Friday, February 25, 2005

Recuperate with me -- III (Continuing from entries below)

   So, after I caught up on By the Way and Mavarin, I went back to my new hospital bed.  I slept with the head end high.  I slept a couple of hours but woke up gasping and clutching for air.  I struggled to get my foot on the floor and sit up, and managed.  I used my inhaler. When I caught my breath I used my grabber (I had remembered to put it in reach) to reach for the peanut butter jar, urinal, but knocked on the floor out of reach instead.  So I just sat.

   I must have slept sitting up because I woke when the caregiver checked on me on his rounds.  He retreived the jar, and brought me some water. I lay the bed flat and hoisted myself as best I could to the head.  Then I raised the head a little, and lay on my left side.  Oh, my, that is the first time in weeks that I have lay on my side.  I will know when I am cured when I can lie on my right side on a flat bed and go to sleep without coughing.  On my left side, feeling delicious, I drew my knees and .... voided gas.  I have never written about farts before this moment.  But that void relieved the bloating that has been annoying me for a week.  I am getting better, bit by bit.

   I slept on my side until coughing woke me in the morning.  I was relieved to see the sun coming up, since I meant I had made it through the night.  I sat up and thought about transferring from bed to wheel chair.   Fifteen minutes later I realized I was still planning the 18 inch move.  I chuckled when I thought "moving to the wheel chair takes more planning than a two week vacation."  Put the tissue here, put the hand rail up for gripping, set the brakes, move the jar out of the way etc.  Within half an hour I was on my way to the toilet. 

  When I had used the toilet I tried to transfer back to the wheel chair but was too weak.  I pulled the emergency cord, and the morning caregiver came.  Together we hoisted my heinie back into the wheel chair.  I rolled to the computer.  I had left it on all night so I could make entries as I thought of them.  The caregiver brought me toast and coffee.  Another resident rolled in with her coffee and we chatted and shared physical complaints. 

   She left, and I started my second day of recuperation at home with this entry. 

   Recuperate with me.  (Whew, I'll proofread this later, maybe)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hang in there.  There are a lot of people here in AOL-J Land who are "recuperating with you." - Karen

Anonymous said...

I`ll recuperate with you Chuck as I`ve just had surgery myself a week ago !

Sandra x

Anonymous said...

I`ll recuperate with you Chuck as I`ve just had surgery myself a week ago !

Sandra x

Anonymous said...

SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT THING WHEN THE SUN SHINES IN THE MORNING. IT'S ALWAYS THE SMALL THINGS THAT MEAN THE MOST WHEN YOU ARE SICK HANG IN THERE BUDDY SPRING IS ON THE WAY SUNSHINE AND BLUE SKIES GROWTH IS ON THE WAY

Anonymous said...

Chuck I am so sorry you are unwell. Wish I could help, don't like to think of you coping mostly alone. Like many others I will be thinking of you and send hopes and wishes for your recovery. God Bless.
Sylvia x

Anonymous said...

I drew my knees and .... voided gas.  I have never written about farts before this moment.  But that void relieved the bloating that has been annoying me for a week.  I am getting better, bit by bit.----- chuck, i think you need to fart more!!! and why not write about farts???? everyone does it, just like everyone has to pee and sh-t...  did ya read my email?
love, sara

Anonymous said...

Sometime we have to laugh to keep from crying, don't we? So glad you have your good sense of humor. Paula

Anonymous said...

Wishing you continued recovery.

God Bless.
TiasNme2