The First Hospital Stay

Bare (or is that bear?) with me, as I try to tell this portion on the story as best I can.  During this portion of time I was truly not of my write mind (more than you can imagine for those that know me even!) I will post more later to give you an example of how good or bad it was.

During the entire stay, I remember a slew of questions coming at me by what seemed to be a ton of people.  Some of the questions, requiring answers I would be embarrassed to tell my mother or my best friend!  At this point though the 'name of the game' is Kevin Get Better and the show must go on, so I answered wholly and truthfully, or at least I think I did!

Don't even think of going to the hospital to get rest!  Every time you get comfortable with the lights out ready for some good rest - BOOM!  The lights are back on and their is someone else to poke you, prod you, give your arm a good squeeze and draw some more blood!

MAN! They take so much blood, it is no wonder that they keep the IV hooked up to you so they can pump fluids in you to make more blood!  There was once occasion when a 'blood tech' came in to draw blood.  Not just a via or two, her mission was to take 28 vials.  And she was determined to, one prick at a time.  Literally, the woman stuck me anew for every single vial of blood.  I had enough though before she completed her mission and told her she was through.  I couldn't take anymore and she wasn't getting anymore!

Is amazing some of the things they want to do to a person to cure them!  Some of the procedures will leave you a changed person, or in some instances kill you!  Other things you don't have in the hospital are dignity or privacy.  Do they write their procedures so as to let everyone know to deprive the patients of; rest, dignity and privacy? 

Along with the battery of normal tests (CT Scan, MRI, EEGs, etc), there were a ton of other tests and procedures - the kind that can change you for life, or put you six feet under.  As if all the tests aren't enough to scare a soul, they talk about all the possibilities of what may be wrong with you. In my first 48 hours in the hospital there was talk of all kinds of things, from Cancer to AIDS and I don't even remember.  I probably don't want to either but I am thankful I don't have them.

Not knowing, at the mention of Cancer and AAIDS, I start calling family asking them to come up and talk to me about all the things we need to talk about.  For one reason or another, no one came save my cousin.  What, or if we talked while she was there I don't even remember.

After I was in the hospital in Joplin for a couple of days the decision to send me to St Louis was made.  The reason being that (or I was told) was there was a test or procedure that needed to be done there.   Though the decision was made, the order did not come through for two or three days.  The trip there is another whole other story for later on.

In the meanwhile, the neurologist decided he couldn't or didn't want to wait for results of a spinal tap (also known as lumbar puncture) from St. Louis, he was going to do it himself.  Right then and there - in my hospital room!  Of course this is one of those procedures that can leave you a changed person!  Always with the potentially life changing procedures there is a dissertation about all the things that can potentially occur to you as a result.  Of course somewhere between dissertation and the actual procedure comes the paperwork.  This is when you get to sign on the dotted line and say is 'okay,' you understand and accept the risks associated with said procedure!  Oft times not even getting to talk about odds or percentages.  Even if there is time, you will probably be hard pressed to find someone willing to give you odds - no time for calls to Vegas!

This time the procedure went 'good' and the results were favorable.   I say the procedure went 'good' because I suffered none of the anticipated, or discussed complications.  That is not to say that some of my ongoing issues would be present had I not had the procedure down.