hospital – Site Title

Two Weeks to Go!

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Time sure does fly but I’m not having fun! It is four weeks after my first operation and things are going well. When I bring up the second OP to friends and how nervous I am they say, “You’ll be just fine! Look at how well you did with the first one.”

My thought, “Please don’t jinx it!” Yeah, I’m superstitious but more than that this second one coming up is bugging me. It will be a similar procedure and they’ll be going in the same way so this means the healing that has taken place so far will be disturbed once again and that is a scary thought. What if it doesn’t heal this second time around?

Yes, those “what ifs,” are more than scary. I’ve packed my bag, a smaller one than the last time since I didn’t use most of the stuff I brought with me. I hung out in the hospital “Krankenhauskittel” as they call it here with a kimono thrown over for modesty. A kittel is a hospital gown,that has a gaping opening at the back. I hated it but it did the job well enough and I felt as free as a bird as well! Just kidding.

If I’m lucky they’ll let me go home the same day after the operation. What?!! Exactly what I said but the doctors think that I should be okay. If anything like severe bleeding happens, call emergency services immediately and come back in was what they said. I’m a worrywart so all kinds of things are going through my head. What if I have severe bleeding? What if my blood pressure dips? What if I lose consciousness? What if? What if? What if? Get the picture? I am a doctor’s worst nightmare!

Anyway, next week I will meet with the doctors for a last minute talk so I can ask away to my heart’s content. No, actually they will do the prep which will take about 3 to 4 hours. Why that long? The last time I went through this, I met with different people, had a needle stuck in me, blood was taken, urine sample was next and then the doctors came in. I had a whole lot of questions for them all compiled by my Google doctors and by the time I left, they had heard an earful! This time around will be no different. I am prepared and I have a pageful of questions!

Google doctors are NOT real people!

I know but I like them a lot and I think they like me. Keeping them busy is what I do on a daily basis and I will say this, they know what they are talking about. I got loads of help from them this last time and they helped with the healing process.

I can hear my friend screaming, “I still hate them!” He means Google.

I don’t, I have a love affair going with all of them or is it just one? I don’t know and I don’t care!

The question I left out this time is, “Will I die?!!” Otherwise, I have all the pertinent questions, at least I think they are. I am pepping myself up, working out, yes working out. I am up to 30 minutes now with the walking and I have started strength training as well. So far, so good.

I haven’t taken a walk to the fields yet. That might be pushing it so I’ll leave it out for now. I went grocery shopping with a friend today and she did all the heavy lifting since I am still watching that part of it carefully. I walk up and down the stairs with no problems and I’m basically doing the mundane day to day stuff with no problems. Of course, I’m watching my diet but I did buy two slices of cheesecake and I took one tablespoon of it and knew it was a mistake so they are still sitting in the fridge. My Chilean friend, Max, will be coming by later this morning to help me with something so that will be his reward along with a nice cup of coffee.

I hope I don’t start climbing walls again when the time draws closer. Knowing me I’ll not only be climbing walls but staying up there once I get there!

Let’s see how this goes.

Have an amazing day.

It Spooked!

Do you believe in ghosts? I do having seen a few in my lifetime especially in Asia during my stay there. That was in Asia, I am in Europe now and it seems they exist here as well.

Some of you know that I spent a week in the hospital just recently. The first day after the operation, I was in a hospital bed and I had the room to myself. I was too pissed about all the attachments I had taking up space and one foreign object within me. The last one didn’t set too well with me. I had no choice in the matter and it would stay for another four days!

Anyway, coming back to the spooky part. The first night in the hospital was quiet and the night staff were noisy. They were talking and cutting up. I listened for a while not being able to sleep. The day had been filled with unknowns and my body was refusing to quiet down. It was still on high alert.

I was dozing on and off when I finally woke up with a start. I saw this older woman dressed in a 50s style cardigan paired with a below the knee skirt. Her hair was all white and she was facing away from me! She had a walking aid in front of me and was moving slowly towards the door! I gulped and sat up. Then I saw him. He was much younger and dressed in navy blue shorts. Looked like he had an injury to one leg and had a crutch under one arm. He was also moving towards the door, his back facing me!

