Monday morning early we were on our way to Billings and our family physician’s office–the Cowboy wasn’t feeling well. Things went significantly downhill and we ended up in the ER of a Billings hospital in the middle of a pandemic! Luckily we were the only people in the check in area, they let me hang out with him in the ER for several hours while getting his pain under control, getting blood work drawn and having a CT scan. The ER doctor called it before he had even examined the Cowboy–probable kidney stone–and he was right. It’s an enormous kidney stone and has caused other significant issues during its course of development.
I had to leave him at the hospital which about sent me over the edge–they do not allow any family or friends to visit the patients on the floors. Tuesday afternoon late he had a surgical procedure to insert a stent and was amazed at how much better he felt following that procedure.
Wednesday morning I retrieved him and we are at home and glad to be here!
While awaiting phone calls from doctors and nurses which never came on Tuesday I spent the day cleaning. Late in the afternoon the FedEx man brought us our new living room rug. The old rug was 18 years old and it was time for a change. The new one brightened our room significantly. In the photo it looks wrinkly–the unfold directions said those wrinkles would go away with time–they have all ready lessened.
Let’s talk about those phone calls that never came. The Covid crisis has changed a lot of things in our lives and one of the most significant to me is the banning of families from hospitals. It broke my heart to leave the Cowboy in Billings by himself. And if he had not been so aware and able to talk to me via cellphone I would have been dancing on some heads! Unacceptable to not receive one phone call from anyone to tell me how he was doing, what the plans were, nothing. After the surgery the recovery room nurse did call me and I told her over and over again how much I appreciated her call–she was surprised to hear that her call had been the only one. When we see the surgeon in two weeks he will get an earful. And I am calling the patient care advocate at the hospital. Unacceptable.
And let’s talk about being made to feel like a criminal because you are filling a prescription for pain pills. Restricting access to narcotics has done absolutely nothing to help drug abuse. People who want to abuse drugs will always find a way and something to abuse. Taking the medications away from people who need them is wrong and cruel. I had to wait for the Cowboy’s prescriptions in Costco and once they were finally ready I was told I needed my driver’s license in order to obtain the narcotics. During this stupid Covid crisis I don’t take anything inside stores except my list and my credit card. I had to go back to the car and retrieve my driver’s license. To say I was angry was a vast understatement!
The Cowboy is so thankful to be home and I am so thankful to have him here. Emmi is thankful too!
Restoration Cowboy Style 
Glad to hear Mike is doing better. This whole opioid crisis pisses me off, some idiot has decided people are dependent on these drugs, and that idiot is right they are dependent on them to be able to live a half way normal life. Their doctors prescribe them for a reason, and 99% of folks take them as per their instructions. As for the other 1%, well no one holds you down and dumps them in your mouth. Up here north of the Medicine Line rocking a mask and a hat. As one of our Chief Medical Officers here says, “Be Calm, Be Kind, and Stay Safe”
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Yep, we wore our masks even into the ER and no one asked Mike to remove his. It’s simply awful that people who need pain medications to live halfway normally as you said often cannot get them–my Mother for one!
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When you get stuck in Billings like this, please call me. You could have stayed at our home for as long as you want. Also, we really understand the stigma associated with pain meds. It’s terrible how we who need them are treated! Sorry this happened to you yet I’m really glad that modern medicine was able to help Mike.
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John–you are a dear! I had a little dog patiently waiting for me at home and there wasn’t anything I could do in Billings but I so appreciate your thoughtfulness!
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Not an experience anyone wants to go through.
I hope Mike manages all this ok.
He is fortunate to have you as his advocate.
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No, I never want to see anyone experience that kind of pain every again. He is doing well tonight.
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I am so sorry for your ordeal. Glad to hear the Cowboy is home and recovering. That rug is beautiful!
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Thanks Sharon–Mike is tired and sore but doing well and he liked the rug too!
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Beautiful photos and so glad Mike is home and recuperating. Hopefully he is done with pain and surgeries. I don’t suppose you got a picture of him in his hospital gown?
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I refrained from photographing him in the ER.😁Thanks Geri.
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Love the rug! Love the moon.
So so glad all is well with Mike!
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Thanks Tammy–it sure is nice you have “communication” now!
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The mountains are beautiful snow covered. Love your new rug. Great colors! So very sorry to read about Michael’s unexpected visit to the hospital. Sure hope he is feeling better and on the mend. He has excellent care at home.
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Thanks Pam–He is feeling even better this morning.
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I have followed years, first time I have commented. I’m glad that Mike is better, and I think you should be an advocate for patients! I remember you are retired nurse. We live in Green Valley, Az, and 6 months in Tigard Oregon(8 miles from Portland). The best to you and Mike! Rawn Stone
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Thanks for commenting Rawn! I’ve often thought of being a patient advocate but when traveling that sort of thing is harder to do. Green Valley isn’t far from our winter home.
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Thanks for your reply! Well maybe next Winter we can stop by and visit you 3! Along with my wife, and our ten lbs bundle of joy, Peanut! We recused her 2 and a half years ago, and she loves all people young and old, and all doggies. She’s a joy!
