Emergency Room Visit!

Leaving the Emergency Room tonight

You're not going to believe this but I just got back from the emergency room at Beebe Hospital.

What are the odds after just posting my emergency room visit back in 1959?  

Here's what happened folks.  When I got up from my two hour nap this afternoon at around 5:30 my left side was hurting.  I was nauseous. Very nauseous.  Uh oh, I've been here before.  About four years ago I had the same experience when I passed a kidney stone although I didn't know it at the time that what was happening.

I got up and tried to convince myself I was extra tired because of my prostate seeds or that I just had gas.  These seed implants have wrecked havoc with my bowel movements.  Either I'm constipated or "loose."  Didn't work. I was getting sicker and sicker.  Then when I started to projectile vomit (barley made it to the toilet and did get some on the wall and floor or which I DID NOT TAKE pictures), I suspected the worst, I was passing a kidney stone.  I knew there was one left because the last time I passed a kidney stone which was I believe about four years ago I was told there was one "waiting."  

I decided to call 911 for an ambulance to take me to the Beebe Emergency ward.  Bill was very upset.  Very upset.  

While I waited for the ambulance, I sat in the kitchen chair, getting sicker and sicker.  That's the problem with passing kidney stones, until you pass it there is no alleviation.  On a pain scale of 1 to 10, 9 is "good."  I was a 9.  The last time I passed a kidney stone the pain was a 10.  Yes, I wanted to die.  This one was bad but not as bad as the last time.

By the way, my pain medication is starting to wear off.  I hope I don't regret going to Walgreen's tonight to pick up the pain medication the emergency room doctor prescribed.

My neighbor Bob who sat with me in the emergency room and just called Bill to tell him I would be alright

This time I rode in the Brink's Truck style ambulance.  No, I didn't take photos.  Was.not.in.the.mood.  Even though it took only about five minutes to get to the Beebe Hospital Emergency Room, the ride seemed SOOOOO LONG.  I felt every bump in the road.  However, the EMR guy could not have been better.  Very comforting while he monitored my blood pressure which had shot up to 180.  My normal blood pressure is 120.  

Type of ambulance I rode in this evening - very different from my 1959 ambulance 

I arrive at the emergency room. They transfer me from the contraption I was on in the ambulance to a gurney and proceed to take me on a tour route to where they will examine me to find out what I was sick.  Then I felt a need to projectile vomit again.  Yes folks, I did it again.  However, this time I got it all in the Barf Bag, last time I was in this situation I got part of my vomit on the nurse and the rest on the floor.  I'm learning.

The emergency room doctor comes in and asks me a series of questions.  "Where is the pain?" My left side which they called "quadrant" (whatever).  The last time I had the pain on my ride side (quadrant).  I asked "What side is my kidney on?"  That's when they told me "You have kidneys on both sides."  Really?   Shows you how much I know.  Maybe I'm thinking of my appendix, which I still have....and I'm still not sure which side that is on.

Not my favorite place, on a gurney in the emergency room earlier this evening - what's that in my lap?  My charger for my iPhone.  I didn't know how long I would be in the hospital (my iPhone is in my pocket - never go any where without your iPhone.)

He asks me a few more questions then says they're going to do a CAT-SCAN.  I ask "Will that wipe out my iPhone?"  You KNOW I bought my iPhone with me even though I wasn't in the picture taking mood.  They said "No."  Thank God.  

The admissions clerk comes in and completes the admissions form.  I ask "Do I get pain killer?"  The PA, Gavin, said "Yes, someone will be in shortly"  and she was.  Thank God. 

The pain killer (thank God)

A short while later they wheeled me into the room with the CAT-SCAN.  Been here, done that before.  Practice makes perfect.  "Breath in...hold it."  

CAT-SCAN over and they wheel me out.  By now my neighbor Bob M. comes in.  Thank God. Where was Bill?  I found out later that Bob asked him to stay home.  Bill gets way too upset when these things happen.  This worked out real good with my neighbor Bob sitting with me.  He was so comforting.  I am SO LUCKY TO HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR LIKE BOB!!!!!!!!

Bob and I talk while waiting for the doctor to come back with the results of my CAT-SCAN.  My pain killer is kicking in and I feel almost like a functioning human being again.  Bob even got me to laughing.  One of the emergency room personnel looked around the curtain at me and said "Feeling pretty comfortable now?"  I said "YES!"

