The Hospital

Once I was stabilized in the er, they transferred me to Medical ICU; step down from just plain ICU.   The fact that they were putting me in the Medical ICU disturbed hubby and the family.  They knew that I had been near death when I went into the er and so they were holding their breaths for good news.

It was a wonderful room.  One of the nicest hospital rooms I'd ever been in.  Completely paneled in a beautiful wood.  Naturally it held all the usual equipment to keep you alive and well.  And I had my own special nurse.

I liked that first nurse.  It was late at night and I was so extremely tired.  However, a male nurse from er and a young volunteer rolled me up to the Medical ICU.  There they transferred me to the new bed (which was extremely comfortable for a hospital bed).  As they tossed me over (that's what it felt like), I noticed how cute the volunteer was.  And for whatever reason, I asked "So you are a volunteer?"  He answered, "Yes Ma'am."  Which I promptly returned with, "You are adorable."  My nurse who turned out to have a great sense of humor said, "Oh, I already like her, she's a kidder."  She went off duty and was gone the rest of the time I was there.  I missed her because the other two were not nearly as much fun.

They continued to pour blood and fluids and who knows what else into me.  I didn't seem to get any better.  They continued to take blood and do more tests which I can't possibly remember.  Sometime the next day I began to get better although still not where the doctors wanted.  That was when I met Dr. Montgomery, now my oncologist.  She ordered a bone marrow test.  And that was where I first met Dr. Smith who is the Radiologist there.  He is a trip.  He did several ct scans.  After that, Dr. Montgomery came in to see me.  

I had mentioned that the "c" word had been mentioned several times during those 9 months I continued to spiral down.  She looked at me and said, "I think you may have follicular lymphoma but I want to do a biopsy."  Once again I was wheeled into Dr. Smith's inner sanctum.  All the tests he had done were done using the ct scan machine to pinpoint the area to be used.  And since my blood pressure was so very low they were afraid to give me anesthesia which would lower it more.  So none of these were exactly comfortable.

I kept thinking the pain was worth the probability that I would know what had made me so sick.  Although the bone marrow test results and the biopsy results were not going to be back for a week, I felt and Dr. Montgomery felt we were on the right tract.  She told me that all my symptoms were the same as the lymphoma.  And she asked me if I wanted her to send the results to the first oncologist.  Well, by this time I was in love with this tiny, gentle lady and I, of course, said no.  I wanted to stick with her.  Which caused a bit of problem she was not covered by my supplemental insurance.  But that's another story.

Another night in a regular hospital room (oh what a difference that was) and I came home; weak, tired, and scared.  I knew it could be a week before we had the results but at least I was home and sleeping in my own bed.

Next blog I'll go from here.