Yesterday

Yesterday we spent from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm in the emergency room.

This is what happened. About 7:30 Fred said he had a really bad headache. Now, Fred NEVER gets headaches. Being Fred, he immediately Googled headaches and basically, the conclusion we came to was that this was not a good thing in a person of his age. He had no other symptoms–no stiff neck, weakness, slurred speech, etc but nevertheless, we both thought stroke.

Right before we left, he realized that he had given himself insulin because he was going to eat supper so I put a few cookies in a bag , printed his list of medications from my computer, updated them by hand, and off we went. About half way to the emergency room, we realized we had forgotten the cookies! So, they checked him into a cubicle in the emergency room and he was brought a tray with a sandwich and various assorted hospital food.

Time passed. The ER doctor came in and they talked. Blood was taken. Then, he was whisked off to have a CAT scan. He returned,  We waited some more. .Eventually, after a long long time  — and I had forgotten to bring a book or an IPod, a nurse came in and told us that the scan showed that everything was normal. So, we still do not know why he suddenly developed a headache, but at least it was not a stroke. So, we waited some more to see the doctor. And we waited and waited until at about 11:30, Fred put his clothes on again and checked himself out! This was not a Popular Move! A young man came running out after him with the basic paperwork that said to come back if he had this, that, or the other. And we drove home.

I was exhausted. Not only was there the stress of worrying about Fred, but, yet once again, it has been confirmed that I am acutely sensitive to noise. All the time we were there, there was something, somewhere, beeping. ALL the time…. I went straight to bed. I don’t know what time Fred came to bed because I was asleep. It is now 8 am and he is still asleep. I am assuming that the headache will be gone when he gets up  but I probably won’t know until I get back from my massage which, for this day only, is at 10:00 am.

Things I learned from this:

• I need to get Fred’s list of medications on the computer up to date. Mine is OK because I checked it before I went to see the orthopedic surgeon.
• Fred’s walker doesn’t fit in the trunk of my Kia Rio. However,  it fits easily on the back seats. This is a Good Thing to know.
• I don’t need another walker for the few days after my surgery. I can use Fred’s easily. {He doesn’t use it in the house}
• I was pretty sure I would have no problem driving after dark but it is good to have it confirmed.

Ok, time to get dressed, get breakfast and get on with the day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of us who are mothers.

QUOTATION: If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

Get your own countdown at BlingyBlob.com

Get your own countdown at BlingyBlob.com