I exist touchily, but I exist
Dec. 28th, 2024 04:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feng_shui_houseHi, just to say I am still on planet Earth. Haven't posted in twice forever.
Lost a lot of energy and enthusiasm for many things since 2019 and mostly focussed what I had left on my Spoonflower designs as an inadequate but BTN (better than nothing) source of income- pays for my internet and a few of the utilities, so that's a help. (Been living on what my parents left me for nearly 20 years). Recently had to pay 30,000$ to reroof my home. Some repairs are optional, but you need a roof.
Wound up in the hospital from Dec 22 (6am fire-rescue & ambulance- non-emergency but I kinda cried to the non-emergency city phone that I have no transportation- try to get a taxi at 6 am close to Christmas) I wouldn't go to the nearby hospitals because they were PITS for a long time and finally the scammer who owned them and had been skimming the money instead of using it for needed hospital resources was outed, and I don't know how many he owned, but at least all five nearest me wound up in bankruptcy and given to someone else (around Nov) who hasn't had time to even figure out what's most needed to get financing to fix the problems.
So, you know... I wound up in a good hospital (Mount Sinai on Miami Beach more than an hour away from my home) for what I thought was maybe *pre* apprendicitis & could be treated and streeted within a day. I kinda cried about -$ and they were very kind and generous to me. Everyone there was really nice. (Diagnosed with Pancreatitis instead. But I suspect they missed something else and I'll have to go back.)
But my veins were so uncooperative- normally they're not easy but after days of not eating and not being able to drink much-- Dracula would give up on me. Blood draws and IVs were...a LOT of tries. Plus once the IV port? infiltrated and had to be redone, and then the redone site lasted a day (normally they expect 4 days) before my hand and arm swelled up to the point my hospital ID was cutting into my arm. I had 2 nurses try at that point before they called in the Head Nurse because she was the best at it. (I counted about 19 holes in my left arm alone and still have 3 major bruises on that arm.)
At one point near the end I was feeling well enough to draw and I had a pencil and was drawing on the paper towels I got from my bathroom- a nurse saw and said it was lovely, but why didn't I draw on paper. When I said I didn't have any she brought me a clipboard and nice white paper so I had that to occupy me for the last of the stay.
BUT I THINK that while the one thing they diagnosed and treated was right I strongly suspect they didn't check for something ELSE that's wrong. I've been reading over the 30+ pages of papers they handed me just before sending me home, trying to figure out what questions to ask when I manage to talk to a Dr who had called me the day I got home (yesterday?), saying I'd been discharged before he got to meet me and had 2 tests for me. So I'm supposed to make an appointment with him and maybe I can find out if they assessed me for the thing that Google says is likely (the Dr/Nurse who assessed me said Pancreas pain should be in the UPPER left, even though I insisted it was in the Lower left, I doubt they assessed me for Diverticulitis.
I wouldn't RELY on Dr. Google, but the list of symptoms he gave me match what I'm feeling, so hopefully I'll be able to get somewhere being able to explain more specifically.
Also good, I was able to talk to my next door neighbor to ask him to check my mail and packages if I have to leave suddenly. Already had one piece of mail stolen (containing a check to pay a bill, so then it was deal with the bank to cancel the check and learn how to use the on-line bank to pay bills under my control, not autopay, and then I got a secure mailbox -secure for incoming mail & packages at least & doesn't look as thief friendly as the 80 year old box it will replace ONCE I get the energy to do it- the new box and pole still in the living room. I doubt I'll ever put check containing mail out for pickup in future so once I get the new box set up that'll be one less worry.)
The hospital system doesn't let me use my cell phone and the room phones only work on local area calls. I only know one person in that area, so I felt bad about having to ask her to help, but she said she didn't mind. So she made a few calls to let a few people in on the situation, and then drove me all the way home once I was released AFTER driving all the way to my home the day before to check on my cat (I thought I'd only be gone a day, but being cautious I left 'Tasha, 3 big bowls of water and put an open bag of cat food out for her.)
Ok, time to see if I can drink a little water & walk around a bit.
Having mentioned my Spoonflower shop, here's a link to it in case you're curious. IF you do want to comment on anything there, you'll have to do it here. Spoonflower doesn't have any way for people to communicate to each other. Don't feel you have to do ANYTHING, not look, not comment- nothing at all. I just don't want you wasting your time thinking you can leave a comment at SF.
https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/eclectic_house
Lost a lot of energy and enthusiasm for many things since 2019 and mostly focussed what I had left on my Spoonflower designs as an inadequate but BTN (better than nothing) source of income- pays for my internet and a few of the utilities, so that's a help. (Been living on what my parents left me for nearly 20 years). Recently had to pay 30,000$ to reroof my home. Some repairs are optional, but you need a roof.
