The Holiday season tends to disrupt the routine of all but the laser-focused amongst us; Christmas parties and socials, gift shopping and wrapping, baking, packing, hosting… A whole year of fun distractions and social-catch-up crammed into thirty-one days. It’s fun, if exhausting. Toss in a couple of unplanned ER visits, and it’s down-right invigorating. And brutally draining.
The first ER excursion started at noon last Thursday and ended when I crawled into my bed at 4 a.m. Friday. The intervening hours involved an ultra-sound, xray, ambulance ride (for sickie, not me), CT scan, blood work, and ultimate diagnoses of “not sure”, but nothing seems imminently fatal. Come back if the pain worsens for more tests, including, potentially, an endoscopy.
Monday we were back in the ER. More tests, including an ECG, and seven hours later we were again released with remedial medication to treat the ER doc’s diagnoses–nothing imminently fatal, provided the patient adhered to remedial plan, and follow up advice. As of this writing, the patient seems to be on the mend. Thank goodness.
There’s nothing more difficult than seeing someone you love in pain. Nothing more terrifying–when they’re being zoomed away in an ambulance–than wondering if, when you catch up to the ambulance and its patient at the next hospital, you’re going to end up pacing outside an OR, arranging a funeral, or spending more hours in a hard plastic chair tending the patient while you both await more test results.
I’m happy to report the latter option was how I spent my time bedside supporting my loved one. We eventually walked out of there together. For that, I’m truly grateful. I’m also extremely grateful for the caring people we encountered during the agonizing twenty-two hours total we endured, between the two hospital visits.
How the doctors, nurses, administrative and cleaning staff keep their cool–and smiles–when all around them people are falling apart, physically, emotionally, mentally, is truly amazing. I had one unhappy in-pain individual to manage and found myself feeling impatient and exhausted at times; the medical personnel are juggling dozens of sick and unhappy people for hours, every day.
Twenty-plus Emergency beds full. Four overflow beds, full. More beds lined up along the nursing station at the Ambulance entrance, full. People in wheelchairs, and stationary chairs. People in more beds lining the hallway. Every one wanting–or needing–help, now.
Weaving, spinning, and squeezing in and amongst the crying, moaning, and delusional, and their support persons, are the nurses, doctors, lab techs, ambulance attendants, and security personnel, gliding like professional ice-skaters performing a choreographed dance-routine to music only they can hear. It was incredible, and humbling to watch. And oh, so sad.
Many of the sick people I saw there, didn’t need to be there. Drug over-dose. Alcohol over-dose. Obesity-related heart-issues, diabetes-related circulation issues, smoking-related ailments… Many of those in crisis, could have avoided the pain and agony, and the excruciating hours their loved ones endured next to them, with different life-style choices. How the doctors and nurses keep from losing their tempers–or minds–during their twelve-hour shifts (careers) dealing with so many self-destructive people, I can’t fathom.
The ER is a glaring, dirty, contaminated environment full of miserable, and in some instances, abusive people. The people who choose to work there every day in an effort to reduce suffering and save lives are Angels; they offer tolerance, expertise, and caring, as they delve in unimaginable filth, and misery.
I hope you don’t have cause to visit an ER any time soon. If you do, please, be kind. The people working there are doing their best, in untenable conditions.
If you do find yourself a patient there, I pray you receive the timely treatment you need to make a full, and speedy recovery. I also hope, if your lifestyle contributes to, or exacerbates, your health issues, that you seriously consider changing it up.
Quit smoking. Get sober. Get active. Eat healthy and in moderation. Reach out for mental health support.
Life is short. The hours and minutes long, when you wile them away unnecessarily, in Emergency.
Deborah
Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny. ~Tyron Edwards