What did I see?!! Just my hyped-up brain playing tricks on me or was it what I think it was? I don’t know but I stayed up for the rest of the night! I didn’t see anything else during my stay there. If you’re thinking it was the meds or the painkillers, I wasn’t on any.

Hmm…it is interesting how the details remain. I still see her in my mind’s eye, she was skinny and the cardigan had an orange floral pattern on it. I’m glad they left me alone!

SPOOKY!

Hallelujah!

Don’t you just hate being in the hospital? I DO! You go there to get yourself fixed but there are other aspects that come along with it that you have to contend with. The food for one thing. In German hospitals, breakfast and dinner are almost one and the same thing! Dry bread, a slice of cheese, cold cut, butter, jam, and the obligatory cup of coffee or tea. Lunch is the only thing that is different and healthy? Well, that is another thing altogether!

Depending on what you have had done decides if you can get out of bed and do the necessary stuff that daily life demands or requires. Personal hygiene usually flies out the window. I had things hooked up to my body and I had the hospital gown on, the one that opens up in the back and keeping your modesty intact is a hard thing to do. Anyway, coming back to the point I am trying to make.

I couldn’t shower. Walking around I managed, going to the bathroom with difficulty but a shower? It was next to impossible so I used wipes to keep myself clean. It helped but nothing like a shower would. I was dreaming of standing under a shower and letting the day go flying over my head!

Seven days in and I was going through “wipes” like there was no tomorrow. Then last night, I decided enough is enough! I was home, no longer hooked up to stuff, and it was time to take the bull by the horns. The problem. Both my bathrooms have the typical shower bathtub combination. You have to climb into the bathtub to take a shower. My dilemma? I’m allowed small steps on flat surface but climbing over a bathtub, well, that was a no no. Did that stop me? What do you think? I made up my mind and I went for it with rose-covered dreams of water cascading over my body beckoning me on. I made it. I was in and then I turned on the water.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

It was PURE heaven! I let the cool water wash away the seven days of YUCK! I could have stayed there forever but I knew I was pushing my luck. I climbed out with no pain in sight, I had done it! I was still standing and it was another milestone achieved, of which I’m sure will be plenty more to come as I recuperate and find my way back to being fit and whole again.

It felt like a great adventure achieved with aplomb. Think about it. When healthy, the small things don’t matter. However, when life throws in a curve and leaves you gasping for air, even the smallest of things take monumental effort.

Never give up and when there is a will, there is a way.

Have an amazing day.

The Day Before Armageddon!

It’s here, the day before I show up at the hospital ready to meet the team who will do what needs to be done. I HATE THIS! My bag is packed and being a female I am bringing more than I should. Probably, half the clothes and things I am bringing will not be needed but I’m female, hear me roar!

Yesterday was a tough one. I had to come to terms with the fact that this surgery is going to happen whether I want it to or not. The house has been cleaned, the trash taken out, and everything is spotless. I got the laundry done and met a girlfriend for coffee and breakfast. It was nice until a wasp or was it a bee decided to make its presence known. A sharp sting and I was in agony! I told the owner, who is Italian, that I just got stung by a bee! He laughed and said, “Your blood must be sweet!” We made a mad dash to the pharmacy because it was hurting like hell. After doling out 40 euros, I had a pen that felt hot when held against the sting and some gel to cool afterwards. She also told me to let the people at the hospital know about what happened. Sometimes, they will postpone the surgery!

Why are things going down south all the time? I don’t know but my girlfriend thinks it’s because I’ve decided to embrace “negativity” as my best friend! Anyway, it still hurts but postponing the surgery is just wishful thinking. I think it will take place as scheduled.

Then I met the cat sitter. A sweet girl who loves cats. However, she loved talking as well. An hour into the meeting, I had to cut it short. I handed over the house key and she will show up on Monday to take care of Chachi. The little guy knows that something is up. He has been eyeing me with a look that I can’t decipher. I think he knows something is coming up. Did I tell you he is sweet? He is adorable as well. I laid out my clothes on the bed before I went to take a shower and when I came back there was his favorite toy mouse with the innards hanging out laid carefully on my shirt! A token of love? Or is it like, “Mommy don’t send me away?” I don’t know but I bought him four more to make up for the one he has destroyed! I also wanted to make up for being away from him.

