At this time, I am not aware of how much or little my body is functioning. The reality is it is more on the little than much… I could not move the left side of my body: leg, arm, face, fingers, toes, etc. I cannot feel touch, and I don’t remember if I am responding to pain at this time yet. I’ll get to that portion later. Just keep in mind through this post that I don’t realize what I can/cannot do.
The next event I remember is getting the feeding tube put in. It is so weird to think about because I think I was awake, eyes open, but it is a hazy memory. Hazy in how things looked and hazy in remembering the actual events.
My side of the story: I am sitting up in my bed. My mom is with me. We are in a clinic of sorts. There are a lot of people milling around, and I think they are all getting medical care. I am in a big open room.
The doctor comes to me and says we are putting a feeding tube in so that the nourishment can jump start the healing process.
I’m a little confused as I think I have just woken up from surgery. This would mean I ate about 24 hours ago. Why don’t they just let me eat?
The doctor asks my mom if she will get woozy watching this. She says no (my mom is a trooper!). I think she is holding my hand. The doctor tells me to relax and he begins putting the tube in.
Have you ever had a feeding tube put in through your nose? Not fun. I couldn’t relax. I tried to breath and swallow when they told me to, but it was so uncomfortable and painful at times. Somehow there was water in the beginning of the tube, and water going in your nose just isn’t right. I mean, you’re supposed to plug your nose when you jump in the water right? It hurts when water goes in your nose. It’s just not natural.
It took several attempts, but the crazy doc finally got it in.
Whew! Relax again, more sleep…
Sometime later, I woke up to a portable x-ray machine in my room. They needed to make sure the feeding tube was in my stomach and not my lungs or something.
It is in the right spot. Whew, again! I did not want to go through that again!
More sleep…
Sometime in my drowsy state, I hear someone say that the formula for the tubes comes at 4 o’clock. My mind starts to race. How do I eat? How will I swallow? What if I choke? I clearly did not understand how this feeding tube business worked!
Dan is in my room. I somehow think it is near 4 o’clock. I can’t talk yet. I am VERY concerned about this whole feeding routine. I decide I must figure out how to eat. So I start to spell words out in sign language. One tiny problem, I don’t remember all the letters and Dan doesn’t know any of them. Good combination.
Dan figures out that I’m trying to tell him something, and he goes for the nurse. All the nurses are trained to know basic sign language. They can’t figure out what I’m trying to say either. Of course, I don’t try to sign “eat” or something basic like that. I try to spell out the whole sentence, “how do I eat?” Only problem is I can’t figure out “h.” Oh boy…
The nurses bring in some signs that have the alphabet on one side and basic functions on the other (roll over, nurse, light, turn on TV, etc.). So Dan goes through one by one to try to figure out what I need.
They are frustrated, and I am frustrated. I decide to give up and ask them to roll me over. Back to sleep…
3 comments:
Oh, Emily! It broke my heart to watch you go through this. I wanted to hit the doctor. He kept trying and trying. I wanted to smack him. Why didn't he get it right the first time? I don't remember where Dan was, but I do remember hurting for you. It was awful!
Mom, I don't understand how you have sat through all the things you have. I hope you are around if/when I have kids. Because if you're not, my kids are ON THEIR OWN!!! You have seen and gone through so much on our behalf. Thank you.
love,
Betsey
Hahaha, sign language! I sign at T sometimes too, only he knows most of the letters. He says I signed "retard" at him while I was waking up from getting my wisdom teeth removed. I don't remember at all, though!
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