Stem Cell Extraction Day 6
Hurry up and wait. That line has never made more sense to me as it does today.
Karl’s appointment at Diagnostic Imaging to get the line put in was at nine, and we were there at 840. He had to register at the DI registration desk and was directed to go around a corner, up a hall, through a set of doors labeled ICU, and where he needed to be would be on the right. The directions were correct, but the closer we got the more dubious I became. They are renovating that area of the hospital. At least I hope it is renovations that has led to construction grade plastic looking material being taped to the ceiling. The ICU doors were fully open and we strolled on through. I could only assume the area was no longer being used as ICU.
When we arrived at ‘the room’, we could see patients through the doors and nurses scurrying about doing their chores, but there was no place to check in, nor that we could see at the time, a place to sit and wait. I stopped. Karl strolled further down the corridor but could see no place that looked more likely to be ‘the room’, so he returned. And we stood and waited. Various people walked past, obviously knowing where they were and what they were doing. We didn’t. Eventually a nurse came out of ‘the room’ to get something and Karl explained why we were there, and asked if we were in the right place. The nurse was RN Alex #1, and she assured us that we were exactly where we should be, and led us around a partition to a previously unseen 5 chair walk-in closet that served as a waiting room. Let’s hope the renovations are completed soon.
We actually didn’t wait that long in the closet. No more than 10 minutes I’d say. Then Alex came for us and brought us to Karl’s cubicle in ‘the room’. It is strange to keep calling it ‘the room’, but I have no idea how else to label it. He was given his hospital gown and a bag for his clothes, the curtain was drawn and we were alone. Soon Alex returned to gather case history to add to the bio dossier, as well as to take vitals. All normal. She left saying she would be right back to put in an iv. She got called to answer about 5 phone calls, figure how to print something on an email, and then to some other duty outside of ‘the room’ because we didn’t see her until about 45 minutes later when she returned wearing a lead suit over her scrubs.
RN Alex #2 came to Karl’s cubical soon after #1 left ‘the room’. It was she who labeled herself as #2 when she told us her name. Both of them having the same name must get confusing for them at times since ‘the room’ only holds 5 patients but has a multitude of personnel coming and going. In the 2 hours while we waited in the approximately 20’ by 40’ room I counted 7 RNs, a student nurse, 4 doctors or medical students, a cleaner, a person to empty garbage, a person from admitting, a person who seemed to be a social worker, and 4 or 5 others wearing Eastern Health badges who weren’t there long enough for me to get a sense of what their role might be. While they obviously weren’t all in there at the same time because there simply wasn’t enough space, there were times when there were 7 or 8 staff people present. A busy spot.
Back to Alex #2. It fell to her to insert the iv. When Karl had the CT scan in Clarenville a week ago it took 3 tries. Same today. Alex felt that she had a good line on the first try, but it wouldn’t start. No go second try either, so she called another nurse over. Thankfully that line went in. This is no reflection on Alex by the way. Karl’s veins have shrunk or toughened or rolled or become contrary ... call it what you want...since he initially became sick. His weekly blood work has become one of the most painful procedures for him in this whole experience.
So the iv is in. Then more paperwork as we complete the same questionnaire as last week for Public Health. This one is so they will do follow up care on the line. Then we wait. Dr. Su was our next visitor. He is a resident, and inserting Karl’s line under the supervision of a radiologist was his chore. He explained the procedure in detail and then asked Karl to sign a consent form. The consent form referenced that the line was for dialysis, but Dr. Su said that while the line that Karl would have is exactly like the one used for dialysis patients, everyone understood that his would be used for the stem cell transplant process. Dr. Su left and we waited some more. Patients need patience.
