Hi, Folks -

With me settled into my own room, the blur of ongoing activities began, including the ones like, "Time to wake up and take your sleeping pill." :) (That one did not occur, but you know what I mean.)

The exact timing and order of events during the first two days of my stay is just a blur to me now, but probably the first occurrences included placing of a port in my left arm so they could inject things as might be necessary. I think they drew some blood early-on. I'm sure they checked my 'vitals' - blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature. And probably they did the first of many finger pricks to check blood glucose level - I don't know if that was just standard procedure for anyone in hospital or if they were wondering if diabetes might be the reason for my swollen feet and ankles. I don't recall anyone asking for a urine sample, but, then, I'd provided much more than a sample already by way of that catheterizaion in the ER. :)

Also probably on the first day, they did an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), placing a number of electrical leads on my body. My huffing and puffing (shortness of breath) and swollen feet would have been taken as indication for an EKG. Although there would also be a cardiac sonogram on a later day, the EKG result seemed to allow them to say, "No, you don't have CHF." (Good to know. :)

I remember someone gently squeezing my calves, ankles, and feet, looking for clots, I expect. None were found. I was given a shot in the flesh of my lower abdomen; I've forgotten the name of the drug but it began with an L and was to help prevent clot formation during my non-ambulatory time in hospital. They discontinued that, though, on realizing I was able to walk to the bathroom rather than peeing into a urinal as I lay in bed.

I think I was on supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula from the very start. I wasn't able to tell any difference from what it provided but probably its effect showed up in the oxygen saturation level as they frequently checked for that (one of the 'vitals' they checked multiple times per day). I had to free myself (unleash) from the cannula in order to walk to the bathroom. Eventually someone thought to provide me with a longer oxygen tube. :) That was helpful, though it made it necessary to wrangle the tubing around the tray table, etc.

A tray of food showed up; apparently they auto-ordered or there was a default order-of-the-day for admitted patients who had not actively placed an order themselves. I don't remember what was on that tray but I remember eating all of it. :) In fact, I ordered huge meals the whole week I was there - for example, breakfasts of pancakes and oatmeal and grits and a couple of eggs, etc. - but never felt either hungry or full. I'm not sure what that was about. Relatedly, I guess, the hospital bed said I weighed 123 pounds, which was about 6 pounds lighter than my brother, and lighter than either he or I would have guessed - 135 sounded more reasonable to me. Because of my dismay they weighed me two other times, once on the bed and once on an electronic scale they wheeled into the room for me to stand on. It came out "123" every time.

Pausing here; I do expect there will be a part 4.

--hobie