Today is Monday, my 13th day in the hospital. I have been biopsied, cultured, and tested. Then they poisoned me. But I am STILL ALIVE!
I survived the dreaded day 7 chemo without nausea and vomiting (OK with only slight nausea). Everyone is amazed, not the least of whom is me. I figured this would be sort of a dry run for the transplant, but now I don't know what to think (except it is NOT a DRY run. I am left with a certain malady not normally spoken of in polite society. It involves keeping myself proximate to the bathroom. It has been ongoing for 4 days. This morning they think it has to do with the amount of antibiotics I'm being given. (All the cultures are negative). The day before I was hospitalized I developed a lump which turned out to be cellulitus (sp?). No biggie (actually it got quite big). It's gone now, so the antibiotics used to treat it will be suspended tomorrow. Hopefully that will also solve my other problem.
The hospital is a marvel of continual sameness. They have figured out how to make their patients the top priority while providing pretty good care. You do NOT, however, want to be in need between the hours of 7-8AM or 7-8PM. That's when the shift changes and out going nurses give their report to incoming nurses. Response time during those hours can be slow; conversely you can run around naked in your room if you're so inclined as you'll not likely be walked in on. Then rest of the time, vital signs are taken, food trays delivered and picked up, meds given, doctors visit, all on schedule that's determined by God knows who (and usually at the exact moment the mystery is about to be revealed on the show you've been watching). Oh well (or as today's nurse whose name is Harrison would say "Oh my glands!")
I am faring quite well all considered. There are other patients on this floor who have it far worse. And on those nights that I do my laps, I see a waiting room full of people who have loved ones in desperate straits, possibly with no warning, getting a crash course on everything I've learned about unexpected illness, frailty of life, and who loves you. Keep those cards and letters coming...
Rick
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hey Rick:
Good to hear that the procedure on Friday was bearable ... and your message today is upbeat, too. Good for you! Your observations about hospital procedures reminds me of my only extended hospitalization when I was 15 ... with spinal menigitis (and they say, "Pain has no memory."). You have to be the world's best politician to keep the nurses and doctors on your side! Look at it this way, if you were Jewish, you'd be missing Hanukkah this week!
Love, Tony
Post a Comment