I haven't forgotten my blog, it's just been a rough couple of weeks. I can deal with quite a bit but Rich's suffering I don't handle too well, and it's always worse because he never complains.
He's had a return of the horrible waves of abdominal pain due to surgical adhesion. The pain is sharp, sudden and doubles him over. They last anywhere from 15 to 90 seconds. He's had as many as two dozen a day. The pain meds don't help. He suffered this way last year after surgery and eventually the pains lessened and finally disappeared. It's hard to remember that when in the midst of it though. The past couple of days have been an improvement so I'm hopeful we're past the worst of it.
He's still got the drain tube and it appears that it will have to come out gradually—just a few inches at a time so the channel can heal behind it. The doctor will have to restitch the tube in place each time. Rich saw the surgeon and Dr McGee last week. They were both VERY happy with Rich's current condition and how far he's progressed. They shake their heads and tell him how amazed they are, but no one asks us what we're doing. I find that interesting. More on that later.
I started a new job. I resisted because I wanted to focus on Rich's care. But about a week after I quit Con Fun Med, Rich began a startling improvement. Except for the stomach pains, he was almost his old self—more energy, much better spirits. He says it's because I was no longer bringing home all that negative energy. So when the offer came (from someone who follows my blog!) there was no reason not to accept.
The doctor is very nice and easy to work with. I get to do IV's, INRs, patient education; he encourages my input, he says “please” and “thank you”!!!!
...Holy anal probe, Batman! It's like I'm a nurse again!! He talks to his staff like we're co-workers, not peons. When you ask him a question, you get the feeling that he's really pleased you asked and he's happy to answer. Lunch is catered every day and we all sit and eat together like a Real Family. I work within the office policies and protocols to the full extent of my license and no one can quite understand why I'm so happy to be at work. AND...it's a WAY better commute.
Rich keeps saying he can't get over the transformation in me. My friends say I look ten years younger. It's amazing what not feeling like a whipped dog can do for you. I knew I'd made the right decision on my second day there.... The doctor was seeing a patient who had been verbally abusive to the front desk person and the Medical Assistant the last time he left the office. The doctor met with the patient for a few minutes and then called the two staff members in so the patient could apologize to them face to face. That was the condition on which the patient could remain in the practice, as well as respectful treatment of staff in the future. I nearly wept.
So we're hanging in there. The voices still meet every morning and evening in the van. They comment on the change in me too. They're talking like they're not miserable being stuck with me. It's almost scary to feel this good.
I've got to stop pinching myself.
