Doing the hospital thing again

[dantama]

The old timers here may remember me doing a two week hospital thing last March.....I'm here again, but I'm sure it won't be for as long.

I'm getting the electrode, video camera, 24 hour a day observation again.

It may only be for 2-3 days this time, not sure though.

I'm on Kawanow a lot, because when I have clients, it's not every hour, on the hour, so I pass time here a lot. Now It will be my link to the outside world, so I'll come post a lot. I'm glad the Internet has gotten to the point where you can sit in the hospital and play on the net.

Not looking forward to the food :( I've only been here long enough for one meal so far. It's sitting here as I type. It's a caesar salad that they forgot the dressing for, and a baked potato that they remembered the sour cream for, but forgot the potato.

I should be eating soon I hope :)

I'll keep stopping in to say hi and see how the election is going :) Good thing I early voted.

[trip]

Are the electrode posts sticking out of your neck yet???

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Trip

Are the electrode posts sticking out of your neck yet???

New nickname for Dan. Frankenstein!!!

[kawgirl]

Wow. Watch those nurses Dan! LOL

[schoeney]

Dan...I am not one of the old timers so I don't know what you are doing......hope all is OK!

[landman]

best of luck for a good outcome dan.

[dantama]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Dan...I am not one of the old timers so I don't know what you are doing......hope all is OK!

Schoeney,

Without getting too detailed, I lost consciousness last Dec. and at the end of Feb. went to the hospital to try to isolate why. I did it again in Sept. and so I'm back.

First time I was hooked up to about 20 electrodes for two weeks straight 24 hours a day in the hospital.

This time I thought maybe a couple of days, but the doctor that came by asked if I had anything this week that would prevent me from staying? Sounds like maybe a longer stay than a couple of days.

[dantama]

When Chuck died earlier this summer I wrote some of my thoughts on death in this thread.
http://kawanow.proboards77.com/index...ay&thread=5708
(I'm not really in danger of dying now (unless I lost consciousness riding my motorcycle), but I'm only here for observation, no surgery or anything dangerous). But here's some of my thoughts on dying from that thread.

As to his death, without trying to sound insensitive, it was a good death. Those that went on the CO550 ride know what I mean. We discussed death and dying on that ride over dinner. I said that the death that I wanted was to know that I'm going just seconds before it happens, then be gone. I related that getting in a crash with an 18 wheeler that swerved into my lane would be a good death. I would know that I'm going, but not have time to worry and suffer. So from my perspective, Chuck had a good death.

I know that many don't see death the way I do, but for me, I don't know what the rush to stay alive is all about. It's like some kind of race to see who can be the oldest. I'm not running in that race.

For many, the life cycle starts at being an infant, maturing, declining, and turning back into an infant. I don't want to go back out as an infant getting my diapers changed. I want to go out on top (don't worry, I'm not suicidal).

But I brought my living will to the hospital with me and caused a bit of a stir. I asked if they will really know not to resuscitate me, or will they get into life saving mode and do what they are kind of programed to do and start saving? They said that they will put a purple wristband on me and that means not to save me.

The doctor came by to quiz me and find out of I really, really don't want resuscitated? She kept saying, "so if you pass out and your heart stops, you don't want any chest compressions?" I kept saying no.

I asked her if she watched 60 minutes last night, and she did. I said that there is no way I want to be that guy in that story. She thought it was wonderful that he was still alive, my wife and I thought it was awful that he was. Different perspectives on the same event.

In the end, I got my purple wrist band. But I won't be dying here, I'm just being observed. :)

I did make a deal with my Kawanow riding mates on the Colorado ride this summer; I told them that I know CPR, and would do it for them if they wanted.....but they can't do it for me. I'll have to make the same deal at the national rally, I'll do it for anyone that needs, but they can't do it for me.

Ok, I'm rambling....the setting here is conducive to this kind of thinking, I'm bored, and the doctor conversation brought such thoughts to the forefront. Those that know me know I'm not suicidal, but when I get the chance, I'm outa here :)

Now back to your regular political programming :)

[schoeney]

Dan,

Unlike our politics.....we agree!

[schoeney]

I hope it all turns out fine. Maybe to pass the time you could ride the Nad into the elevator and up on to the hospital roof?

Just kidding Dan....don't even think about it.

[paul]

Our prayers with you Dan. Let them do what they do, but watch your orafices. ;) Those Hospital people can be a little too quick with the needles and probes.

Seriously, as regards our deaths. We don't get to choose, but we all get to participate. But, you may just be a bit premature here.

May a long and healthy life be yours.

Dan, as before you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Netnorske]

Dan,
Best wishes for your hopefully brief and successful stay. I look forward to meeting you in Custer next June....so get your ass back in the saddle!

If you get bored...here is a fun little hospital trick that only the guys can appreciate....so Kawgirl and CheriAnn....stop readin' right here....!

If you get any hot nurses running in and out, pretend you are asleep and let your package breath a little.... .

I can't take credit for that one...a buddy at work gets the nod for his boredom inspired creativeness.... ;)! I realize this is a family forum.... ...but I couldn't help myself....my apologies in advance!

[dantama]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Dan,


If you get any hot nurses running in and out, pretend you are asleep and let your package breath a little.... .

There is a blood oxygen thing that is spring loaded and somewhat similar to a clothespin as far as operation goes. I'm supposed to keep it clamped on a finger tip. I told my wife that I was going to take it off and clamp it on something else and let them measure blood oxygen there :)

With your idea, I can kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks for the kind thoughts all of you.

I'll keep narrating what's going on here out of boredom.

[dantama]

Guy came in a little before 5:00am to stock the latex gloves box. Bastard. So I was awake and wrote some other posts. I told him to leave a case under the bed and I'll stock them for him at a reasonable hour. :)

There are some members here with a medical background who probably know that there is a little more to my stay than I'm saying......feel free to pm me and discuss it, but we'll stick with my story on this thread :) But feel free drop your thoughts in the thread what things like filling the gloves at 5:00 am and such are like from your end :)