Surgery--Again

Aw.

I almost said "poor Roberta" but I think she'd whack me with something if I did. So I won't.

Continuing thanks to you and Izzie for checking in on her and updating us.

Gosh.

((Roberta))

I'm home.

You guys is nuts, calling all over the city from Oz, England, who the hell knows where.

I think I was discharged prematurely, but I am thrilled to be out. They made an appointment for me with my ashtma doc.

Note: If you ever need to find me again--RH, Kings County is Brooklyn. I ain't there.

I argued with the ambulance drivers about where to take me. They said Bellevue was too far. I won.

The only think I brought with me was earplugs. Ten times boined, eleven times shy.

Sheila always knows where I am. I will send one of you her phone number in a PM.

She brought me home and is now getting my prescriptions filled.

I have a bunch of messages from tax lawyers who want to help me for free. Manana. Today I rest and get some peace.

My art therapist and the head of the cancer clinic wanted to reach me to ask me to speak at the opening of an art exhibit to which I had contributed. That's how they found out where I was. The therapist came to see me today. I had drawn some pictures with paper and pencils from the day room. A pastoral scene was so admired by my roomies that I gave it to the old bag across the way. The art therapist took a picture of it, and some other works.

Then she asked me how I was feeling. Great revelations from art therapy. I drew a picture of me with an anaconda wrapped around me---constricting me. (Dat sonomabitch soipent.) I drew the snake's face so that it was directly facing me. I drew a forked tongue. That stinking snake was sticking it's tongue out at me. So I drew me sticking my tongue out back.

The therapist asked if I had any words to go with the picture. I said, "Oh, yeah?" A revelation. I'm not strong. Not all the stuff you folks think. I'm pragmatic and a kid who won't be bossed around, even by a giant serpent. Oh, yeah? Snarling.

The throat doc came to see me. They rescheduled everything.

I'm so glad to be home, I think I feel better already.

I didn't go to the ER just because of the asthma, although this was one of the worst attacks I ever had. My blood pressure was through the roof. I kept careful records, but no one at the hospital believed me because when they took my BP it was normal. Not this time.

When I was admitted from the ER to the hospital, my BP was 189/102. They're working to get it down. Unfortunately all the stuff they do for asthma works against lowering BP.

It's still not normal, but it's no longer in a danger zone.

While I was writing this, Sheila brought me some supplies. She's gone back to work.

She's an exceptionally good kid.

So are you guys. What would I do without you?

Dunno. Don't wanna know.

YAY! I'm glad you're outta that place and back home. Sorry you had to go through all that though.



Glad you made the call!

firkin mapquest...


((((( B )))))

So glad to read that you're home now! Hope they get that BP under control soon!

LOVE how you described the drawing. Watch out, snake! You better not mess with our Roberta!

and she's BAVK!!!!!

Yay!

Oh, it.is.sooo.good.to.see.you.here goil.



good <nods head>




gooder <nods head a little more>



gooderer <nods head some more>



goodest <nods head frantically>



EXCELLENT





Good lawd <shakes head>





I'm so pleased to see you Boida, I simply can't tell you how lovely it is to see your name popping up - I was checking in before I go to zzzzzzz and it's made me smile big - no, not big, massive. Oh, and you sound fab too - well, ya know, all things considered!!!!

What a difference a day makes... (phew)



We love Sheila - so verra pleased that she is there for you


love you goil - an afternoon and evening of rest now. BIG HUG (((((Boida))))) xxxxxxxxxx

<will call you over the weekend >

Whoops, you're home.

Next time, should there be one, bring some ear plugs... not that I would have known to do that either.
EDIT, just read you did. So now you need to get to a travel store - there are ear plugs and ear plugs. Caramba, such a torture, to be in the hospital with incessant noise..


On Sheila's number how about a couple or three people, Sheila approved, re the around the world timeline. Not me, I'm too flakey ( : , ) and don't have phone money.

Great re the art therapist. I love her from afar.

So glad you are back home and feeling better. Butrflynet sends her good wishes to you, too.

