Just When You Think it is Safe to Get Out of Bed ...

6:45 - Up, dress, 5 minutes surfing (gotta have my fix)
7:00 - Head to the doctors office (the ER said to follow up with my doc)

I had turned down Garys offer to take me since I was feeling well and didn't want to squander any more of his sawdust snorting time. And, anyways, how long could it take? A few hours at least - so left him home sleeping. It was a pretty drive on the Westpark tollway onto 59. I don't recommend taking photos while driving - but it was so pretty!

Got into my doctor and she said she wanted her own CAT Scan - I should have guessed that ... they always do...

Head downstairs to the ER (obligatory crossed foot photo for Laura):

While there, 2 nurses try to hit a vein in my already bruised and battered arms and failed, and failed and, well, failed.

The CAT machine was actually at another ER and I told them that I would have them draw labs and start the IV their just to get away from the evil nurses that apparently had only worked on oranges before me. I refused their transportation - I could drive there all by myself thank you very much. Got in my car and SERIOUSLY contemplated driving home.

Was a good girl - went to the other ER, demanded their best phlebotomist, shoved my arms in their faces and after a few "Oh, my!"s they quickly got a woman I would name my child after ... if I wasn't totally and completely done naming children ...

She put on a blood pressure cuff instead of a tourniquet and poked and prodded and poked and prodded and after 1/2 hour declared she was ready. In goes the 20 gauge needle and my arm exploded blood. She hit it on the first try! And it was a mighty gusher! She got the blood she needed for labs then inserted the IV - seriously fast becoming my most least favorite thing to do on this planet ...

(And if Kristie can post videos of popping a monster zit, NO ONE should be squeamish of my IV I'm very proud of it:)

Got an X-ray, because you just can't be irradiated enough in one week, I guess, then on to the CAT Scan and the lovely iodine chaser that leaves my veins on fire, my body feeling warm and covered in my own urine and a lovely bug, weed and copper penny stew taste in my mouth.

To add insult to injury, my doctor ordered that I then be given a liter or two of saline or glucose or what ever the hell was in the bag they told me would take about 1 1/2 hours to empty - and leave you freezing since I believe they refrigerate them right up until they pour it into your veins. They said people with pneumonia were often dehydrated and it was precautionary. I offered to drink a liter of water in front of them, but no go - hooked up to a bag of cold ... something and played with Facebook on my phone.

ER number 2 shot of the feet - was feeling creative ... and bored:

Soooo, that was my day so far - WONDERFUL. Makes you just want to swear off doctors all together the evil, tortuous bastards ... (mine is a very nice lady, but that sounded better and I was thinking of someone else).


Gary, yet again, wins the prize for productivity. While I was out trying my best to get BOTH arms to look like I am the most inept junkie in the city, Gary worked on his end tables (two for us, two for Ryan):

I find his clamping 'habit' funny - so I threw in a photo - I should count one day how many he has. As he always says "One can never have too many clamps..."

Sorry - I sound like a whiny butt - BECAUSE I AM A WHINY BUTT! Doctors ... can't seem to keep away from them - but I am going to give it a good try for a while ...