I woke slowly and peacefully. I love the days when I don’t have to go anywhere. Nick had taken the day off and was going golfing with his brother and others up in the mountains that afternoon. I ate breakfast, watched a little news and some Kelly and Ryan then heading to my writing room to get my day started. I had just settled in with my coffee when Mollie called. She never calls during a school day so I worried immediately.
It seems she had gotten a call from her neighbor saying that Maggie, her older golden was outside the fence and running around near the road. Mollie couldn’t leave and asked if I could drive over and put Maggie in the house for the day. Well, of course I could. Since Nick wasn’t leaving for a few more hours he came too and we got the dogs in fine and headed home. Mollie’s house is about thirty-five minutes away so driving and visiting with the dogs a little took over an hour. But we’re good parents and we didn’t really mind. I thought I was back to my peaceful day once we got home – but no.
I was getting on the computer when Nick called on the phone, from the bedroom. He just said, “Could you come back here?” I found him pale, sweaty and in pain. He wanted his shirt off and then he was on the floor. He asked for a cold cloth and I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on when he mumbles out, “Kidney stone.” He had never had one before but he was pretty sure.
I called his brother to tell him Nick would not be golfing and then we were off to the hospital. Not where I wanted to be exactly, but it’s not like we had a choice. Got him checked in and we saw that they had the large waiting room – all openings sealed well, with a door and a sign saying it was to be kept closed at all times. That was for the covid symptom patients. There were two smaller waiting room set up for others – kidney stones, broken bones, suspected heart attacks and those needing stitches. That and the hallway, which soon became full. We probably waited only twenty minutes before a nurse took his vitals, heard his symptoms and asked for a urine sample. This nurse said that of the ten bays they had in the ER, eight of them had covid patients on ventilators waiting for ICU beds.
We were sent back to our little waiting room to wait and wait and wait. Soon we’d been there for two hours, then four hours, then six hours, then eight, then ten… It wasn’t until around the ninth hour that anything was done. They took blood and took him for a CT scan. As we were nearing hour eleven the doctor spoke with us – with truly excellent news. There was blood in the urine, that combined with the symptoms caused them to believe that he had passed a kidney stone but the CT scan showed that there were no more to come! All lab results were spot on where they should be and there was no infection at all.
We stopped to pay the co-pay and walked out the door almost exactly eleven hours after we’d walked in. It was not the best of days – simply sitting for eleven hours was hell, being exposed to heaven only knows was very scary (I was double masked), and worrying about it all made for one of the longest days I can remember.
So how’s Nick feeling? I couldn’t ask him the next morning, despite sleeping about an hour late he was at work by 4 AM. As he told me the night before when I urged him to stay home and rest the next day, “I’d hate to stay home and break my forty-four record.”
It was forty-four years ago that Nick took his last sick day. He wouldn’t have then but his boss insisted. Nick had dislocated his shoulder while skiing the night before and his arm was not in use, it was snowing and sleeting that morning and Nick had a straight drive car. But if someone had offered to come get him, he would certainly have gone in.
I’m married to a tough old bird and in the ER or not, I’m glad we were there together.
*A huge shout out to the doctors and nurses at our hospital yesterday. Yes, our wait was long, but those doctors nurses were working their butts off. Not only the crowd waiting to be seen, but some were down right abusive. Some were shouting because they'd been waiting nearly an hour and they wanted attention NOW! One was even calling one of the nurses a bitch and coughing on others then claiming to have covid. How the nurses kept from putting a fist through her face I'll never know. I sure wanted to.
Gosh PK,you sure did have a day! I'm sorry to hear this happened and very glad to hear all ended well. There is nothing like the pain of kidney stones, so I'm told and visits to ED are always excruciating!
ReplyDelete44 years without a sick day..you sure did marry a tough one lol
Hugs
Roz
I've had one kidney stone and I sure hope it's my last! I did take the next day off!
DeleteWhat a day. A nephew of ours had kidney stones and told us how painful they are. Happy to hear Nick is OK. He's a tough cookie.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Ronnie
xx
I guess he has his dad's genes. Hopefully Nick will live forever too.
DeleteMy goodness! What a day indeed. Very happy to hear Nick was able to go home and all was well though I imagine you were both exhausted - physically and emotionally. My mouth fell open when I read when he went to work.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear the pup is safe as well :)
I really was worried about the dog until I had to worry about Nick. I was pretty sure if they didn't admit him that he'd be going to work the next day.
DeleteNot one of your best days for sure, but all's well that ends well. Glad Nick is okay now, and today will (fingers crossed) be better.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Hermione
Thanks. This happened on Wednesday and these next two days have been much better. Nick even played golf this morning.
DeleteHorrible day I am sure PK! During regular times waiting in the ER is not for the faint of heart! During Covid and this terrible surge, I can’t imagine! I’m glad you were able to stay with him!
ReplyDeleteYour guy is definitely tough! Wish he stayed home to rest! However, I’m sure it made you feel relieved he felt good enough to go to work! ❤️
I sure was worried that day because Nick is ALWAYS healthy. So it was a real jolt.
DeleteVery stressful in normal times, but even more so with covid. Glad it has been passed and he doesn't need any further treatment. I don't know how medical staff cope with the stress of dealing with people who are ill because they wouldn't get a vaccine. It was difficult enough for staff last year, but now it's avoidable!
ReplyDeleteAlice
I do agree. I think I could have been a nurse in regular times but not now! I couldn't believe how ugly some people spoke to them. God bless them.
DeleteJust now read - a couple of days late. Glad Nick is okay - smart guy that he knew what it was. Sorry about the hospital stay but it turned out well. There is no accounting for the rudeness of people - I don't know how nurses and doctors do it. I would be doing a lot of walking away - guess I wouldn't be employed for long - probably best.
ReplyDeleteYep I liked how everything turned out. But watching some of these nurses remain calm and polite to these horrible people when we could see they were working their asses off was something. If I'm ever on a jury and a nurse or doctor is on trial for punching a patient, I'll tell you now, they are going to walk.
DeleteWOW! What a day! I am glad you guys are ok, sorry your day was messed up though!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Boo
It was some day, but now just an experience we shared. He's feeling just fine now.
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