February 15, 2012

• More Bratfink BS

  I apparently had a fever of 102 when I was taken to the ICU on Saturday the 4th.  Remember, this is the day before The Super Bowl.  I don’t remember much of Saturday, and not much more of Sunday.  What I DO remember is that the ICU peeps were trying to keep an eye on the game in a room over in the corner [while keeping an eye on the folks in the ICU.]  I began calling it The Super Bowl Party room.  Somehow or another I was told they used that room for the game since they couldn’t use it for anything else because THEY COULDN’T GET THE SMELL OUT OF THERE.  They didn’t know exactly what the smell was, but they were trying to figure out how to get rid of it.  I believe them because I could see where part of the wall in the ICU was dry-walled and ready to be painted.

  Let us talk about hospital beds.  They suck.  Well, unless you sleep on your back, that is, which is NOT me.  I had to have pillows under my arms so I didn’t feel like my arms were hanging off the side of the bed onto the floor.  And yes, my bed WAS alarmed so I couldn’t escape, although they told me it was because I was a ‘Fall Risk’ and they wanted someone to be there to help me onto the bedside commode or [later] into the bathroom.  I no longer have a problem taking a shit in front of someone, because some things are just not that damned important when you may be dying.

  It used to be easy to reach all the bed controls on beds, but not anymore.  Gawd, I hated that bed.

  I survived the bed, but the CPAP machine damn near killed me.  They had to give me Atavan because I would get so freaked out having that mask on my face.  Sometimes I would get a dry throat and feel like I was choking and i would be tearing at the ‘corners’ of the mask to get some air in there or even a straw for some water.  Some times a kind nurse would come help me then get me settled with the mask again.  Bless them!  But I have to tell you, I would rather die with sleep apnea than sleep with that mask on my face every night.  True dat.

  Folks, I truly never saw this coming at me.  I thought I was coming down with a cold from The Boy.  When The Boy saw my blue lips he was told to call 911 and an ambulance to take me to the hospital.  I have no idea how I lived.  Can only be God and prayers.

  Bratsis is always saying to tell those you love them that you love them because YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.  I sure would not have known, and I just know I have another chance.  Maybe not another chance to live better or longer, but at least another chance to say good-bye and let people know that I loved them and they meant something to me.  All my ‘stuff’ means nothing.  All my people do.

  KP came and saw me while I was in the hospital.  She brought her laptop because she thought I might want to play on it.  She found out how much I did not–in fact, was not interested at all.  I really WAS convinced I was dying and was very happy that KP got to see me before I ran over The Rainbow Bridge.

  Anyway, while they were working so hard to save my life they were pumping a LOT of fluids in me.  Lots more than were coming out, so I have a few issues with my legs to deal with.  The Boy thought I’d be in a wheelchair when I came home, so he rearranged my bedroom a bit.  That’s going to have to be changed back.  Right now I have to lead into bed with my worser leg and that’s not making me happy at all.  Well, it’s hurting me.

  So, I’m going to post this before it gets much longer.  And then I’ll start on my next one.
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  • 2:54 am
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