BBB

J, I know an emoigency when I see one. How's by you? I haven't had a chance to catch up yet.

RH, Mapquest, shmapquest. Noo Yawk is too complicated for Mapquest.

It's one city made up of five boroughs, which are also counties, but with different names--maybe.

The Bronx (Bronx County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County), and Staten Island (Richmond County).

Eva, There's a little kid residing in me. I fight to be a mature adult. Sometimes I win; sometimes I lose. That little kid is as big a pain in the ass now as she was when I was little. (My parents could have attested to that.) But I think I derive strength from that don't boss me around attitude. Even when the entity doing the bossing is my own body. I accept what's happening (pragmatist--always) and then say, "Oh, yeah?" (most of the time)

Izzie, I left out the part about the three roommates from hell. Two very LOUD women--nice enough in a very LOUD way. I couldn't get them to lower their voices, but I could get them to lower the tvs. The third roomie was an ancient extremely nasty, mean, demeaning grump most of the time. The rest of the time she was either asleep or being very nice. The other roomies and the hospital workers were very nice to her and very tolerant of her unforgivable behavior. She and I got along until she got mean to me. Not tolerant, not forgiving. I guess I came up with another "Oh, yeah?"

Osso, my earplugs worked just fine. But who wants to wear earplugs 24/7.

BBB, Thanks to you both.

You can breathe?

This is important, da breathing!

The BP is behaving already?

Goddam anaconda!

Go tax helpers! May the IRS have anacondas.

deb, The breathing is not great. Not even good. But definitely better. I couldn't turn over in bed without panting. (You're a witness to the panting.) Couldn't get the ten feet from the bedroom to the bathroom without panting. Today I walked a half a hospital corridor. Didn't pant until I was on the way back. Got from the elevator to about halfway to my apartment without panting. That's why I said I thought I was being sent home early.

However, the last time I was in the hospital for asthma, nothing much improved in the hospital, and I was there much longer. I got better when I got home. Also, the doc said he was concerned about my picking up infections in the hospital. Not unreasonable.

Did I mention how good it was to hear your dulcet tones? I couldn't speak in complete sentences. I got winded. Now I can talk without panting.

BTW, my throat doc who will be doing the surgery (the chief resident) is very handsome. I was glad to see him--for several reasons. Old ain't dead.

Handsome doctors, eh? When is the biopsy now?

It was great to hear YOUR dulcet tones! We was worried.

So true, so true. I'm not exactly in love with my (46?) year old eye surgeon, but close enough. A little pulsation is good for the bod. Brains, wit, presence.. go a long way.

I wonder if anyone has done a study on all that..

I did read a recent study - where? - re doctor behavior and patient listening.

That little kid inside you is your best friend, Roberta. Never doubt it.

Good to read some good news from you today Roberta.

Good, you're home. Always better than not.
Glad that you've got the lovely Sheila in your life - and that little kid inside is wicked strong - love that.

Definitely no harm in appreciating a fine specimen of doctor.

So there we were. A had her tv blasting en espanol. K had her tv blasting in English. E was blasting a nursing aid for some miniscule infraction. And there I was, with my hands over my ears. Didn't wear the earplugs every minute.

Then either A was shouting at K or K was shouting at A to turn on the news. I saw them both run to the window. I took my hands away from my ears and went to the window too. Lots of action. Todo, Chaos. What the hell was going on? A helicopter had crashed into the East River. Bellevue is on the west bank of the East River and is a few blocks south of the crash site.

A and K were over the top. Beside themselves. Manic and LOUD. E didn't know what the hell was going on and didn't care. I was concerned but I couldn't see anything from the window. I watched K's English version of the news.

Breathing is not improving. Sigh. Still, I'm glad to be home.

The last time I had a really handsome doctor, it was the hernia surgery (at the beginning of this thread). Very distracting. This one ain't just handsome. Think about how thoughtful he was to schlep to where I was to talk to me in person. He said he thought I had a lot of insight.

Insight shminsight. Leave my throat alone, you good looking SOB.