Phoenix--
Your praise makes me feel very humble and your support is very comforting.
Montana--
You are always reliable--except for those public relations commas.
TomKitten--
Odd, isn't it, that we can find a comfortable and comforting peer group on the web more easily than in a bricks&mortar neighborhood?
Osso--
Trifle, tra-la and the promise of Merry Sunshine!
Confession time. I'm a compulsive sort of person, given to displays of excess, particularly when under stress.
Since my To Read shelf was both running over and spilling over, I rearranged the books and did an inventory. Counting the five books I'm currently reading and the twenty-one books on order, I have 268 books stockpiled against Time Of Need.
This little acquisitive neurosis is better for my health than overeating or excessive drinking, but....
My friend wimped out of lunch yesterday and I had a four hour nap followed by three hours of reading (after I picked up an stack of books that had over balanced) and a twelve hour sleep. If I come across a wildcat today, I may not be able to whip him, good & proper, but I'll be able to say, "Shoo, kitty!"
Hospital visiting today.
Aw, I think you could whip him.
Glad you've had some restorative time, hope the visit today goes well.
Soz--
Thanks.
Mr. Noddy is out of the ICU and thinks he's coming home tomorrow. His nurse isn't sure--there is nothing about this in his chart--but Senior Citizens are flexible people.
Great news that hubby is out of ICU. Toes and fingers crossed for his speedy recovery!
I'm never sure where the heck to put those commas
Mental decline
Do people come home directly from the ICU? Isn't there usually a step-down period in a regular room first?
Noddy - I'm with you. The new books just keep piling up on the floor by the recliner; it never seems to get reduced, just keeps growing and growing. You're braver than I am - I haven't the guts to count them.
Total change of subject: I think sometimes it's easier if you aren't actually face-to-face with someone. There's a certain maintenance of privacy? anonymity? whatever, that makes it more comfortable.
Hope all goes smoothly with Mr Noddy's discharge, whenever it is.
There was a time where people were kept in the hospital for at least a week after getting out of ICU, but times have changed dramatically since then.
I know I'd want to get the hell out of there. I hate staying in the hospital.
Montana--
"It is rumored" that some hospitals delay discharging patients over a weekend when nothing much is happening medically or surgically. Empty hospital beds are expensive.
Like you, I'd rather be miserable at home than happy in a hospital bed. Mr. Noddy resents losing his personal autonomy, but delights in the attentions of nurses, practical nurses, nurses' aids, candy stripers, lab technicians and janitors. He's a sociable cuss.
TomKitten--
I've not only faced the fruits of my greedy and covetous nature, I've stacked the paperbacks so that I have a view of cheap paper rather than colorful bindings. I skimmed right through the NYT's book review this morning and placed only one order. (I'm far too stressed to go Cold Turkey right now).
Mr. Noddy reported that they wanted him to have one night in a "regular" hospital room after the ICU.
Good. That'll give Noddy some reading time - and maybe a chance to enjoy some salami and stuffed olives (has anyone else discovered the ones stuffed with almonds? swoooon).
Me. And I'm particularly fond of the Mezzeta brand. For different spicy olives I sometimes like store bulk ones, sometimes not. There can be, for me, too much spice - hard as that may be to believe from ms. chile pepper - or two much wrong spice.
Unfortunately the night out of the ICU was last night.
Even more unfortunately, Mr. Noddy's regular Internist was out of town for his heart attack. He was supposed to be back on Thursday but is now scheduled to return on Monday. (Perhaps I'm a collateral victim of the airline safety checks? Ah, to have a toe in the mainstream of the evening news!)
The Locum covering Mr. Noddy's Internist has the weekend off. The guy covering for the Locum this weekend met Mr. Noddy this morning and doesn't think that he has the authority to discharge him. He made rounds first thing this morning and vanished.
Furthermore, the nurse on duty this weekend is a no-nonsense male nurse with a Semper Fi approach to coddling elderly male flirts. Mr. Noddy is very cranky about this. He doesn't like Mr. Rachett and doesn't want to ask Mr. Ratchett questions about how to get discharged.
Of course he doesn't want to stay in the hospital, either.
I'm calling every hour on the hour. He's complaining every hour on the hour.
I've cancelled my plans for a ladies' luncheon, postponed a working garden party and am sitting On Call.
I have a little list: Mr. Noddy, Nurse Mr. Ratchett, the non-risk taking Locum, the Locum, the Internist, American Airlines, the FAA....
Fortunately I'm sitting comfortably at home, accomplishing my Saturday chores and my poor ear is battered for only five minutes out of every hour.
....we also serve who only stand and wait....
I forgot all about the weekend and that does delay discharges.
Poor Mr. Noddy
Ah. Mostly good, listening from here, as long as he doesn't cotton on to being able to sign yourself out without doctors orders. Although I don't suppose agitation is good.
Thank goodness for shift changes. I hope Mr. Nurse isn't doing double shifts
When I was in the hospital in labor, I had an older female nurse who was aweful and I couldn't wait until her shift was over. Unlucky for me, she was working a double shift.
Maybe I'm confused, looking from my view and maybe not Noddy's. To me some more hospital care would be a good thing. so they can monitor him and that Noddy gets a rest as well.
I agree as well. I think they let people out of the hospital way too early these days. It forces loved ones to finish caring for them and that's quite a task.
I'm just one of those people who would want out ASAP.
Montana--
Mr. Noddy has always been a procrastinator. He didn't get himself organized when the doctor who was responsible for his case was making rounds. He didn't get himself organized when the cardiologist was making rounds.
Granted, part of this dilly-dallying may be due to his perpetual mental fatigue, but as far as I can see he'd rather be on the telephone to family and friends, venting-venting-venting than navigating the hospital protocol.
Osso--
He's scared to buck the system and sign himself out. After all, while he considers himself the equal of any member of the medical profession, the possibility exists that "they" just might have secret information which has been withheld from him.
I spent a lot of time at the hospital yesterday and noted that Mr. Noddy was pretty well compos mentis--at least when compared to his mental state earlier this week.
All the same, I don't want Mr. Misery home complaining about the mean doctor and the mean nurses and everyone picking on the poor, suffering hospital patient.
Walter--
His heart condition is in good shape.
He's been muddying the water by complaining about his Bad Back which means his cardiologist--who is available this weekend--has signed him over to the Internist/Locum/Weekend Locum.
I don't imagine he's said half of the nasty things to the nurse that he's said he said to the nurse, but I don't think he's been the Personification of Sweet Reason and Logical Thought, either.
Meanwhile, I'm wasting a beautiful day waiting by the telephone.
On the positive side, I have to spend only 5-10 minutes out of every hour listening to the Plaint of the Suffering Hero. He could be plunked down in the living room, grousing at length.
