We get to the hospital about 25 minutes early which worked out because my GPS and the real world are not exactly in sync. After backtracking twice and driving through a quaint little neighborhood, we park and enter the hospital. We wait, I fill out paperwork, we wait, i answer some questions, we wait, we get invited into a nice little area where they provide me with a hospital gown (someday I want to meet the ALL that this one size is supposed to fit) and socks with a rubberized sole.
A moment about hospital gowns. We know what they are, we all have the same complaints, but why are they like that. I mean, is it so ridiculous to have them tie in the front. Doctors and nurses still have the same necessary access (in most cases more appropriate access as my guess is over 75% of all hospital needs involve the front or the underneath, not the back). And then you can tie them yourself. Honestly, I am not shy about my butt popping out in a hospital corridor, it's the ones that actually parade past me that are a bit queasy making (think WalMart shoppers pics).
Thankfully they cover me with a blanket as sitting with my ankles clasped (to avoid a public display -- or should that be pubic) is quite uncomfortable. Bunch more questions. Then they put in the IV. I hate that. I know it;s just a little prick, but . . .
Then I get the run down. They'll take me into a room where I will lay down on a table. The will give me some mild sedation (enough to relax me but not to put me out). There will be a screen in the room so I can watch the progress of the procedure through my innards (o joy!). If they go through my wrist (wait, IF?), they will put a pressure bracelet on my wrist to help it heal. If not, there will be a pressure bandage put on my leg (yeah, my leg). since I am getting a stint put in I will probably need to stay the night (WHAT!!).
My name's called. They come over with a wheel chair (only my second time in a wheel chair). We head to the room. My doctor stops to say hello and to examine my wrist (blood flow good enough to go through there?). I introduce him to my sister. She gets escorted to a waiting room; I get wheeled into the room. Hop up on the table and make myself comfortable.
The x-ray lady is kinda cute. They hook up the IV. I am assuming they are giving me sedation though it doesn't feel that way. Blood pressure cuff put on. Gotta love that thing. through out the procedure the thing keeps inflating and deflating at random intervals. Doesn't hurt, just scares me every so often.
Now this guy comes in, lifts up the gown, covers the stuff with a towel and proceeds to shave. Now what am I gonna post on face book. Just in case he tells me. He then shaves my wrist. Doctor comes in, feels my wrist, covers the other newly shaved area, and tells me he's going to numb my wrist (thank goodness). He's behind this shield kind of thing because I am being x-rayed constantly. I feel a prick in my hand. He's tapping my hand. Says something to another guy there. Taps my hand. says something else. I start realizing that yes, they have given me something to relax. Blood pressure cuff pumps up. He taps my hand again. Is it ever going to get numb? This goes on for about 15 minutes and then I realize, the procedure has been underway for awhile now. No screen for me to see, wrist never felt numb, but he is well on his way. About 30 minutes later, he's done. I have a new clear plastic bracelet (and yep, I could feel the pressure) and they wheel me into what seems to be the office for the lab folks. My sister, having spoken with the doctor, comes and sits next to me. The doctor joins us, talks a bit about how things went (well) and that I will be under observation for a few hours. And I will probably be able to leave in 4 to 6 hours. I get my iPad from my sister and start checking emails and texts.
To be continued . . .
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