I have been, as one member puts it, conspicuosly absent for a couple of months. I am having more than a little in the way of medical ills.
OK, I am going to relate my latest emergency surgery. Please, sit down and take a few deep breaths.
On Tuesday, May 8th, my right leg became 100% clotted off in the femoral artery. I called the ambulance and off we went to the ER. The south ER "stabilized" me while making arrangements with our new unit on the other side of town to get a surgical team in place to perform emergency surgery to remove the clot. The pain was so excruciating that 300 mg of Dilaudid in less than 3 hrs couldn't touch it...and Dilaudid is some pretty special stuff...
Anyway, while they were preparing the team at north, I was transferred via another nice ride in another nice ambulance. Once we arrived at the ER entrance, I was wheeled directly to the OR. The anesthesiologist asked me a few questions and the BAM, I was out....3 minutes from the time the ambulance doors opened to la-la land, the fastest I have ever been put out.
At some point during the surgery my kidneys failed because of extremely elevated potassium levels which in turn caused my heart to stop. I guess they did what they do during emergencies when ones heart stops beating, including placing a breathing tube in my throat...don't get a tube in your throat, it SUX, especially when you are wide awake and realize you are not breathing on your own. Later that morning I had an emergency dialysis to reduce the potassium to safer levels.
24 hours later they finally removed the tube. During the dialysis I was surrounded by 6-8 nurses, 3 docs and many other lookie-loos wanting to observe the dialysis procedure. The nurses I refer to as my angels because they truly were my guardian angels while I was in ICU, at least the first 36 hours. During the kidney cleanin' there were 4 angels right on me, one at each "corner", each hand and foot, stroking my hands, feet and head in order to keep me calm during the procedure.
The staff at the Norman Regional HealthPlex ICU was exceptional, especially my "Angels", all 6 of them.
So, I am recovering, yet again....for the 23rd time in 19 years. I am getting old, much older than my years. The vascular surgeon I drew this time is really cool. He does not talk down to people who truly understand their condition and listens carefully and truly consults with you in order to work out a treatment plan in order to help you heal, and if possible cure what ails you.
So yes, I died and came back, this time...
[COLOR="Red"]EDIT: Errr sometimes I hate Windows notes, a similar app to this one. The title should read thus..."Thanks for all the kind words..."[/COLOR]
