Welcome back Don!

It's good to see you back. I hope you are recovering from your surgery.

Feel better. You were missed!

Grateful Heart

11 Comments

Amen!

by Bostonstrong - 2014-05-30 08:05:27

Welcome home! Missed ya!

There's a Lesson for ALL of us in this!

by donr - 2014-05-31 07:05:26

Thanks, Ladies.

Hernia repair was a snap.

Aspirational Pneumonia was a near killer - literally.

Within 15 min of inhaling stomach contents, they had me in the ICU - three X-Rays taken & hooked to a bag of an antibiotic I cannot name. I had very quietly & painlessly slipped into sleep from low O2 saturation. I was connected to some very high % O2 flow through a mask (I want to say 80%). All three right lobes were involved.

Three things made the difference:

1) Wife was present when it happened & she pushed for the critical action - "I don't care if it is 5 AM - call our surgeon NOW!"

2) Surgeon just happened to be in the Hosp, finishing up an emerg surgery & was there in 5 min.

3) Head of ICU is a Pulmonary Dr. & was likewise in Bldg by coincidence. He greeted me at the entrance to the ICU w/ the mobile X-Ray unit in tow.

Lesson Learned: If you ever even remotely THINK you inhaled vomit, DO NOT HESITATE - get to an ER IMMEDIATELY. This stuff does NOT start slowly & build up - you go from NOTHING to nearly fully involved nearly instantly. Had this happened at home (a 30 min high speed drive to ER at 5 AM), I have no idea if I'd be writing this note to you - this soon or even ever.

I credit very much the highly competent, alert nursing staff & technician staff. They were instantly available, empathetic & cheerfully willing to attend to an old coot's needs when unable to help himself very much.

I intend to write a note to the management about them, offering Kudos to the good & great & a Kudu horn in the butt to the three "Nurse Ratched's" I met.

Donr

Wow !!

by donb - 2014-05-31 10:05:12

I'm Sure glad you're OK after this last bout!! I don't post very often but also check in regularly & noticed you were on "vacation". Wife Sharon just got after me wondering who I was messaging to & I told her the other Don & the technical name of your recent episode.
"Oh Boy" was her answer as a retired nurse of many years, didn't even want to question it. I've been wondering all day what kept you down. I really hope this can be controlled, don't want it to happen again !!
DonB

Don...

by golden_snitch - 2014-05-31 10:05:20

don't ever do that again! I had no idea what you were going through. So glad to hear that you're alive and kicking and back home! Your wife did an amazing job - you owe her lots of household chores for the rest of your life ;-)

Wishing you a speedy recovery from this nightmare!

Inga

Don - Glad to hear

by KAG - 2014-05-31 12:05:09

that you're recovering. I was thinking of sending you PMs but thought you were just resting up. No idea that you had all that going on. Like Inga said, don't ever do that again!

We need your words of wisdom and guidance. Old coots are good that and you're exceptionally good. :-)

Take Care and give your wife a big hug from us.
Kathy

Sure glad you had everything in

by janetinak - 2014-06-01 01:06:38

your favor with that scary situation.

So good to have you back.

Janet

Don.....................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-06-01 03:06:17


.............................carry on doing what you do, Dear Friend.................

That way you can always be sure to get a Verbal Spanking from Inga !!!

TM UK

welcome back

by manaman - 2014-06-01 09:06:25

What an OLD man will do for ATTENTION is unbelievable!
Cecil

Don, Don't ASK!!!!!

by donr - 2014-06-01 12:06:03

.....you will not like the possibilities.

Am getting better by the hour here at home, literally.

Looking Fwd to getting back near normal.

Talked to ER Doc Daughter tonight & told her I did not plan on digging any ditches in the front yard in the near future.

Her response was essentially that If I tried it, it would not kill me - she would, first. Then added that she'd probably be second in line behind wife & my surgeon if I tried anything stupid like that.

Donr (The OTHER Don)

Welcome home

by Janey L - 2014-06-02 06:06:28

Hi Don
I was just quickly reading through posts on the forum tonight & saw this one. I was really shocked to read about your adventure in ICU! Glad to hear you are back at home now. Take care & get plenty of rest. My family & I are all thinking of you & wish you a speedy recovery.

Best wishes
Janey

youre lucky,again!

by ohiolaura - 2014-06-05 07:06:07

Good to read that youre ok,but sounds like another one for the memoirs,not that you needed it.
Kudos to your wife,being insistant on what you needed,now maybe you can recover and enjoy summer?
Please behave,and keep up all the insight and postings to those who need you here!
Wow,just glad youre ok and home,keep up the good work in healing and stay healthy!
Laura

You know you're wired when...

You always run anti-virus software.

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