{"id":5382,"date":"2020-07-28T18:57:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T22:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5382"},"modified":"2020-07-28T18:58:31","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T22:58:31","slug":"episode-86-embarasing-behaviour-anxiety-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5382","title":{"rendered":"episode 86 EMBARASING BEHAVIOUR….ANXIETY ATTACK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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EPISODE 86     EMBARASSING BEHAVIOUR\u2026.ANXIETY ATTACK

alan skeoch\u2019
July 2020

If you can stand to read this then do so.  If you are queasy at the knees as I can be\u2026then DO NOT READ THIS EPISODE 86


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TODAY is Sunday july 26, 2020.  I was released  from hospital an hour ago\u2026thankfully.

\u201cWhat the hell are you doing in the hospital, Alan?\u201d
\u201cGive  me a  few  minutes and I will tell you.  the
events are not flattering\u2026make me looks deranged.:

START.

Marjorie and I returned to the city  after a delightful meal at the farm
practicing social isolation and distancing with masks. All the goddamn
things we had been doing for the past four months.

“Marjorie  what do you have for an upset stomach\u201d?
\u201cSomething  you ate?\u201d
\u201cDon\u2019t know but hurts bad\u2026like a ballon in my gut.\u201d
\u201cBook says ginger is good\u2026I\u2019ll make  ginger tea\u2026\u201d

Cut to the qjuick here.  After the  usual panacea, water…We tried everything including apple vinegar
and honey.   Next comes mint leaves, the BRAT DIET (banana, rice, applesauce,  toast), then Iturned<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

to the internet…lime, lemon juice, baking soda ,
  even considered  Yarrow leaves from the garden.
<\/p>\n

\n
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My gut hurt really bad\u2026bloated.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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I remembered  uncle Norman said  the vets used a big knife for bloated cattle because the choice<\/p><\/div>\n

was a terrible  choice.  And I remembered him hauling out a dead bloated steer with the help of<\/div>\n
the man from the dead wagon.
<\/p>\n
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\u201cChrist, Marjorie  this hurts but the internet says the worst thing
to do is lie down.  So you go to bed and I will pace the floor until
this stuff works its way out my ass or my mouth.\u201d

1.00 a.m.  \u201cMarjorie, wake  up\u2026we  have to go the hospital fast.  I think
it\u2019s the gallstones again.  Pain bad\u2026really bad.  Get up.  Wake  up.:\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

  We moved with speed of  summer lightning\u2026Mississauga Trillium Hospital\u2026guards out front.
<\/p>\n

\n
\n
1.30 a.m.  \u201cJust park anywhere \u2026let me out.  Ignore the guys in
uniform.\u201d
\u201cHold on sir.\u201d
\u201cLet him go\u2026he\u2019s having an attack.\u201d
\u201cThen you can go no farther. lady.\u201d
(I slipped by\u2026in my pajamas with a spare shirt and my I phone.
Emergency room was empty\u2026no one there.  At other times there were dozens
but no one tonight ( July 25, 1.30 a.m.)  Then a nurse appeared\u2026got all the  data needed
as I fumbled through my wallet.  \u201cI  am in pain\u2026bad\u201d  \u201chow bad on scale 1 to 10?\u201d
It was10\u2026might be 8 now\u2026\u201d
\u201cHere slip on this  wrist band\u201d
\u201cFollow the arrows back there\u2026someone will help ou.\u201d
Alone, I walked,  then heard tapping at a window and there
was Marjorie\u2026thumbs  up\u2026I returned the gesture even
though my pajama bottoms wanted to fall down.  The trail
led me to an assessment centre\u2026
\u201cRoom 5,sir\u201d
(Why 5\u2026most distant room\u2026.hardly a room \u2026tiny but large enough for terror to unfold)
\u201cLet me take some blood, sir\u201d
\u201cWhat is your first name.\u201d
\u201cCaister\u201d  (may have  got it wrong)
\u201cThere, got the blood, now get ready to give  me  a sample.  I will
be back in a minute.\u201d
(A minute was just to damn long.  I snapped.  Did not expect
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

to do so but anxiety attacks are almost spontaneous.  They explode.
<\/p>\n

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And this is when things turned UGLY. real Ugly for
everyone concerned.  

