who reported it to the docs before morning rounds, and they decided it was my antibiotics, so they switched them and gave me some IV Benadryl for the allergic reaction. That was weird, because as soon as it hit my bloodstream I could tell you *exactly* where the end of the IV line was! It made my chest feel tight for a couple of seconds, and then I felt hot in my nether region for another couple of seconds, then that was gone and I got all woozy. It kept me from itching, though, so that was good.
Throughout the rest of the week, the rash didn't go away. They kept giving me Benadryl and changing antibiotics, so now I have a long list of those that I can't take.
Tuesday: They started me on a clear liquids diet. My first meal was lunch, and I had chicken boullion, Jell-O, orange sherbet, tea and apple juice. Keep in mind here that I'm diabetic, and none of that was sugar free. I told the docs and the nursing staff repeatedly that I'm diabetic. REPEATEDLY. Did they change anything and make dietary adjustments? No. Were they checking my blood sugars? No. That worried me, but I was so hungry after four days NPO that I didn't care. Ate/drank everything anyway.
Thursday, 11/10: My arm started hurting pretty badly. The PICC line nurse (her specialty) came to take a look at it, clean it up and change the dressing. I was all but screaming by the time she finished. They sent me down for a sonogram of my arm, and we found out I have a blood clot just above the insertion point, so the PICC line was taken out immediately. They didn't give me an IV to replace it because I was taking in meds/clear liquids by mouth, so I was good with that. They changed my diet to full liquids, including cream soups and pudding (also not sugar free). Started feeling nauseous in the PM. The nurse brought some drugs for that late in the evening. Next morning was better, but by late afternoon, it was back, and worse. Last meds of the day Friday and I was feeling pretty rocky, but kept them down anyway.
Saturday, 11/12: Got up throwing up and passing completely liquid diarrhea, so sick I could hardly hold my head up. The docs told me they think I have the flu, and put a regular IV into my right arm, starting me back on fluids and IV meds. I felt better pretty fast, but then in the afternoon, my right arm started to hurt. The sensation was familiar, but the place where I suspected the blood clot was on the underside of my arm, all the way around it from the IV insertion point. *sigh* So they sent me for another sonogram of this area, and sure enough, there's a blood clot in that arm, too, so they had to take the IV out of that arm. I was taking oral meds again by the PM and on my clear liquids diet, so they just kept me another day to see how I was doing.
Sunday, 11/13: Feeling better, no abdominal pain, just very weary. Doc said I could go home, and they discharged me around 3:30 PM. I'm on a special diet: bananas, applesauce, rice and toast, along with Jell-O, puddings (sugar free, of course), clear broth, cream soups. We dropped off my stuff at home and then went to the grocery store to get all my groceries, and when I got home, I ATE until I was full. *sigh* It was all stuff I could have, and I really enjoyed it. Went to bed stuffed, and slept most of the way through the night, just waking up briefly a couple of times, probably out of habit more than anything else.
I'm staying home today and tomorrow to finish recuperating and regain a little strength, and then I'll be going back to work on Wednesday. Got a bit of a headache and am still way tired, but we'll see how I do the rest of the day. I plan on taking it very easy!
Damn, it's good to be home again. Too bad hospitals don't come equipped with internet access in the rooms. ;-) I'd much rather surf the net than watch TV, especially during the daytime. There's absolutely NOTHING to watch until Law & Order comes on at 6 PM. Can't watch DVDs, either, which sucks.
Oh, well. I won't have to think about this again until after Thanksgiving, so we'll see how it goes. There's a colonoscopy and surgery to resection my colon coming up over the next couple of months, but I don't wanna deal with it till it's time.
I just want to rest and get well from this ordeal, so I can go back to a somewhat normal life.
Putzed around a little on the 'net this AM and did some blog quizzes:
You Are a Prophet Soul
You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone.
Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people.
Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run.
No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way.
You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle.
Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings.
A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning.
You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer.
Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul
What Kind of Soul Are You?
Borrowed this one from Blue Cove. Thene I went into a blogthing frenzy.
Your Hidden Talent
You're super sensitive and easily able to understand situations.
You tend to solve complex problems in a flash, without needing a lot of facts.
Decision making is easy for you. You have killer intuition.
The right path is always clear, and you're a bit of a visionary.
What's Your Hidden Talent?
This isn't exactly a hidden talent. I mean, I already knew this.
You're a Freaky Kisser
When you kiss, you want to experience something new
A new technique, a new partner, a new piercing...
And your own personal kissing style is very unpredictable
There's no saying where your tongue or hands will go
What Kind of Kisser Are You?
*ahem* Well. This explains a lot. *snicker*
Your Rising Sign is Pisces
Dreaming and introspective, you're often lost in your thoughts.
Which is okay by you... you're inner world is pretty darn awesome.
And while you are inwardly confident, sometimes you seem a bit unsure.
People often handle you more delicately than they need to.
You love luxury, and even if you're a bit broke, you want things to look "rich."
Mysterious and demure, you keep secrets about yourself to remain an enigma.
What is Your Rising Sign?
Spot-on. So then:
Your Seduction Style: Prized Object
The seduction game you play is tried, true, and still effective: hard to get.
You know that the best seducers turn the tables - and get their crush to seduce them.
The one running has the power, and you're a challenge that is worth the chase.
You are a master of enticing and pulling back. Giving a little and taking some away.
You are controlled enough to know rewards come after a long seduction dance.
Even though you want to call, email, or say "I love you" first - you don't!
You're style is the perfect mix of hot and cold - so much so that you have many suitors.
Think Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's ... or any of those creepy guys from the Bachelor.
You're skilled at inspiring a chase. The real test is picking the person to slow down for.
What Kind of Seducer Are You?
This is so NOT me, but it was fun.
Your Personality Is
Idealist (NF)
You are a passionate, caring, and unique person.
You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals.
You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily.
Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings.
You seek out other empathetic people to befriend.
Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships.
In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily.
At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career.
With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone.
As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style.
On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.
The Three Question Personality Test
Are we seeing a pattern here? Okay, I'm compassionate. *sigh*
Arty Kid
Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique.
You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!
Who Were You In High School?
Also not a surprise. I even won my school's very first Art Award during my sophomore year. And I still have it.
The Keys to Your Heart
You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.
In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.
You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.
You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.
Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.
Your risk of cheating is 100%. You are not suited for a monogamous relationship.
You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.
In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.
What Are The Keys To Your Heart?
Y'know, that one that says my risk of cheating is 100%? That bothers me. It's been 20 years now with the same guy, and I've never strayed, nor do I want to. If that's not being suited to monogamy, what is? Huh.
Your Personality Profile
You are dependable, popular, and observant.
Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.
In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.
You are unique, creative, and expressive.
You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.
And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!
The World's Shortest Personality Test
Some right, some wrong on this one. Not popular and never have been. But I don't mind waving my freak flag every now and then. LOL
Your IQ Is 95
Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Above Average
Your General Knowledge is Average
A Quick and Dirty IQ Test
This one just ticked me off a little bit. How can my logic intelligence be lower than my math intelligence? It oughtta be the other way around! *pout*
Your Hair Should Be Red
Passionate, fiery, and sassy.
You're a total smart aleck who's got the biggest personality around.
What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?
I've been a closet redhead all my life, and months ago took the plunge to actually go there. I love it, and it's way past time for a touch-up. Even had one of the techs at the hospital ask if I were a natural redhead because of my crappy veins -- they have thick casings that tend to roll and leak under the skin every time I'm punctured, which is an unfortunate physical attribute of natural redheads. They're hard sticks when it comes to blood draws or IVs, and I have all the tendencies. Might as well have the hair color to match.