Garry, your post made me laugh, please don't take any offence because none is intended. It is just that your experience brought back some not so pleasant but now humorous memories of my hospital stay.
After I came out of surgery they moved me to ICU, I felt nothing I guess I was so drugged up there was nothing to feel. The nurse who looked after me was so kind but it is odd that I cannot remember anything about her. I was hooked up to all sorts of electronics, beeping and making mechanical noises, not just mine but everyone else who was hooked up as well. There was a lady in the next room who kept screaming in a foreign language all night, alarms going off lots of activity then nothing. I just caught a glimpse of them wheeling a covered up stretcher out of the room. I guess she did not survive. It was disturbing. I thought I best not start screaming or I too would be wheeled out.
The morning of my last operation the surgical ward was very busy. There were lots of people going in for operations. I was in the operating room for almost seven hours, everyone else had gone. My wife and sister were the only ones still in the waiting room. They brought in a comfort dog and it would not leave Wendy's side. Damn I could have used that dog at that point.
The next day they took me an eight bed ICU and because it was on "open concept" the electronic chattering got worse. The first night I was startled awake buy someone talking loudly, it went on and on and finally I lost it and screamed shut the F up. Well that created a stampede of medical staff along with a needle that knocked me out. Turns out it was not the patient but the electronics going into overdrive helping this guy. I felt bad but you have to steel yourself against the never ending sounds and activity of the place. It never sleeps.
Three days later they moved me to surgical ward. In the middle of the night there was some intense activity in the adjoining room. That was followed by what sounded like the sobs of a small child. Someone else did not survive the night. Damn I was getting paranoid!!
The electronics just about drove me over the edge.
The doctor had said they would release me the following day and we waited and waited for the doctor to arrive to sign the release. That trip down the hall and out the door was an incredible feeling of relief. There is no place like home.
I have had the procedure three times when they go through the arterial vein in the groin. All three times I had to be awake because during the procedure you have to be able to move to help them guide the instruments through your body and if they get stuck you have to move so they can continue. It was all on a screen above me and like a GPS through your heart and lungs to get to the problem area. Again it was mind over matter, very uncomfortable. Once that was done they clamp this thing to your leg do you don't bleed, sweet mother I thought I was going to lose it.
Well enough of my adventures, I wish you a speedy and successful recovery. That yellow beast awaits your return. Just don't tell the guy across the street about the numbers that Davenport found. He does not need to know!! LOL
Best to your Garry.
All those who joined in on the caravan well good for you. You will probably never know the difference you made.
This is indeed a special place.
Trust me, you're in good hands with Steve and his crew.
I could go on, but as mother always said........... If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!