\u201c I started to scream…I can\u2019t breathe!  I CAN\u2019T BREATHE!  help me SOMEONE\u2026FOR
CHRIST\u2019S SAKE, I CAN\u2019T BREATHE!   I SCREAMED AND SCREAMED.

People came running.  From where I do not know.

\u201cHELP ME\u2026HELP ME\u2026NO BREATHE\u2026GOING TO FAINT.\u201d

They tried.  Many people\u2026maybe 6,  maybe 10 all crowded  into
this overgrown telephone booth.  All yelling  as well.  \u201cGive him air.
Calm down, sir.  Sit Down   Stand up.  Stope yelling.  breathe through
you nose not you mouth.\u201d

\u201cCAN NO ONE HELP ME.  I CANNOT BREATHE.\u201d

But you are  breathing.   \u201cNOT ENOUGH AIR.  LET ME OUT OF HERE.
SOMEONE  HELP ME.:\u2019

\u201cQUICK, RUN AND GET THE ECG\u2026FAST\u2026\u201d

\u201cSIT DOWN, SIR.\u201d
\u201cI CAN\u2019T SIT DOWN\u2026CANNOT BREATHE.\u201d
(I Tore off the hospital gown.)
\u201cGOT TO STAND  UP\u2026DYING.\u201d
\u201cSWEATING LIKE A STUCK PIG\u2026WATER POURING OFF.\u201d
(The GUY WITH MY GOWN IS TRYING TO WAVE  IT TO CalM ME DOWN.
BIG GUY, .  HE CLEARS A TINY SPACE
FOR ME TO STAND UP\u2026FANNING ME\u2026I AM NEAR NUDE \u2026SCREAMING LIKE
A MAD MAN.

(\u20266 to 10 of us\u2026then the
ECG arrive on a trolley\u2026wedged into the room\u2026tottering.)

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI CAN\u2019T BREATHE\u2026HELP ME\u2026SOMEONE HELP ME.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n
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\u201cHere slap  these patches on his body\u2026anywhere\u2026then we\u2019ll
hook him to the ECG.   Patches and then a forest of wires attached
while I am jumping around  screaming\u2026\u201dI CAN\u2019T BREATHE.  I NEED
AIR..OXYGEN.  AN AIR TANK FOR GOD\u2019S SAKE\u201d

Then the ECG  starts to chatter while showing zig zags of my heart on a screen.  Danger?
 zigs and zags all looks the same.  Cards piling up like an accordion.  No strait line thankfully.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

   I glanced  and remembered  hospital shows on TV.  Straight line on an ECG spells death.
<\/p>\n

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\u201cI CAN\u2019T BREATHE.  NEED  AIR.\u201d
\u201cSIT DOWN SIR,\u201d
\u201cCAN\u2019T SIT DOWN\u201d
Some hands pushing me  down,  others helping me up.  Too many hands.
Everybody yelling and the ECG chattering.  Spewing out the last few moments
of  my life.
\u201cI CAN\u2019T BREATHE FOR CHRIST\u2019S SAKE\u2026HELP  ME\u2026I NEED AIR..NEED AIR.\u201d
Then someone wraps a plastic  air pipe around  my neck and  is  fumbling with
the pipe\u2026air tank now in room as well.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Trying to reach my nose\u2026jumping around
<\/p>\n

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\u201cCAN\u2019T BREATHE.   DRY MOUTH\u2026DRY MOUTH\u2026DRY MOUTH\u201d
A hand jams a  capsule in my mouth and something sticks to the inside front
tooth.  \u201cDRY MOUTH\u2026HELP ME\u2026SOMEONE\u2026CAN\u2019T BREATHE.

