Monday, November 19, 2012

Another medical experience



          As I sit here, hunched over the keyboard of my computer (the only way I can type without screaming with pain), I know somehow, some way, some day, I'll use the agony of surgery, working with only one hand/arm, and working toward recovery in my writing. I hope I can benefit in more than one way (i.e. regaining the use of my left arm without constant pain and having the shoulder catch). Aren't we, as writers, supposed to use experiences to improve our writing?

        Scheduled for Friday, November 16, surgery on my left shoulder should have been outpatient -- go in, go home. However, when I finally awoke, something was wrong. Oh, I didn't feel my arm. A nerve block made it completely numb, dead weight clear to my fingers. No, I couldn't breathe. My chest had a weight pushing on it. I felt as if I had hiccups in my chest from time to time. I ended up in the hospital because the doctors feared I had "thrown" a blood clot.

        Then the real "suffering" began. I had had nothing to eat or drink and none of my medicines since ten o'clock Thursday night. My glucose levels shot sky high, and the hospital staff wouldn't give me my insulin. I thought I would never be given any of my needed prescriptions, even though all the information was in their computers (my doctor is in the same network). What a nightmare. My dear, wonderful daughter by marriage, Janelle, stayed with me until after 12:30 AM Saturday, not leaving until she knew I was finally getting the care I should.

         Saturday, after still not receiving my medicines as needed, the surgeon's PA said my cardiologist would dismiss me when he or whomever was on call made rounds. By four o'clock, nothing. I called the answering service, received a call from the doctor on call, no one knew anything about me. After I explained what I knew, they dismissed me by phone. Janelle helped me break out, while Jacque Graham kept an eye out for anyone trying to stop the escape.

          Now, I await the slow grinding gears of medical care to set up home health care. Wonder if I'll be using my arm on my own (after figuring out how to do range of motion exercises) before anyone follows through? Oh, my, more information to use in writing some day.

         Thankfully, the pain isn't as bad as I expected. Oh, it's not any fun and is mighty uncomfortable, but I'm managing. Robert is doing the best he can to be my personal nurse. We will endure. One thing both of us have learned: we do the best we can with what we have.

         God has been good.

 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, Vivian. So sorry that things did not go as expected with your surgery. I hope your recovery at home goes well. You are in my prayers.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

So sorry that your medical conditions are always more complicated than expected. They do show promise for an interesting story.

I can relate to waiting to get dismissed from the hospital. Love the way you called it an escape. We waited a day for Jack's dismisal. He actually left the hospital, though I didn't know it, and the security guard found him in the parking lot.

Sending hugs and prayers you feel much better soon.168

Vivian Zabel said...

Hey, we write what we know, and I know more and more all the time -- much I would rather not know. *laugh*

Joan Y. Edwards said...

Dear Vivian,
I'm glad you were able to make The Great Escape. Doubly glad you can feel and touch and breathe. Awesome. God is so good.

Great emotions and experiences to use with your writing. You can use Dragonfly or other software that lets you record your words. You may already use it.

I am thankful for you.

You are a blessing.

Joan Y. Edwards

Vivian Zabel said...

Dragon is on my list for Christmas, but Santa lost my address a long time ago. *grin*