So here it is. My bags are packed and I am ready to go. I don’t want to do this but I have no choice. I will walk in hoping for the best and please don’t send me a Mr. Magoo to do the OP!

You won’t be hearing from me for however long it takes. I hope it won’t be too long.

Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!

ER Visit

Yesterday turned out to be a harrowing one. I woke up with pain, lots of it. The cats were waiting to be picked up so I had lots to do to get them ready for their 5 hour ride back to their daddy, my son. I gritted my teeth, took the pain as it came and got everything ready.

My ex showed up but late as usual. He took one look at my face and said, “Let’s call emergency services!” I told him I had a friend who was going to come by and drive me to the emergency room. He didn’t look happy and said, “That’s a dumb idea!” Anyway, he picked up the cats and said, “Take good care of yourself. I’ll call you later and see how you’re doing.”

The Chilean friend showed up just as he was leaving and we took off to the emergency room. Surprisingly, it was empty. Do emergencies take a break on Sundays? Looked like it. Anyway, we were shown to the waiting room. Then a nurse showed up and wanted to know all the details. Someone else showed up and took five vials of blood, asked for a urine sample, and then proceeded to stick a needle in the elbow area and another one on the top of one hand. It looked like they were getting ready to admit me. When asked, she said this is just in case we have to. Hmm….

It wasn’t all blood, guts, and gore as seen on TV. It was sedate, much too quiet, but the waiting room was filling up. We spoke to a Romanian guy whose wife was having severe pains. He asked what I had and when I told him, he said, “God will take care of you. You’ll be fine.” What a nice guy! Another lady was there with a swollen knee and we talked to her for a while. She was just as nice as the Romanian guy. I was getting fidgety after 2 hours of waiting for the blood test results. I got it close to three hours. No problems, urine no problem, but you still need to have your OP at the date given. I nodded OK. So, why the pain? “You probably pulled a muscle or tweaked a nerve.” I didn’t tell her about the workouts!

I was released and I couldn’t wait to fly out of there. We went to a restaurant afterwards and had the most wonderful salad, or it just tasted so good because I was hungry! Back home, little Chachi was waiting with a sad look on his face. He was missing his buddies! So he got extra kisses and hugs.

I’m glad to be home and not hooked up to an IV or worse still in the operating theatre having the procedure done! The pain is still there but not that bad. I plan to do some physical activity, the doctor said to do light walking. Ok, I will do that and hope I’m back to normal again.

Fingers, toes, and everything crossed!

Have an amazing day.

Ever Had Surgery?

Yes, I have. It came on unexpectedly. Several years ago I had pains on the left side of my abdomen. It was light at first and then it started getting worse. One day, I was doubled over with pain and we went to the emergency room.

They couldn’t figure out what was causing the pain but they checked me in. After two days in the hospital, they still had no idea. I was getting worried when a doctor did another check and found a huge cyst on the ovary. It needed to be cut and so I was scheduled for surgery the next day. It was a scary experience. I hate hospitals and anaesthesia makes me nervous. I lost a friend at the university. She was put under in hospital and never woke up from it! Anyway, they assured me that all would be well and that it was a minor procedure.

I woke up in the hospital room and was feeling fine until my eyes rolled up and I fell back on the bed. I have low blood pressure, always have had this problem although some may not see this as a problem. However, once in a blue moon it takes a dive and I wind up on the floor! It doesn’t happen often but it did in the hospital. They jammed something in my thigh and I was back. I stayed for another day and was discharged. If you thought hospital food is bad, you should try hospital food in Europe! Let’s just say, I was glad to be home and glad I didn’t need to be there another night.

Did I tell you, I have a fear of ghosts? Nope? Well, I do and hospitals are spooky places! One more thing, if you sense something is wrong, take it seriously. I was told by people I knew that it was nothing and just a by-product of an overactive imagination but YOU know your body best!

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

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