I hate hospitals.

The lady that lives with me just to keep me broke got an infection three weeks ago. That led to a trip to the hospital. The infection led to a knee replacement with some bone issues. Then that led to kidney failure. Then she began bleeding internally which led to a few pints of blood being given.

The infection is still there, she is still in the hospital which was to last 2-3 days. I am tending to the issues at home such as dog care, bills, and of course, work. On top of that, it has been 3-4 trips to the hospital daily (22 miles one way) to meet with doctors and the like. The food there is terrible so I am eating fast foods for most meals. Parking space is at a premium there so long walks from the parking lot to the building is time consuming.

Then this morning, they decided she was getting fluid buildup on the heart and lungs. She is on oxygen 24/7 and I am beginning to get stressed and start sweating when I even drive past any hospital. She now has a kidney doctor, a lung doctor, an orthopedic doctor, a heart doctor and a GP doctor. Each is enjoying a conference with me per day. Plus I am dealing with a 30 yr old daughter (medical professional) that is telling doctors what they are doing wrong and I am trying to keep her mouth in check. Hospitals suck.

Hospitals and medical people do the best they can and do really well most of the time. jmho

I hate cancer and chronic heart failure and C diff etc.

ETA Forgot to say, best of luck to you and your family, it is stressful and not fun to deal with illness and hospitals.

When I was a kid I used to get ear infections. The doctor's answer was to put tubes in my ears. That meant if I went swimming I was guaranteed to have ear trouble. Then when I joined the Navy I wanted to go in the nuclear power program. After all the screenings, all the medical recalls, all the poking and prodding, I get a few months in A school only to be yanked out. I still have a tube in my ear. So the doctors take it out. Fast forward through a YEAR of ear infections, temporary loss of hearing in that ear along with one screwed up sense of balance from fluid build up or whatever and we get to the second inner ear surgery. Now I have most of my hearing back in that ear. The trouble was that by the time I was stamped fit for duty again I have now been on medical hold for two years. Two years spent as a scrub E nothing with no upward movement potential. Oh, and I'm kicked out of the nuclear power program since by the time I start back over half of my enlistment is up... I ended up going to a reserve frigate as a deck seaman like I failed out of school. Thanks doctors. That was a great way to start my career. I have dislike doctors ever since and will only go to the walk in clinics now. I don't even have a primary care physician still to this day. How does health care make up fully 1/6th of our economy? By milking you and your insurance for every penny they can. So now I do my part to not contribute to that portion of the economy and buy guns instead. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Edit: Here I am being selfish again. I hope and pray she gets better quickly from this ordeal. I'm sure the level of stress on both of you is in the red line. For all the aggravation that you are going through to go be with her I'm sure she is just as miserable being alone in a strange place away from you and everything she loves. I'm sure that you will both get through this.

Hospitals and funeral homes are the two places I studiously try to avoid whenever possible; unfortunately, I've reached the age where many of my acquaintance frequent such and I find myself there much more often than I care to.

For most, it's inevitable. Though harder in some ways, I kind of envy those who live healthy problem free lives and then suddenly just drop dead at the given time. The rest of us have to deal with normal course of events.

If you think you are having a hard time, imagine what your wife is going through.
I hope she does better and gets better and all comes out okay for both of you.

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Dick

Best wishes, Oldman, hope things work out well.

I was in the hospital for 1 day after back surgery in 2008, couldn't wait to leave.

You have my sympathy oldman45, my wife and I have both been dealing with doctors and hospitals for way too long.

Is the infection your wife has the MRSA staff infection by any chance? My wife got that from a hospitals OR during surgery in 2008 and has been fighting it ever since. A couple of infectious disease doctors have told her that it never really goes away and can show up at any time.

im a young man who was born disabled and i have had my share of surgery and hospital stays and i really hate hospitals with passion that burns with the heat of a thousand suns!

Better the doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and insurance executives have your money for crack and vacation homes then you waste it on food or rent.

.and if it wasn' for the hospital, she would most likely have died a very slow, miserable death.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

The best part about hospitals is that NOBODY has to go. Don't go and see how well it turns out.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

I need both my knees and probally my hips replaced too. I had a survey done with 6 surgeons. Five of them said my bad health is not worth taking a chance on having it done and i need to live with what it is. One said he could change out my knees in 24 minutes per leg when i'm ready. I asked him if i wait and will it still be the same job or will it make my chances even worse? He told me a flat tire is a flat tire and if i wait its still the same job. I'm still waiting. I wish they had a green slime to put in my knees like the fix a flat stuff. With all this silicone you think they would right?