The doctor comes in with the results of my CAT-SCAN.  He tells me that I did have blood in my urine (I forgot to tell you, I also had to give a urine sample).  Blood in urine is a symptom of passing a kidney stone.  Then he told me I WAS PASSING A KIDNEY STONE!  Wow.  Again.  By the way, he said I was pretty well "seeded up."  He was referring to all the radio-active seeds I had implanted for my prostate brachytherapy last May 2nd.

He said "It traveled quite a distance. You could pass it in the next two hours or the next several days.  It's hard to tell."  Then he gave me The Kit which was a strainer to capture the kidney stone so I can give it to my urologist.  He also gave me a prescription for pain killer.  He also gave me a printed list of other instructions which is standard boilerplate for emergency room visits like this.  Then he told me I could go home.  YIPEE!

My "going home" kit.  

I gathered my clothing, put them back on (and out of that backless hospital gown) and headed out looking for Bob who went to get a cup of coffee.

I went to the emergency room waiting room, he wasn't there.  It was dark outside.  What happened to the time?  I arrived at the emergency room at around 6 pm and now it was dark?  I checked the time on my iPhone....8:30 pm!  Wow, time flies when you're having fun.

I called Bob on his cell phone.  He was right around the corner.  We went out to the parking lot where his truck was parked.  I turned around and took a picture of the Emergency Room entrance.  Now I'm in a picture taking mood.

We take the short ride home.  Bill is waiting for me.  Bob says "I want you to give Bill a big hug!"  I did.  Bill sure does get messed up when I'm sick.

I thanked Bob. I give Bob a hug too.  I'm in a hugging mood tonight.  What a wonderful neighbor to do this for me. I cannot tell you how good that makes me feel.  I told Bob "Anytime you need anything, any help, anytime day or night DO NOT hesitate to call."  Bob said "Don't worry about it" and gave me a wave goodbye.

I went back in the house with Bill.  Bill said he wanted to go to the hospital and see me but Bob told him not to go, that he would take care of it.  As it turned out this was excellent advice because Bill is a mess when I'm sick.  Yes, I know I've already said this but it is fact.

I tell Bill what happened then I had to pee real bad.  I take my strainer in the bathroom and pee into it.  Guess what?  I captured the kidney stone!

The doctor was right. He said it would look like a "grain of sand."  See that "grain of sand" in the photo below?  That my kidney stone.  The doctor told me "it's amazing how something so small can cause so much pain and discomfort."  Tell be about it.

"Captured kidney stone."  So little, so much pain.

I'm just so glad I passed it without any complications.  A kidney stone could become lodged in my urethra canal.  Thank God that didn't happen.  I could still have that kidney stone in me and suffering the paid, which folks is almost indescribable.  It is painful as any of you know who have had kidneys stones.  

I am just so happy that I passed it without any further complications.  I decided not to go to Walgreen's tonight to get my pain medication.  I might regret that later but I really like to keep my pain killers at a minimum.  

I think this is my last kidney stone.  I HOPE it is my last kidney stone.  

I am exhausted.  Going to bed now.  

A Doctor Free Week and Other Ramblings

On this Monday morning when I woke up, I had a different feeling than I've had the past several months.  No, it wasn't because of Bill, who still isn't speaking to me although that is bothering me. Actually, I had a feeling of freedom.  I had to check my calendar twice, but this week I don't have any doctor's appointments.  None,  nada, zero.

Of course this won't last but what a relief knowing that I can go the whole week without once visiting a doctor's office, being asked for my Medicare card and supplement insurance cards (which they ask EVERY TIME I go), being poked, prodded, and punctured.  Yes folks, I have a FREE week.  

I have to tell you folks, this does feel good.  I remember a long time ago when I was young and healthy, full of vim and vigor and going to live forever.  I used to go years without visiting a doctor. In fact I didn't even have a regular doctor.  Oh how those days are long gone.  Now that I have entered my twilight senior years, I have to accept as a fact of life that I have become my parents and a visit to my doctor's office will be part of my life until I check out.  

So what did I do this morning sans Bill?  First I made my milk and banana run to the local Food Lion.  I eat healthy.  Only Corn Chex for breakfast with 2% milk and one small banana.  

I also stopped at the post office.  A dear friend of mine has a birthday coming up and I had to get a proper box to mail my gifts to him.  Of course my time at the U. S. Post Office was spent mostly in line while the lady in front of me fumbled and fussed with ordering two money orders.  What's the matter with getting a checking account lady?

