Signature Health Care, where I'm presently trapped
There is absolutely no privacy in hospitals and physical therapy facilities. No matter what I'm doing, it gets interrupted.
Last night at 2:00 a.m. I was jolted awake by an intruder in my room. A woman wearing what looked like a NASA space suit and a surgical mask. Scared the living jeeters out of me. She needed to draw blood. No, I am not kidding.
Since I'm existing on furosemide, I have to urinate frequently. I use a urinal by my bed. And I get interrupted frequently. A few days ago, I was peeing. Three people burst into the room shouting "HELLO!!". I almost pis -- whoops, peed on the ceiling. Turns out they were looking for someone - - but they had the wrong room!! Holy Gawd, I don't have a shred of dignity left. I could tell you far worse things....but won't.
Yesterday (Saturday) I was napping (lazy weekend). Two nurses woke me and dragged me out of bed to get weighed.
Due to the painful unhealing pressure wounds on my ass...whoops! on my butt, they've put an air mattress on my bed. More comfortable than the other mattress.
I get wound care service (at least) once a day. Great fun having nurses looking at my....butt.
Change of subject
Hospital food. It was pretty good in Cookeville. Here at Signature, it's not so good. EVERYTHING is overcooked. The chicken-fried steak was so incredibly tough that I couldn't cut it. I hacked and hacked with two knives but couldn't make a dent. This happens with nearly all the meat.
Did you ever get pancakes that are too tough to cut? I got them yesterday at breakfast. I hacked the hell out of them. And the toast is always tough. Toast!
Saving Grace
Last night the chicken and dumplings were very good.
I don't know how all the ninety-year-old people without teeth can eat here.
Speaking of old people....
Have you ever heard about Sergeant Alvin York? He was a hero in World War I. He was born and raised only a few miles from here (and he was born on December 13th, my birthday).
A 1941 movie was made about him starring Gary Cooper.
Well, Sgt.York had ten children. His only surviving child, Betsy Ross, is here in Signature Health Care and she's very often with me in physical therapy. She is 92 years old and looks much younger. And she's sharp as a proverbial tack. I've met several members of the York family and they are delightful people.
Betsy Ross
Change of subject
My appointment with the optometrist was on January 22. I'm supposed (?) to get cataract surgery...but so far haven't heard anything about it. Well, I'll patiently wait.
What's the weather here in rural Tennessee?
When I had my eye appointment it was snowy and 12 degrees (Fahrenheit)!
It has since warmed up. Rainy and in the 40s. This coming week it's predicted to be in the 60s!! I only hope it will stay like that until spring.
I have a lot more to say, but I've probably entertained you enough for now.
I don't want to subject you to too much of a good thing.
Jon ❤️
BTW
My previous post, In the Breath of a Dream, was really not a mystery - - and I'm sure most of you caught on.
In my dire and frustrating mood, the "sleep" was I was referring to was the final sleep. Death.
I was depicting a beautiful, blessedly peaceful place where there is rest - - far away from the pain and agony of our earthly woes.
I saw the Gary Cooper movie. Betsy Ross, I'm sure she has heard a few comments about that name. You are sounding better, I'm pleased about that. At least you've had one edible meal. Maybe there will be more?
ReplyDeleteI think several of his children had patriotic names. Everyone here just calls her Betsy. I've never seen the movie.
DeleteThe food varies. Sometimes good, sometimes awful. I like the pizza and lasagna.
The meals that were served at "my" facility were the only thing I looked forward to everyday, truly delightful, of course it could have been the pleasure of someone else doing the cooking .
ReplyDeleteYes, it's annoying, those four a.m. wake up calls to draw blood, and random residents wandering in and out of your room from the dementia wing, and using my personal products in the bathroom ....aagh !
Weather is definately all over the place, predicted to be 75 degrees on Wednesday.
You are sounding better, I hope you are feeling better.
I've watched the Alvin York movie several times, he was indeed a hero.
Hugs,
~Jo
Belive it or not, an elderly woman with dementia wandered into my room and spent the entire night in the bathroom! I had no idea she was there - they found her at dawn. There's never a dull moment here.
DeleteThe food here varies. I think it depends on the cook. I've never seen the York movie but it's probably available on YouTube. I'll look for it.
Wow, 75 degrees is warm for February! You're getting California weather.
Well, it certainly does sound like any dull moments there, that's for sure. My mother works in a rehab facility, and the stories she has are plenty...and also one never knows who may show up.
ReplyDeleteI initially thought it would be boring here, but the adventures never cease. I'm sure your mother has enough stories to write a book.
DeleteI know I have seen that movie long ago (liked Gary Cooper) but can't remember it. It is always difficult to get privacy or rest under medical care--whether hospital or rehab. Even when they knock on the door it's usually on their way in--lol! I do hope you will have some more better meals in future.
ReplyDeleteWe had warmed up to above freezing for a few days, but now we're back to the cold again for a good while. Not 50-60 below wind chills, I hope, though--lol! Sounds much warmer there. May you have a really good week and some good meals. :)
I laughed when you said they knock on the door on their way in. It's SO true!
ReplyDeleteThe meals alternate here. Sometimes they're good, other times they are horrible. Once we got RAW potatoes for hash browns for breakfast.
Warming up above freezing is a milestone for you. It was 60 degrees here today. I doubt if it will last.
I do not remember this movie but I am quite sure that my husband does! He watches war movies and reads A LOT of history books!
