Monday, August 10, 2009

So Last Week, In the Hospital...

Last Friday when you were directed to my guest post over at Moonspun’s, it wasn’t me who directed you there, but my husband. That’s because I was in the hospital (I’m fine, thanks for caring).

Thursday morning on my way to work I had some sharp chest pains. I’d had these before and pretty much chalked it up to muscle spasms, so I wasn’t really worried. The thing that had me freaked out was that my entire left arm and shoulder felt numb and tingly. I got to work and it wasn’t going away so I told my two co-workers that were there that I was going to go to the emergency room. You’d think that upon hearing the terms ‘chest pain’ and ‘numbness’ one of them would have offered to drive me. Nah. Just wait until their birthdays roll around and I don’t pass a card around for everyone to sign or bring in cupcakes.

So I drove myself to the ER and within five minutes of getting there I was getting an EKG. They then got me settled, checked my vitals and before I knew it a portable x-ray machine was wheeled in for pictures of my chest (no, not like this one). They then gave me a nitro tablet to dissolve under my tongue, which did alleviate the numbness in my arm. It wasn’t until after they had made sure I wasn’t dying that a woman came in with a cart, complete with computer and printer/copier, to register me. I think it’s fantabulous that they cared about my well being before caring about whether I had insurance or if I could pay.

It ended up that I was admitted for observation and further testing. I was brought up to the cardiac unit where they took my vitals again and actually got my weight (which I will not disclose) from the bed. Yes, from the bed. There is a scale built into the bed, people! Though I did need to leave my room for a nuclear stress test and a cerebral spinal x-ray, every other test was done in the comfort (ahem, cough) of said bed.

I was extremely impressed with how efficiently everything was done and with all the advancements made since my last hospitalization, about 18 years ago. The one thing, however, that I was surprised to see was their choice of (gentlemen, earmuffs please) sanitary napkins. Yes it was that time of month, and as I was unprepared I needed to use what they gave me. Let me tell you, other than the fact that they had an adhesive strip on the back; they were the same as when I had my son almost thirty years ago. Where were the technical advancements? They were not ‘contoured’, they had no ‘wings’ and there was no ‘leakproof lining’. And. AND. They were a foot long. A foot long is too big (TWSS)!

I’m back home now and I await, with fear, the bills that are sure to follow. I can’t imagine how much all the tests are going to cost. I’m sure I’ll be charged $10.00 for every Tylenol they gave me, and probably five dollars for every foot long pad I used. Five dollar foot longs. Yeah, five dollar foot longs!


If you don’t have that song stuck in your head now, well here you go…you can thank me later.


20 comments:

kapgar said...

They got your weight from the bed? That scares me.

Glad everything went smoothly, with that one exception that I'm unaware of since I wore earmuffs while reading. ;-)

mumma boo said...

Well that was a hell of a way to start your weekend! Glad that they took good care of you and you're back home. Rest up!

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Hope you are ok - cardiac stuff can be so scary. Take care of yourself.

And yes, that song IS in my head!!

Hallie :)

Anonymous said...

So your heart is definitely OK? I am really glad they looked after you well despite the antiquated sanitary pad arrangements. Loved how you threw in the TWSS.
Look after yourself, hon. No more scares like that please XXXX

I can't find my blog said...

Glad to hear you're home. Take it easy!

Wait. What? said...

Ugh those pads that were like as thick as a freakin mattress and to walk with those things on - OMG - thats terrible! Someone should write a letter! :P

I hope you are feeling better - the health thing sounds like it was pretty scary.

Cat

Gin said...

Well, it is good to know that your humor was still intact during that uncomfortable experience. I hope you are feeling better. Even just being able to get rid of those pesky pads must be about an 85% improvement right?

Cindy said...

So glad you're well...heart checked out fine then? So good that you didn't ignore symptom's regardless.

Aunt Becky said...

PLEASE tell me that they gave you the mesh panties too.

Unknown said...

Thank you for the link to "this one". I needed that. And you've not said what the end result was. When I went in the hospital in October of 2006 with a similar situation, I came out with a stent in my heart to alleviate a 95% blockage in a coronary artery. I thought sure you were headed there - but???

Aunt Juicebox said...

I hope everything is ok.

I feel your pain with the medical bills. We just got yet another one related to my kidney stones, and that was over 4 months ago. Itss like they keep thinking of more stuff they can charge me for. Luckily, the insurance will pay for most of it, but I keep wondering how long it will be before they send me a bill for the plastic cups I peed in. Enough already!

Evansmom said...

I hope everything turned out OK. You made the best choice in going to the ER.

Marie C said...

Ok, now you are doing a replay (almost) of me in January! Yes, the bed weighed me also!!! But you did not say what the outcome was??? I am assuming you're fine and I am sooo glad you went! Better safe than sorry in my book. But what did they say they "think" caused it all???

Lola said...

It must be that new tattoo ;) Glad you're okay. You're okay, right?

Oh, and the mesh panties comment brought back some scary memories!!!

Badass Geek said...

I'm glad you're feeling better.

And GASP! A hospital that immediately makes sure you aren't dying before asking for your insurance card? I didn't think those existed.

Reinvent Dad said...

I think that your colleagues are lame as shit not offering to drive you to the ER or call 911. That said I'm hopeful every test comes back OK, and I DID try very hard to skim over the sanitary napkin talk!

Kim's Korner said...

Sorry to hear you ended up in the hospital, but glad you didn't ignore your body! We do that TOO OFTEN!

I haven't read today's post yet, so I'm hoping you'll update us in that one, and let us know the outcome of the visit.

Is everything ok with the heart?

And your co-workers? Knobs! Borh of them!

When I hear stories of hospital bills coming in, all I can think to myself is 'WOOHOO for our Canadian Health System'. It's not perfect, not even close, but at least I know I won't get bills 6mo later for my visit ;-)

Hope you're feeling better!

Nej said...

Wow....don't leave the vicinity of that hospital! You can't find service like that everywhere. :-)

A foot long...(giggle).

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

OMFG!!!!! I get behind on blog reading and you go and have a myocardial infarction?!? Maybe?!?

*Taking deep breaths*

I so totally would have driven you to the hospital. And I so totally would have gone out to the pharmacy for some better pads.

Giving you hugs from all the way down here. LOVE!

meleah rebeccah said...

Thank GOD you are okay.