One of my friends after this recent episode
said: “maybe this will teach you to slow down”.
Somehow I’m not very optimistic in the long
run, but temporarily it has done a very good job of slowing me down against my
will.
I have always thought it a bore – and very
egotistical of the person – to describe their day minute by minute, however, if
it perhaps gives comfort to someone in the same position, maybe it’s worth it.
Thus, for those of you dashing hither and yon with no impediments, read no
further: those of you who have been there and done that will nod in agreement
and a very few may remember when needed.
I found nights in the hospital varied,
sleeping better right after the surgery and whilst still slightly
medicament-imbibed (would have preferred champagne or a good glass of red mind
you) than when trying to adjust to the new sling. I swear they slapped it on my
Friday night after working hours knowing that there would be nothing that I
could do about it until Monday, by which time I would be – if still unhappy
–perhaps more resigned. This one supposedly keeps my shoulder in a “neutral”
position – they neglect to say that you may well die of strangulation by one of
the straps or on a lesser scale of sores caused from either the rubbing on the
skin or the folds in one’s clothing - although I am not terribly delicate, my
skin is –they appeared to be surprised by the redness when I showed them but I
find it hard to imagine I am the only one that has had the problem.
But, back to nights: the weekend wasn’t a
barrel of laughs, I’d be tired and dozing by 20:30, then I’d think – no got to
read some more and would make it ‘til 22:00, take my meds, turn off the light
and be promptly be wide-awake.
So yesterday rolled around, the doctor
showed up after business hours and said that I could leave – and left it up to
me as to when. Since M was standing there I was able to ask her when the best
time was for her and we decided just after lunch leaving me a leisurely morning
to “pack” (tooth brush, tooth paste and accumulated magazines might not really
seem like packing, but there was also the book, the computer, etc.).
The night ended up being “one of those” –
when the nurse made her rounds just before midnight I watched her go along the
four beds of the other side before coming back around on my side carefully
checking name plates and status of the patients. When she arrived at my bed I
waved. She stopped and went and got a mild sleeping pill and I finally got some
shuteye. Unusually they didn’t start
making the rounds until after 7:00 this morning so with the exception of
someone calling out around 4 am I got to sleep in!
And so we arrive at the slowly, slowly. By
10 a.m. I had had breakfast, taken a shower (on my own I am more than happy and
proud to say, even getting the dreaded sling back in place), brushed my teeth
and washed my face. By 11 am I had gotten our local free newspaper from its’
box outside the front entry (was a bit worried about being harassed for walking
through the front door in my nightgown and robe, but no one blinked an eye) and
taken them back to my friends (it is the small things that give great pleasure)
and walked up from floor 0 to floor 10! I later told one of the nurses that if
she needed a physical fitness program that there were 220 stairs in between
ground floor and the top floor to which she replied that she had done it once
and was red in the face. And then they wonder when I laugh at their “can you
walk up two flights of stairs without being out of breath?” question. Yes I did
stop on floor 6 and walk out to the bank of elevators overlooking the new
building., but didn’t stop otherwise. Probably the reason my “oxygenation”
figure never reads lower than 97%. Took
the elevator down however for fear of tripping in the stairwell: we all have
our problems.
“Packed”, lunch, which comes earlier in a
hospital, dressed (and had to have help as due to the new sling can’t use the
hand to help as too far away) and was glad that younger son S was there as we
ended up walking out to the entry when M couldn’t leave the car.
Home , S graciously –and again more than
competently – shampooed my hair (may the gods that be remember this!), I laid
down to rest and napped for an hour (all the stress of the day you know)
awaking just before he went back into town.
Coffee home alone, a lovely skype chat with my former housemate – the
first in ages as her chemo was really rough on her – a couple of phone calls, a
visit from the neighbor – with homemade soup - M’s return with mail, flowers and one of my
favorite cheeses, skype again with my lovely sister K (ok she is in theory not
a blood sister but we elevated her status years ago because as a sister-in-law
one couldn’t find better and since she has none of her own… occasionally I get
weird looks if I say my “sister” then later say she’s married to my brother).
Now I’m more than ready to go have a snack
and call it a day at 8 pm.
Slowly, slowly goes quickly, quickly.
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