| According to a
post-operative appointment with my surgeon, I was recovering
exceedingly well from a recent hip replacement operation
and could resume all normal activities.
Imagine my dismay when the following weekend, just like
in the comic strips, “Zap,” “Bang,”
“Boom,” I unexpectedly came down with chills
and fever, complete exhaustion and a rosy red rash on the
right hip.
Early Monday, I went to see my internist, anticipating
she would prescribe an antibiotic which would straighten
it out in no time, but she took one look and pronounced,
“This is serious ... you need to be in the hospital.”
A conference call between my internist and the New York
surgeon who had performed the procedure determined there
was no time to waste. I dashed home, grabbed my small-wheeled
suitcase and just made the 12:57 out of New Haven for New
York.
Once I arrived at the Hospital for Special Surgery, an
examination revealed that the infection did not seem to
have affected the surgical site (I had been petrified they
would have to re-operate) but I would have to be in the
hospital for several days and receive intravenous injections
of a penicillin derivative that treats a broad spectrum
of various infections.
Although this outstanding hospital is beautifully situated
overlooking the East River and the staff are exemplary,
informed, concerned, cheerful and readily available, I was
to find this five-day stay more difficult than the three-day
post surgical sojourn.
This time, due to the infection, I had to be in a solitary
room, and I missed the camaraderie of my stimulating, former
roommate. My new room was a large corner one with a fully
equipped bathroom and there was even a small fridge for
cold drinks and fruit.
Meals were delicious and at first I delighted in the luxury
of breakfast in bed as I leisurely watched Regis while munching
fruit, cereal, eggs and a corn muffin.
I was free to do as I pleased except for a few hours each
day when tethered to the IV. Of course, the first treatment
was at 5:30 a.m., but I usually was able to drift off to
sleep again until the eight o’clock breakfast tray,
followed by the nurse or several interns to whom I had to
display “the hip.”
By the second day, the fever was gone, and I was feeling
fine but a little restless. By the third day, I was bored
with my book and stupefied by the selection on daytime television.
My daughter-in-law, Ronnie, came to visit, bringing many
necessities that had been missing from my suitcase. Since
there had been no time to pack, the case only contained
leftovers from a previous trip, but was minus many essentials
such as a nightgown.
Hospital gowns, I would venture to guess, have not been
updated since the 1920s. You still need a map to figure
out which arm goes where and even when encased like a sausage,
the rear view is decidedly from the flapper era.
Ronnie brought a soft cotton over-sized T-shirt type nightie;
comfortable and more modest, but still offering easy access
to all the interested hospital personnel.
Also missing this time, since nobody, including me, had
anticipated a return engagement, were the calls, flowers
and cards. Nobody was fussing over me although if they had,
I would have felt pangs of guilt since I was feeling perfectly
well — just bored and confined.
By the fourth day, I was ready to steal a volunteer’s
uniform so I could at least visit and talk with other people.
Finally, Saturday morning, I was released in Ronnie’s
custody. New York air never smelled so good. I was grinning
at everyone as we walked along 2nd Avenue until we spotted
a delightful Greek restaurant where we had a delicious brunch
before I headed for Grand Central Station and home.
Ah, to come and go as one chooses. What bliss!
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
