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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 20 Feb 10 - 02:27 AM Michelle, Nurse ratched will show you the difference between a masseuse and a "massage-onist". We'll try to find someone else to rub you the right way and supply your kneads and wishes. Someone to make you say,"Ahhhhhhhhhhye! THERE'S the rub!..... Welcome to what I call "Dishrag Days", where you feel like you have no energy whatsoever and you feel like a wet noodle. Sad to say, it only got worse for me. My Chemo treatments were three weeks apart, and whereas that time was not enough to flush out all the meds and toxins out of one's system, the number of bad days I spent increased after each treatment. I had to shop on the good days and stock up, because I didn't feel like even moving or getting out of bed much on the real bad ones, A good time to catch up on your reading. sometimes sound bothered me, sometimes it didn't. It might have just been me, but all the medicines they sent home with me with the caution messages about don't drive or even look askance at a piece of heavy machinery didn't make me tired at all, even the pain meds. I had to go back after almost a week of non-sleep and get issued some Ambien, which worked. When the dishrag days were over, I went against orders and quit the pain and sleeping pills until I became a wet noodle again. By the time of my sixth treatment, the Dishrag Days had gradually increased to about half of the three weeks. There were occaisional times of nausea and I remember watching the Porcelain Bowl as much as the Super Bowl. After my sixth and last Chemo treatments, which were Mon.-Wed., around Friday night I was suddenly unable to keep food down from the cumlative effects of the meds still in me. I had a follow up Oncology appointment scheduled on Monday, and I tried to hold out. I tried the method I used when I had a bad flu and would start out with Ginger Ale and saltines or tea and toast and gradually work other food back in me, but it wasn't working. I probably should've gone to the horse-spittal late Sat. or Sun., but I waited until Monday. They took one look at my blood sugar level after they finally hit a vein and rushed me back into the "hallowed halls of IV" from which I'd thought I'd graduated. It turns out my blood sugar had spiked to 1100 and I probably should have had a coma or stroke. The Doc will yell at you if your level goes over 200. When I finally got home, I found I had put a few things into wierd places, but it would be a while before I went home. I was sent in an ambulance two buildings down the road to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. While I was awaiting admittancde, it took them four people to be able to draw blood--I was THAT dehydrated! I spent that night, March 17th, in the ICU (peek-a-boo!) and I spent three days in various hospital rooms. It turns out that the shugar spike had given me permanent diabetes, so ironically enough, the date from which I could no longer hoist a pint was St. Patrick's night. I had gotten a Sheffield tankard as a get well present from a UK Catter friend, and, of course, since you can't drink alchohol during Chemo, I couldn't use it for its intended purpose until I actually got well. Now I couldn't ever hoist a pint of brew in it. Let that be a warning. You have a mate to take you to the emergency room if the nausea persists like that. I have the diabetes under control, but it'll alawys be there and I have had to adjust my living and eating habits accordingly. Another food topic. Part of what they were giving me in my IVs was Cisplatin (sp?) which contains Platinum. I couldn't eat red meat, because the drug made it taste like iron. I couldn't eat canned food because you could taste the can in the food. They'll very likely give you stule softeners to counteract the effects of the other meds. The pain pills, especially, tend to constipate. This will be all for tonight. More stories soon (more pleasant ones) and any questions you have, feel free to ask here or by PM. But there WILL be those bad days when you haven't hardly the strength or will to move, like a nasty flu, so notify your partner what to expect. Effects vary with the individual person. I'm just telling you my tales. It may affect you differently. they might be putting different meds in you. ----------------------------------------------------------------- It'll be great to see the lovely young Firecat take an active part in Mudcat again, even if her body's as twisted as a good mystery plot and the fates have conspired to Bangor up a litle bit. I thought Firecats always landed on their feet, though.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: gnu Date: 19 Feb 10 - 07:46 PM I am... but it's kinda hard in cyberspace. All I can offer is massaging thoughts. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Feb 10 - 06:49 PM Someone pass out the extra special strength tylenol please? Chemo cocktails are HARD on a body. I feel like I've been beaten with a baseball bat. Tell Susan to scooch over, I might be needing that revved up scooter she's got going on......my shins, knees and hips are killing me over here! And when I find that person with the baseball bat, I say we gang up on Kendall's Nurse Ratchet! Anyone know a good masseuse? ARG. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Tig Date: 19 Feb 10 - 06:38 PM Awww Sinsull that sounds great. Love the colours, they'll suit her down to the ground. I'd forgotten aloe - although I know she's not got any in her box of essential oils. As for guests - anyone got the number for David Tennant or could lend her any 'original' ie before the revived Dr Who? Then your problem could be evicting her after her tlc. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 19 Feb 10 - 02:30 PM Private room in soft blue greens. Aloe plant for the blisters. We'll put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door and let her choose her visitors. Get a room ready for Kendall too. The ICU is about to release him but he needs QUIET, virtual lobster with lots of butter, a young and pretty nurse for the sponge baths, and a dog bed for Seamus - it's the internet - no germs. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Tig Date: 19 Feb 10 - 02:11 PM Please can I book my disaster prone daughter into the ward for some TLC? Now that she has got over the initial shock of uni I think she could face it. After her teething problems before Christmas (they evicted the 4 cracked ones and another that was taking up too much space) and the nasty bugs she's tried something new! On Tuesday she was going down 'Bitch Hill' (called for it's steepness) in the rain, slipped on a manhole cover and tried to re-arrange her hip. Yesterday since her hip was improving but she couldn't put her foot to the floor and her calf was a funny shape she agreed to go to A&E. Apparently her calf muscle is badly strained, she was issued with pain killers and crutches and told to take it carefully. This (on medical advice)included dropping out of a play which goes on in about a month. At lunchtime I got a phone call from her to find out what to put on the blisters she now has on her hands :-( Since Bangor is all hills life is not going well. This completes the week she found out they hadn't made the televised rounds of University Challenge and she'd had another couple of problems!!! Methinks she deserves the admission. Her Worried Mother xxx |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: GUEST,Nurse Ratched Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:46 PM mmm... that calamari was good (burp) .. bit over cooked though.. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:22 PM Come on over to the Ward, DD. Good intellegent conversation has been at a premium in here as the unit's only current catter. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:35 PM Cherry Red for Valentine's. And the squid is safely chaiuned to the wall so you won't be disturbed...until some of the gentlemen show up. The I recommend an umbrella. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:30 PM For the prudish (who?! here??), I should warn that it will be a skinny dip. (Despite the Thin Mints.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:29 PM I think I need to move into the Imaginary Burn Unit. My "post-herpetic neuralgia" has reached the stage where the primary symptom is a nasty burning sensation when anything (e.g. clothing, sheets, fingers making the mistake of responding to a quiet itchiness) touches the area of the now pretty-much-healed shingles rash on my side. My nerves need some serious therapy. "You say a virus travelled up you? How does that make you feel?" "Let's talk about your childhood..." On the other hand, a swim in a cool Jell-O pit might be more effective. (Ice packs offer some relief, but are not nearly as entertaining.) What flavor is on offer today? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:56 PM COme over to the Tavern. The Jell-O pit is cool though red. You can recline there while we clean up the Ward and locate Ratched. Then back here to fresh sheets and maybe a new menu. Besides, it's cyberspace. You don't have to be in the burn unit. SINS, the practical. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:54 PM Hey! I might be in burn recovery for some time yet and will be here in my ward when you all get back. I will make it to the next tavern and I suppose the Squid's already there. I hope he counted his arms after his last lust-driven encounter..... I'm warning the Mudcat ladies, after IntraVenus left, I'm free at the moment and worth every penny of it! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:40 PM A bit later, The Squid is nowhere to be seen after his trip to Bedbath & Beyond, but Nurse Ratched is seen walking down the halls with a wicked gleam in her eyes and a red rose in her top buttonhole (She seems oblivious of the thorns), singing to herself, "Mister Squiddy-Wah-Diddy, Mister Squiddy Wah-Diddy, I wish someone would tell me what Squiddy-Wah-Diddy means...." There's likely to have been some serious cuttling-up going on. I'm sure there are some Japanese film directors waiting to sign up any offspring to an immediate contract as the as the Jackie Cooper/Coogan, Shirley Temple or or Macauley Culkin of the Creature Feature set..... An unbathed Liz finds the abandoned fedora fits quie nicely and has taken to wearing it about the Ward.... I'm back to my usual PT regimen after substituting shovelling tons of snow for about a week. Nurse Wretched awaits. Still no word of the beautiful and lovely Nurse InterVenus DeMilo (sigh!) and her fiancee, The Weird Guy From Radiology (I think The Squid is better looking, but I might be a little predudiced)..... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:22 PM Awfully quiet in here. Ratched gone off with the squid. Everyone seems to be making remarkable recoveries. Maybe it's time to shut the place down, scrub out the remainders and mozey over to the Tavern for a pre-Valentine's Day bash. At least until Kendall and Tom are ready to "revcover". Lights out. Door locked. And through the rabbit hole to the Tavern... