My first day in the hospital was rough.
Although my morphine pump was removed at some point in the early morning, I couldn't stay awake for more than 30 minutes at a time with the drug still in my system.
A nurse dispensing Tramadol to ease my discomfort, explained I had been fitted with a catheter (standard practice) that they would remove later in the afternoon so I could try walking. For most of the day, I slept either lying on the bed or sitting up in the chair beside it. I tried reading a couple of times and realised that was a dead end. The whole ward was quiet with each patient getting to grips with their own pain levels and discomfort.
My fluid IV stayed in, until late morning so I didn't worry about being dehydrated. A few times during the day I was offered tea, biscuits and sandwiches. Everything felt super-dry with my tube-scratched throat and I couldn't even keep water down. At some point that afternoon when my stomach still hadn't settled, I was given an anti-sickness injection. I was able to eat a little bit an hour later but had no real appetite for food.
I think I was deemed unready when the last shift were available to remove catheters so mine stayed in place until the next morning.
The next day, the first thing the chief nurse on duty announced firmly, was that my catheter was coming out and I was to try walking around the bed a few times during the day (as if I was resisting the effort - I was willing the day before - just not able!). I dutifully (and painfully) did two bed laps after I was freed from the catheter bag. An hour later I walked what felt like a mile to the bathroom, with no results once I was there.
Retreating back to the bedside seat, a Doctor told me I would be discharged that day. Eh???
I couldn't imagine walking clean across the hospital, enduring a bumpy, swerving car ride and walking up two external flights of stairs to get into my apartment at that point, but the Doctor was unimpressed. "yes, that shouldn't be a problem", he answered when I described my journey home.
I had a handful of visitors during the afternoon, all of whom were surprised to hear they almost missed me! By 7pm I was loaded up with all the medication I would need, and discharged..
Next post - Home sweet home.. or coughing is of the devil