\u201cBUT YOU ARE BREATHING, SIR.\u201d
\u201cNOT ENOUGH.  ONLY HALF BREATHES\u2026NEED AIR\u2026NEED AIR.\u201d

(ECG machine has paper as long as the room by now.  Someone takes
a look. I must be dying\u2026but machine keeps chattering\u2026no deadline\u2026I am
alive but  \u2018I CAN\u2019T BREATHE\u201d

\u201cCALM DOWN, SIR\u2026TRY YOUR NOSE NOT YOUR MOUTH\u2026YOU WILL
GET OVER IT\u2026CLASSIC ANXIETY  ATTACK\u2026HE WILL GET OVER IT.\u201d

THE guy with my gown now  has a little more room.  He starts  to wipe me
down  with the gown\u2026meanwhile I am still yelling  \u201cI CAN\u2019T BREATHE\u2026DRY MOUTH\u2026
WILL SOMEONE HELP ME.\u201d  

Little sticky patches allover my body\u2026multi coloured wires..  \u201cSIR , TRY TO RELAX.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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  Eventually I 
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wound down  \u2026 slowly \u2026still yelling but without the short staccato yells \u2026I am getting
more oxygen\u2026someone holding the tank behind me\u2026I am breathing\u2026not well\u2026not even
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 but I am breathing.
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It was pandemonium.   And I was the in the centre.   But I really could not
breathe.   Even though I was gulping air like a goldfish in a tank. Someone switched
off the ECG.   I sat down.  Then  Caistor helped me onto a gurney. Wrapped me
in a new gown\u2026must have been a new gown\u2026my original was soaked.

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<\/p>\n

  INTERJECTION:  TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SIX TO TEN  PEOPLE<\/div>\n
THAT CROWDED IN THE ROOM TRYING TO HELP.  GOOD PEOPLE.  PART OF<\/div>\n
THE HERO FORCE WE MAY NEED AGAIN.  I WONDER HOW THEY WILL REMEMBER<\/div>\n
ME?  UNSTABLE?  MAYBE ANXIETY ATTACKS ARE COMMON.  PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT ALL<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

THESE PEOPLE WERE TAKING  RISKS TRYING TO HELP ME.  I AM PARTICULARLY<\/p><\/div>\n

IN DEBT TO THE TALL BLACK  MAN  WHO I CALL \u2018CAISTER\u2019 \u2026I GOT HIS NAME GARBLED<\/div>\n
IN ALL THE EXCITEMENT.  HE MADE SURE I COULD STAND AND  HE TRIED TO COOL<\/div>\n
ME BY WAVING MY GOWN AS THE SWEAT POURED FORTH. I WAS DAMN CLOSE TO <\/div>\n
NUDE BY THEN.

NEXT STEP
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\u201cTaking you down for a CatScan, sir.\u201d
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 \u201cDrink these two  tumblers\u2026no rush but drink it all.”
<\/p>\n

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The technicians fiddled around with my hands for a while and
once I was calm enough they fed me into the big donut like you
feed a frozen makerel to a whale.

“Try not of move sir\u2026absolutely still\u201d

I was worn out anyway.  And I was breathing.  The person who got
the  air tank handed to the CatScan technician and disappeared.

What I am trying to describe to you is a classic example of aN Anxiety Attack.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

  It happened suddenly without warning.  The source was stress and fear.  I am<\/p><\/div>\n

  81 years  old.   My 50 year old daughter in law died  last week. Tragic. Everyone in turmoil.<\/div>\n
My memory kept  drawing<\/div>\n
  up a memory from the even deeper past.  A moment of sheer terror in France.
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The reason for my Panic Attack was clear to me as I tried to
explain to others.  Several years ago I had trouble coming
out of an anesthetic at a nice hospital in the south of France.
I had fallen off a cliff while trying to get a better angle picture
of a beautiful lavender field.  Bashed myself up badly and broke
my wrist.  The operation was a success.  Unfortunately I had trouble
coming out of the anesthetic.  I  opened my eyes, saw  Marjorie
across the room\u2026but I could not breathe.  My lungs would not work
correctly as they must have been tuned to some kind of lung
machine.  It took a couple of minutes for me to adjust.  Terrifying
minutes that made  me fear anisthesia.
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    So this  anxiety attack was not funny.
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It was not funny at the time.  Sounds funny now.  But I know it was
not funny.  I really thought I was going to die\u2026to smother to death 
right there and then.  with 6 to 10 people watching and an ECG machine
chattering and Caistor with my gown fanning me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n