ReplyDeleteThe weather here was pretty nice - windy, but nice yesterday. Tonight they are calling for more of the white sh*t. Ugh ... I am with you, COME ON SPRING can't come soon enough!!
Take care and keep posting, Jon!!
- Kim
I don't know what happened to my reply - - it disappeared! Blogger does weird things.
DeleteI've never seen the Sgt.York movie. I love history, but I don't really care for war movies.
Sorry to hear that you're getting more of the white stuff. It was 60 degrees today (Sunday), but I doubt if it will last.
As unnerving as this all sounds to those of us who thankfully have never had the experience of a care facility, there were several times I laughed reading this post, Jon. This is not meant in any way to make light of your experiences, but that 2 am blood draw and those folks bursting in while you were rather indisposed brought a smile, especially the space suit attire. Seriously, that food sounds awful, no excuse for tough toast or pancakes.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to know that I made you laugh, Dorothy. The strange things that happen around here often make me laugh. Things are never dull
DeleteIt's supposed to be 60 degrees today....a possible jint of spring?
Hint, not jint
DeleteI kinda liked 'jint'. I thought it was a new word and one that I wasn't familiar with. I was about ready to start using it! Oh well....my friends would have thought nothing of it. They claim I have a language of my own anyhow.
ReplyDeleteYes, hospitals/care facilities are great places for 'stories' to evolve. Having worked in hospitals my entire career...I gotta a few! Especially working on a psych unit for 25 years!! Oh boy!
Hope you're feeling better, Jon. I'm dealing with sciatica, physical therapy and meds to help control the pain...which isn't doing much. I keep plugging away and hobbling around.
It was 53 degrees here in NE Ohio today. A virtual heatwave! Yesterday we had a blizzard! Nuts. Take care and hope things are stabilizing.
Paranormal John
I kinda like jint, too. There are countless ways to incorporate it into a sentence.
DeleteAfter 25 years on a psych unit, you could definitely write a book. I thought physical therapy would be boring, but the adventures never end.
Unfortunately, back/spinal problems never end, either. I'm sorry you're in such pain - - and I'm constantly in pain too. Meds don't help.
It was 70 degrees here today!! Two weeks ago it was 12 degrees.
I love how you've managed to retain your sense of humor! You may no longer be in a position to play concert halls, but I'm guessing you could pack the therapy room and call it a comedy club.
ReplyDeleteMyra, I've lost just about everything I once had. Humor is about the only thing left, and it keeps me going. If I thought about all the negatives, I'd go completely crazy.
DeleteI often say funny things in the therapy room. Half the patients are demented or asleep...but some nurses like my humor.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteNo one can get any rest during their hospital stay. This past June when I was in the hospital for three nights after I passed out in the Walmart parking lot (they had to run a lot of tests on me), I was constantly woken up during the night. Plus, I had a roommate who snored up a storm and I mean LOUD! I was lucky with my food, it was chewable but on the bland side. Not too bad considering it was hospital food. A good way to go on a diet, hospital food. And of course ZERO privacy. I've had my share of hospital stays during my lifetime. When I was seventeen I spend most of the summer of 1959 in the contagion ward (in the basement of the hospital) with other infectious disease patients after developing a staph infection from the hospital from a routine hernia operation. They almost killed me that time. I almost made an attempt to escape that prison, I was so sick of staying in the hospital. Two candy strippers (know what they are?) were going to assist me for my escape. Only problem was that I only had pajamas, and a bathrobe and slippers. I was afraid the bus driver wouldn't let me on the bus. I was desperate to get out of there. I still have that bathrobe as a reminder. I hope you can get to go home soon.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. You know we all care for you out here in the blogosphere.
Ron
Life changes entirely when you're in the hospital. You lose every shred of dignity and privacy. It's a never-ending nightmare.
DeleteI remember when you told about your very serious ordeal when you were seventeen. It's truly a miracle you survived. I don't blame you when you tried to escape.
I remember the candy strippers. I had two cousins who were candy strippers.
Take care, Ron. It's good to hear from you.
Jay,
DeleteMy friend Bob Mc (who has since passed, actually he passed in 2013, time flies, surprised me when he told me that when he went into the hospital that was the first time in his life he was in the hospital. I think he was seventy. Also, he mentioned the doctor was so surprised that he didn't have any "cut" (surgeries) on his body. I was amazed because I couldn't wrap my head around someone living to be seventy and no overnight hospital stays or surgeries. I have literally lost count of the times I've been in the hospital and surgeries. So many times. But here I am, still alive and Bob is dead. He died of Parkinson's Disease. The only claim that I can make though is that I've never broken any bones.......yet. I hope I can keep that record.
Ron
Hi! I read your story about Frederick Lang last year and I have a few questions. Could you email me at rgjones@mccpr.com?
ReplyDeleteWhen I had two stents put in (to open up coronary arteries) some years ago, they kept me overnight to monitor for complications. In the morning, they gave me decaf and egg whites. I got dressed, went down to the lobby to Starbucks, got a real coffee and breakfast croissant with bacon and eggs. Nodded to the nurses on the way back to my room. I took advantage of my MD, and they were quiet about it.
ReplyDeleteThat is funny - - and I applaud you for having the courage to get some real food. I was on a strict diet in Cookeville. No salt, no sugar....and horrible decaf. The food isn't too good here in Signature - - but at least they let me eat everything (but low sodium).
Delete