Finally a nurse came for Karl. His iv fluid bag was long dry, so another one was hung, and he was wheeled away. I’m glad I didn’t get to see the procedure, but Karl was alert the whole time. He couldn’t see because they set up a ‘tent’ around the area of his chest, but he could hear and talk to the people there. He was given a mild sedative to calm him, and topical freezing from injections were used, but he was able to watch the whole thing. Basically an ultrasound was used to show them exactly where his vein was, then a small cut was made, a wire was threaded through the vein, followed by the tubes. When all was in place three sutures were put in, a dressing was used to cover everything, and he was wheeled back to ‘the room’ about an hour after he left. While I didn’t particularly want to see, when she was taking his vitals and checking the incision Alex #2 said I should look so that I would know if something was going wrong later. It doesn’t look too bad. You can’t really see much of a cut. What you can see are 2 tubes hanging out of his upper chest on the right side. They look similar to the tubes that they use to attach an iv to, although I’m sure the medical people out there would say they are nothing like that!
Alex #2 left for lunch break and RN Lavinia took over, checking vitals again and explaining the list of do’s and don’ts before setting us free an hour after Karl’s return to ‘the room’. So we waved goodbye to the nurses and Karl’s fellow patients and went on our merry way. I hope they don’t have to wait too long for the structural work to be completed.
Next it was out through those ICU doors, around several turns, down a couple of long corridors, and through a shortcut in a stairwell to Ambulatory Care. I’m learning my way around in the Health Sciences Centre. Scary.
Karl’s appointment in Ambulatory Care was for 1030, and we were 3 hours late. I don’t think either of us had ever been late for an appointment before, and certainly not that much late. But we had a good reason that didn’t involve a dog chewing up homework. And, Alex #2 had called ahead with our excuses, so we were welcomed with open arms. I must say it was almost like coming home to get back to a familiar area of the hospital. Almost.
Two chores at ATC today. RN Stacey looked at the dressing and saw it was oozing a little and added a third chore...flush the lines and add another dressing. RN Liz was Karl’s Nurse there today. First she drew blood from the line. Getting blood work won’t hurt while the line is in! Then she flushed and redid the dressing. Finally she injected the daily Neupogen. And we were free to go! We might get a call later regarding additional blood work tomorrow or Thursday if Karl’s platelets are down too low, but if that doesn’t happen the only agenda item for Wednesday and Thursday is Public Health for dressing care and Neupogen. Plus Codeine for pain from the line insertion and the bone pain that should soon be happening. It’s easier to wait at home than in the hospital.
Karl’s appointment at Diagnostic Imaging to get the line put in was at nine, and we were there at 840. He had to register at the DI registration desk and was directed to go around a corner, up a hall, through a set of doors labeled ICU, and where he needed to be would be on the right. The directions were correct, but the closer we got the more dubious I became. They are renovating that area of the hospital. At least I hope it is renovations that has led to construction grade plastic looking material being taped to the ceiling. The ICU doors were fully open and we strolled on through. I could only assume the area was no longer being used as ICU.
When we arrived at ‘the room’, we could see patients through the doors and nurses scurrying about doing their chores, but there was no place to check in, nor that we could see at the time, a place to sit and wait. I stopped. Karl strolled further down the corridor but could see no place that looked more likely to be ‘the room’, so he returned. And we stood and waited. Various people walked past, obviously knowing where they were and what they were doing. We didn’t. Eventually a nurse came out of ‘the room’ to get something and Karl explained why we were there, and asked if we were in the right place. The nurse was RN Alex #1, and she assured us that we were exactly where we should be, and led us around a partition to a previously unseen 5 chair walk-in closet that served as a waiting room. Let’s hope the renovations are completed soon.
We actually didn’t wait that long in the closet. No more than 10 minutes I’d say. Then Alex came for us and brought us to Karl’s cubicle in ‘the room’. It is strange to keep calling it ‘the room’, but I have no idea how else to label it. He was given his hospital gown and a bag for his clothes, the curtain was drawn and we were alone. Soon Alex returned to gather case history to add to the bio dossier, as well as to take vitals. All normal. She left saying she would be right back to put in an iv. She got called to answer about 5 phone calls, figure how to print something on an email, and then to some other duty outside of ‘the room’ because we didn’t see her until about 45 minutes later when she returned wearing a lead suit over her scrubs.
