Triage

I spent most of yesterday and today in bed recuperating from an upper respiratory infection that has made me feel like a zombie. Tuesday, I noticed how tired I felt and thought it was only fatique. But then Wednesday, I knew something was wrong, so I called and got a doctor's appointment at 3 pm. Went to the clinic, was given a prescription for antibiotics and decongestants, pushed on to the drug store, and then home.

Within a few minutes of being home, I got a panicky telephone call from my mother's neighbor indicating that mother had been in a car accident. Within twenty minutes I was pulling into her driveway. She and three of her neighbors were sitting in lawn chairs staring out at the police cars in the street. She said she felt ok and had not been injured. Apparently, she was trying to make a left turn into the driveway and was hit by a driver headed in the other direction. When the paramedics arrived, they had wanted to take her to the hospital by ambulance, but she had refused. Their concern was her recent open heart surgery. Now, her neighbors were voicing similiar concerns. She had decided she would go if I would take her. We called the doctor to alert the emergency room and off we went.

I suppose I need to explain how the emergency room works. I've discovered that many people use it as an outpatient clinic. Since, the hospital can not refuse treatment to someone, people show up with minor and major aliments and wait hours to be seen. It is definitely a triage situation. I suppose if you arrive by ambulance, you get some type of priority. (There is a sign on the wall that says if you are experiencing chest pains to tell the security guard! My first thought was, "Why? So they can move your car!") I explained to anyone who would listen that I had called the doctor's office, and they were supposed to have contacted the emergency room. There were a dozen or so people in the waiting area who looked like they had been there for hours. My explaining must have done some good, because within about fifteen minutes we were called back. Mother was not exhibiting any signs of distress, no chest pains, etc. The nurse took her blood pressure, and it was normal. The nurse also indicated that the doctor had not called. Mother I'm sure realized she might have to be there for hours before seeing anyone. So she decided it was pointless to stay. Back to her house, over hill and dale, rock and rill, I drove.

Once back at my house I began to notice how really lousy I felt. But I still had a web page to do. Finally, at about 9, I was finished with everything and collapsed into a mass of pulsating protoplasm.

Thursday morning, I woke up feeling achy and washed out. Got up, took my medicine, and went back to bed. And that essentially has been how I've spent the last two days.

PAX!