<\/div>\n

  A few weeks earlier I had arrived here in emergency with<\/p><\/div>\n

 a gall stone lodged in the neck of my gall bladder.  Pain that<\/div>\n
I had no wish to ever meet again.  pain that lasted 5 days\u2026no sleep<\/div>\n
\u2026three of those days in a hospital bed. Then the moment the surgeon<\/div>\n
was about to cut, the pain ended.  The stone slipped off.  No pain.<\/div>\n
I told the  surgeon in plain terms \u201cIf  it ain;t busted, don\u2019tfix it.\u201d<\/div>\n
Get me out of here.  I was released.   What a relief.  a  bunch<\/div>\n
of men were out in the lot building an emergency hospital for<\/div>\n
the expected rush of Covid 19 patients.  I did not want to be around for that.<\/div>\n
The surgeon knew an  operation was the best choice but he also knew<\/div>\n
what was coming  with the Pandemic.  \u201cI will get it removed in a couple<\/div>\n
of weeks when the pandemic dies down.  That idea was wrong. We  are<\/div>\n
now nearly at the end of July.  The Pandemic is still here<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
No delay\u2026no smart ass comment like \u201cIf it  ain;t busted, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


<\/p>\n

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So I kept my mouth shut while Dr.  Zilbert pushed on my stomach.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere does it hurt?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cRight there, Dr.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
He seemed to already know about my case.   Maybe the fuss down in  the <\/div>\n
Emergency room had reached his ears.  Maybe the CatSkan was clear.  <\/div>\n
Bottom  line I was admitted and wheeled into a ward passing through<\/div>\n
\n
\n
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long empty hallways with no one visible.  The Mississauga Trillim hospital
like hospitals across Canada was half empty as the nation waited
to see what Covid19 was going to do..I was in the middle of noman\u2019s, nowoman\u2019s lamd.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

I was in the midst of the care workers I had been reading about<\/p><\/div>\n

just a day earlier\u2026nurses, doctors, orderlies, sweepers, cooks,\u2026many people.
<\/p>\n
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And I was afraid.
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Fear.  Pure and simple. Fear. That is one reason for panic attacks
like  mine.  There can be other  reasons but for me it was the fear
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I would wake up and not be able to breathe.
<\/p>\n

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An orderly took over the gurney  from the CatsSkan operator
and landed me in Room 213 at the Mississauga Trillium Hospital.\u2019

\u201cWould you like the window, sir?\u201d
\u201cSure would.  Last time I was here  Got a window.\u201d
“When was that ?\u201d
\u201cFirst week of March\u2026same time you were emptying the hospital expectng
Covid19 infested patients by the hundreds.:
\u201cWhy were you admitted?\u201d
\u201cTerrible pain\u2026.Gall stone lodged in my Gall Bladder\u2026.stomach
blown up like a dead pig in a farm field.  Scale of 10 over 10
for pain.  Did not sleep for 5 days\u2026three of those days here
in Trillium.\u201d
\u201cHow did we  reduce the pain?\u201d
\u201cMorphine and lots of it.   Have you ever had a morphine trip?
\u201cI had three days and nights on Morphine\u2026right outside my window
I had morphine trips that  were great.  One  night a circus  arrived
with a big brown  bear up a telephone tree that slowly turned into
an oak or maple tree  as the bear looked at me in friendly way. Not
a hungry bear  There was a little white Jack Russel dog that tipped
me off that a trip was about to happen.  Cute little dog. Then some <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

big sailing ships flooded by with people aboard\u2026silent people.<\/p><\/div>\n

And on the  shore a bunch of men were trying to pull down<\/div>\n
a big tree by hand. My room moved closer\u2026.a young woman<\/div>\n
sitting cross legged idly plucking rose petals from a huge silver<\/div>\n
bowl.  Others standing on high poles as a building was<\/div>\n
lowered from the sky for the  men and women to bolt in place..\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cNo morphine on the orders today.\u201d
\u201cNo, the pain has eased\u2026down to a 5\u2026tolerable\u2026If it skyrocketed
you will turn to morphine.\u201d
\u201cLet\u2019s hope that does not happen.\u201d

Dr.Zilbert  and  others arrived at my bedside and did a little probing
and said the magic word\u2026\u201dSurgery soon\u201d  And away  they went.
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

 A bubbly Filipino nurse  arrived with a  tub of soapy water. Big smile.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWould you like  a bath, sir?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 \u201cBath?”
<\/p>\n