Hope your Cowboy is getting better each day! Take care, Rawn
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We do love our doggies don’t we! Mike is improving rapidly.
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So glad u & Cowboy r back together at home again. Yes this c19 thing has really changed everything in our world & brought out the best & worst in so many ways. The pictures were great & glad the cowboy liked the new rug too. Hope things stay calm for you both for awhile now. Chloe
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Good to hear from you Chloe! I have dark days when I wonder if we will ever go back to our normal. Thanks for commenting!
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Sooooo happy to get to the end and read Michael is home and feeling better! Hope all continues to just get better and better each day. Your rug (and your living room) are gorgeous! The snow covered mountains and awesome moon shot brightened my day and put a smile on my face! Thanks for sharing all that beauty! Gay
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It was good to get to the end of Wednesday and be able to write that he was home and doing well! Thanks for the remarks about the photos–even if it’s cold and snowing this morning at least it makes for nice photos!
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Oh my! Kidney stones are no fun. It is good he had you as a patient advocate. Take care I’d both you and cowboy. Stress is no fun.
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I wish this patient advocate had been able to do more. Another nurse friend is of the opinion hospitals did the wrong thing by restricting all family. If you and the patient have been together 24/7, you aren’t going to pose any more risk than the patient. And patient families help the nurses–at least I always did!
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I helped as well. When Farmguy spent 40days in the hospital a few yrs ago, I stayed in his room which kept him calmer and did many of his cares and the hallway walks. That lowered his frustration as he didn’t have to wait (he is not all that patient) and freed up the staff to help others who were alone. I am sure you would have been able to do even better than I did
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Wow–40 days! That was a terrible ordeal for you both! And yes, we do help, a lot! Maybe that’s why the nurses aren’t calling us–there are too busy because the patient’s families aren’t there to help??
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Oh Janna! Glad Mike is home and on the mend, not a fun experience all the way around. I agree about the meds issue. Sometimes I think the world has gone crazy and we’ll wake up and find it’s all a dream! Hugs to you both!
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This is not a good time to be sick! My mom (age 90) fainted and fell flat on her face. We rushed her to Wickenburg emergency room….they whisked her away …transferred her to Phoenix…and we never saw her again for FIVE DAYS! Her and our worse nightmare! They said there were two reasons a family member could come in….birth or death. Good lord…
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OMG! How terrifying for her and you!
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Horrible, horrible and unacceptable. My mother fell last night and again today, my sister took her to the ER and same thing–had to drop an 83 year old woman with memory issues at the door. Unacceptable!!!
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Donna, I hope this dream ends soon!!
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Phil knows just what Mike is going through. Several years ago he spent 3 days in VA where they went through his back to remove his stone, place a drain tube and put a stent in. He was so glad to get the stent out. Of course I could be with him back then-the good ole days. Glad Mike is home where he can get some rest and tlc
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Oh wow! Phil does know! In two weeks we go back to have the stent removed and hopefully the stone. It was hard not being with Mike, really hard!
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Soany reasons to say “oh my God”. Happy he is home and doing well, happy you are not in jail.. yet… Janna, and I feel your pain. So much has gone to hell in a handbasket in this world. Hope to see you soon.
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If I knew who you were, I might look forward to seeing you too! 🙂 🙂 🙂 And yes, there is too much wrong in our world right now!
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Here’s a big old Texas Get Well Soon to Mike. I learned a long time ago Drs don’t always listen and by the time they do I want to snatch them bald headed.
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Thanks Carolyn–Mike is on the mend.
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Trusting the Cowboy is being restored to his wonderful self!
I’ve heard the pain is comparable to child birth. Ugh!
Prayers for him and you. 🙏
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He said he had always been asked that question, “what is your pain on a scale of 1-10” and answered a 5 or 6. He said any pain he had ever had was now a one and this kidney stone pain was a TEN plus!!
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So glad to hear Cowboy is home! I would be just as angry as you. I have a friend who lost his wife. She was put in the ambulance, taken to the hospital, and he wasn’t allowed in the ER. When she died, he had to put n gloves, mask, gown and was only allowed to tell her goodbye for 10 minutes through a glass door.
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That is a horrible story about your friend and I keep hearing the same thing from everyone. It was a mistake for hospitals to restrict our access to loved ones. And if I can help it, I won’t be restricted from going with Michael again. I may get arrested!😁
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Having been hospitalized twice with kidney stones I know the pain involved, the stents, and the meds. All the best to Mike and I hope he doesn’t have to go through that again. I like your new rug:))
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Thanks Al–Mike was thinking he remembered your having had kidney stones–happened when you were in the US didn’t it??
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So glad to hear he’s better. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about the lack of phone contact to see how he was doing, etc. This virus shouldn’t turn people’s care into an impossible task…families are THE most important thing after a patient receives care. Don’t deny that.
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Thanks Barb–I’m on a bandwagon and soapbox now!
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