... I had my only hospitalization ever, barring my own birth and the birth of my oldest child. After experiencing my most painful and intense back pain ever, and after going to both a chiropractor and an acupuncturist for more than a week, I finally went to a medical doctor and said, "Don't prescribe muscle relaxants. I know this is not muscular."
Amazingly, he listened to me and sent me for a scan, and lo and behold, I had pulmonary embolism, i.e. blood clots in both of my lungs. I was admitted to the hospital immediately, where I stayed for a full week.
I was, and still am, immensely grateful to the many people who helped during that time: dog walkers, food providers, laundry do-ers, babysitters ... and the ones who brought me cheer in the hospital. Too many to mention by name.
By the end of my stay, I was an emotional basket case, and all I wanted to do was go home. I think I spent the entire last day there in tears.
I remember that I decided to make it my mission to not treat any hospital employee as if they were invisible, not matter how unhappy I was. So from the nurses down to the housekeeping staff, I made a point of making eye contact and saying hello each time they came into my room.
I also remember the absolutely stunning sunrises every morning over Lake Monona viewed from my east-facing window.
This week I am giving thanks for my health -- which is good, by the way. I never did know what caused the clots. I suspect too much time sitting in front of the computer as I did a mountain of work for one of my library classes -- bloggers, beware. I have not had a recurrence. The intensity of the pain drove me to begin a regular yoga practice, which I maintain to this day.
And I am giving thanks for the amazing people in my life.
I am glad to be here.
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6 comments:
This is such a beautiful post! I never heard about your hospital stay. Hearing about your pain makes me happy to have no pain at all today. I love your idea of treating the hospital employees with deep respect. I'm sure you were swamped with people wanting to help you out, since you always help others.
I was a sick little kid, and spent more than my fair share of time in and at the hospital. I am a sucker for doctors and nurses, and am always nice to them. The orderlies were great too, though I think you'd have to be pretty cold not to be nice to a little sick kid.
And for what it's worth, all my youthful health care was federally funded, because my father was in the Air Force, and we also got survivor benefits after he died.
There's always the Nurse Ratchett type ...
We're all glad you be here, too.
Yes,I remember that was scary. I was just getting to know you and Ed. Glad you got well. I remember you said it was that "fine hospital food" that cured you....but seriously, many parts of your post were moving to me. I liked that you treated everyone as humans, no matter their "status". There's that of God in the custodian, right?
Green jello: good for what ails you.
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