Thanks, Raggedy. I appreciate your good wishes.
Not breathing well, littlek, but breathing a lot better.
Bethie, Dunno what's happening with K. Do know that you don't want it intravenously.
I can swallow little bites with relatively smooth textures. Occasionally I notice a taste, but it doesn't necessarily go with what I'm eating.
Every morning at 5 a.m. everyone is awakened for vital signs. Then they distribute stuff for sponge baths. Not the most hygienic approach to hygiene. By the time I left, my hair was filthy. Yuck. No hair dryers. Breakfast at around 7.
On my first full day, I saw the nurse practioner at around nine. She's a wonderful woman. Asked about my pulmonary specialist. She told me that the doctor didn't think I needed one!
I argued. She told me to take it up with him; there was nothing she could do about it.
At around 5:30 the doctor arrived. I wanted to know why I wouldn't be seeing a pulmonary specialist. He said I didn't need one. I said I did. I said that my private doctor said I needed one and that the two doctors in the ER said I needed one. He said their opinions had nothing to do with him.
I got very angry. He got very angry. I insisted. He insisted. I won. He would request a consult. This was a long, long day.
From the moment I arrived in the ER, I told anyone and everyone that radiation treatments needed to be coordinated so that I didn't miss one. Duh. Missed one.
Got a call from finance. I gotta apply for Medicaid. Okey dokey, say I. Can you do it now? No, I can't do it now. Can someone do it for you? No, I have to do it myself. When are you gonna do it. When I'm no longer in the hospital. My info is at home. Isn't someone at home. No, I live alone. What about the person you listed as your contact in case of emergency? She can't do it. Why not. She can't walk well, and she doesn't know where all my papers are. So when will you do it? When I'm no longer in the hospital. This conversation went on. How is it possible that I was rejected for Medicaid when I had cancer (referring to 2005). I don't know how it's possible. It happened. On and on.
The following morning, I was trying to move off the bed and realized that I was panting. A nurse was at my side. I tested my breathing meter and found that I was barely exhaling. "I need an inhaler." None around. I had one in my bag. Used it. Started exhaling again--marginally.
I met with the pulmonary specialist who ordered tests for me. I had already been in the hospital for two days.
Started getting tests. Full batch of breathing tests, CT scan on throat and chest. Echo cardiogram. Guess what? I have asthma. Kind of relieved. Coulda been something else. Woise. I also have emphesema. Didn't know it.
More when I can get myself together.
