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 By Argile Stox Dec. 17, 2005 This is Part Two regarding my article - http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/05dec/article201.html I do not remember how long my brain slept in the Intensive Care Unit following the ballooning of my arteries, during my heart attack. My eyes opened after hearing a voice say, “Hi, Argile – I am here to take some blood and vitals.” My body felt like it had been hit by a run-away eighteen wheeler (I have never had that experience, thank God, and don’t plan too!). The nurse hooked up the blood pressure machine to my right arm (there was a blood pressure machine that took my pressure every fifteen minutes), and she took a vial of blood from my left arm. After she left, I went back to sleep. I awoke again to see Tracy eating a sandwich and drinking a cup of coffee. “You are awake!” She said in an excited tone of voice. I can not remember what words escaped my mouth – for I was hallucinating. The only thing I remember, was Tracy’s sweet kiss on my lips – before I fell back to sleep. My next memory was that of a nurse telling me at 12:10am and 4:30am that she was there to take my pressure and blood. I remember eating food, falling asleep, seeing Tracy; however, that is all I can remember during my one and a half day stay in the ICU. Sometime around the end of my stay in the ICU, the doctor who preformed the “ballooning of my arteries” stopped by to talk about the procedures, and show me an incredible detailed picture of my arteries before and after. I thanked him profusely for saving my life. Then another doctor stopped by to explain about the experimental drug that I had received. It appears that the blood tests before the procedure indicated that I had sixty-percent heart damage. After the experimental drug was introduced and the ballooning of the arteries was completed, another blood test indicated that the heart damage plummeted down to zero. I was very grateful for that news. Shortly thereafter, I was transported by elevator to the seventh floor Cardiac Care Unit of the hospital. For the first day, I still had the array of tubes and wires attached to my body. One of the nurses stated that I needed to urinate. Imagine this; there I am trapped by tubes and wires – trying to pee into a plastic urinal. I would venture to say that my toilet training in my younger days was in full force – for I could not pass urine in bed. After a few unsuccessful tries, one of the nurses advised that it would be in my best interests to have a tube inserted into my penis so I could pass urine. I asked, “Will it hurt?” The nurse said, “Only for a few seconds –it will be quick.” With a ton of hesitation, I agreed. The pain in was like a she had placed my penis in a guillotine. I saw stars! The pain was worse than the initial symptoms of the heart attack, and I almost passed out. What seemed like hours, within a few minutes, the tube was inserted and I began to pass a liter of urine. Imagine, tubes running out of every part of your body (except, your butt) and a tube stuck in your penis. One can not move an inch with all that going on! I asked the nurse how long the tube would have be stay inserted? She said, “Well, after your bladder has been fully evacuated – maybe I can remove the tube at about 3:00am. I will tell you, Dear Reader, I watched the clock – until it read 3:00am, four hours from the time the tube was first inserted. In the meantime, I ate some food, blood pressures were taken – blood was taken, and I watched some TV. I was virtually paralyzed in one position, on by back in bed – unable to move an inch, without the pain of moving that tube in my penis and the other tubes in my arms. At exactly 3:00am, I pressed the buzzer – and the nurse arrived a short time later. “Please get this “#$%^&!” tube out of my penis, now!” I said, in an impatient tone of voice. “Are you sure? Do you think you can pass urine by yourself….?” The nurse said, in a concerned tone. I looked at her and said, “I am going to try damn hard to pee by myself!” ”Are you ready?” The nurse said, “Here goes!” The pain of the tube being withdrawn from my penis was three times worse than it was, going in! I asked, “Is it out yet?” “A few seconds ago…,” the nurse said. My body was still frozen in pain, until my brain accepted her words. All at once, my body relaxed and my penis was still burning! I asked for the plastic urinal, and I finally passed water! “See, I told you my penis and bladder would cooperate once the tube was withdrawn!” I laughed, and held up a half a liter of urine – very proud of myself – indeed! By the end of the next day, the intravenous lines were removed, and I was able to get out of bed. However, I still needed to urinate in the plastic bottle – so that my output could be monitored. Blood pressure and blood tests continued. The doctor stopped by and said he was still mulling over the thought about placing a Stent in a main artery, that allowed blood to flow to two other branch arteries. However, the Stent may cause more damage. He needed to consult a Medical Journal article, and consult with the Cardiac Team. He would let me know in the morning. If it did not have to be done, I could go home the next day. Tracy arrived that evening, and I explained – in detail, about my penis-tube experience. She was familiar with the dreaded tube, from her last pregnancy – almost nine years ago. In addition, she was worried about the Stent procedure. I reassured her, that the doctor was making every effort to make a well informed decision, and I maybe discharged in the morning. Tracy left the hospital that evening – with the hope, that I would be coming home. The next day arrived, and at 10:30am the doctor stopped by to sign my discharge papers, and load me up with a steamer-trunk worth of medications. By 12:10pm, I was home – catching up on my e-mails and calling everyone who had sent be e-mails and cards, while I was in the hospital. I am very grateful to everyone at Rapid City Regional Hospital for saving my life, taking excellent care of my heart and health needs. Amen! ------------ Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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