OPERATIONS & DIALYSIS
The operations I can remember. I am not sure on the operations while I was in a coma.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
My name is Kevin Vermaak and I live with Primary Sclerosis Cholangitis and this is what I can remember from the Operations.
Introduction
The operations I can remember. I am not sure on the operations while I was in a coma. The first one I really didn’t care. I was so out of it I think I signed paperwork with an "X". I had just come out of a sleep and was starting to come to terms with what had happened.
The Doctor came in one morning and said I’m going for a operation tomorrow, how do I feel? I was always a happy guy so spirits were high.
The Doctor told me they are going to put a pip in me to keep my bile duct open and explained how the procedure was going to happen, how I will feel afterwards and the expectation was for the future. My Doctors were great and I really thought I was in good hands.
The big day came and a Porter came to get me. Those okes are cool also. The guy that came to get me, looked like he knew his way around the place. I was meeting people signing papers, it was crazy and then it got quiet. I met the Anaesthetist and just spoke about what I have and my kids. I always try and stay awake for as long as possible.
I woke up feeling ok and someone had a new accessory. The drain got put in. It was said to drain all the Bile from my Liver.
That thing leaked ever couple of days, what a mission.
The other operations after that was exactly the same, the only difference was the TIME. It was so relaxed, eventually. everything became very casual, they knew me so well.
The Anaesthetist changed all the time though. I think that got out sourced. Anyway, I met a Anaesthetist from good old Port Elizabeth. We spoke about the name change and the good old days. It was nice talking to someone local.
We spoke for a bit, once again I tried to beat the system and go for along time before the Milky-White Anesthetize Cocktail put me to bed.
And once again I woke up feeling ok.
Welcome to the Hospital Ward
Mr. Wolmarans
This was the first patient I had a proper conversation with. It was only myself and Mr Wolmarans in the ward/room. He was much older that me.
He hardly spoke. He was always on his own mission. I can’t remember, I think it was 2 nights I shared a room with him.
One night he asked me to call the nurse because his pacemaker was zapping him. I did. The nurse came in, I told her that he called because his pacemaker was zapping him. He was told to have some water.
The next morning, I woke up and his bed was like a soldier’s bed, all clean and made up. I asked a nurse the next morning where he went to and she said:” he passed away.” I was in shock.
Mr. Erasmus
This toppie was lots of fun. Myself and Mr. Erasmus plotted our escape every day. He was Diabetic and always got an extra sandwich around 10:00pm. When I asked the nurse if I could have one, she said its because he is a Diabetic. No, you can’t get one.
I used to wheel myself around the hospital when I got bored and always said hi to the Security Guard, that guy was funny, I always told him: “I’m going to break out of here” he would entertain me. Mr Erasmus and I shared a room for about a month, I think. We would be in and out of the room going on our daily appointments weather it be Physio, Psych, Occupational Therapy or Just Chill. Once all that was done, we would watch TV or sleep.
That guy was awesome. He even owned a farm which I asked if I can rent some land to grow my cannabis, which I proceeded to show him all kinds of pictures on my phone of strains. I think he thought I was joking.
Die Matrone
The Boss of the ICU Ward! You can see when someone is the Head of a Team/Social Gathering/Ward etc. This woman didn’t take shit, you could see. Anyway the one day I found myself singing “ You got the Whole World in His Hands” the song from CONAIR, with Nicolas Cage. We were on my bed and it was me and two Nurses and the Matroon. You could see that most of it was forced but sing we did. I never did that in my life, ever. I think that got me in her good books.
She was also the person that encouraged me to watch some TV and Sit Up (in a Chair, instead of Lying in the Bed). I was really down in the dumps. This is where I also realised that everything I do, from now on is going to be so hard. I wonder if I can do it.
DIALYSIS
This procedure was ok except for the person doing the Dialysis. I’m going to tell you this procedure in detail, so you can hear the frustration in my voice and how angry this person made me feel.
No one should ever have to endure this and what I went through. The procedure was first handled by this person and then later someone else as the first person got fired which we sort of all knew was coming.
I never want to wish anyone bad but this person has everything coming to them and they probably deserve it. I was not told how to behave when they started moving me around pipes and cables everywhere etc. All I was told was to keep still.
I suppose when life is tough at home and things aren’t going your way, its easier to pick on those that are helpless. I was just lying there and I remember the person in question saying:” look at him just staring with his beady eyes. That’s all I could do! I was practically dying and wondering what is happening. No compassion, no sympathy. If I could muster enough strength and knew what was really wrong with me at the time, I would of lost my shit and probably done something I regret.
I had to do this for 4 hours a session. I had to lay still for 4 hours and look at the ceiling. All I could hear was this person moan about how tough life was and fight with the Matroon about keeping her job. “ please don’t get someone else”, I heard her say. And then all she does is moan the whole time.
The conversation, while blood was being pumped out and in my body was about the taxi drive to the hospital. Wow, some people must not do this job. They cause people to want to die. Every time was the same with her.
Serious, she would come and set up the equipment and literally beg them not to fire her. Never mind about poor little me fighting for my life and listing to her moan about how unfair life is. Trust me when I say, it was much worse than it sounds. She was horrible and I’m glad she got fired.