The charge nurse called last night to inform that Vernon’s arm was very swollen, so they’d contacted the vascular surgeon who’d worked on him Monday.  He said it was common after surgery to have some swelling and that they should ice it and elevate it.

When I arrived this morning, his arm still looked very swollen, especially around the elbow. His stitches looked jagged and crazy, probably because they were still so fresh. He was sleeping soundly and  didn’t want to wake up.  When I did wake him, he rejected the mat, which he usually enjoys. He complained about the pain in his arm and “everywhere.” He lashed out at me when I got near, threatening to kill me. He’s never talked like that before even in his confused anger. So that was…alarming. Sadly, I just realized he broke my favorite necklace from my neck earlier…sigh.

I asked the nurse to give him some pain meds. That calmed him down some. But I was worried. Although Vernon was assigned to a new doctor when Dr Kruse/Dr. Dan left three weeks ago, I believe he was on vacation or something when the switch happened, and though he may be getting caught up on his new charges, he has yet to meet Vernon or myself. So basically we are between doctors.

“if you can’t get ahold of the doctor right away, I’d like him to be sent to Emergency,” I told today’s charge nurse. She talked to her superior and left a message with the elusive doctor, then called the ambulance company, who came within a half hour. I wasn’t sure it was the right move, but I was only going to be there for a few hours and if I could meet him at hospital, I thought I could explain what was going on to the ER doctors.

She asked me if we should send him to Fountain Valley, where the surgery was done on Monday. “What? No! Hogue. Absolutely Hoag.”

I once had a boss whom I would overhear on the phone from time to time, tending to his business affairs. He would often ask whomever picked up on the other end: “I’d like to be expedited to your superior, please.”  I remember thinking, impressed: “Can a person DO that?  I’ve kept the memory with me all these years and I recalled it today.  That’s what it felt I was doing. Or maybe I was taking the role of physicians assistant (without a physician.) Dr. Dan taught me well.

The ER nurse was especially concerned when I mentioned his behavior. Of course by the time he emerged from his Norco-nap, he was more pleasant and answered most of the questions asked of him.

I left at that point to get the kids. I knew he was in good hands, though I did keep telling the nurse, “I’m really not prone to panic. I just needed to get him some care that I trust. And we have to catch things before they get worse with him. But really, I don’t even take my kids to the doctor when they are sick.”

She nodded, ” Better safe than sorry. It’s the things you think are small that are often the big things.” She was worried about her 5 year old child who was sick last night. It’s so good to be reminded that people in health care have families too. I felt better about my decision.

I got a call tonight that his arm ultrasound had come back negative for infection. I was also told that he’d had another violent reaction to one of the nurses once his pain pill had worn off, so it seemed that all of that was due to his severe post-surgery pain. I’ve asked that they make sure he has more of that for the next couple of days, but I intend for it to be only a temporary fix. I still feel strongly about having him on much heavy meds, and want to avoid them as much as possible.  Still, he obviously needs more today.

So that’s another day down in the life of Vernon and Allison Adams. Oh…and also I saw a massive rainbow over our street.

I saw one yesterday too. You bet I’m keeping track.