Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
What a Lovely Day: I’m Being Discharged from the Hospital!
Today has been a great day. To recap, I had COVID starting 17 days ago so I am not contagious anymore. Yesterday, I was in a hurry to get to the Courthouse. I was dehydrated. I was wearing a mask outdoors which limited my oxygen. The sidewalk to the Courthouse is on an incline, and then there are six steps. Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet. I was winded and a bit unsteady. I was declined admission to the Courthouse based on their guidelines. Grr. I left to hurry back to the office.
Ninety seconds later I returned to consciousness. I had slipped/tripped down the stairs, landing on my back on cement. There was a pool of blood under my head. I had been out for 60 of those 90 seconds and I have no memory of the 30 seconds of walking through two sets of doors, and starting down the stairs. The EMT was called. I could not sit up on my own, let alone stand. I was taken by ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center. My head CT scan showed no brain bleed. My chest CT scan showed COVID in my lungs. Because I had lost consciousness, the Doctor said that that tipped the scale for an admission, and I agreed.
I am on the top floor at the hospital. This entire 23-bed wing was transformed into a COVID treatment center. They took out the second bed and installed a fancy ventilation system and scrubber that vents directly to the roof, so that the room has negative air pressure, so no air escapes into the hallway. Earlier, this wing was filled up with us COVID Survivors (a Rob Long moniker), now it is only half full. All of their staff put on disposable garments over their clothes when they come in fully masked. On the other hand, I am able to be unmasked except when I start coughing.
Now the good news from today. The Echo Cardiogram was done. The tech could not give me the results. I gave him some legal advice that if he ever married, he needed to stop contributing to his investment accounts and to put them on auto-invest autopilot. Then he should start a brand-new account with a different Vanguard, or so forth. He was pleased for the legal advice, and he showed me a pie chart of my heart function with eight “slices” and three concentric circles. All 24 pieces were the same color with slightly different shades. “That’s a healthy heart; if you know what I mean.”
I am being put on meds for my COVID lung cough. I am pretty bored. I have been talking to my family and have been listening to the Commentary and Three Martini Lunch podcasts while playing Advanced Sudoko (4×4 squares instead of 3×3 squares).
I had a delightful interaction with “Room Service” where you order food. I was checking out the offerings, and exclaimed “You have mutton stew!” The woman on the line giggled. I said, “Are you Dine?” in a playful voice. (“Dine” means “the people” and it is the name that Navajos prefer to use for themselves; however they are so doggone reserved, they wouldn’t think of demanding that we use that preferred name.) She giggled again and said that she was. “I haven’t had mutton stew off of the Rez! I always stop in Cameron to get it when I am driving through the Rez, along with Navajo Fry Bread.” She was touched that this non-Native man knew and appreciated Dine food, knew and appreciated her, and called her Dine, her preferred ethnic name.
The food arrived. The chicken breast was dry and unappealing. But the mutton stew was great! Mutton comes from older lambs. It is tough and should not be eaten like a lamb steak. But if it slow-cooked all day with carrots and onions, it is excellent.
I am being released tomorrow. I will do a quick stop at the office to sign checks and pleadings and then I will go home, and rest for the long weekend.
I was just examined by the Cardiologist. I sound great. He is going to review the Echo Cardiogram, but unless he sees red flags, I am good to go. We agreed that since my Apple Watch was smashed in the fall, I should get a new Apple Watch that monitors my heart and oxygen level. {I don’t begrudge Apple anything; they make this a better world.)
I am off of oxygen. I am walking up and down in my room. I was groggy this morning, but am now physically fully firing on all cylinders.
One last grace note. An LPN told me that he knew me. How? He was standing outside the door of another law office during the lunch hour, and I invited him to come sit down in my office, until they came back from lunch. He thanked me for making him feel at home. You never know when an act of generosity comes back to bless you.
RushBabe49 has written about Ricochet as her family of choice. Me too, along with my church.
My life is so blessed. Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
—————
Friday morning: I am being discharged today!
—————
9:50 a.m. I am being discharged with blood thinners and steroids. I have showered and am in street clothes. I am just waiting for the discharge orders to be posted.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers.
Published in General
Congratulations. Take it easy.
Whew!
Have a good week-end. Love the Diné part of the story. When I do a leg of lamb on the Traeger I always buy a USDA choice leg of lamb, not a Costco leg of lamb from Australia. Mutton stew is a great winter dinner.
