And Everything Else...

Sorry for being ridiculously lax in my pursuit of information giving. Next bullet point.

Sunday: By Sunday I had completed most of the hurdles the nurses require of patients before they leave the hospital. I had (1.) convinced them that I did not require a catheter, finally. Yes, there is a story there, but I will not relate it unless I am talking to you in person, or close to it. I had (2.) managed to walk 10 or less feet without passing out or feeling dizzy. I (3.) stopped throwing up, after much persuasion. I (4.) was feeling alert, or at least enough to yearn for cleanliness and watch TV. Seeing as how my mind set was a couple days earlier, this is very alert. And plus, I received bonus points for making my systolic hit 100. I managed to hover around mid 80s to the 90s for most of my visit. Apparently this isn't good. It probably would help if they didn't suck my blood every 24 hours. Just an opinion.

I was all ready to face to world. I took a shower (by the way, this is a HUGE accomplisment) in their bathroom and put on my own clothes in the stead of hospital gowns. I walked out past the elevators (woot). I made some contacts so that 20 people wouldn't show up at the hospital 20 minutes after I left. The nurses took my IVs out! This is the best news ever! And I ate lunch. In the middle of lunch, Dema and Micheal showed up and became my honor guard out of the hospital. Goodbye friendly nurses. Goodbye Food Man. Goodbye Rusty. I spent an only slightly painful ride home and got to sleep in a real bed, for once.

The next morning I was forced to welcome a new regimen. Every day: 2 stool softeners, 1 iron pill, a Perkaset pain pill taken as needed, and 1 shot in the stomach to prevent blood clots. They problem is, every day spent away from the hospital increases my dislike of being poked with sharp objects. In the hospital you sort of get used to it. But not so at home. As of right now, I only need 2 more injections. Score! So what has been happening since my semi-triumphant return? Well, there have been visits and pain meds and a physical therapist and crutches and a wheelchair and a whole lot of fussing. Since returning home, I've had two showers and washed my hair twice. I feel so clean! I now have so much chocolate and other assorted sweets they would supply 20 hormonal women who had just gotten broken up with. I have watched three times the movies I would normally watch. For many days at home, I just recuperated and rested. I got up several times a day, each time moving more easily. On Saturday I finally did what had seemed the impossible several days before: I got up, dressed in real clothes, and set forth in a wheelchair to go to Borders. It was a good thing too. They are having a huge sale right now!

I'll probably write a follow up post for everything I forgot later, but for know, here is your information overload of the day. Questions? Comments? Threats? Contact me. Somehow...