Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Me, Hospitals and dead people

I have no idea why this seems to follow me. Today I checked into the VA for my spinal cord injury annual exam. Nurse says I'm in bed #5. Cool! I take my gear there and look at my roommate. The dude is dead. Think Monty Python dead parrot skit here. Got here at noon and the blanket was pulled over his bhead. It's now 4:30 and he's still here. At least I hadn't gotten to know him like my convelescent home roommate.

I had a full schedule for tomorrow of exams and meetings with docs, shrinks, and blood suckers, but with all the crap going on in my body, they asked if I could stay a week (it was supposed to be just a few days home by Friday.). Why sure! Just like a resort! My meals are made, great folks to yak with (except my dead roomy), free internet and provided computers, and relaxing times. Now if they'll just take care of my roomy before 4:00am (another reason they must call it the graveyard shift), I'll be fine. So far this year nothing and nobody has died on me. I sure hope this isn't a continuation of last year's woes.

11 comments:

MinnesotaChick said...

Isn't that some kind of health violation? Sorry you have to deal with that.

Good luck to ya! Hope the tests are painless and come back with good results.

OrbsCorbs said...

I hate hospitals. Sorry you have to go through this, Huck. The older we get, the more we get poked and prodded.

Don't they have some cold storage downstairs for your roomie? Wtf?

Beejay said...

EEEEEK...Huck, I wish you only the best with your tests. Keep us posted.

hale-bopp said...

You sure seem to take these things in stride, Huck. Being one of the 3% will do that to you I guess.

Hope they have good cable channels and don't block the good web sites!

Lizardmom said...

wow, I'm not sure how I would handle that... yikes!
hope you ace your tests!!

OKIE said...

Good Luck Huck. Hope everything is well.

Toad said...

Huck:

Back in 2000 I went to Meriter Hosp. in Madison for an Angioplasty procedure. It just happened to be during the NCAA Men's BB tourney. I was at first in the room by my self, but they admitted a man with EXTREME heart damage. They pulled the curtain, and all I ever heard was him asking them to turn the TV to the game. He moaned and moaned and moaned about all the pain he was suffering, and I asked the nurse if I could talk to him to try to take his mind off of his pain. She said NO. I never understood that, but during the night all the lights were turned on all of a sudden, and they coded him. Well he didn't make it, and I guess it will be NEVER that I forget this.

I'm sorry you have to endure the lack of common sense the VA has toward this person, and YOU.

I hope your stay improves, and you leave feeling better than when you arrived.

kkdither said...

Yes, good luck huck. Hope you pass with flying colors! Being at the mercy of the health care system is pretty scary. Don't let them cover you up under any circumstances!

Toad said...

Hey Huck:

Is your roommate gone (so to speak) yet?

cyndi said...

I guess if I had to choose between a the roommate you had and one who snored or had lots of visitors, I'd for sure pick yours... at least for the first day or two;-) Hope you're feeling better (or, at least better that that other dude..)

Unknown said...

Wow Huck there's never a dull moment for you is there?......get through the tests and get home soon....you have to come to the next outing........