I'm still in Upper Chesapeake. I'll be in the hospital for Halloween. I could've gone home, but the doc said she'd prefer I stay a couple more days just to ensure I'm good, that my sodium levels level out. I'll defer to her med degree and stay the weekend.
Covid and low sodium have kicked my ass. I've legit seen beds and rooms cleared, and you know where those bodies are going, don't you, Elton? I do, and it's and odd feeling. It's frightening. I don't know if I've been this close to death before, in space and time - not my health.
Earlier this week has been non-stop rainy. But then a beautiful golden sun came through, and it looks absolutely autumn outside. I'm staring out a huge window on the backside of the hospital to a view of just trees mostly. I'd wake up in the middle of the night to go #1 and it was pouring. I could see it pouring on the pavement under the amber parking lights. This persisted the first few days I was here.
Now we're closing in on 9 days... But I'm starting to feel a lot better. I don't know if I had brain fog, but I felt this utter head congestion. It was as if my brain had outgrown my skull and it was threatening on breaking out of its skull-prison. I couldn't quite articulate this feeling to the doctors, so they did a brain scan. And the other night, I felt this bout of uncontrollable nihilism. It was weird, and I hated every second it lasted. I had no interest in anything, or anyone. I couldn't have visitors but I didn't want to have any regardless. It was a terrible, depressing feeling and I hope it never returns.
Docs said my brain is perfect. Well to my standards. All my tests are really good. My oxygen level is near perfect. So maybe the vaccine helped me kick Covid's ass. She mentioned to me that I wouldn't be here for the Covid alone; they are only treating the low sodium. This helped me to understand my treatment now.
One night I called T on Instagram video chat. I wanted to see her and not just a picture, and the dogs, as well. She was carving pumpkins, and I was entirely jealous. She got the 'Vid too, but she was blessed with only a cough. So she stayed home and made these two precious jack-o'-lanterns.
One thing I have to admit, and it's kept my spirits up the entire time I've been here, is the staff - all of them - have been just incredible. When I showed weakness and curiosity to making it out of here, they were there for me. The care I've received here has been just perfect, and I appreciate them all. I've thanked them in person but I wanted it out there in the universe.
Something unexpected happened the other day. There was an active shooter scare here at the hospital. I was told to get in my bathroom and lock the door. I watched as staff took off in all directions, securing patients. It worked the adrenaline while I was bed bound...
So Halloweentober 2021 has not been and ideally perfect holiday. But the fact that I'm getting healthier by the day is all the good news I need at the moment. I'll try to make up for it next season.
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| This is Gerald. He returned to me. |
Gerald (above) is a thing. This preppy pumpkin-headed scarecrow was at Target, and I forgot to go back for him. Next visit and he was gone, as were all his siblings. However, weeks later T showed up at home with new Gerald. She remembered I really wanted to pick him up and missed out. She saw him one day at a thrift store and brought new Gerald home. He will never leave his forever home.