Carl Foxmarten (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
carlfoxmarten) wrote2015-10-02 06:46 pm
carlfoxmarten) wrote2015-10-02 06:46 pm
Entry tags:
My first hospital adventure...
Yes, I was in the hospital yesterday. Once I finally got there, it was a rather pleasant experience, but up until the ambulance arrived, I was a nervous wreck.
You see, I had chest pains for several hours yesterday. Here in BC (I don't know about the other provinces), we have a Nurse's Hotline, where you can describe your symptoms and they can give you an idea of what you've got, and whether you should see your doctor or go to Emergency.
Well, with chest pains, you always have to go to Emergency, as they have to actually check you out physically in order to tell what the problem is. So it's kind of no wonder that they sort of frighten you into actually doing something about it.
Yes, I had been at work yesterday, and to make matters slightly worse, I was working at one of our other stores, by myself. So when I had to leave, I had to shut the store down. Not sure I did that properly, but oh well, health comes first.
Had a bit of a fumble with the ambulance, I'd first said that I was going to stand out front, but then the dispatcher said that I should sit comfortably, so it took a bit of time for them to find me, especially since I'd put a "closed" sign on the door. After that, it was pretty straight sailing, and with every check they did, it seemed less and less likely that I'd suffered a heart attack, so I was put at ease pretty early on.
Originally, since the store I was working in is a few cities north of where I live, I was originally supposed to head to the hospital in that area, but since I lived further south, and the ambulance was actually based out of there, we went to one much closer to home.
To boil three hours at the hospital down a bit, my dad arrived about half an hour after I did, so we sat together while I waited to be called for each test. In the end, it turned out to be a bruised rib. No, I didn't get a prescription for drugs, but the doctor said to take some extra-strength Advil for the pain, so I picked some up on the way home.
If we hadn't moved, it would have been only about sixteen blocks to home, a distance I'd have been well able to walk under normal circumstances. Fortunately, the pain had subsided significantly since that morning, so I decided to walk the twenty-three blocks it is now, stopping off to get some more potato chips and the aforementioned Advil. I sat for a while, then napped for a few hours. This was probably a bad idea, as I was unable to go to sleep until almost three in the morning after that.
Anyway, yes, it was my first trip to the hospital (as a patient), and all things considered it was actually a pretty pleasant experience. Hopefully I won't have to repeat it anytime soon...
(last time I was at the hospital was several years ago with my grandmother, when she was diagnosed with some breathing problem I can't remember the name of right now)
You see, I had chest pains for several hours yesterday. Here in BC (I don't know about the other provinces), we have a Nurse's Hotline, where you can describe your symptoms and they can give you an idea of what you've got, and whether you should see your doctor or go to Emergency.
Well, with chest pains, you always have to go to Emergency, as they have to actually check you out physically in order to tell what the problem is. So it's kind of no wonder that they sort of frighten you into actually doing something about it.
Yes, I had been at work yesterday, and to make matters slightly worse, I was working at one of our other stores, by myself. So when I had to leave, I had to shut the store down. Not sure I did that properly, but oh well, health comes first.
Had a bit of a fumble with the ambulance, I'd first said that I was going to stand out front, but then the dispatcher said that I should sit comfortably, so it took a bit of time for them to find me, especially since I'd put a "closed" sign on the door. After that, it was pretty straight sailing, and with every check they did, it seemed less and less likely that I'd suffered a heart attack, so I was put at ease pretty early on.
Originally, since the store I was working in is a few cities north of where I live, I was originally supposed to head to the hospital in that area, but since I lived further south, and the ambulance was actually based out of there, we went to one much closer to home.
To boil three hours at the hospital down a bit, my dad arrived about half an hour after I did, so we sat together while I waited to be called for each test. In the end, it turned out to be a bruised rib. No, I didn't get a prescription for drugs, but the doctor said to take some extra-strength Advil for the pain, so I picked some up on the way home.
If we hadn't moved, it would have been only about sixteen blocks to home, a distance I'd have been well able to walk under normal circumstances. Fortunately, the pain had subsided significantly since that morning, so I decided to walk the twenty-three blocks it is now, stopping off to get some more potato chips and the aforementioned Advil. I sat for a while, then napped for a few hours. This was probably a bad idea, as I was unable to go to sleep until almost three in the morning after that.
Anyway, yes, it was my first trip to the hospital (as a patient), and all things considered it was actually a pretty pleasant experience. Hopefully I won't have to repeat it anytime soon...
(last time I was at the hospital was several years ago with my grandmother, when she was diagnosed with some breathing problem I can't remember the name of right now)
no subject
no subject
no subject
Pleased you're find and all, that was more than a tense few hours for everyone, most of all for you.
Any idea what caused the bruising?
Mako
no subject
(and boring in parts too)
Almost no incidents of pain, aside from having forgotten to take the painkiller before I went to bed that is. Woke up with a sharp pain again, though not as sharp as it had been on Thursday, and taking the extra-strength Advil like I was told beat it back down nicely.
And yes, I know exactly what caused the bruise. I'd been leaning over the edge of the tub to wash my hair that morning. It was a combination of the fact that we have sliding doors on the tub (with the associated rails) and being very tired. No, I didn't slip, and I didn't fall, I was just so tired I leaned hard enough to bruise a rib.
(you can tell just how tired I was from that fact!)
no subject
Seriously though, I am glad to hear that it turned out to be just a bruise. I do not envy you the hours of uncertainty. Let me echo, Mako: have a nice, boring weekend. :)
no subject
The hours of uncertainty weren't very nervous, I assure you. I think it was in the first five or ten minutes after getting into the ambulance that I was told that it wasn't a heart attack, either that or the fact that the paramedic casually calling to his partner driving that it wasn't life-threatening and we could go to the hospital near my place as opposed to the closest one, which was a few cities north of where I live. Once I finally arrived at the hospital, everything and everybody seemed to be so relaxed, I knew it couldn't be too bad.
Thus far, my Saturday has gone well, and I don't have anything terribly taxing scheduled for Sunday, so it's looking pretty good so far. I'll probably post another update in a week or so.
no subject
no subject
I'm also not sure how long the bruising will last for. My aunt said her broken ribs lasted about six weeks, so theoretically mine should take a little less than that...