More About Hair
My OT friend told me that when she was working in inpatient she made a deal with her therapist friend that if either of them were ever hospitalized, the other one would shave her legs for her. That’s a good idea. See, I was in the hospital for a month and by the end of that month the hair on my legs, armpits, and eyebrows was absolutely out of control. Not that I gave a shit what the hair on my legs was doing. So I really don’t know if I would have appreciated that at the time. I was pretty out of it and also hated EVERYONE so if you came near me with a razor it may not have ended well. I was also on Coumadin and you have to be really careful about shaving when on Coumadin. So, maybe not a good idea for a devastating, awful, horrible traumatic event like I had but for less traumatic reasons for being in the hospital, I think that’s a good idea.
It SUCKED!!!!!
I’m kinda just venting but I want this written down so that I never forget this experience. So, being in the hospital for a month was the absolute most horrible, terrible, awful experience that I think I could have possibly had. Lucky me! Maybe I wouldn’t have absolutely hated it so entirely much if I was able bodied and could speak. But I wasn’t/couldn’t. I had to be taken to the bathroom, I had to be washed and fed. I got a migraine every other day that would make me puke. Oh and I was bald. Oh and I had a severe intention tremor so my whole body shook terribly anytime I moved at all. And on top of all of that, I couldn’t speak so I couldn’t articulate what I was feeling and on the inside, I was cognitively OK. I didn’t have any feelings of taking a break and getting to rest a bit, no I didn’t have those feelings AT ALL! It was AWFUL! I remember thinking back in the old days, that needing to be in the hospital for a few days would be relaxing and a nice break. OH MY GOD NO. ONLY a stroke survivor will get this, NO ONE else can come close to understanding this experience. If you ever have the good fortune of being hospitalized, I hope that your experience isn’t as immensely horrific as mine was.
Hospitals
I was in the hospital for a month. Now, when I was in the hospital I didn’t understand what was going on. I didn’t understand what had happened to me, I didn’t understand my disabilities, anything. I really didn’t, I just knew I was in hell. I have what’s called an intention tremor. That means that at the end of a purposeful movement I shake – a lot. For example, if I try to pick up a glass of water with my right hand, I start shaking wildly and the water goes everywhere. If I carry a liquid with my right hand it has to be covered. Both sides of my body are affected, but my left side much less so. When I was in the hospital, my left side was pretty bad, it’s not anymore. Everyday in the hospital, I chose my menu for the next day. Everyday, like I had for the first 29 years of my life, I chose cereal for breakfast. I should not have had that option. A 30-year old who had just had a massive, bilateral cerebellar stroke which resulted in a severe intention tremor should not have been given the option to order cereal for breakfast. And don’t get me started on soda. Soda should not be in a hospital. We need a lot more individualization in hospitals. It might take a little more time to create customized menus but I think the hospital staff can spend that time. Some of those patients are in absolute, extreme hell and the details will make a difference. I understand that I was an extreme case but people with extreme cases need it the most. Some of my hospital staff was absolutely wonderful. Rhonda, if you ever read this, thank you for everything. Most sucked. 🙂 I shouldn’t be able to say ‘most.’
Related articles…….I just like this story………..
- It’s a bird, it’s a bat…it’s the window washers at Children’s Hospital! (holykaw.alltop.com)
