While you were sleeping...and had those sugarplum visions dancing through your brain....

I was xraying people who had eaten too many of those sugarplums... or turkey, or whatever. The last two nights have been increasingly fraught with patients with tummy problems. I talked to JD and Tyler last evening, and Tyler had been sick today too, so it's not just here in Topeka.

Wednesday night, I was standing at the desk in the ED, telling Nurse Dale about my arterial problems. Dr. McGovern was listening in, and he piped up, "Whassamatter, Doug, getting a little claudication when you walk to the Ambulance bay to smoke a cigarette?"

Well, I spent a few seconds trying to find a suitable answer, but I couldn't come up with anything original. "Fuck you, McGovern." was the best that I could do. Talk about kicking a guy when he's down!

-----06:12-----

About 03:00, I noticed that my legs were hurting even when I was just standing, and tingling when I was sitting. This is a change, and not a good one. I will be calling the Doctor as soon as he opens up, and hopefully I will be able to get it taken care of today. If they can balloon it or roto-rooter it, I will probably be back home tomorrow. If they have to do surgery, it may be a few days. At any rate, I will try to do an entry as soon as possible...

-----22:22-----

Karen just brought me home from the hospital: I am now the posessor of two "pretty good" iliac arteries. The procedure went smoothely, with Dr Allen (Who is one of my favorite radiologists) performing the procedure. There were two areas of narrowing on the left and one on the right that were ballooned. I had catheters in both femoral arteries.

Anyways, I feel pretty good, and I am going to do as recommended: go to bed. This has been a long old day, and I need my beauty sleep.

A more thorough explanation, including pictures, will be up tomorrow.