My wife is allergic to mutton, so I never get it at home, and we seldom go anywhere we could get it out. I’m definitely jealous.
Gary, that’s great news. Praise the Lord.
I think that I may have stopped in Cameron for some fry bread, a year or two ago, or maybe it was a Navajo taco. It might have been the Cameron Trading Post. I didn’t try the mutton stew, though. Next time.
I really got to know the Dine when I ran for office in 2012. I remember Dine women bragging that they each made the best “Mutton Stew.” I asked if mutton wasn’t just another name for lamb. “Oh no, it is so much better.”
If you are traveling through the Navajo Rez, I strongly recommend Mutton Stew, a Navajo Taco, and Navajo Fry Bread with Honey. You should eat it there, and it is impossible to eat Indian Fry Bread with Honey, without it getting all over your hands, and you will need to wash your hands in the restroom as you leave.
I am working off of my iPad and can’t link to anything. Would someone please provide a link to my earlier post from yesterday?
Here you go (done on an iPad):
https://ricochet.com/1040627/i-am-in-the-hospital-after-a-fall/
Glad you’re out.
I spent a night in a jail, once, but never in a hospital.
I just bought and roasted a Costco leg of lamb from Australia. I thought it was good… why are you anti-Costco Aussie lamb?
And, @garyrobbins glad to hear such good news. I am also confused about what appears to me to be a conflict in your story:
“To recap, I had COVID starting 17 days ago so I am not contagious any more.”
“My chest CT scan showed COVID in my lungs. “
“All of their staff put on disposable garments over their clothes when they come in fully masked. On the other hand, I am able to be unmasked except when I start coughing.”
“I am being put on meds for my COVID lung cough”
You still have covid, you’re not contagious, but have to wear a mask when coughing, and the staff all act like you are contagious…
By the way, are you willing to share what kind of meds they are giving you for the non-contagious covid cough?
Great outcome, Gary! And you managed to turn the hospital stay into a culinary/cultural adventure.
I hear you.
According to the Coconino County Health Department, I needed to be quarantined for only 10 days due to being highly contagious then. However, I am only modestly contagious now that those ten days have lapsed.
Yep.
I am on the COVID ward at the hospital. Out of an abundance of caution they go to overkill if anyone has a positive COVID test. The problem is that I will have positive COVID tests for some 30 days after onset.
My lungs have not fully recovered. I am not sure about how to language this.
Steroids and something else. (I am such a trusting soul.)
Yes, but at least the steroids will beef you up for your major league career.
“We want to pump you up” from SNL seven years ago.
I shall be released! (Some music to cheer you up!)
Glad you are doing better!
DK
If you like lamb, go to an Indian restaurant and eat lamb biryani. It’s lamb baked in rice with aromatic spices. It is spicy but not necessarily spicy hot (pecant). Though you can ask for it to be. Ask for extra raita if you want to make it creamy. Typically the best time to order it in a restaurant is Friday and the weekend because it takes over 24 hours to make if it is made properly.
And if you like fry bread, try it with garlic naan.
Glad to hear you’re about to be released back into the general population, Gary!
Great news!
I am being discharged with blood thinners and steroids for my lungs. A CT Scan in a month will confirm if my lungs are okay.
Also no travel for awhile. No baseball game with friends in DC.
AKA rat poison.
Sorry to hear you’ll be missing something your were looking forward to.
Thank you for the update and good news. We can start the weekend with one less worry on our minds. Get your energy back…lots more friendly sparring to come.
Here is a challenging Sudoku my paper printed several years ago. Enjoy.
Randy – I think a lot of people would prefer to say that!
Kudos to Gary for getting a good review and still thinking to give out legal advice -what a trooper! Watch those steps!
Good to hear.
Thank you for sharing.
Gary,
I’m happy to hear that you’re heading back home.
Have fun shopping for your new Apple Watch.
I am home!
You’re now in Yogi Berra territory.
Berra was taken to a New York hospital for suspicion of a concussion. A local radio guy announced that the Yankees catcher was taken for an X-ray of his head and the X-rays showed… nothing.
Get well, fellow Covid hero.
Oh yes! Rob Long has taken to calling himself a “COVID Hero,” and not a mere “COVID Survivor”!
Glad to hear you’re out and on the mend!
Another Covid Hero! Glad you’re well!
#covidheroessticktogether