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The Journey Continues The Patient
By Sheila Osburn
23, Apr 2002 - 06:51

Last Monday the 15th, I had an appointment in Denver, Colorado about 70 miles from where I live in Colorado Springs. My appointment was at National Jewish Hospital, to meet with an immunologist specialist to find out what is going on with me. As mentioned in past stories during my Lenten Journey I set out to find the old me and found a new me, one I certainly was not looking for, especially a new me that has some underlying illness. You may recall I was an Emergency Medical Technician on an Ambulance for years and my husband is a Paramedic. I am a terrible patient.

We left early in the morning to not get delayed in stand still rush hour traffic in Denver. During the drive all I could think about is, I should have taken better care of myself. Hindsight is great! I was nervous. It was a beautiful Colorado day with the most incredible Colorado blue sky! We arrived in Denver and to the hospital on time. It felt like I was in a herd of cattle waiting, with other cattle, just quietly sitting waiting for our names to be called. I wondered why are these other people here? (People come to this hospital from all over the world) I wondered are they going to die? Will I soon? But yet at the same time I felt numb and also that this was almost surreal. My husband and I waited and waited, finally after about 30 minutes, my name was called along with the other cattle. We moved to the triage area, the nurse chastised me for wearing patchouli oil and then proceeded to tell me about her wild escapades of her weekend. What do you do? I was at her mercy!

After that process (I know this is one of the most exciting articles you have ever read, yawn) we were ushered to a waiting area, and waited for a long time an eternity it seemed. Finally the doctor's office door opened, we met Dr. James Jones, a very laid-back, seemingly quite person, extremely intelligent, and, by the Grace of God, I was blessed to get in to see him. One of the tests Dr. Jones performed on me was for me to close my eyes and walk heel to toe, I couldn’t do it I fell over, I was very angry and afraid. I was told this could be due to an ear problem. I was hoping for a quick diagnosis get in get out life goes on. Not so this journey will continue for a long time, many tests await me. Three days later I ended up in the emergency room here in Colorado Springs with an infection a form of strep in my other leg, just like before. The greatest blessing as mentioned before I believe God protected me and led me to where I am now. My symptoms are varied, many, and can be vague. It is very easy for a Doctor to just tell someone they are depressed, or simply do not listen, because of the complexity and at least in the US time constraints. My hope from me writing this is you know your body better than anyone, and if you believe something is not right, you are not feeling well, be vocal, find someone who will listen to you, realize not all Doctors are capable of doing so. Learn form me listen to yourself, listen to your body. I admit it I have been very child-like, through this whole ordeal. My husband is a saint! I am doing better in that acceptance is the key, acceptance that, okay, something is not the same with me, I will get better! I still am amazed when I open my heart where God leads me. I repeat this is not what I had in mind; again I am on a journey so who knows where this will lead?

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