Last Hospital Post, I Promise

Ok, this is the last post in which I will inflict upon you more of our tales from the Hospital. At least for this trip.

I had actually planned on putting this up yesterday, but wasn't able to. Then when I went back and read it, I thought maybe I should tone it down a bit.

It seems that when I was writing this post I was releasing some pent-up frustration. Probably about nothing related to this subject, but it showed nonetheless.

As you may or may not know, I have some issues with doctors. Well, also issues in general, but at the moment, we will discuss those that pertain to people with M.D. following their name.

First, let me say that not all doctors fall into the category I am about to discuss. There are lots of excellent doctors out there, and I believe I have even found a few in my lifetime. And currently we have three doctors we see whom I would describe as being excellent.

Because if they're not excellent, I have no use for them and find someone else.

There are doctors that strive to be one of those with an "excellent" status but for the life of them, they just can't make it. They do get an A for effort, though.

And then there are those who believe that since they went to school for all those years, endured countless hours of "on-call" during their internships and residencies, and do, indeed, have the M.D. following their name, they know everything.

Remember a few years ago when I was having all of my appendix issues? I had a doctor that fell into the category of, "I know everything and you are just a dumb patient that should do what I say because I have tons of student loans and a certificate to prove how smart I am." I'd been stuck with him because of an ER visit.

So my doctor issues are part of the reason I absolutely, positively dread going to the emergency room. It's the luck of the draw. A box of chocolates, as Forrest's Mama would say. You never know who is going to walk in your room and where they fall on the sliding scale of moronic idiots.

And nurses can be just as bad. And because you actually spend more time with them, it can be even worse.

Now, let me pause here and say that I know doctors and nurses are people, and people come with flaws, baggage, and all sorts of stuff. I'm a people too. I get it. But when you have so much psychological power over someone and control their medical care when they are most vulnerable, it kicks things up a notch. It's a higher level of responsibility that not everyone can handle.

That is why I was so impressed with our recent visit to the ER. Our ER doctor was nice. Even though I know the ER was busy, he took the time to answer my questions when he was in our room and was kind to little C and me.

And our nurses were even better. Our first nurse was a bit older, probably in her 50's. She was very sweet to us and knew her stuff. And when she came to give C his oral steroids, the warned me that it was quite possibly the most foul tasting medicine on the face of the planet. Know how she knew? She'd tasted it. Wonder of wonders! She knew exactly what she was inflicting upon C and she had empathy for him, not just for having trouble breathing, but for the unpleasantness it would take to help him feel better.

I'm always a bit antsy when shift change happens...it's like starting all over again. And we had a shift change. But our second nurse was just as sweet. And so was the assistant, who had to give C his RSV test. And guess what - she also knew what it was like because she'd had it done on her before. She said her philosophy was that you can relate to your patients a lot better when you know what you're doing to them.

I know a few doctors who can learn from her.

And when poor little C, in the midst of his unconsolable crying, had to have a dose of Tylenol and a shot, the nurse who looked like HLB was just as caring. Puzzled at the way C was looking at him, I explained that he looked like C's uncle. He grinned, ruffled C's hair and explained that he was also an uncle and hoped C got to feeling better very soon.

It also helped that we knew someone there. Our Assistant KDO Director works at the hospital, and happened to be working in the ER not long after we arrived. She came to check on C and loved on both of us a bit. It was nice to see a familiar face. And she even came to check on us the next morning.

And our nurses on the Pedes floor were also great. One of them even has a little one about C's age, so she totally knew what was up when it came time to try to get stuff done.

All in all, we had a good experience. At least as good an experience as you can have when you have to go to the emergency room and be admitted to the hospital.

And C is recovering nicely. He's feeling much better and is getting back to his old self. He's even starting to take a few steps on his own here and there. It won't be long until things are back to normal, whatever that is.

Oh yeah, I think C has an ingrown toenail. I won't even start on how weird I think that is.

So we may be seeing Dr. B again sooner than I'd planned.