Wednesday, May 26, 2010

THE SCOTTISH DREAMER AND I HAVE TO TALK TO THE BISHOP

Last night Phil and I went to see the Scottish Dreamer. She is in Mt. Timpanogas Hospital because after her latest surgery she can't eat and has become very dehydrated. She now has a feeding tube in...well, she did have a feeding tube in.

The morning the nurse said to her, "Have you noticed you don't have your feeding tube?"

The Scottish Dreamer hadn't noticed. "Wow," she said. "Where did it go...and when?"

"You don't remember? You really don't remember?"

The Scottish Dreamer shook her head.

"Well," said the nurse, getting all chatty as if she had juice gossip to tell. "Last night they found you wandering the halls. You had taken the feeding tube out." (The feeding tube goes in her nose and ALL the way to her small intestines. She really had to pull some to get it out.)

The Scottish Dreamer's eyes got that wild eyed look people get when they just can't believe something. She looked down at her hospital gown.

"Yup," the nurse said. "That Ambien, it does strange things to people. You told everyone you were going home."

"I did?" said the Scottish Dreamer.

"Yup," said the nurse. She looked at the gown too. (You know the kind of gown I'm talking about. They tie at the neck...in the back!)
"Yup," she said again, "said you was goin' home," and then she smiled and left The Scottish Dreamer to wonder how much of her backside she had paraded up and down the halls.

"Oh, Lynne," she said, with a shy smile. "I'll have to go talk to the Bishop!"

We had a good laugh. I didn't think much more of it until today, when I was gowned, same type of gown, tying in the front! On the Scottish Dreamer, who weighs maybe 100 pounds, the gown was probably adequate but on me, it didn't close quite so easily. I had nothing on--from the waist up. (I was getting an echo cardiogram--to rule something or other out, I'm not sure what, since my incident last Thursday. My retina doctor ordered this test plus a ultrasound on my carotid arteries.)

The technician had said, "When you're ready just open the door a little." So, I'm gowned, with the gown clutched in my sweaty little hand--I didn't bother to tie it. I opened the door with my gown-closing hand and of course, it flops open, for anyone in the hall to see. (The word, "flops" is kind of appropriate here.)

So, The Scottish Dreamer and I...well, we've either lost all our inhibitions or, we're voyeurs and really better have that talk with the Bishop.

9 comments:

Hillary said...

Well, You little nudie pants. I must've gotten my values and modesty from Dad. Alz didn't though, she's a climber upper in the closet-er and a peeper of my nudie's. It happened. (FYI people, Alzabeth was about 2 years old)

Cheryl Day said...

What a funny story!!! I must find out who the scottish dreamer is...the poor little thing. I love you and hope all the test tell something....
Keep smiling, Cheryl

Michael Rawluk said...

The world will forgive will forgive you waggling at everyone.

ps I am looking for models.

Annette said...

Oh Lynne, I'm so glad you and Meg can laugh at yourselves so we can laugh, too.

Pam's Place said...

Oh, to be uninhibited...

I agree with Annette, how great that you can laugh at yourself and share the chuckles with us!

Looking forward to hearing the good news resulting from your echo.

Lee Weber said...

It's to look for clots in your heart, that may have floated up. Usually cause by irregular heartbeat or a hole in the heart (lots and lots of people have them, it's a vestige of a valve from when we were growing in the womb). Your poor Scottish Dreamer! You you, the floppiness- cracking up- it's funny what patients worry about, when as the RN, it's just the job. We forget sometimes... thanks for the reminder! ((HUGS))

Mental P Mama said...

Lee is very smart. But I am your 18 year old child telling you to cover your junk. And on top of it all....I send you love and lots of light. xoxo, Lauren

tierneyzan said...

I love you, Lynne. You're never afraid to share an embarrassing thing for the sake of a laugh. You've got to get one gown for the front and one for the back. It's a good system!

Astromom said...

That was so funny. I think in the hospital, no one even cares, so I don't think it counts. Your so nervous or sick of being there even you don't care.