June 22, 2010

• N. Krushed!

   I watched Portugal slaughter the poor North Korean team this morning in World Cup.  This resulted in a 7-0 win for Portugal and NorKor was eliminated from the game.  I felt so sorry for them.  I just kept thinking about how the poor goalie's family was probably being shipped off to some labor camp right then.... sigh. 

  Anyway, the thing is, I watched it from my hospital bed.  I picked up a pretty nasty bug (in Europe?) that turned into this out-of-control respiratory infection.  Now I'm hooked up to all sorts of crazy strong antibiotics.  It looks like I'll be here for another day or so.  Nothing to worry about, the docs say I'm fine now.  Lungs are clear, I just have to finish the cycle of antibiotics. It will be good to go home and resume normal life though.  The week after I got back from Paris, I was so sick I couldn't think.  I just went to work, somehow got through that, and then home to sleep.  It took me like 4 days to even unpack. 

  I wasn't getting any better, which was scary.  Scarier still is being in the hospital.  I sometimes think of myself as being stronger than I am (maybe?)  Being in here as really knocked me on my ass physically and mentally.  I need to try and stay healthier.  Also, I never really understood the saying, "be your own health advocate" until now.  I've had to fend for my right to life, liberty, and happiness everyday in the hospital.  I was totally unprepared and unaware of the state of care in American hospitals (the hospital I was in in Japan seemed much different). This has added a whole new dimension to my survival goals;

  Never give 100% of your trust to health care providers.  Sure everyone is super friendly, but they will get your name wrong, get your food wrong, loose your medicine, forget your medicine, try to give your extra medicine.... the list goes on and on.  It will hurt, there will be side-effects and you will get no sleep. You must know your shit yourself! The hospital now does seem like a place people go to die.

  Also, I had a picc line put in.  I don't even want to go into it, but I have never been more emotionally disturbed by any medical procedure.  I know in my head that it is helping me, but somehow, I feel like I'm not human anymore... just inorganic and toxic.

  The good thing is, Kyohei and friends have been super awesome!  I'm grateful for your time and support... and the presents.

  • 1:16 am
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