It's a little scary when they say you can leave the hospital, knowing that no one will be at the other end of that red call button at the bedside to administer painkillers or manage a fluky heart rhythm at 2:15 a.m.
By the time we completed the discharge, all the outpatient pharmacies at CC were closed for the night (surprising - I would think at least one would have been open 24 hours). We don't have a car here, and I was not about to walk or try and get a cab to the nearest Rite-Aid in the East Cleveland night (and wasn't going to let Jenn leave me). So I asked the nurses for a final lidocaine patch to the chest and vowed to make it through the night on Advil and Tylenol before resorting to the prescribed Percocet in the morning.
Expectedly, finding a comfortable sleeping position was a challenge. Tried the bed, even with a "fort" of 6-7 pillows - no go, gave up at 1:30 a.m. after redosing the Advil and Tylenol. Tried upright on the couch, but the cushions were too firm (reminiscent of airplane seats) and hurt my butt. Finally laid out on the couch with many pillows and sacked out until 5:30, when I woke in pain crisis. Redosed again and made Jenn promise to set an alarm and be at the CC pharmacy upon opening at 8 a.m. She has really been an angel through this so far. (And it's hard to be a caregiver. I remember all too well her battles with radiation therapy in 2004. She's blogging her experience as well, and I'm sure she'd love your support.)
Then I had my first really good, thorough sleep: 4 more hours completely unconscious, with vivid dreams. Jenn's entering the room woke me and precipitated another pain crisis, but finally we had the tools to deal with it. Ate some crackers, Gatorade and a banana for breakfast, relaxed and read, and then cleaned up around 11:30.
We're off to the hospital to thank the nurses on J5-1 and check out the rooftop pavilion that everyone raves about but that we didn't get to catch. Also going to see if I can squirrel up a chair massage.
Take care,
Micahel
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thank you Michael, and Jenn, for taking me along this journey with you. Being an online friend, its difficult to be the same type of support you would be if you were able to be there in person.
So glad you are doing well Michael and able to leave the hospital.
Best Wishes to you both!
Luv
Deb
Post a Comment