Hospital Land Part I

So after 6 weeks of massive pain and insomnia that remained almost exclusively at a 9 or 10 and 2 trips to the ER as well as a day long clinic visit where I received pain meds via IV, I gave up last Friday and went to my doctor knowing that I would probably be admitted.  On top of this was the flu that Rob gave me and left me with diarrhea for 6 days which had dehydrated me so I was a mess.
Dr. B talked to me and gave me an examination and said, "Yep.  Time for inpatient."  At that point I met with the hospitalists and found out whose team I was on.  Thankfully, I had a great group of doctors covering me.  I was also placed on the pain management team which I have been on for 5+ years and know them all.  This happens around noon on Friday.  I was told that I would have a CT scan of my abdomen to make sure that the diarrhea and pain weren't a symptom of something other than the flu.  I assumed that it would happen that day.  At least that is what I had been told and I had not eaten or drank anything since Thursday so all would be fine.

As soon as I heard the word "fine" I should have gathered my clothing and started running.

The next person to come in was a great nurse who works for Dr. B and I love her.  She tried to get an IV going for fluids.  After 2 tries, she decided to call the IV team.  Let me point out that I am a hard stick.  I have horrible veins.  Even the red cross had to stick me multiple times for me to give blood.  At 18 I had horrible veins and that has not changed.  IV team came in (another nurse I knew) and tried twice as well.  She managed to get one but it was with a 24 gauge needle (TINY).  Somehow there was not good communication and a nurse ran a bag of saline open through this tiny needle.  The vein blew within an hour and my arm swelled.  During this time, they managed to find me a room as I had come in to the clinic not the hospital and I was transported there.  I asked about the CT scan and was told that it would happen today and not to worry.  It was being taken care of.

Again, as soon as I heard it was being taken care of, I should have gathered my clothing, my  ice bag for my swollen arm and got the hell out of there.

The lab came in to draw blood - remember we are at 4 blown veins now.  I tell them that.  They try twice and one of the tries was literally 2.5 minutes (I timed it) of digging in my arm.  Finally I politely say that I have had enough and to call IV team.  By this point, it is almost 5 p.m. on a Friday and I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get to CT.  It was ordered at 1.
IV team comes back in, tries once more and says, "Not gonna happen, you need a picc line." (I now have 7 blown access points)  However, everyone who can do a picc line has gone home.  I can't have the CT scan without IV access as I need it with contrast.  I am not producing urine as I have NO fluids and I cannot eat or drink because - you guess it - I am going to have a CT scan asap.
Friday night is drawing to a close and not only do I not have IV access, I have not resolved my pain, insomnia or know the cause of my abdominal pain.  Thankfully, I did take imodium around 3 a.m. on Friday to control the diarrhea so at least I am not running to the bathroom.  However, I am emotionally spent and rather pissed off.
Saturday morning dawns and around 9:30 the IV picc team comes in and places the picc line.  I am excited as I can now get fluids and drugs (and let's be honest, I am hoping they are good ones as I have not slept for 3 nights now and the pain is at a 10).  I assume that I will be whisked away to CT and will then be able to eat as I am becoming a bit peckish.  Nope.  One o'clock comes and goes.  We have now hit the 24 hour mark on waiting for a CT.  Two and three and four o'clock pass me by.  Anger is beginning to boil over within me.  I am in pain, exhausted and nurses are frustrated that I haven't peed in almost 24 hours.  Well, it is hard to produce urine when YOU ARE NOT DRINKING AND JUST BEGAN RECEIVING IV FLUIDS!  Finally, at 4:30 I go to CT, get the scan done and find that there is nothing wrong.  I eat a tiny bit and drink a lot of water and go to bed on Saturday still in massive pain, without sleep and sick to my stomach.