Life on the Road

You know, apparently I was not hallucinating those symptoms through the end of my pregnancy.  Nor was I simply overwhelmed or hormonal after R.T. was born.

I was really, you know, ill.

I also had a flu thing going on, so it was tough to differentiate things…  But the pain in my back got bad enough on Monday night (March 24th) that I told Wolf I needed to go to the Emergency Room because it was probably a kidney stone.  (I had one before, a decade or so ago, so I’m familiar with the sensation…)

Tuesday he went to work as usual at 5 am, but told his boss he needed to leave early.  He was able to get home at 11 am, and we went to Homestead Hospital ER for what was to be a long and grueling day.

When you arrive, they give you a very brief form to fill out.  The receptionist logs you in from that, then they call you in to do the actual intake.

We waited, and waited, and waited.  Mind you, by now I’m nearly delirious with chilld and fever, and we’re hanging around with Nick, Jewel, and 2 week old R.T. …

Finally, after two people were called that I was sure came in after us, I asked Wolf to go ask about the status.  Turns out I wasn’t in the computer!  Somehow I got missed totally, and she had to put me in ‘again’.

I wasn’t “next,” as she’d promised, but at least that got the ball rolling.

I went through intake, then went back to give them urine and blood samples.  Then it was back to the waiting room…

Since I was nursing and they didn’t want to use the “stuff” for an MRI or CAT, they ordered an ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder (which necessitated that said bladder be full).  The nurse gave me two glasses of water, and told me to have the receptionist call for the ultrasound people when I felt like I was ready.

Figuring it was bound to take too long anyway, I immediately made my request.  Sure enough, the water was long gone and I was crossing my legs long before they showed up.

The first half of the ultrasound (on the suspect kidney) went smoothly and quickly.  Then she handed the controls over to a student.  <sigh> 

It took forever, and of course by the time I got out to the waiting room R.T. was screaming.

Again we waited, and waited, and waited.  Literally hours.

Finally Wolf went up to the desk again to check on the status.  A new nurse was working the station, and I must have looked sufficiently pathetic when she looked over at me, because she took pity on our plight.

She took my vitals and read over the chart.  Apparently what the doc wanted to do was give me IV fluids and a strong antibiotic - but there were no free beds.

Our friendly nurse looked at my kids and asked if I’d prefer to just be given something for the fever, then given a prescription and sent home.  Yes!!

Everything was wrapped up in about half an hour, and home we went…  (More on my story to come, sadly)