From the hospital, part 2 - Thumbs downs and thumbs up

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First, the most recent update - My recovery has been swift. I ate grilled cheese sandwiches, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and chocolate pie for dinner (ok, about two bites of each). And they say I'm outta here tomorrow! Best of all, barring any disasters, we'll be flying to St. George Friday night to be at my sister Lindsey's wedding on Saturday.

Thought I'd just hit some random highs and lows.

Thumbs down
NG tube. This is just a synonym for "torture." Because they wanted my intestines to have lots of time to heal, they shoved a hose down my nose into my stomach and pumped out anything that showed up there. I couldn't move my head, felt like I was choking, couldn't swallow, couldn't get up without calling somebody in to unhook me. It would get jammed down there on the stomach wall and choke me, and whenever somebody came to visit, here I was with a tube sticking out my nose, green slime coming out. Sometimes the green slime coming out flowed back down the tube into my gut. THE PITS.


Thumbs up
Getting the tube out. Yeah, it was a bit painful, but nothing boosted my morale like getting it out. I wanted to get up, walk, eat jello, anything.

Thumbs down
Morphine. Bad dreams, hyperactive senses, painfully brief respite from pain.

Thumbs up
Toradol. Lasts 6 hours, just makes me a little hot and cold. Just make sure they put it in slow. Downside is it gives inroads to Crohn's, so I gotta get off it.

Thumbs WAY up
The day I'll be off pain killers.

Thumbs down
TV in general. Nothing good on ever, with a few exceptions.

Thumbs up

Thumbs down
Lame nurses.
Scene: Hospital room, 3:30 am
Nate: "Yeah, could I get my dose of pain killer?"
Nurse on phone: "Yeah, I'll send your nurse."
Thirty minutes pass.
Nate: "Yeah, could I get my dose of pain killer?"
Nurse on phone: "Yeah, I'll send your nurse."
Twenty minutes pass.
Nate: "Could you get SOMEONE in here to get me some pain killer?"
Nurse on phone: "Yeah, I'll send your nurse."
Twenty-two minutes pass. Nurse enters and administers Toradol (not slowly).
Nate throws bed pan at nurse.

Thumbs up
Good nurses. They explain what they're injecting me with, they tell me why they can't come right now, they don't call me "sweetie" and "sugar pie," and they listen to me when I tell them what works for me, rather than doing it their way.

Thumbs down
Changing the dressing. They come in, lay me down, tear all the tape and hair off my torso, rip gauze out of my open wound and stuff more in its place, then tape me back up. Repeat thrice daily.

Thumbs up
WoundVac. This new procedure replaces gauze with sponges, then they vacuum seal your belly, hook you to a pump and throw the switch. Sucks the bad stuff out and pulls the wound closed. A bit painful, but only changed three times A WEEK, and should heal in 2-3 weeks. I believe!

Thumbs down
Hospital gowns. What were they thinking with these things? They tie in back, which even a person without an IV in one arm and a severed abdominal cavity would have trouble tying. And they leave great swathes of skin open to everyday view. I don't folks seeing that stuff, and I bet they don't want to see it.

Thumbs up
Pants. I haven't used these in quite a while, but I hear they're great.

Comments

Camden and Amber said…
Oh, Nate! We're so glad you are coming home. You've been prayed for so much that extra blessings should start pouring in in the form of gummy bears and fluffy little bunnies. Continue to get better and keep us posted!
January 28, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Abbs said…
aw big bro, you're still a cutie no matter if you had the nose tube or not. C: & i'm sorry being in the hopsital was sucky :( i <3 ya!!!!
& WOW i haven't seen traitor! is it any good?
xo
January 28, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Anonymous said…
Hey Nate I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. My mom is an ICU nurse manager and wanted to know if she could read your comments about your hospital experience at her next staff meeting? She said they have been talking about improving their customer service and your comments are exactly what she would like her nurses to hear. She said she would keep it anonymous . Thanks so much and feel better! Please let me know. You can e-mail me at: gla05004@byui.edu.
January 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Anonymous said…
Nathan - I wish everyone who loves you could have seen what I have seen! There are no words to describe the faith and courage you and Michelle have shown - in between the tears...I know! I agree - you are still handsome no matter how many tubes they put in ya! :)
And you're still a better writer than most of us, drugs or no drugs...heehee.
Love you lotsa motsa-
You are the man...can I still say that?

MA
January 28, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Stefanie said…
Nate so glad you’re back home and recovering from all your surgeries. You’re in our thoughts and prayers continually. On another note I’m wondering if Michelle could email me. Ryan and I are thinking we might be staying in GA after he graduates law school and we think we’d like to move up to Atlanta. So if you wouldn’t mind if I picked your brain a little like how you liked living there, where good spots to live are, how’s the school systems, how’s the church there, just whatever you can tell me would be great. Plus Ryan’s dad told us your dad is a lawyer in Atlanta and I totally don’t want to impose our selves on your family but I’d love for Ryan to be able to get some insight from him and maybe find out what firms would be the best to apply to and whatever advise might be good for us to know. Thanks.
stefaniedixon@gmail.com and if you'd rather talk on the phone if it's easier then just email me your number or I can email you mine. Thanks again. :o)
January 29, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Sassy Savvy said…
I am so glad some things are going well in your life! Here's to a super speedy recovery!!!
February 2, 2009 at 12:56 PM
The Lorenzen'z said…
What a sad picture. We're so sorry and can't believe everything you've had to go through. We're happy you're on your way to better days ahead.
February 8, 2009 at 6:33 AM
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