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:55 AM Snubbed by Liz, the hurt and wistful look in Squid's eye suddenly becomes a sparkle, as he turns around and offers Nurse Ratched the flowers and candy, which are, amazingly enough accepted (I suppose the Weird Guy From Radiology is on her shit-list forever for running off to Nurse InterVenus DeMilo once she miraculously, with some Mudcat help, regained arms). Anyway, the easily love-struck squid jumps in the cold water rolling bath and is merrily wheeled off to God Only Knows Where. I hope Squiddy, Hell, I hope BOTH of them know what they're getting into. I'd suspect there's a few in here who'd gladly pay to see the video..... Well, Liz, You've dodged yet another bullet and Manitas doesn't have to take off work and ride his white stallion to the rescue.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 12 Feb 10 - 08:24 AM I knew it was a mistake to open a corridor between the Tavern and the Recovery Ward. Although it did make for a ready supply of Jell-O. I wouldn't eat those chocolates Lizzie. They appear to be smelts double-dipped in Hershey's excuse for chocolate. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: GUEST,Nurse Ratched Date: 12 Feb 10 - 06:53 AM LtS, you're in a right spot. I belive immersion in ice-cold water has been found to recharge the metabolism. I'll have you up and being productive in the workhouse in no time. and speaking of belts.... N.R. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:59 AM Well there went the nap..... Even busier day today, sorry Squiddie, you'll have to get your own dinner. Is that a tie or a belt? LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 11 Feb 10 - 05:12 PM Liz, of all the spots you've ever gotten into..... WAIT! She has a visitor! ....It's the Squid in a fedora and tie with a boquet of roses and a box of chocolates. I'll leave you two alone.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 11 Feb 10 - 12:18 PM Oh NO! I'm seeing spots before my eyes. Quick nurse - a bed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 11 Feb 10 - 12:13 PM Given the circumstances, I'm doing pretty well today... got dressed before midday (just), spent some time shopping which, although it took me twice as long as usual, has been most theraputic because I bought new jammies... watch out fellow inmates - stripes have given way to spots and we have some real food in the fridge. I've started yawning though, so I guess it's nap time before dinner. Just keep Nurse Ratched and that bedbath away from me.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:28 PM No salt in those wounds though, please! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 10 Feb 10 - 03:52 PM No skin off my nose, Sev. The CELLAR! is at jacqui and Kendall's house. I'll take Seamus so you don't disturb his nap time. M |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 10 Feb 10 - 03:49 PM Mary, I have a sign outside proclaiming the place to be "The Salt Cellar". Be ready with GS cookies and refreshments when the shanty sing crew show up in gale force. I told 'em it was all right with you....... I'll need somebody to take admissions (of gilt) and to stamp everybody's hands (But not so hard that they have to clap with their feet). Awfully nice to let us all use the place, as a bunch of would be in exile here, anyway.... I hope you don't have to sleep or get up in the morning or anything. ....And here I thought I was supposedly shifting time between the Burn Ward and shovelling tons of snow...... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM Severn! CELLAR! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: gnu Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:25 PM Are youse Cookie Rankin? (Rankin Family, FYI) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:21 PM If we win the suit, can we get paid in cookies? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Severn Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:18 PM Actually, Mary, the cookie's name was derived from the old West Virginia folksong, Mama's Little Babylove's Short And Inbred". Is that enough of a musical reference to place this thread above the line for a few seconds? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:45 AM Their shortbread isn't short at all. Fraud! Let's sue. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: gnu Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:35 PM hahahahaha |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:31 PM And why are they called "thin mints" when they have the opposite effect?? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:12 AM You mean they don't??? Not even Brownies? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 09 Feb 10 - 07:00 AM Mmmmmmmmmmmmm thin mints.. I always wanted to know why, if chocolate chip cookies have chocolate in them, ginger cookies have ginger in them, do Girl Scout cookies not have girl scouts in them? Perhaps I better move over to the psycho ward.