July 7, 2009

I returned from a hospital stay of six days on Sunday, July 5. I have been getting caught up on bills and e-mail and am just getting to the blog. So now you know where I have been the last week. 

I went to Dr. Whitt (country doc) last Tuesday after having fever, chills, sweats, etc. He and Dr. Gleber looked at my right tissue expander site and said I had an infection and should get on IV antibiotics immediately. As I waited for Rigdon to come home from birding, I packed my bag for the hospital. I am getting so proficient at it, all I forgot was my toothbrush, left on the sink in its inconspicuous container. The hospital gives fresh recruits a toothbrush, albeit small and wimpy, but I was covered. Even when I asked Rigdon to bring the brush to me, he couldn't see the light blue case.  I think I did very well in my packing: robe, slippers, New Yorkers, book, i-phone, throat lozenges, warm socks, a bright red fleece blanket given to me on my first visit May 18, all my toiletries except as noted, and I snuck in my Ambien in case I couldn't get it prescribed. It was my fourth hospital incarceration and of course I was a skilled packer. I wish I could pack that well for trips, I am an over packer as those who have traveled with me have said, and I never seem to have the right clothes. When a friend of mine travels by car, she goes into her closet, embraces as many clothes on the hangers as she can and puts them in the car. Sounds great to me. I also brought my huge cancer notebook where I put every piece of paper that looks important pertaining to my quest. Of course, everything seems important to me, so I have gone from a slim notebook to a larger one and I am looking for the giant version to accommodate all the new information. 

We had planned to go to Marin General because I couldn't get the Stanford plastics physician in charge on the phone. When we were looking for the emergency entrance at Marin General, the Stanford doctor called and we went on another journey to Palo Alto. The doctor who discharged you last gets first dibs on anything that needs attention later, therefore it was my destiny to drive an additional hour and a half. I was hoping I could just stop in Marin, but it was not to be. 

I was admitted through the Stanford ER which insists on your going through a metal detector; you have to relinquish anything they deem dangerous. The woman ahead of me had a stapler, pocket knife, and a chain she had to toss in the rubbish. Cell phones were allowed but had to be put in a little basket just like at airport security. Immediate urine collection was done and after a few minutes in the ER I realized why. There are a lot of people who visit the ER who claim to be in severe pain and are there only for the drugs. As I waited on my bed/gurney there were two examples right across from me in the room which had about 12 beds and two chairs which were large recliners. I was fascinated by the whole place and loved listening beyond the curtains to hear what people were in for and where they went after triage. I was sent upstairs with my IV while they looked for a bed for me. The hospital was full and I was finally placed on the first floor in a double with the window right next to the emergency room entrance. That was fine though I have been quite spoiled by having singles the last three times. The distraction was the woman in the bed next to me.

to be continued tomorrow