Rio Grande Hospital

On the 20th, I was overcome in the afternoon with chest pain and it went all the way around into my back. About an hour after the pain started, I started vomiting and continued all afternoon. It was not a pretty site. About 5PM I called some friends here in the valley to find out where there was a 24hr. clinic I could go to. Those good friends, dropped everything they were doing and came over and drove Roger and I to the Rio Grande Hospital. It is so comforting to know that when it comes to it your friends are there for you. Thank-you Larry and MaryAnn.

I was taken into the emergency room right away and given an EKG, then before I knew it was having needles poked into both my arms. Now I am not an easy one to find the veins, and the guy on the left hand was trying to get an IV inserted (just in case it was needed) and the guy on the right was trying to draw blood. I told him, they usually go in at the back of my hand instead of arm, but he kept trying and I must say, digging around to find something. By this time, I was squealing at both of them. I am not saying screaming as I wasn't really screaming the way I define screaming. After the guy on the right decided he couldn't get anything, he sent in another gal to try. She told me he told her I was a screamer. I explained I had one on each side of me digging for a find and it was very painful.

After a number of EKG's and blood test, they decided my heart was okay and were trying to get me a room to spend the night. I had one ice chip while in Emergency room and did another vomit. I was very dehydrated by this time, as I had been hanging over bathroom bowl all afternoon. They did give me some morphine to easy the pain, after they decided it was not my heart. When the Dr came it to tell us the test on heart came in negative, Roger asked if it could be my gal bladder. He said "What makes you say that" After taking me to a room and getting me settled it, I once again was using the little bag they gave me in case I got sick again. When is this going to stop?

That night I was not hooked up to an IV for fluids and I couldn't keep anything down. I was given medication for pain, thru the IV needle, but that was all. In the middle of the night, I woke up and called the nurse because of pain, and she thought maybe I should try some soda crackers and 7up. I nibbled at the cracker and took about 5 sips of the 7 up and up it came. I called the nurse back to my room and she said then that it could be my gal bladder.

The next morning, I was taken to get alta sound on gal bladder and the teck told me he found stones and inflammation. This was on Sunday and guess what, I guess the surgeons do not work on weekends. I had to wait till Monday and then the gal bladder was removed. Dr. said the gal bladder was dead. Now for the recovery. I was released from hospital on Wednesday night and have been home taking it easy but still trying to keep moving now and then. The first night full day home, I walked to end of block and back and I am now walking around the block once a day. I still have pain in my rib area on right side, but at least I am able to now sleep on both sides at night and that is a big help.

My kids were great, all three of my daughters got together and sent me a lovely bouquet of flowers and they called me everyday and sometimes twice a day. My step daughter sent a card and called and step son called as well. Then there were my friends from the valley, Dick and Darlene came to see me a couple of time, Larry and MaryAnn, and Shirley and Bob who brought a lovely bouquet of yellow tulips. The computer club from Bentsen Grove sent me a nice card. There was even a phone call from one grandson and a close friend from Iowa. Wow, was that ever a pick up to know how much everyone cared. Thank-you all for helping me thru all this.

I must add something here about my experience in this hospital, I was treated well and most of the people were very nice. As a matter of fact, my nurse the first night was from Iowa and she said she was really happy to have me and be able to talk about Iowa. Then there were the two male nurses I had the night after my surgery, they were great, helped me out of bed, into bathroom and off the toilet. I told them they looked more like body guards then nurses and I have never had two big guy like that help me to potty before. LOL The food was nothing to brag about, but I was only on liquid diet for one day after surgery and solid food the day I went home, but I was not impressed. The thing that bothered me the most was the noise. If I didn't keep my room door closed I could hear all kind of loud talking outside the door. I mark this up to the fact that all the nurses have these computers they wheel around on tall carts and they would plug them into outlets in hall outside my door and stand there and chat between themselves. I was amazed they had these computers in hall working on things and not at a nurses station. The other odd thing we are not use to is all visitors are greeted in lobby and must have a pass to go to someones room for a visit and only 2 people at a time.

That brings you up to date on my gal bladder, I will be slowly getting stronger and be able to do more, but I don't want to over do it. I will also be seeing my family DR. in Cedar Rapids when I get back and bringing her up to date on my experience. Till later, everyone stay healthy and thanks again for all your support.