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:50 PM Think the nurse can be bribed or soothed with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies?? Yesterday I actually felt quite chipper and went walkabout: the boy and I went out on shopping adventure, which included a fortuitous encounter with Girl Scouts at the supermarket. But, that was yesterday. I don't know if it was the meds dosage, which I had upped, or the cranberry chocolate infusion, but I'm thinking about upping both some more because today was no fun. Went to work anyway... need my bed in the ward again now! Thin mint, anyone? ~ Becky in Tucson |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: GUEST,LTS on the sofa Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:40 AM No need to chack, chuck or check my bed either... couldn't post from it because Mudcat was poorly over the weekend and we couldn't get in! AnnieHoo.... had my outing on Friday night - less than 3 hours out of the house, some time on public transport and I was completely wiped... incapable of coherent thought until Saturday afternoon.... even then I retired to bed at a stupidly early time and slept for about 14 hours straight... not a good sign. This morning's trip to the doctor - normally a 5 minute walk - took 10 mins to get there.. stopped off for some shopping on the way back, one bag full of veggies, split between 2 bags, home an hour after leaving it, and I'm knackered again... but at least we have edibles. Still no sign of the referral, I have to go back for a letter to send on to the private healthcare provider (BUPA) but it's snowing and I'm nodding off.... meh... I can get it tomorrow... it's about time I started rehabilitating myself into the world, even if it takes me twice as long as previously. So... I'm still here, still much the same but still fairly chipper.. (apart from last Thursday... last Thursday was a killer). Bring it on Ratched, I have fresh carrots and I'm not afraid to use them! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:13 AM Cold's almost gone - I'm out of here. Don't block the exit! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: VirginiaTam Date: 07 Feb 10 - 02:53 PM I predict a mass exodus from this thread to the aches and pains thread or at the very worst Mudcat Tavern |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: GUEST,Nurse Ratched Date: 07 Feb 10 - 02:21 PM All this mollycoddling is counter productive. What these old bags, boils and creakers need is a brisk cold shower - preferably an internal one. Anyone for an iceblocked colonic? windows open for the added benefits of good cold fresh air? I'll be doing my daily rounds shortly, and malingerers beware. That miseryguts Freda Underweather needs a good codswolloping, and a blunt talking to. She's no worse off than she should be. Just ironing the uniform, I'll be in shortly. With the thermometer and clamps. N.R. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 06 Feb 10 - 07:56 PM oooooh. YUM! Virtual is much better than nothing!! Thanks!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: maire-aine Date: 06 Feb 10 - 07:55 PM Thanks for the attention and nursing. Feeling a little better, enough to eat some chicken rice soup & chocolate ice cream (I'm sick, after all). Fever is back down to normal; hope it stays that way. See y'all in the aches & pains thread. Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 06 Feb 10 - 07:43 PM Here you go. A fresh box of dark chocolate covered cranberries, chocolate cranberry cocoa and a litre of cranberry juice. I'll double the size of the catheter bag to handle the overflow. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 06 Feb 10 - 06:19 PM (It's not constant, though!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 06 Feb 10 - 06:19 PM Hmm... I don't know about champagne with this drug, could be scary. Better stick to cranberry juice -- last nights dreams involving wheels (bikes and cars) were weird enuf. Unless you've got something good in chocolate? (When asked by the Dr., I rated the pain as a 6 and then wondered if I was over stating it. Then later I looked up the drug, and in the chart of drug trial results, the average rating before the drug was a 6. I guess I was in the right ballpark!) ~ B in T |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 06 Feb 10 - 06:08 PM That was bed CHECK not chack or chuck. 6 to 4???? And that's good? Enjoy the movie and I will freshen your sheets while you're away, add some flowers and a fresh IV - white or red? Or champagne, maybe? We just got some in. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 06 Feb 10 - 05:52 PM Don't chuck my bed yet, I'm still not done recovering... this week things got wuss instead of better. (Last weekend was indeed a lull in the storm.) Saw a doctor yesterday and and am trying to decide if the cure is worse than the disease -- anti-siezure medication (Neurontin - gabapentin) is the prescription for my "post-herpetic neuralgia" (its other use is for epilepsy), and it makes me drowsy/woozy. Have to figure out the right dosage to be functional and reduce the pain from a 6 to a 4, as advertised. Going to miss the special contra dance tonight, but will go on leave from the sickbed to make my way back to the old cohousing neighborhood to watch a showing of "It Might Get Loud" in the Common House. This mostly because I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, and the boy might enjoy it as well. I can bring cushions with me... But don't change the sheets yet! ~ Becky in Tucson |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: VirginiaTam Date: 06 Feb 10 - 05:10 PM Maire... We are going to move you to the aches and pains thread. Not safe in here for people who are actually ill. come along now... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 06 Feb 10 - 04:55 PM Haven't heard from Liz or Desert Dancer in a while. Maybe it's time for a bed chack. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: SINSULL Date: 06 Feb 10 - 04:54 PM Sounds like flu, Maire. Be very careful. Do you have someone with you or someone to check in on you periodically? Mostly, I am afraid of falling when stuff like this hits. Meantime, lots of fluids. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2010 From: VirginiaTam Date: 06 Feb 10 - 04:53 PM Ahhh poor one Just you settle down in this nice clean warm bed, Maryanne. Someone will be along in a moment with some hot broth and aspirin. |
