D+16 — What Was The Plan, Again?

(Midday, Thursday)

The only things that seem certain right now are (1) that I am having two procedures today, one to put in a PICC line (a line going in just above my elbow) and one to remove my current jugular line, and (2) that the doctors are aiming to discharge me today.

I have heard "getting discharged" and "going home" used interchangeably, and given my experience the first time around, we were operating under the assumption that, in our case, they both meant returning to Champaign. Yesterday, my doctor made it clear that his definition was, leaving the hospital but staying fairly close. Since we live two-and-a-half hours away, "going home" excludes Champaign in my attending doctor's definition.

For round one, in the winter, my main doctor (not my current attending) was willing to make an exception because I was very stable and, despite all I went through, I had come through fairly strong.

Anyway, we were completely unprepared for this development, so we have been scrambling to find an acceptable place nearby. There are not many options.

On the other hand, we are more comfortable with staying near the hospital for a week or so than with going back to Champaign. I'm not as strong as I was upon discharge in the winter, and sticking close offers some comfort.

We have a reservation at a Hampton Inn 24 miles from the hospital (mostly highway).

We have a lead on a furnished apartment available for short-term least only a couple of miles from the hospital. Not sure about wi-fi, which would be essential for Jan and very useful for me.

We won't know if the Magnificent Mile condo that some friends have let Jan use in the past is available this weekend until this afternoon, but we suspect it is not.

We don't know if staying in the hospital into the weekend is an option.

(Mid-afternoon, Thursday)

The social worker has given us a lead on an apartment within two miles of the hospital. It looks fantastic. We also checked out a couple of extended stay hotels about 20 miles away.

Jan has rented a car, so that Jake and Paul can have a car, and is heading up to Chicago. Unfortunately for her, it is heavily perfumed to cover the smell of smoking. So, she is driving with the windows open, cold and nauseated.

I now have a PICC line in my left arm.

(Late afternoon, Thursday)

I get a very apologetic call from the nurse practitioner in charge of discharging. She and others who would be involved in the paperwork needed for my discharge have not been able to do what they need to do for me, due to an emergency on the floor for most of the afternoon. So the new plan is to stay one more night and have my jugular line removed tomorrow morning.

I'm OK with this development, though it's too bad that Jan had to rush up here this afternoon when it turns out she could have come up tomorrow morning.

As the nurse continues to apologize, I interrupt her. First, I understand that I am not the only patient. Second, I'm grateful the emergency wasn't me. Third, I think this actually works well for me. It allows me to have a night unconnected to the IV pole but still with nursing attention as needed. It's like a dry run for being out of the hospital.

(Early evening, Thursday)

The apartment is physically very nice, reports Jan, but it has a serious and probably disqualifying flaw. Like the car, it is redolent with what is sold as "air freshener" but which instead recreates the experience of being stuck in a broken elevator with someone who wears way too much cologne or perfume. All night. It nauseates Jan, and there is no way she can sleep there. Jan wonders if I would be able to sleep there either.

Right now, we're hoping the apartment complex has another apartment that hasn't been stink-bombed, but we suspect the air fresheners may be policy rather than an anomaly.

(Later in the evening)

The air freshener is apartment complex policy. Somebody in charge thinks it is better than the miscellaneous foreign smells (Chinese food, curry) left behind by some of the guests. We are working with one of the owners (who is out of town) and with the caretaker to see if an extended period of airing out will help. Give us curry anytime.

Jan may stay in the hospital tonight, choosing the nightly interruptions over the air freshener. And we may have to find another place to stay.