RN Alex #2 came to Karl’s cubical soon after #1 left ‘the room’. It was she who labeled herself as #2 when she told us her name. Both of them having the same name must get confusing for them at times since ‘the room’ only holds 5 patients but has a multitude of personnel coming and going. In the 2 hours while we waited in the approximately 20’ by 40’ room I counted 7 RNs, a student nurse, 4 doctors or medical students, a cleaner, a person to empty garbage, a person from admitting, a person who seemed to be a social worker, and 4 or 5 others wearing Eastern Health badges who weren’t there long enough for me to get a sense of what their role might be. While they obviously weren’t all in there at the same time because there simply wasn’t enough space, there were times when there were 7 or 8 staff people present. A busy spot.
Back to Alex #2. It fell to her to insert the iv. When Karl had the CT scan in Clarenville a week ago it took 3 tries. Same today. Alex felt that she had a good line on the first try, but it wouldn’t start. No go second try either, so she called another nurse over. Thankfully that line went in. This is no reflection on Alex by the way. Karl’s veins have shrunk or toughened or rolled or become contrary ... call it what you want...since he initially became sick. His weekly blood work has become one of the most painful procedures for him in this whole experience.
So the iv is in. Then more paperwork as we complete the same questionnaire as last week for Public Health. This one is so they will do follow up care on the line. Then we wait. Dr. Su was our next visitor. He is a resident, and inserting Karl’s line under the supervision of a radiologist was his chore. He explained the procedure in detail and then asked Karl to sign a consent form. The consent form referenced that the line was for dialysis, but Dr. Su said that while the line that Karl would have is exactly like the one used for dialysis patients, everyone understood that his would be used for the stem cell transplant process. Dr. Su left and we waited some more. Patients need patience.
Finally a nurse came for Karl. His iv fluid bag was long dry, so another one was hung, and he was wheeled away. I’m glad I didn’t get to see the procedure, but Karl was alert the whole time. He couldn’t see because they set up a ‘tent’ around the area of his chest, but he could hear and talk to the people there. He was given a mild sedative to calm him, and topical freezing from injections were used, but he was able to watch the whole thing. Basically an ultrasound was used to show them exactly where his vein was, then a small cut was made, a wire was threaded through the vein, followed by the tubes. When all was in place three sutures were put in, a dressing was used to cover everything, and he was wheeled back to ‘the room’ about an hour after he left. While I didn’t particularly want to see, when she was taking his vitals and checking the incision Alex #2 said I should look so that I would know if something was going wrong later. It doesn’t look too bad. You can’t really see much of a cut. What you can see are 2 tubes hanging out of his upper chest on the right side. They look similar to the tubes that they use to attach an iv to, although I’m sure the medical people out there would say they are nothing like that!
Alex #2 left for lunch break and RN Lavinia took over, checking vitals again and explaining the list of do’s and don’ts before setting us free an hour after Karl’s return to ‘the room’. So we waved goodbye to the nurses and Karl’s fellow patients and went on our merry way. I hope they don’t have to wait too long for the structural work to be completed.
Next it was out through those ICU doors, around several turns, down a couple of long corridors, and through a shortcut in a stairwell to Ambulatory Care. I’m learning my way around in the Health Sciences Centre. Scary.
Karl’s appointment in Ambulatory Care was for 1030, and we were 3 hours late. I don’t think either of us had ever been late for an appointment before, and certainly not that much late. But we had a good reason that didn’t involve a dog chewing up homework. And, Alex #2 had called ahead with our excuses, so we were welcomed with open arms. I must say it was almost like coming home to get back to a familiar area of the hospital. Almost.
Two chores at ATC today. RN Stacey looked at the dressing and saw it was oozing a little and added a third chore...flush the lines and add another dressing. RN Liz was Karl’s Nurse there today. First she drew blood from the line. Getting blood work won’t hurt while the line is in! Then she flushed and redid the dressing. Finally she injected the daily Neupogen. And we were free to go! We might get a call later regarding additional blood work tomorrow or Thursday if Karl’s platelets are down too low, but if that doesn’t happen the only agenda item for Wednesday and Thursday is Public Health for dressing care and Neupogen. Plus Codeine for pain from the line insertion and the bone pain that should soon be happening. It’s easier to wait at home than in the hospital.
Stay strong! I don't think I could be as calm as you sound.
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