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\u201cHere you wash your face, I will do the rest of you.\u201d<\/div>\n
And she did\u2026swiftly\u2026even the underparts.  She was fast and<\/div>\n
cheerflull but no debate invited.  She had two little toddlers of her own\u2026so<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

risky situation for her.
<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

<\/div>\n
I had two  nurses\u2026my day nurse  was Agnes, my night <\/div>\n
nurse  was Maria.  Two people who took charge  of people<\/div>\n
like me every two or three days.  They just took charge<\/div>\n
of my every movement. They checked my  heart and  temperature<\/div>\n
every two hours.  Agnes jabbed me  with needles that sucked<\/div>\n
my blood and another needle  to prevent blood clotting.They put me<\/div>\n
to bed  and got me up.  They were always just a buzzer away.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cAgnes, can you get a message to Dr. Zilbert?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI can try\u2026he is a busy man.\u201d <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
AGNES\u2026MY DAY SHIFT NURSE<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Agnes and Maria and others seemed  to like collecting my blood.  I was beyond caring by  then.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am terrified of the  anisthetic. I fear a <\/div>\n
repeat of an experience  in France where<\/div>\n
my breathing was compromised.   Tell him<\/div>\n
I am scared. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
“When  is the operation planned.?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWe never know.  First we must get you ready.<\/div>\n
No  food today.  just cups of tiny ice cubes that<\/div>\n
you can eat one at time.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MY WASHER, BATHER, BED MAKER\u2026.DRESSER (NEW GOWNS)  BENEATH THAT MASK  IS A BIG SMILE.  AS  YOU CAN SEE.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MARIA\u2026.MY NIGHT SHIFT NURSE<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
And Maria, my night nurse followed the same routines.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

  MARIA would like everyone to appreciate FRONT LINERS like her and so many others.  That is  one reason I am writing this  story<\/p><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u201cWhen will they operate, MARIA?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWe never know\u2026operations go on here night and day.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cToday?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBest you just suck on ice cubes and sleep.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
On that I fell asleep… only to be gently awakened<\/div>\n
at 1 a.m. IN the morning.  The night was dark and hot..<\/div>\n
\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


<\/div>\n

THE SURGERY<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWake up, Alam\/\u201c<\/div>\n
\u201cNot more blood\u2026have I any remaining\u201d\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGetting you ready for surgery.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAt 1 a.m\u2026.middle  of the night?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSurgery goes 24\/7.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

So I rolled myself  onto another gurney and was wheeled through the dark and<\/p><\/div>\n

largely empty hospital.  Somewhere ahead was the Operation Theatre but first<\/div>\n
we had to thread a maize of silent machines.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
What could I do to reduce  anxiety?  I could  play SCRABBLE.  I began counting  letters<\/div>\n
in words.   H O S P I T A L\u20268 letters, no good.  C A L M, 4 letters, easy to find\u2026M A R J O R I E . 8 letters, too hard to find, \u2026etc.etc.<\/div>\n
This was great.  Totally relaxing.  G A L L B L A D D ER,  10 letters, soon to be removed.
<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThere you are, sir.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

The orderly slid my gurney into a dark corner where I could see no one at first and then<\/p><\/div>\n

the surgical team arrived, checked charts.   Eventually someone  came over to talk to me.<\/div>\n
It might have been Dr. Zilbert.   Chatty kind of  talk.  Easing  my trepidation.  Others arrived.<\/div>\n
I was wheeled into the surgical  room.  One door had air rushing out.  Some kind of pressure<\/div>\n
room  to ensure no contaminated air rushed  in I assumed.  I was a bit nervous  but not as much<\/div>\n
as I expected.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
One person slipped off my mask and instantly  pressed to my face a rubber mask with a hose  attached.<\/div>\n
This  must be the anesthetist.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cTalke your breath\u2026slowly\u2026.calmly.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
And that is all I remember.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Hours later I awoke in the same place.  There was someone with me but I know not whom.<\/div>\n
No  problem.  A seamless return to breathing.  No fear I would smother to death.  Amazingly calm<\/div>\n
feeling.  No pain.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
RECOVERY<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I was wheeled back  through the empty halls to Room 213 and  gently, with my help, eased  back<\/div>\n
into my bed.   There was a  hint of daybreak out the window.  Perhaps around  4 a.m.  I actually<\/div>\n
fell back to sleep. 
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Some  time later Agnes awoke me\u2026around  6.30 a.m. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And a whole bunch  of  people began to assess me.   Heart.  Temperature.  Blood, of course.<\/p><\/div>\n

