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Midlodemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:06 PM
Original message
The past week, or why my autobiography will be entitled.
If the Pet Infirmary can put Dogs to Sleep, why can't they put me?

Mr. is doing much, much better. The cocktail for the MRSA did the trick and he is feeling much better. We got home about 10 minutes ago.

The hospital is great, but incredibly overcrowded and woefully understaffed. In my next life, I will be a private duty nurse, because I basically took full charge of him and the roommate, (more on the roommate later :eyes: )

Across the hall from Mr. was a woman who we shall kindly refer to as 'The Growler'. Growled like a fucking bear when she was in need of pain meds. As soon as she started one of the nurses would be literally running up the hall to get her IV hooked up so that she would STFU.

Another woman was a screamer. All day. All night. Wasn't too bad when her door and Mr.'s were shut, but it was horrific. Elderly woman who had severe dementia and unlike some was combative and not at all pleasantly demented.

It got so bad the first night that I lied to the nurses and told them that the Superior Court of Virginia had okayed euthanasia and if they would like, I would go ahead and do the honors. (no, I didn't, really)

The roommate:

Where to begin. 58yo guy, absolutely lifelong acoholic who lived in an extremely run down trailer in an extremely run down park. No family to speak of. Paranoid doesn't begin to describe it. When they brought him in, he was in an alcohol induced stupor and had sliced open his belly. The ER apparently disposed of his jeans and in that pocket was $10 which he never stopped talking about.

I finally slipped ten bucks under his backpack to get him to STFU.

He also had terrible trouble controlling his bowels, again, because of the alcohol consumption. I know more about that man's habits than I do my own. He felt as though he needed to share with us every single aspect of this particular body function.

He was going to be placed in an assisted living facility, because he simply couldn't care for himself. Because of the alcohol, he had no short term memory at all, so I was running interference with the social worker for him because every time she came in to see him, he left out a detail that he had shared with us. Mr. Midlo has forgotten more than most people know about CMS and the managed care system and was working with this guy to help calm him about his fears about what was going to happen to him.

He shared a lot. A whole lot. Including his backside since he didn't have any underwear. I finally got him a pair of sweats, because that was one rear end I didn't want to have to glance at even once more.

He also shared with us all the ins and outs of Nascar, Wrestling and the Bold and the Beautiful. Apparently, my life needs to be enriched as I have never watched any of those. It's quite sad, actually.

Yesterday, my husband hadn't slept well the night before and was wanting to get a bit of sleep. When we asked roomie if we could turn off the infomercials that he was watching for a bit, he said sure, but the complained to the nurses :rofl: The good news is that a room opened up and the staff felt that roomie was talking Mr. to death, (what about me, I wanted to ask?) and Mr. ended up in a private room. Bad news it was next to the growler.

I can't thank all of you enough for your kind words and good thoughts. Means the world to us.

Love, M
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TZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:11 PM
Response to Original message
1. Wow. Quite the adventure!
All the times I've spent in hospitals with family and well..nothing quite like that (thank goodness..:P )
Anyway, glad Mr. Midlo is doing well..hope you can umm get some good shut eye as well..sounds like you need it!
:hug:
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
2. Jeez, bless your heart. Glad to hear that the Mr. is doing well.
Now go take care of yourself for a second!! :hug:
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La Lioness Priyanka Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:16 PM
Response to Original message
3. wow! i have been thinking of you all day today, glad things got sorted out
and hubby is better.

korsakoff's syndrome and paranoia. nice one. poor you and your hubby.
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Shakespeare Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:18 PM
Response to Original message
4. You really do see a whole other side of humanity in that situation, don't you?
I'll swap stories with you someday about when my ex was in the hospital for 3 weeks for heart infection/open heart surgery. Bizarro world stuff, for sure.

I'm SO glad he's doing better and back home now. I know you must be exhausted (and relieved). A million of these for you: :hug:

I missed you 'round here! :hi: :loveya:
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XemaSab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:19 PM
Response to Original message
5. That sucks
Every time I go to a hospital like that one I realize how well off I am.

Hope your husband feels better. :pals:
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Parche Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:26 PM
Response to Original message
6. Midlo!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally hearing from you, yeah, I know what hospitals are like these days.......
Glad the Mr is doing better!!!

This is for you after what you have been thru...........:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hi:


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appal_jack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:52 PM
Response to Original message
7. Hope the Mr. continues his recovery
Midlo,

Best of luck to you & him both! Glad to hear that his recovery is now proceeding at home.

-app
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SOteric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:55 PM
Response to Original message
8. I'm so glad to hear things are improving.
I'm keeping y'all in my prayers, though. For now.
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malta blue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 03:56 PM
Response to Original message
9. ay caramba...
Why can't anything be simple?

I am so glad Mr Midlo is doing well on his meds, and out of that hospital.

As for you my dear friend, please go take a nice long soak in the tub, etc., and relax. :hug: You are an amazing woman. :pals:
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 04:00 PM
Response to Original message
10. Glad to hear that Mr is on the mend.
Hope you folks get some rest.
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BarenakedLady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 04:03 PM
Response to Original message
11. Thinking of you both.
:hug:
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 04:04 PM
Response to Original message
12. I'm so glad you're both home
:hug:

Whatta nightmare.

:(
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PeaceNikki Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
13. Glad to hear he's on the mend!
:hug:
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vard28 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 04:30 PM
Response to Original message
14. Holy crap!
Well, you two certainly deserve some peace, quiet, and rest! I'm so happy to hear that Mr.'s on the mend and finally back home. Enjoy home sweet home! :hug: Talk to ya soon!
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GreenPartyVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 07:22 PM
Response to Original message
15. I've been in GD:P all this time. Had no idea what was going on. *hugs* Hope
there is a quick recovery on the way! :loveya:
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1gobluedem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
16. I hope you both can get some rest now
At least it hasn't cost you your sense of humor.

:hug: to you both.
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Turbineguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 07:29 PM
Response to Original message
17. I had to take my Mother
to the hospital last week. Bizarre. Next time I think I'll just go to the Sheraton or something. Get a suite. It's cheaper, the food is better and there's a classier grade of clientele.

I hope Mr M. is doing well.

Best wishes.
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
18. My dear Midlo!
Holy cow, woman!

I'm so glad your husband is doing well...MRSA is no joke, as you well know!

And the story! Wow. Makes me glad I'm no longer a nurse, it does!

Glad you're both home, and that peace and quiet have returned to your lives...

Get some rest!

You were missed...

:hug: :hug: :hug: for you both!

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latebloomer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 08:14 PM
Response to Original message
19. Hospitals are a bad place to be sick
Between the germs and the neighbors, they can veer between maddening and life-threatening.

Glad you're home. Get some rest.
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 08:18 PM
Response to Original message
20. Here are some more good thoughts...
I spent some time last week in the hospital with my son. Pediatrics is much more peaceful... and no hairy behinds...

Best wishes to you...
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sasquatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 08:54 PM
Response to Original message
21. I've been good while you were gone
:hi:
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madinmaryland Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-08 09:13 PM
Response to Original message
22. I'm glad to hear that you were finally able to bring your husband home.
:hi:

So when is he into his next remodeling project?

:rofl:
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