Then I took a ten mile run down Rt. 16 to look for a now abandoned Church cemetery to full fill a Find a Grave.com photo request.  I found the cemetery, which was bookended by two mobile homes with dangerous looking vehicles outside.  I wouldn't linger around this cemetery.  When I see these now abandoned cemeteries down here in Slower Lower, I always feel sad.  Some of these headstone are over two hundred years old. 

New Market Cemetery today on Spicer Road, Ellendale, DE

Even early this morning, the heat was oppressive so I quickly took photos of all the headstones in this small, abandoned cemetery.  Thank goodness no one came out of the single wides on either side of the cemetery challenging me or worse.  Hey folks, I go to some very interesting places to full fill these FAG requests.  I love doing it though, I find cemeteries relaxing and peaceful plus I'm doing good for somebody.  My fellow FAG volunteers will understand.  Some go on runs, me?

 I take photos of headstones in cemeteries. Sure, it's a lot less glamourous but I can't run.  I lost the ability to run years ago.  Can't remember exactly when it happened but I tried to run once and my legs just didn't work.  I can walk fast though.

This Friday my longtime friend Lar visits me for our annual Cowboy Photo at Old Time Photo.  This is my birthday present to Larry.  We'll have lunch then walk on (not run) the boardwalk. I'll take a video of Lar ogling

the young ladies in skimpy bikini bathing suits.  Lar hates it when I do this but when we walk the boardwalk he can't seem to keep his eyes from roaming.

 Funny thing happened last year, we walked by a couple of  young punks and one of them took one look at us and snickered to his friend "There's two!"  Obviously he mistook us for two old queens.  I was tempted to confront him but then I thought better of it.  Actually I thought "he's not worth the effort."  This is what young dudes do, reinforce their doubts about their own masculinity by mocking a couple of old guys walking the Rehoboth boardwalk which has been know to be trod by Old Queens.  Not us dude. 

Falling Apart

Hey folks, it feels like we're falling apart here at Casa Tipton y Kelly.  

As regular followers of this blog know, I am scheduled for seed implants for my prostate cancer on May 2nd.  Tomorrow morning at 9 am  I have an appointment with my urologist and oncologist to set the game plan.  Sounds like fun.  I'll clean the nether regions out before I go in just in case there needs to be more "exploratory" procedures.  To be quite frank about it folks, this is getting real old.  I'll just be glad when everything is over with and I can go about my regular life, albeit with a radioactive crotch.

Now a couple of days ago Bill developed a problem with his bladder.  Not to gross anyone out with too much information but there is incontinence and blood involved.  Bill's been trying to arrange an appointment with the VA to have his problem checked out.  He said this is the first time something like this has ever happened in his life.  He says when he has to pee, HE HAS TO PEE RIGHT AWAY.  Thank God I don't have that problem.  In fact, my plumbing apparatus is working just fine.  Just that little niggling "detail" of a slow growing prostate cancer that I have to deal with.

This morning my good friend Lar had to have an emergency colonoscopy.  Again, not to go into too much detail but he discovered blood in his stools.  I was with him last night on FaceTime as he took the pre-day concoction to flush out his system prior to this morning's exploratory procedure.  All kinds of invasive procedures around here folks.  Well, the good news is that he doesn't have colon cancer.  In fact that is GREAT NEWS.  However, he does have an ulcer which is what he suspected and he now will go on a special diet to treat that condition.  As you can see from my screen shots that I took of Lar drinking his pre-colonoscopy "prep" last night, we had fun.  Hey, you have to laugh. I did thoroughly enjoy being on the other "end" so to speak.

Our other good friend Stuart, is scheduled for knee replacement.  Stuart is the same age as Lar and I, 71 years of age.  Yep, we're at THAT AGE folks where things start falling apart.  Just like an old dependable car, no matter how much you take good care of it, sooner or later little things are going to "go."  Stuart says he has to have knee surgery because he has "bone on bone."  I feel the pain just hearing those words "bone on bone."  Again, thank God I don't have that condition.

Larry, Stuart and me - healthy in 1957

Larry, Stuart and me - slipping 2011

So, I don't know if Bill's condition will prevent us from taking our annual vacation down South. We can't take that trip if he has to stop on the interstate and for an emergency pee.  That won't work on the Interstate. So everything is on hold until Bill can see the doctor tomorrow.  

Fun times around Casa Tipton y Kelly.  The Old Guys are being tested.