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Where was Walter?

by Walter Richards

Wednesday (7/25) started like any other work day for me at Columbia Memorial Hospital. Except after I got to work, I spent the first half-hour “breathing through the pain” in my lower abdomin. Went to see Dr Baxter, who squeezed me in between appointments … and was told to go get a CT Scan and blood/urine tests, and he would make a decision when he got the results.

Remember my comment on Auntie’s Blog about having diverticulitis? It was back with a vengance. Dr Baxter sent me directly to the ICU … bypass Admitting, he’ll take care of it. “You’re worse than you look or feel”.

Surgery was scheduled with Dr Dowlatdad. Morphine was prescribed until then. Three hours before surgery, an absess blew. Meaning a large pocket of puss had burst open. Let’s just say Morphine was no match for the pain. On a scale of 1 – 10, the pain was a 12.

So, had the surgery and was in the hospital recovering until Sunday (8/5) ... when I was finally able to check out, and go stay with my mom (who came and dry camped in her RV at the hospital). I’ll be staying with mom for a few weeks, at least until I get the danged catheter out and don’t have to drag that around. I also have a colostomy bag, for those who are (for whateverr reason) interested.

Service from the doctor’s, nurses, and other Columbia Memorial Hospital staff was usually great. Of course, as the hospital’s Payroll Accountant, most of them know me. But I think much of it was also due to being in a small community, where people tend to care more for one another.

One Med/Surg night nurse I had, in particular, seemed to go out of his way to “be stealthy” and not wake me if I was sleeping. On the other hand, one ICU male nurse was particularly loud – which was nauseating, as well as irritating.

Room temperature, on the other hand, seems beyond the control of the nursing staff. The ICU room was constantly chilly. The Med/Surg room fluctuated between too hot and too cold … with the vent blowing directly on my head. I was told, and do not doubt, that one thermostat controlled five rooms. I was also told that if the heating system was turned off (when it was too hot), the air conditioning automatically turned on (making it too cold).

I can’t comment much on the food, as the drugs and recovery sapped my appetite until the last day. But I regularly eat in the hospital’s cafeteria when working, and the food given to patients seems to be the same sold at the cafeteria … though the daily menus may not be the same. IE; pizza for the cafeteria, and roast beaf sandwich for patients.

Anyway … lesson learned. When the ER Surgeon wants to admit you for IV fluids and antibiotics, take the advice and be admitted. If I had done so, it may have saved me months of discomfort, pain, and whatever my hospital bills are going to be. Not to mention the time I’m losing from work. Thank god for the hospital’s health insurance, and I wish I would have chosen to get AFLAC.

Aug 6, 01:08 pm | Walter Richards
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5 comments on this article (post your own)

1 On Aug 6, 08:04 pm, THartill wrote:

Hey the website finally works!

Glad to see you back!

Any idea what caused it? Did the doc tell you to eat more fiber?

2 On Aug 6, 09:38 pm, The Guy Who Writes This wrote:

So there’s no WiFi at CMH?

3 On Aug 7, 10:41 am, Walter Richards wrote:

TH – Regular cause. Yep, not enough fiber. So, I’m slowly changing my diet – though I’m still not a big fan of fruits/vegetables.

Guy – they do, but the one time I tried to use it (thanks to the IT dept’s willingness to loan me a laptop) I got a headache from the screen.

OH, and I forgot the story of the 5 tries to draw blood. My veins aren’t easy to find normally, and in the cold ICU room … let’s say I felt like I had tried to pet a porcupine that wasn’t feeling friendly. lol

4 On Aug 7, 12:59 pm, KISS wrote:

Walter, now you know why Metamucil is used. LOL. Anti-biotics lots of fluids and the fiber will have you OK soon.

5 On Aug 7, 05:33 pm, Auntee wrote:

Walter – welcome back!

Was wonderin’ what happened to you.

However, I know from experience that anything can happen in that vortex of a tunnel leading to the peninsula though, so I wasnt too worried…..some residents have been known to disappear through there like some portal of amnesia and forget where they are and not show up back in Astoria for weeks…...

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