Then in came my surgeon, Dr. Zilbert with a group of attendants.  He did not say much.<\/div>\n
Took a look at my chest where he had poked  holes.   Assured himself  that recovery  was beginning.<\/div>\n
I  said nothing really.  Only spoke as  hist team left .<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cPlease thank the anaesthetist.   Breathing was seamless”<\/div>\n
What a dumb thing to say to the man who  had  done the big job<\/div>\n
of  removing my Gall Bladder.   He should have been thanked first.<\/div>\n
Maybe I did thank  him  first.  Yes.  The visit was fast and super efficient.<\/div>\n
Notes were made by one attendant.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I wondered if  they knew about the fool  I  had made of  myself down in Emergency.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Then  breakfast arrived.   liquid mostly.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Then came bath time.  Now that you might find amusing.  How can a bath be amusing?<\/div>\n
Flash back to the anxiety  attack when  I was  jumping  around like a Jack in The Box and<\/div>\n
many people were trying to hook me up  to the ECG.   They slapped the little stickers around<\/div>\n
my upper body mostly but one  sticker wound up on my balls.  I did not know that until Agnes<\/div>\n
arrived.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThese stickers have to come off, Alan.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGood\u201d<\/div>\n
( did not know one was attached to my balls.)<\/div>\n
\u201cThis one may  be a little tricky.\u201d<\/div>\n
(And she yanked it off\u2026wow!  Not because it hurt as much as<\/div>\n
because it was embarrassing.)\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cIs  that sticker common?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot  at all.   You  must have  been jumping around  a lot at the time.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot proud of myself\u2026but yes  I was jumping around.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Then my bath.<\/div>\n
\u201cYou wash  your face,I will do the rest of you.\u201d<\/div>\n
As I washed my face my cheerful  nurse washed the  rest of  my body\u2026all<\/div>\n
of it\u2026it was done quickly\u2026all  body parts,<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
AGNES \u2026 AND THE CRUCIAL TEST<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cHave  you passed gas yet?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d   By Then I knew  that all body functions  had<\/div>\n
to be operational before  recovery was  complete.<\/div>\n
Farting  is important.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cHave you had a movement yet?\u201d<\/div>\n
Funny word  \u2018movement\u2019 but I  knew what she meant.<\/div>\n
\u201cNo.  Bunged  up I think.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cIt will happen\u2026when it does, do  not flush.  I want to see it.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHow important?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cVery important\u2026means  body  is working\u2026call me the<\/div>\n
moment you have that movement.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cIt happened  between shifts so both Maria and Agnes arrived when <\/div>\n
I pressed the buzzier and stood saluting at the bathroom door.<\/div>\n
\u201cvery good, Alan\u201d  And  she flushed.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Many other things happened but this rather disgusting  incident was critical.<\/div>\n
All my systems were working.  There was no blockage.  Just the thought of<\/div>\n
a  blockage made me a bit queasy.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I was cleared to go home.   Called  Marjorie.  Slumped into the  wheelchair<\/div>\n
and  Agness wheeled me to the hospital entrance  where Marjorie waited.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan akeoch<\/div>\n
July 28,2020”<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n


<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

P.S.  Why do I want this rather sorry behaviour  put in print?   Simple  answer.  I  am very<\/p>\n

proud of  our hospital and its staff.   I thought maybe some readers  might even like to<\/div>\n
see  the mask covered faces of FRONT LINERS  like  Agnes  and  Maria.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EPISODE 86     EMBARASSING BEHAVIOUR\u2026.ANXIETY ATTACKalan skeoch\u2019July 2020If you can stand to read this then do so.  If you are queasy at the knees as I can be\u2026then DO NOT READ THIS EPISODE 86 TODAY is Sunday july 26, 2020.  I was released  from hospital an hour ago\u2026thankfully.\u201cWhat the hell are you doing in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}