A Medical Story

From the amusing to the horrific, many people have their own medical stories.

I decided to share this little story with you.

The other week when they were getting me prepared to be put under for removing a couple of my wisdom teeth, the lady who was supposed to put the IV port in kept wiping my arm and hand with alcohol wipes (or whatever they use) and patting different places on my hand and arm. 

She wasn't finding any vein that she was willing to try using.

She even tried slapping at one point. 

Finally, she decided to try the other arm. 

Again, she wiped and patted for awhile. 

This was taking way too long.

She reached for the needle and ouch! 

She stuck herself with the needle! 

Needless to say, I was feeling nervous about her capabilities. 

I hoped she wouldn't try putting that needle into me!

I was preparing mentally to try to shield myself or maybe to combat her arm....something like that...if she tried. 

Thankfully, she did as she should and went to dispose of that needle. 

She came back to try again.  Oh, no!

Another lady there offered to try if the first lady wanted her to.

The lady accepted.

Whew! I was hopeful that this other lady would be more experienced than the first!

Well,  this woman really went for it quickly, and she shoved it further into my hand after the initial entry.  Ouch!  She warned me I'd have a bruise.

Once they started to put something through the tube I was saying, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" 

Yes, I owed my way to sleep, and when they gave me anti-nausea medicine through the port after I was awake, there were more exclamations of "Ow!"

Apparently, the vein was small or something, and that's why it was so painful.

I don't know, but I think they need some retraining done at that place.

I've had worse bruising than I got from that painful experience, but there is still a yellowish tint to my hand right now.

"Amen" To Christian Dental Music

Due to either an e-mail or from following him on Facebook, I had known Steven Curtis Chapman had a new worship album coming out (which has now already been released), and I'd heard a little sampling of what was put out early.
I have not listened to contemporary Christian radio that often lately, but it wouldn't have surprised me to know that they were playing a single from an album before the full release was out.
That is usual.

What did surprise me was to hear the song "Amen" being played while I was getting my teeth cleaned recently.
I think I also heard "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns, etc. afterward.
It would not have surprised me much at all to hear Christian music at my old dentist's office (though other easy listening music was often played there), since my old dentist used to lead the singing sometimes at a church.  I did not know that it would be played at this office.  If they did it in the past, I had forgotten.

Yes, things like this can and do happen in Tennessee whether at a dentist office, a fast food place, or other places you might not expect it.  Certainly it is unlike California, as you will see people interviewed on TV even talk about God and church in a positive way at times.
They even show events that are being held at or hosted by churches.

Though there are many in the old "South" who have a churchianity mentality rather than being true believers,  I still can enjoy some of the benefits.

Hearing some uplifting music with decent lyrics probably did help add to the easing of my stress of being at the dentist office (especially after having to fill out paperwork - again).
I'll admit that it was also a plus that the dentist chair now has a back massage or vibrator seemingly inside of it.

Though some may strongly disagree, I find this music much more agreeable than the classical music I had to suffer through many years ago as a teenager while getting teeth braces adjusted.

My Dental & Medical Adventures

Most of us get stuck with those dentist appointments once or twice a year for cleaning, check-ups, and x-rays.  Right?  Well, I had one of those this week...and I survived!  The hygienist mentioned a tooth they were keeping an eye on.  I told her that if there was an eye in my mouth it was getting scratched. (She had been using a pick in my mouth.)
When the dentist came in and mentioned keeping an eye on different teeth, I commented on all the eyes in my mouth.  I said, "Keep your eye out of my mouth!"  He said, "Point taken."
Then he began to tell me ways they could improve my smile.  I said I shouldn't smile.  Then I said, "How about your smile?"
I think the hygienist laughed at that.  The dentist has a sort of smile on his face.

As the dentist left he said, "Have a nice Fall."  I said, "I don't want to fall!  I've been trying not to!"
(I had previously explained the fact that I had been having dizziness recently.)  He mentioned about having to be careful around the wordsmith.  I'm sure I probably gave them their amusement for the day...I hope.
If I had been even sharper I could have mentioned how he enjoyed picking on my teeth.

Today I went to the hospital for some tests.  One was an MRI.  Many of you know what that's like.  Claustrophobia when you first go in and then the war begins.  Clunk clunk, buzz, buzz, bang bang!  After the second test which they ended up doing shortly after that, we came out to see my doctor coming down the hall.  He asked if I was done with the tests and let me know he'd be looking at the results.

I came home after that to hear ... thump thump, bang, bang, buzz, buzz, saw, saw!  I can't get away from the MRI noises! Actually, some workers were putting up the drywall in our new room.
Meanwhile I'm a little dizzier from skipping my medicine last night.  Thankfully I'm still improved over the worst of the dizziness that I had.  I can walk around without hanging onto a wall or a walker at least!