Wound up in the hospital from Dec 22 (6am fire-rescue & ambulance- non-emergency but I kinda cried to the non-emergency city phone that I have no transportation- try to get a taxi at 6 am close to Christmas) I wouldn't go to the nearby hospitals because they were PITS for a long time and finally the scammer who owned them and had been skimming the money instead of using it for needed hospital resources was outed, and I don't know how many he owned, but at least all five nearest me wound up in bankruptcy and given to someone else (around Nov) who hasn't had time to even figure out what's most needed to get financing to fix the problems.
So, you know... I wound up in a good hospital (Mount Sinai on Miami Beach more than an hour away from my home) for what I thought was maybe *pre* apprendicitis & could be treated and streeted within a day. I kinda cried about -$ and they were very kind and generous to me. Everyone there was really nice. (Diagnosed with Pancreatitis instead. But I suspect they missed something else and I'll have to go back.)
But my veins were so uncooperative- normally they're not easy but after days of not eating and not being able to drink much-- Dracula would give up on me. Blood draws and IVs were...a LOT of tries. Plus once the IV port? infiltrated and had to be redone, and then the redone site lasted a day (normally they expect 4 days) before my hand and arm swelled up to the point my hospital ID was cutting into my arm. I had 2 nurses try at that point before they called in the Head Nurse because she was the best at it. (I counted about 19 holes in my left arm alone and still have 3 major bruises on that arm.)
At one point near the end I was feeling well enough to draw and I had a pencil and was drawing on the paper towels I got from my bathroom- a nurse saw and said it was lovely, but why didn't I draw on paper. When I said I didn't have any she brought me a clipboard and nice white paper so I had that to occupy me for the last of the stay.
BUT I THINK that while the one thing they diagnosed and treated was right I strongly suspect they didn't check for something ELSE that's wrong. I've been reading over the 30+ pages of papers they handed me just before sending me home, trying to figure out what questions to ask when I manage to talk to a Dr who had called me the day I got home (yesterday?), saying I'd been discharged before he got to meet me and had 2 tests for me. So I'm supposed to make an appointment with him and maybe I can find out if they assessed me for the thing that Google says is likely (the Dr/Nurse who assessed me said Pancreas pain should be in the UPPER left, even though I insisted it was in the Lower left, I doubt they assessed me for Diverticulitis.
I wouldn't RELY on Dr. Google, but the list of symptoms he gave me match what I'm feeling, so hopefully I'll be able to get somewhere being able to explain more specifically.
Also good, I was able to talk to my next door neighbor to ask him to check my mail and packages if I have to leave suddenly. Already had one piece of mail stolen (containing a check to pay a bill, so then it was deal with the bank to cancel the check and learn how to use the on-line bank to pay bills under my control, not autopay, and then I got a secure mailbox -secure for incoming mail & packages at least & doesn't look as thief friendly as the 80 year old box it will replace ONCE I get the energy to do it- the new box and pole still in the living room. I doubt I'll ever put check containing mail out for pickup in future so once I get the new box set up that'll be one less worry.)
The hospital system doesn't let me use my cell phone and the room phones only work on local area calls. I only know one person in that area, so I felt bad about having to ask her to help, but she said she didn't mind. So she made a few calls to let a few people in on the situation, and then drove me all the way home once I was released AFTER driving all the way to my home the day before to check on my cat (I thought I'd only be gone a day, but being cautious I left 'Tasha, 3 big bowls of water and put an open bag of cat food out for her.)
Ok, time to see if I can drink a little water & walk around a bit.
Having mentioned my Spoonflower shop, here's a link to it in case you're curious. IF you do want to comment on anything there, you'll have to do it here. Spoonflower doesn't have any way for people to communicate to each other. Don't feel you have to do ANYTHING, not look, not comment- nothing at all. I just don't want you wasting your time thinking you can leave a comment at SF.
https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/eclectic_house
no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 05:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 05:37 am (UTC)I don't really know what's next. I have to make an appointment to see the doctor and discuss things.
I'm on my own. When I get this settled I'll see what options there are. It's a maze if you haven't already got into the system, so probably finding a guide/advocate will be next.
I'm feeling better than yesterday so I hope soon to have energy to figure things out.
I should probably be going to bed now- I found some free movies on line and have been just relaxing.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 07:41 am (UTC)I am so very sorry for all the trouble you had to and still have to go through. The worst thing is that you really are on your own...But I also admire your stamina and your ability to deal with the crisis.
Now I do hope the doctors will be able to identify the real source of your problems and without any further complications for you.
Also I curse those people who steal things from helpless people!
Well, what else can I say? I am so far away to be able to REALLY help you...and I wish I was rich to support you at least a bit.
Please, hold on, dear friend, I think of you and keep my fingers for you!
no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 02:02 pm (UTC)I appreciate your kind words and I'm sure your good thoughts support me.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-29 03:51 pm (UTC)I'll figure out a way. to get the Dr to listen- it's a narrow walk between (you must be a hypochondriac or else you wouldn't know those words) and (you aren't able to describe this well enough to make it sound important).