Even in his dream world…
…Andy is ready to chase mousies!
=(^+^)=
My doctor’s appointment yesterday was after dialysis. It came down to “go home for a short time to change my oxygen canister and feed the kitty” or “stay at the hospital, sign in after dialysis but wait a bit more than an hour (instead of 30 minutes) for my 11 AM appointment”.
There are small O2 canisters that are managed easily but last three-ish hours depending on usage level, and large ones on carts that last five-ish hours, again depending on usage level. I had a small one that I’d partially used but felt would last me till 11:30 or so. Well…my oxygen canister ran out, leaving me without oxygen for an hour and a quarter.
I monitored my blood O2 level with my Pulse Oximeter, noting my heartbeat became more erratic as my oxygen level dropped to 87%. I was concerned, of course, and mentioned it to a nurse for another doctor who came out. She (fortunately) got me a large oxygen canister. My blood O2 quickly rose to a happy 99% saturation! Better, my heartbeat evened out. Whew! I’d would be oxygenated sufficiently to drive home after all!
I was exhausted – dialysis leaves you very tired – so I put my head down to rest as best I could in a refrigerated waiting room. (Why are hospitals always so cold? To slow patient bleed out?)
I eventually got in to talk with the doctor’s nurse for the preliminaries… four hours after I started my wait and three after the appointment time. I finally left the hospital at 1:20 PM. Remember, the appointment time was for 11 AM!
Turned out, however, the doctor flies to Alliance, his plane had mechanical issues, so he had to drive the four hours to town. He had a good reason for being behind. Someone could told me that, eh?! I understood that delay but learned about it from the doctor’s nurse at the end of a long, long day.
That is scary that your oxygen level went down so much. Glad they gave you some to get home.
I wouldn’t have made it!
A doctor that flies himself to appointments? That’s a new one! I’m sorry that your appointment time was ruined, it’s happened to me and it is very annoying. I have a pulse oxy meter too.
When you live where medical resources and the funds to acquire them are sparse, you share those resources with others in a network of basic care up through major care.
For example, when RI came down with WG/GPA, I started out at the local hospital.
A pulmonologist came in from the Regional West Hospital, the next level. He had semi-monthly hours here in a specialties clinic, but worked out of Regional West.
After a week at Regional West in Scottsbluff, my pulmonologist felt the next level, University Hospital in Denver had the rheumatologist best able to finalize my pulmonologist’s initial diagnosis.
At UH-Denver, I got the first treatments that brought me around. My initial medications were verified as appropriate and were continued.
I was taken from Alliance to Scottsbluff by ambulance, the to Denver by ambulance. I lucked out get back to Alliance when my boss took a day off and made the nine hour round trip to bring me back from Denver!
That is typical for patients in this town and area.
Wow, that is a whole lot of travel, Doug! I’m glad that you are okay! 🙏🏻🤙🏻🍻
It is. I can tell you, too, that ambulance rides to Denver are miserable in older ambulances with truck suspensions! Newer ones have air suspension and are very comfortable. I’ve had rides in both.
That seems like a very long way to drive, Doug.
It is but that’s what we have to do.
I love that photo of Andy’s sleepy face!
Communications in hospitals, health centers and large practices can seem almost nonexistent. I would venture to guess more than half the time the staff don’t know what is going on, and invent something that sounds plausible on the fly. I am glad to hear the O2 problem was corrected. Please be careful!
That’s probably true.
I’ve seen kitties chase mousies in their sleep! Adorable Andy pics! What a trying day, so glad you got sufficient O2. Someone told me long ago that the cold temps in hospitals are meant to keep down infections. I’ve no idea if that actually has an effect.
I suspect it may be more to help keep computers, supplies and equipment cool.
LOL! they are heat sinks when given a choice, and computers and laptops are good sources of heat after all!
That seems possible about the cold hospitals. Of course, infection control is a big part of every hospital employee’s job.
Please be careful with the Oxygen. Cin ran out a few times and it was horrible.
I have a light need for it. I can get by on a “1” setting most of the time, with a “2” helpful for times I’m more active. It is important, during my learning stage, to pay attention to potential hazards like running out, though!
Teach Andy to drive. Tell him you both are going after mousies.
LOL! He’s smart enough but I’d have to pay the fine if he got the “zoomies” while driving! He’s unemployed, you see.
Exhausting just to read, Doug
The worst doctor’s appointment ever! Before, it was one where I had to drive to Cheyenne (a bit over two hours’ drive) to see a rheumatologist. I got to give his nurse my information, she called to him in the hall, he didn’t come in to see me, then I got to drive back home having never seen the doctor! To top it off, a few months later, I learned he left Cheyenne for another hospital well outside my range. He stole a big chunk of my life by wasting my day.
Grrrrrr to the lack of communication! I’m glad you got oxygen and, eventually, seen!
Me, too! I was starting to get a headache from O2 deprivation. It was worrisome trying to determine how i could drive home as well and do it safely.
Well, in case it happens again, maybe uber home then back again when you want your car, or get some oxygen, or have another appt? Expensive… but less so than crashing!!
Does Inogen portable oxygen not work?? I figure there’s a reason they’re not omnipresent.
I used to wish for a hit of oxygen at the gym. I recently saw very small canisters of it (exactly what I needed 10 yrs ago)t somewhere strange, like Daiso.
I resolved not to wait like that again. I had no idea how long I’d be there and stupidly thought someone would tell those of us waiting for this particular doctor (or his nurse) that there would be a long delay and why.
I live two miles from the hospital and all roads are through roads so I can make the trip in good time.
You could still pass out behind the wheel!
That was my concern, too. I am familiar with the sensations of passing out, I feel, so would know not to stay at the wheel. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be worth risking it!
I used to drive to Thousad Oaks everyday (70 miles, 1 way). I don’t even know how many times I did tunnel vision, pre blackout, behind the wheel. Fortilunately, it was always in bumper to bumper traffic. Inever fully blacked out but often got off the 101 for a nap!
wow! Scary stuff to contemplate….