Oldman, I sincerely hope that your other half recovers quickly and returns home.
Hospitals are not fun. Heck, I work in one and do not like them and hope to never have to stay in one for any length of time. It's the nature of the thing. For most, hospitals are associated with pain,frustration, despair and the fear of the unknown. Working in one is stressful and often leads to acquired health issues and early career burnout. Answers to patients and their families questions usually do not, cannot, come quickly or with certainty. In the short time I've been at my job I've learned the value of a smile, and the quite reassuring voice of compassion and I try to treat my charges as if they were my family. It's often difficult to do and I have the highest respect for those long-timers who are still able to function with compassion. The only time a hospital visit is a happy one is when welcoming a newborn into this world. But hospitals are a necessity. I just think there must be a better way of dealing with health issues.
Hang in there OM and focus on the little things in life, it may help you to handle the day to day grind better. Your significant other may very well find your own attitude a comfort, too. Again, best wishes.
John

I sure hope your bride makes a full and trouble free recovery! Yeah, hospitals suck, my first night after my little cardiac procedure was done I got a male nurse who dident really know or care what he was doing. I got to use a John Wayne line from The Shootist, I told him to look for another line of work as this one sure dident fit his pistol and told him to get out of my room and stay out. Told the shift supervisor my tale and I dident see him again. On the other hand I have run into some really good hospital personell, I guess its luck of the draw.

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Stay safe people!

I wish you the best and think you should count your blessings. I'm making more trips than you are and mine are 60 miles one way. Wish I was as lucky as you.

That's quite a load you and your partner have to deal with.
I'll bet that tough looking guy in the photo of your truck has got
the strength for both of you. In the meantime, I hope that
the medico's can clear up at least one problem, and start the
eventual recovery from there. My thoughts are with you and your
lady. TACC1

From one old man to another. Your wife is in our prayers. I worked in hospitals for 45 years. They are not perfect, but are the only place that we have a chance to recovery from the multi-system diseases that your wife has.

We are all hoping for the best.

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

Thanks. She is a total nightmare for doctors.
1. Chronic Rheumatic Arthritis that has her crippled in her hands, feet, hips, knees, ankles and back.
2. Seven cancer operations but free for the last seven years.
3. Two mechanical metal heart valves requiring two different blood thinners daily.
4. Only 30% lung capacity left and on oxygen 16 hrs daily.
5. Only one remaining kidney that does the work of two and causes failure a few times per year..
6. Rods in the toes that replaces bones on both feet.
7. Metal plates and screws on both ankles.
8. Arthritis in the eyes requiring lubricating twice per hour.
9. Now an artificial knee.
10. Bone on bone in the right hip.
11. Internal bleeding that is monitored daily for blood counts.
12. An on-going staph infection that never goes away.
13. Two in-hospital infusions per month that last four hours.
14. On 21 medicines daily.
15. She has to use a power scooter to get around the house.

All this requires three mechanical devices in the home along with an oxygen machine and oxygen bottles. Also testers for blood thickness, blood counts, glucose monitors and a few other things. This has been going on since she was 38 yrs old.

Had this been me with all the illnesses, I would already have been dead.

She has tried about 30 of my handguns to see if she can pull the trigger. There is only one (a cheaply made Titan .38spc) that has a trigger she can squeeze and it stays in the basket on her scooter for self protection.

Praying for her recovery.

Yes, I also hate hospitals. it is a big money industry. Having said that, there are times when you need them...like when I had MRSA. There are also a lot of time most people think you need them that you don't...like childbirth (don't get me started on this--most of the time time the medical management of birth causes more problems than it eases.)

Even with my dislike of hospitals and bent towards natural/holistic/alternative treatments...I know there is a time when I have to bite the bullet and get some antibiotics or have an operation.

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Soli Deo Gloria

Almost two years ago my wife was rushed to the hospital for what turned out to be her gall bladder and pancreatitis. It was so bad they had to wait almost a week before they could operate because of the infection and swelling. The morning of the surgery just as they were prepping her a girl from the billing office came in and told her that we didn't have any valid health insurance (which I had and showed her) and that the surgery was either going to have to be put on hold or come out of pocket. I proceeded to tell the woman to get out because my wife became pretty upset. While she was taken to surgery I got started on calling a few people and then I went downstairs and had a chat with the folks in billing. They didn't bother me again.
As it happens my wife and I had to take my son to the hospital last night. The little bugger not yet two years old was running and slipped and fell, catching the edge of one of his little chairs. It caught him just below the eyebrow spliiting it open. We sat in the ER for about 4 hours with a very well behaved toddler with blood on both of us and him, but he was a good sport trying to steal some soda from me and flirting with the blonde beside us. Well, he got two stitches but only after having to deal with a rude receptionist who when my wife kept telling her my son fell kept shooting dirty glances at me (can't wait this hospital is known for contacting Social Services for EVERYTHING). So he is going to have his first scar, but hey, he's a boy and I expect several more. I just hope he waits a few more years for the next one. I don't need the grey hairs.

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Vaya con Dios

Tell her you love her and will be there for her. Also that everything is fine with you and the dogs, even if it's not. She's probably laying there worrying about you and how you're doing more than you are about her.

Prayers and good thoughts to both of you.

Bob

Why would I want to do that? It would not serve any practical purpose and only lead to more depression for me.