Monday, May 8, 2006

If I Only Had A Heart, Part 2: EKG

Yesterday, I talked about my visit to the E.R. Friday night. But, like I said, after a bit at the Waiting Room From Hell, we went to another E.R. At a better hosptial.

When I went inside and told them about my numbness in my arm and face, they called a nurse immediately. The Wife took over the filling out of forms while the nurse talked with me.

"So, you think you're having a stroke?" she asked.

"I thinking nothing of the sort. I'm having numbness in my arm and face and I'm here to see what you think it is."

She checked out my arms and hand strength and I guess realized it was not stroke.

Still, I was continuing to have a numbness/tingling feeling in my arm and face, and it bothered me.

Sitting in the waiting room at St. Francis was a much better experience. It's newer. And cleaner. And the folks dress better.

In just a few minutes, a nurse took me in the office to take my vitals. Then back to the waiting room.

The wait wasn't all that long. We did see one kid that needed his butt whipped, but a couple of looks from the mother/older sister/baby sitter kept him mostly under control.

There was the tattoo/piercing couple. The Wife said the girl had nine tatoos, but only four could be seen. I didn't ask how she knew. I think they knew each other.

Anyway, after a little bit, we were taken to the back. They put me on a bed and had me remove my shirt and put on a backwards gown.

The hooked up little things to me, gluing them to my chest and shoulder and stomach. Which would be fun removing, since I do have body hair.

Now, I'm not one of those that looks like a bear. I mean, I'm not covered in fur. But there is hair. And glue doesn't go well with hair.

They did their little EKG thing. They did a chest x-ray. And kept monitors on me. And we waited for the results.

While we waited, we got to hear all kinds of things from the other beds.

Like the couple across from us.

Him: How did I get here?

Her: The ambulance came and got you.

Him: The ambulance?

Her: Yes.

Him: What happened?

Her: You couldn't do anything. We couldn't get you to stand up or say anything.

Him: I couldn't stand up?

Her: No.

[pause]

Her: What did you to today?

Him: I didn't do anything.

Her: What?

Him: I didn't do anything.

[pause]

Him: How did I get here?

Her: The ambulance brought you here.

Him: The ambulance brought me?

Her: Yes.

Him: What happened?

Her: You couldn't stand up or say anything. We called the ambulance.

Him: I couldn't stand up?

Her: No.

Him: Who called the ambulance?

Her: I did.

Him: Why'd you call the ambulance?

Her: You couldn't do anything. We couldn't get you to stand up or say anything.

[pause]

Her: What did you today?

Him: I didn't do anything.

[pause]

Him: How did I get here?

Her: The ambulance came and got you.

[pause]

Her: Where'd you go?

Him: What?

Her: Where'd you go today?

Him: I didn't go anywhere.

[pause]

Him: Where am I at?

Her: You're at St. Francis.

Him: St. Francis?

Her: Yes.

Him: How'd I get here?

Her: Rose and me called the ambulance.

Him: Rose?

Her: Yes, Rose was there and we couldn't get you out of the chair.

Him: The ambulance came?

Her: Yes.

[pause]

Him: How'd I get here?


It went on like that for a bit.

Finally, after 11:00 PM, the doctor told me everything was okay. I could go.

So we left.

Wasted lots of time of lots of people.

Me. The nurses. The doctors.

And now you.

8 comments:

  1. Man gets chest pains and calls 911. The paramedics come and take him to the hospital. After waiting what seems like hours, and going through a busload of tests, a doctor comes in and says, "I have good news, and bad news."

    "What's the good news?"

    "It's only heartburn."

    "What's the bad news?"

    "Your insurance doesn't cover heartburn."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy and relieved you're ok Basil.
    Last month, Pat over at Blog Idaho had a post on how to recognize a stroke.

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  3. Allan: That how it seems to go, doesn't it?

    Mike: Thanks. I'll check it out.

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  4. Man, I'm just glad you are OK. As the old saying goes, "would you rather be embarrassed, or dead?"

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  5. Hmmm...Maybe a nerve was pinched somewhere or something?? Doesn't matter though, you did the right thing. Heart attacks are nothing to mess around with. I'm glad you're okay!

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  6. btw - I enjoyed reading your ER experience. Those ppl must be in every ER cause I've met a few in ERs myself

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  7. Better that the time was wasted than that you actually needed to be there and didn't go. I'm glad you are okay!

    ReplyDelete

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