Donna in Hollywoodland

Morning of Day Two in the Hospital

About 6 am, a Nurse comes by and suggested "Your doctor would be really happy if she heard you were up walking around".
Well, that does it for me. I am out of that bed as fast as my IV-on-a-cart will let me.

The nurse gives me an extra hospital gown to wear backwards so my rear end is covered, and I go waddling down the hallway, leaning on my IV-with-wheels.
Hmmm, turning corners throws me alittle off balance. It must be that painkiller I requested a 4am.

The hospital floor is kind of like a donut-shape, with the nurses stations in the middle. So I walk around the Nurses stations about three times.

Then I notice that there are 2 men, in my age range, also walking around the circle.
One of them also with an IV-on-wheels, and he makes little jokes as we pass eachother like "Bet I finish first", like its a race. I notice he has not requested an extra hospital gown, and had to hold the gown shut in the back with one hand.
The other man in my age range, is walking by himself with no IV - and he's put on some tight underwear and is just walking around with the gown open in the back.
Gee, I just had surgery yesterday, but I am still looking at men. Wow, I guess I am still alive.

Oh, No - then I realize - I have no makeup on. My hair is probably a mess. And I must look awful.
I waddle over to the nurse and tell her that I would like to wash my face and brush my teeth.

When she brings the items to my room, I make sure I say to her "Oh, thank you so much for telling me to walk this morning. I feel so much better now. That was such a great idea. I am glad you suggested it."
I have been smoozing the nurses like this ever since the anesthesia wore off. Totally being as sweet as pie, and kissing up to them.
Well, first, they do deserve it. I mean, some of the other patients aren't so nice to them. Its so easy to be grumpy when you are sick.
And second, it paid off. Even though my room was for two people, they never put another person in with me. And the hospital floor was somewhat full too.
I had one big room to myself the whole time I was there.
I don't know if the reason I had the room to myself, but the smoozing sure didn't hurt.

I did manage to wash my face and brush my teeth and put on makeup - all with an IV attached. But I got the front of my gown all wet.
So the nurses had to come help me change it. When they saw I put on my makeup they were giggling and made a fuss.
I told them "Hey, there are men out in the hallway."

I went for another spin with my IV-on-a-cart, around the floor, and told the nurses I would do more after breakfast.
Then when I got back I made a big decision : I am not getting back in that hospital bed.
I scooted a chair over with my hips and pushed it with my feet (stitches in armpit), and then put the bed tray next to it. I was all set to watch TV.

Breakfast arrived. It was a scrambled egg, two little pieces of ham, oatmeal and an english muffin, along with coffee.
I asked the food serve person if they had Decaf, and she looked at me confused. I said "Never mind, I'll just drink half of it."
I ate everything on the plate. Except the ham - I took one bite, and thought of the additives and preservatives and said "Forget it."