Thursday, 30 March 2006 Up at 4.45 am to get ready to take the Princess to the hospital. We both slept quite well, surprisingly. We also had the queen sleep over so that she could get the kids to school this morning. It's their last day of school for this quarter, so exciting for them.
Hospital is a short drive from home, and we are there by 5.50, and no queuing required. Even though we had filled in some forms at home beforehand which had been faxed to us, there is still a mountain of forms to be filled! It's madness. And the same information 2 - 3 times on different forms!! I'm sure there is an opportunity here for a computerized consolidation of all this paperwork!
Anyway, we go through to the ward which she is sharing with 3 other ladies. Nurse comes in, and yes, you guessed right, more forms. Anyway, there's blood pressure tests, temperature checks, and all that stuff.
Twice I get kicked out because of "private" stuff. Private stuff included an enema! Which the Princess says had an immediate effect! Meaning she went immediately to deliver on the effect! Followed by a suppository for an antibiotic? She then commented to the nurse " Are we done here? Is there anything else you want to put up my bum?" to which the nurse responded "no, that's it, just the paper work left!"
When I was told this I nearly fell out of my chair. I could picture the nurse trying to "fit" the paper work where no paperwork had gone before!!!
Princess is scared. Very! Then the anethesist arrives, gives her the whole talk, asks the sane questions the receptionist and the nurse asked......Then it's showtime. This lady is dead scared of needles. And he's got to put in a drip. Man, she almost breaks off 3 of my fingers squeezing my hand so hard. But it's a relatively painless experience, and the doctor is obviously very proficient! Just as well, else I might have had to have my hand amputated!!
He tells her about the spinal block / epidural he's going to give her to see her through the first 12 hours after the operation. And he's giving her a morphine pump! Geez, this is serious shit! Well, everything seems to be arranged properly! Then he injects some Dormican relaxant into the drip and "HEY!!! WOW THIS IS COOL!!!" The Princess is tripping!!! Eyes get droopy within 30 seconds and she sez it feels like she's had like 20 tequila's. Now for the famous tequila Queen this is not something new, and she would know the feeling!! Probably a good thing as now she's calmer and sedated. Just doesn't want to nod off.....
I pop out for a quick smoke, and a cup of black coffee, pick up a newspaper and get my laptop, and get back to her bedside asap. So, here I am typing this. Another nurse / matron / hospital employee has just come with more papers. Well, one more. Signed, now bugger off already!
Spent the next hour sitting next to her bed reading the newspaper. She slept on and off. The last 15 minutes before they fetched her she said she was now wide awake. Makes you wonder why they gave her the drugs so soon.
9.20 am. The porter and nurse have just come to fetch her. I walk with them to the doors of the theater, that's as far as I can go, give her another kiss, tell he I love her, and say "Good luck". What else can you say?
Then I walk down to the doctors rooms to make the "prepayment"! Those of you who read some of my previous posts will recall the doctor wanted us to prepay. So now I have. 5 Minutes before he does the job. They didn't specify how long before today they wanted the payment!
I'm sitting at the coffee room, having coffee, a toasted sandwich (mushrooms, cheddar cheese, motzarella cheese) and a smoke. Sandwich was good, came with chips... Coffee is coffee. Smoke becomes two, then three...
Going to be about an hour and a half wait.... Weathers great for a change. Suns out, some cloud around. Will probably rain again later. Usual Highveld afternoon stuff.
9.30... sitting inside now, in a small area next to the passage, waiting. It's been an hour, so she could come out anytime.... Hope it's soon. In fact I think I'll take a walk down to the theater entrance and see if I can catch them bringing her out.
10.05... She's still not out. Have walked back to the waiting area near her room. Man this is taking long. However, I see the lady who went in before her is now back, so maybe it does take a bit longer than we thought. Also, it depends on how long they keep her in the transfer room. That's the place between the theater and your room where they keep you to check that you are post op stable, and reactive. As she does not respond too well anesthetic, she might be there....
Some guy sitting across from me also has his laptop out. But he's busy doing a quote for some building work at a school. Poor bastard can't stop working, even in a hospital. Sad that..
Why is it that all hospitals have those vinyl floors, and even up the walls to about hip height? And have you noticed how after many years of being walked on , the "lines" showing how the glue was spread shows through. It makes a pattern on the vinal surface.
And why is it that those dreadful hospital gown things all seem to be made to fit overweight midgets at best? Is it a case of saving material, or just plain stupidity? And why do people talk in loud whispers? Why bother. And then slam all the doors they go through!
Aha, here comes a guy carrying a baby carrier. New, proud dad coming to take his offspring home! "Congrats buddy" sez I. Thanx he says, with a big toothy grin. Probably his first one, as everything he's carrying looks brand new.
The nursing staff seem quite nice. Haven't offered me a cup of tea or anything, but they friendly, and so far, efficient.
10.15.... and waiting. I'm sitting in her room now, letting the laptop charge a bit. Doing crossword puzzles in the newspaper.
11.55.... Here she comes. My my, the Princess is awake, and looking very good. She says she feels ok, but is very pale. Says she's not in pain, but that's the drugs. Wait till they start to wear off. But at least, for now, she's doing ok.
I'm off to the coffee shop again. Need a cigarette, and more coffee, and she's in no mood to chat so I'll leave her to nap and go back in in half an hour or so.
Damn I am glad she's looking ok!!! Sent off SMS's to queen, Gman, LuckyL (my younger son), my mom and sister in law. The rest can wait, or they can phone me.
More later.....
Salagatle!
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