Both of Us .org
News and views from two charming fellows in Northeast Minneapolis.
Now with Cancer!
Now with Cancer!
Friday, June 29, 2007
My Hospital Roommates - Part 1
By JSP
It's been two days since I left North Memorial Hospital and my recovery is going smoothly. I sleep better and my appetite gradually returns. My stamina is also improving. I might go to work on Monday to see how I feel. Eleven days of antibiotics remain to be taken, and I have already scheduled my follow up visit to the specialist for the end of July. In my free time I've thought more about my experience at the hospital.
The overall level of care given to me by the doctors, nurses and assistants was very high quality. My main complaint was a few roommates that I had to endure.
I arrived at the hospital last Thursday and after a CT scan, I was taken to a room I would share with an older gentleman. The stories I have about this man are all from his mouth, as he loudly and willingly told everyone in earshot. It is a sad story and perhaps indicative of how health care in America is oriented.
We will call him James. He was born in December of 1944 making him a young 62 years old. He was a prosecutor in the Minneapolis justice system until ten years ago when he had an accident and went into a coma for five months. Since then, James has been living opulently on his accumulated wealth or disability pay (or both), as he has not qualms about telling all his attendants how well traveled he is.
I do not believe James was healthy before his accident induced coma. The man must be over 300 lbs today and appears over 75 years old. His conversations disclosed he was taking at least twenty pills, not twenty total, but 20 different medications. James also has diabetes, with no feeling below his calves. He lost his skin on his abdomen which was replaced by grafts from his legs. He also has sleep apnea. This man snores louder than any human ever!
This man is clearly not a model of health. As I alluded to above, he is exactly the type of person the American health care system is designed for. No preventive measures needed, no exercise or moderation...only medication and treatment after the fact. I should have more sympathy for my fellow human being... but on top of this man's physical problems, he is also a complete asshole, so I don't have much sympathy for him.
One might expect if you are sharing a room where two people are trying to recover and heal, you would do your best to be considerate. Not James, he was loud, demanding, impatient and in every way a pig. His TV played loudly and remained on after he fell asleep. He made phone calls at all hours and talked loudly so everyone could hear his important conversation. His visitors were also loud and inconsiderate. In addition to his ample hospital meals, which he made short work of, he ordered several fast food meals to be delivered, including milk shakes, chili and lots of fried food.
Although I was trying my best to heal, James was in my way from the start. After a very uncomfortable first night in the hospital with him, I was comforted by the news he thought he would be released on Friday. It turned out that he broke his ankle sometime between Wednesday and Friday and could not walk; the doctor would not release him that day. I endured Friday with him. His piggishness and another night of freight train snoring were getting to me. Saturday was miserable for me, my pain increased, my comfort reached an all time low. My wonderful partner helped me to get my room changed and I was transferred out of this personal living hell of a room.
That moment was a turning point towards my recovery. Healing requires a calm and peaceful atmosphere. I understand that in our medical system it is not always possible to obtain a private room. This makes it more important to realize your own position in the world and not be so damn selfish. I left the hospital Wednesday afternoon and walked by my original room. James was still laying in his bed, nearly one full week after he had mistakenly predicted his release.
There will be some payback in this story as you will soon read in Part 2 of my hospital tale.
The overall level of care given to me by the doctors, nurses and assistants was very high quality. My main complaint was a few roommates that I had to endure.
I arrived at the hospital last Thursday and after a CT scan, I was taken to a room I would share with an older gentleman. The stories I have about this man are all from his mouth, as he loudly and willingly told everyone in earshot. It is a sad story and perhaps indicative of how health care in America is oriented.
We will call him James. He was born in December of 1944 making him a young 62 years old. He was a prosecutor in the Minneapolis justice system until ten years ago when he had an accident and went into a coma for five months. Since then, James has been living opulently on his accumulated wealth or disability pay (or both), as he has not qualms about telling all his attendants how well traveled he is.
I do not believe James was healthy before his accident induced coma. The man must be over 300 lbs today and appears over 75 years old. His conversations disclosed he was taking at least twenty pills, not twenty total, but 20 different medications. James also has diabetes, with no feeling below his calves. He lost his skin on his abdomen which was replaced by grafts from his legs. He also has sleep apnea. This man snores louder than any human ever!
This man is clearly not a model of health. As I alluded to above, he is exactly the type of person the American health care system is designed for. No preventive measures needed, no exercise or moderation...only medication and treatment after the fact. I should have more sympathy for my fellow human being... but on top of this man's physical problems, he is also a complete asshole, so I don't have much sympathy for him.
One might expect if you are sharing a room where two people are trying to recover and heal, you would do your best to be considerate. Not James, he was loud, demanding, impatient and in every way a pig. His TV played loudly and remained on after he fell asleep. He made phone calls at all hours and talked loudly so everyone could hear his important conversation. His visitors were also loud and inconsiderate. In addition to his ample hospital meals, which he made short work of, he ordered several fast food meals to be delivered, including milk shakes, chili and lots of fried food.
Although I was trying my best to heal, James was in my way from the start. After a very uncomfortable first night in the hospital with him, I was comforted by the news he thought he would be released on Friday. It turned out that he broke his ankle sometime between Wednesday and Friday and could not walk; the doctor would not release him that day. I endured Friday with him. His piggishness and another night of freight train snoring were getting to me. Saturday was miserable for me, my pain increased, my comfort reached an all time low. My wonderful partner helped me to get my room changed and I was transferred out of this personal living hell of a room.
That moment was a turning point towards my recovery. Healing requires a calm and peaceful atmosphere. I understand that in our medical system it is not always possible to obtain a private room. This makes it more important to realize your own position in the world and not be so damn selfish. I left the hospital Wednesday afternoon and walked by my original room. James was still laying in his bed, nearly one full week after he had mistakenly predicted his release.
There will be some payback in this story as you will soon read in Part 2 of my hospital tale.
Labels: hospital
1 Comments:
Cosmic Monkey wrote:
Yikes! Interesting, JSP. I'm glad to hear you're doing better, and hopefully we can get together soon. Have you guys seen Sicko yet? We haven't, but plan on seeing it next week.