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Aug. 16th, 2008 03:57 pmI have a story to tell. There are cool parts to it, which I'll get to when I've rested some more. Right now I keep letting my feet walk me back to bed, because that's what feet are for, so I'll just tell you where I've been since I last posted.
Yesterday, I knew I was reprssed by rampant exhaustion (purple prose - I must be feeling better!) and I knew why, but I thought "I don't need to go to a doctor." Then I thought again "What if I do need to go to a doctor?" Mostly then I say, "Nah, sit down for a bit and it will be right. it's just skin, after all." It was strange, though, sitting down for ten minutes and shudering to myself, quietly.
I thought my mother might have something to say if I didn't at least check with someone. I decided to give HealthFirst a test.
HealthFirst is a Canberra telephone service where there are nurses on 24 hours a day and you can tell one of them about sitting in a chair and shuddering and she'll give you practical advice. My nurse's practical advice to me (once she determined I was living alone) was very clear. "Ring a friend. Get them to take you to emergency. Have them stay with you until you've been processed. You're not thinking straight." Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
And so I did. And so I was in a bed in the emergency section of the Canberra Hospital last night, and didn't get my cup of tea until they gave me breakfast this morning. I had four doctors and four nurses and an orderly or two and they were all awesome.
I'm home, but not well. I'm on whacking great doses of cortisone for a week, which means I'll get well. My legs ('eczema complications', said my file 'peau de orange' said the boss-doctor - and I hope that I misheard him and that there was an article in there - I keep wanting to make it 'peau a l'orange' or something - this is not the breast-cancer version, BTW - it's the Gillian's legs and hips and torso version) will move from being science fictional to being real. Also, the inflammation (cause of the mal, I gues, though really it was triggered by the allergies I talked about in earlier posts - please listen to friends when they warn you about allergies! I got past the allergic reactions, but they triggered this bad stuff.)
For US friends who need a little medical envy, this whole exercise cost me under $15, being the price of the medicine. Canberra hospitals are underfunded and there are too few doctors on during the wee hours, but they rock. Also, Griff rocks, for talking care of me last night and coming back again to bring me food when I wasn't being seen but wasn't able to walk anywhere to get food) and for dropping me home today.
I actually started crying when I climbed into my own bed this morning and realised that, even with just one (mega) dose of cortisone I could actually lie down properly again. It all happened so gradually that I had forgotten ebds could be comfortable. Speaking of which.... I'll tell you about some of the cooler aspects of hospitals at midnight later on.
I know this is disconnected. I'm really not very well. I'm home, though.
Yesterday, I knew I was reprssed by rampant exhaustion (purple prose - I must be feeling better!) and I knew why, but I thought "I don't need to go to a doctor." Then I thought again "What if I do need to go to a doctor?" Mostly then I say, "Nah, sit down for a bit and it will be right. it's just skin, after all." It was strange, though, sitting down for ten minutes and shudering to myself, quietly.
I thought my mother might have something to say if I didn't at least check with someone. I decided to give HealthFirst a test.
HealthFirst is a Canberra telephone service where there are nurses on 24 hours a day and you can tell one of them about sitting in a chair and shuddering and she'll give you practical advice. My nurse's practical advice to me (once she determined I was living alone) was very clear. "Ring a friend. Get them to take you to emergency. Have them stay with you until you've been processed. You're not thinking straight." Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
And so I did. And so I was in a bed in the emergency section of the Canberra Hospital last night, and didn't get my cup of tea until they gave me breakfast this morning. I had four doctors and four nurses and an orderly or two and they were all awesome.
I'm home, but not well. I'm on whacking great doses of cortisone for a week, which means I'll get well. My legs ('eczema complications', said my file 'peau de orange' said the boss-doctor - and I hope that I misheard him and that there was an article in there - I keep wanting to make it 'peau a l'orange' or something - this is not the breast-cancer version, BTW - it's the Gillian's legs and hips and torso version) will move from being science fictional to being real. Also, the inflammation (cause of the mal, I gues, though really it was triggered by the allergies I talked about in earlier posts - please listen to friends when they warn you about allergies! I got past the allergic reactions, but they triggered this bad stuff.)
For US friends who need a little medical envy, this whole exercise cost me under $15, being the price of the medicine. Canberra hospitals are underfunded and there are too few doctors on during the wee hours, but they rock. Also, Griff rocks, for talking care of me last night and coming back again to bring me food when I wasn't being seen but wasn't able to walk anywhere to get food) and for dropping me home today.
I actually started crying when I climbed into my own bed this morning and realised that, even with just one (mega) dose of cortisone I could actually lie down properly again. It all happened so gradually that I had forgotten ebds could be comfortable. Speaking of which.... I'll tell you about some of the cooler aspects of hospitals at midnight later on.
I know this is disconnected. I'm really not very well. I'm home, though.