Mike’s Ataxia Blog

Day 23 11/7/08

November 8th, 2008

 Well, the second night of full rest did the trick.  I feel like my new self.  My computer speakers coming back to life also helped my morale.  Last night, they stopped working, which meant no Skype.  For the first time here, I felt truly isolated.  I didn’t like it.  Then, they magically started working again, and I was able to talk to and see my family.

     I hadn’t realized how important that was.  Skype, for all its faults, is a whole lot better than the phone.  If those speakers can only last eight more days.  Yes eight days; that’s all I’ve got left before the flight home, and being with my family again.  And my wife.

     Now, if they can just get the spinal right, I’ll be all set.  It’s 4PM, and I just had my last drink of water until 9:30 or so.  Spinal at 7, no food or drink 3 hours before the procedure, no drink for 2 hours after, no food for 4.  The chief of surgery is going to do it, and he has an extra long needle.  This better work, its what I came here for, and I will be very disapointed if they can’t do it.  If today, and both next week are spinals, that will make 4 spinals and 3 IVs.  Not bad.  More on this later.

     Tomorrow, I’m planning on going to the Jimo Mart (and McDonald’s) for the first time.  I’m told that I shouldn’t miss it.  I know what they’ve got at the RT mart, so I can compare. I want to get gifts for my family, the doctors, the interpreters, and Jason.  I actually know what I want, so it shouldn’t be hard.

     Then tomorrow night, a bunch of us are going to the Holiday Inn for dinner.  Unfortunately, Clint and Luke won’t be joining us, but for good reason; they’re going home.  In fact, I think with the exception of Jim and Carolyn, Sophia, Carolina, and Pablo, and Cindy and Xavier, we’ve had a complete turnover on this floor.  From a newbie to a grizzled vet in just 3 weeks.

     It’s 10 to 7, and we just found out that the injections been put off until 10 pm.  Haven’t eaten or drank since 4, IV’s all hooked up, and now we eat and wait aniother 3 hours.  Some advance notice.

     Just got up from my enforced nap.  They got the spinal done.  This time, they used less Valium and (for the first time) some lidocaine.  I was in an OR this time, no gloves no masks, nurses wearing sandals.  Wendy came in with me.  That girl does everything but lock up at night.

     Anyway, I’m more confident now that they can finish this right, and I can put China in my rear-view mirror

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