AN ENDLESS, PAINFUL DAY............

What else does one do, when one has been sitting for hours in a cubicle in an emergency room....start blowing up the gloves for entertainment. I definitely don't have the talent of blowing it up ala Howie Mandel, but this sufficed.

Thedaughter came home in considerable abdominal pain last night (after work), and after some basic home treatments the pain did not abate any, so off to the ER we go, this morning. We got there at approximately 10:20 am, and the first test (an ultrasound) was not even started till 1 pm. Initially she was given dilaudid for pain, and she was actually bearable as she was now sleepy. Finally, around 3pm, they decided they were going to do a CAT scan, so I left to come home and pick up thegrandson after school. We got back to the hospital by 4pm, her pain meds are wearing off and now they want to do a pelvic...needless to say, her demeanor has hit rock bottom.

Now I have to deal with her and thegrandson, who bores easily. By 7:30 pm, thedaughter has turned into the "bitch from hell." In a way I don't blame her as we are not getting any answers, and after 3 cubicle changes, the nurses hardly even pop in to see how she is doing. I finally go out to the desk and ask this pre-pubescent pregnant doctor, "what the hell is going on with the CAT scan results?" I swear her favorite word of the day was "HENCE." If I had a weapon I would have used it, trust me. Her reply, "well, I can't do anything till the radiologist reads the scan." I immediately reminded her that the scan was almost 2 hours earlier. After she put down her Holly Hobby doll, she asked someone to check with radiology again - big fukking whoop!!

Now, it is almost 8pm and the daughter is starting to remove her IV, and I'm contemplating going postal. The doctorette appears and says that they would like her to stay the night and the doctor may want to do a procedure tomorrow morning. Guess what, thedaughter is having no parts of that idea. Well, not the entire idea...she wants to go home, get a few things and then possibly return for admission. They are not happy about the idea, but said it is workable. The end result was, she is now home and if the pain worsens, she will go back. If not, she is calling the doctor in the morning to arrange for whatever procedure is required.

Now, I am the one in total pain...my back is screaming at me, quite belligerently I might add. Hospitals are not conducive to comfortable waiting. Not eating all day was not a great thing either.

So here it is a little after nine o'clock, thedaughter has conked out from the pain meds, thegrandson is in bed, and I am clicking away on the puter. We picked up Dairy Queen for a great late late dinner, so at least I don't have to do dishes.

I guess the hospital will get a treat when they realize she has no insurance and will gladly give them $5 a month. Then again, maybe that's why they treated her so badly!! Hmmm...

So take this ER people - we are pissed!

I'm not ignoring BLOG - arm injury!

Since I returned from Egypt I have had a severe pain in my left arm (NO - not a heart attack), where extending my fingers, gripping, bending arm. lifting - all cause PAIN! I assumed that maybe I had injured it somehow when travelling, having to twist and manipulate luggage at various times, and smart as I am...I figure it will heal itself and GO AWAY!! This has not happened. I finally caved, and went to the ER on Tuesday. Since I was not dying - and no blood present, the process through "fast track" began. Now, there's a misnomer. At least this time I was smart - I took a book to read.

The "hurry up and wait" motto is the basic theme at any ER it seems. After registering, I waited 45 minutes, and a minion appears and says my name and one other..."since you have been waiting and no room is available, I will take you to X-ray, and they can return you to our waiting room when done!"

Ahhhh...X-ray! The wait there wasn't so bad - only 25 minutes. After the little tech takes you into the room, and you explain the injury and where the pain is...they proceed to cause more excruciating pain, by manipulating your arm in ways that were never intended - to take the damn x-ray. I must say, I was a little upset, as I was used to always being asked "is there any chance you could be pregnant" before any X-rays in the past. This didn't happen, and when I mentioned it to the young lady - she said "we don't usually ask if a woman is over 50 years old!" So what...I don't have a chance to get in the Guinness Book of records anymore???? Oh, I forgot, one would have to have sex for that to happen!! (Sorry son!) **at least with a human!!

Back to the story...now we wait to make sure the tech made no errors and my beautiful bones show up well in the picture. Another 15 minutes! Now, I am escorted to another "waiting room" in the Fast Track area. Again, 20 minute wait to be placed into a cubicle with a chair much like that for an eye exam. Lalalalalala, toe tapping, humming, wait lasts 25 minutes! This entire time I can hear the nurses, PA, CNA's and cleaning personnel - carry on conversations that I am sure were not intended for me to hear! I want to just barge out of my "area" and say - "Hey, you are charging my insurance company (and me) thousands of dollars to listen to your conversation, and you appear to be doing NOTHING!!!" I never saw a real live, honest to God - physician. The rule of the day now appears to be Physician Assistants! (But I am sure they bill at a Doctor's professional hourly rate!)

No break was detected, and her conclusion was TENNIS ELBOW! She asked me if I had been lifting weights and working out - to which I replied (after I stopped laughing) "look at this body - does it look like I work out??? I don't think so! To get my designer look - no work outs are involved!" So the Ace bandage comes out, arm is wrapped and a prescription given for Vicodin (12)! I am so not a pill taker, I still am relying on the Naproxen and script still tucked into my wallet. The pain is still bad, I have been utilizing heat/cold, and no changes - this contributes greatly to my not being able to sleep also. I will give in by Monday and call my family doctor and see where we go from there. It better not be far, as I have lousy health insurance and will avoid out of pocket expenses. Marie of Arc, will suffer rather than ring up a huge medical bill!

Not bad for a short explanation as to my absence. And typing this one handed has taken awhile!

Stay well and TTFN!