In a bit of paraphrase to the old John Denver song, some weeks are diamonds, some weeks are stone. This last week has been a bit of a stone around here, but things are better now.
Last Wednesday Doc was sent from a doctor's appointment home to pack and to go straight to the hospital with some heart issues. He came home late Monday and is doing better with a few, hopefully mostly temporary, adjustments to his lifestyle. We will know more after a follow-up appointment in a couple of days.
Please forgive the picture above, but if I had tried to take an actual picture of Doc in his hospital bed, well, I'll just say his reaction wouldn't have made for a very pretty picture.
I am not making light of what was a very serious situation, but finding the lighter side of any situation is a good coping tool for me.
When "Mr. Independent" came home to pack for the hospital he fully intended to hop back in his truck and drive himself to the hospital. I, of course, informed him that I would be driving him to the hospital. As we were getting in the car to go he asked if I was going to take Dodger, our dog, with us, apparently thinking I was going to do a quick drive-by dropping him off at the door of the hospital. Men! Sheesh!
Needless to say, I spent a good deal of time at the hospital with him while he was there, with him constantly telling me that I needed to go home to check on Dodger. Of course, he was not at the hospital that is about 5 minutes from our house, but one that was 30-40 minutes away depending on traffic. This was the first time Doc has had to be in a hospital since he was born and it was a real lesson to "Mr. Independent" in letting go of a bit of that independence. The bottom line is that he got excellent care and the doctors, nurses and aids are truly angels, even when a patient gets a little cantankerous.
His homecoming has gone pretty well with just a little bristling at his limitations. If I make it through the next few days until they say it is okay for him to drive, I'll be back with an update.
Hello, dear Jeanie! I'm sorry to hear about Doc's stint in the hospital but happy to learn that he is only required to make slight adjustments to his lifestyle at this time. To his credit he didn't want to burden you with his problem and was thinking more about you and Dodger than himself. You stepped up by driving him to the hospital and spending time with him once he was admitted. It is a good exercise for a highly independent person to let go of that for a while and accept help from those who care. I hope Doc's follow-up yields only good news for him and for you.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Jeanie!
Good luck with your follow-up...
ReplyDeleteGoodness, Jeanie - hope he is OK and will be back to his old tricks soon. My husband is not a good patient either. I sympathize with you. (and of course, Doc, too!)
ReplyDeleteGlad they caught whatever it was sooner than later, Jeanie, so to speak and hoping Doc will be back to "normal" soon (of course his new normal with adjustments to his lifestyle). I bet Dodger was glad to see him when he got home!
ReplyDeletebetty
I hope Doc has recovered for good and won't need additional medical assistance. He's very lucky to have you, Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - men are universally something else aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI am glad he got to come home and I hope he checks out!
sandie
So sorry that a hospital stay was involved. I hope that the changes are minor, and that Doc is back to feeling like himself soon!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeanie, you must have been pretty scared, despite his casual demeanor. I would have been hanging there a lot, too. But I'm awfully glad he'll be fine and probably once the adjustments you mention become routine, all will be more or less back to normal. Still scary, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd you left Dodger home? Ha!
I am trying to imagine pets being allowed in the hospital with their owners.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have a proactive doctor for Doc. Catching heart disease immediately is definitely life saving. Know you were worried and probably still are. Hope all goes well.
I'm so glad that things have gone well for Doc and he's being given excellent care from everyone around him, especially you. I'm sure Dodger will cheer him up too. It's always such a worry when guys don't take it easy.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Doc.
ReplyDeleteI have a guy who works for me who works way too hard. I had to haul him to the emergency room one day cuz he had heart pains. He made me promise not to call his wife. I promised but then promptly called her after we got there.
Sorry to hear about Doc's visit to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteSending you both good wishes and a large dose of patience!
Wishing Doc a speedy recovery, and wishing you the support you need as you tend you his needs. It ain't always easy!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very typical man... hospitals are for 'sick' people.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to know he is going to be fine.
Goodness. I'm glad that Doc took the advice of the doctors and actually went to the hospital. I also hope he is doing better.
ReplyDeleteMen...they do try one patience. When I correctly recognized my husband was in cardiac distress, this is hours before they diagnosed him with a 95% block LAD (the widow maker), I insisted he go to the hospital. He wanted to drive. In fact, he drove about a block and half. Finally, he listened to my begging to pull over and let me drive. Like Doc, he wanted to be dropped off. I actually did so. I came after the dog was situated. He said he was ready to go home. The doctors had other ideas. Soon, he was in surgery.
I think my week went very similar to Doc's, except that I knew in advance that I would be in testing all day. Still, not a fun day and the final results are yet to be determined. Best wishes and prayers to Doc.
ReplyDelete