Recovery
A/N: For my readers with little medical terminology knowledge here is a guide to help you later in this chapter:
1)p.o- by mouth 5)qid- four times a day
2) prn- as needed 6)qam- every morning
3)bid- twice a day 7)qpm- every evening
4)tid- three times a day 8)ou- both eyes
Part 2
Jing-Mei walks over to Erik's bed and sits down. He pulls away from her and won't even look at her.
Jing-Mei: Still a little jumpy there, sweetheart?
Erik ignores her.
Jing-Mei: Dave, what is the matter?
Erik: E..e..rrr..ik. I...I E...r..i...k.
Jing-Mei: Alright, Erik. What's wrong?
Erik thinks for a moment. He furiously scratches his head which is still covered with the knitted cap that Mrs. Peterson made.
Erik: DDD..Du..mp...e...mmmmmm..me.
Jing-Mei: What's that supposed to mean?
Dr. Jackson intervenes.
Dr. Jackson: I think he's upset because you haven't been by to see him, since he was admitted here. He thinks you deserted him.
Jing-Mei: I didn't Da..I mean Erik. (pause)I thought you understood that I couldn't come. Not that I didn't want to, it's just...Capt. Amos said that it wouldn't be a good idea if I came right away and Dr. Jackson agreed.
Dr. Jackson: Erik, she wanted to come over the day after we got you settled but I thought it best that you not have any distractions. It's important that when you start your rehabilitation that you do it with only one thing on your mind---recovery. The other fringe benefits will come later once your on your way. (pause) Besides, you were still unconscious for the first two weeks after you arrived. So, I doubt you would have even of known that she was there.
Erik(pointing at his wife): Y..you lo...ve mmmm.e
Jing-Mei(smiling): Of course I love you.
Erik(grinning): Mmm..me too, y...yy..you.
Dr. Jackson: Alright, now that's settled. You two have a nice visit. I have to get back to work.
Jing-Mei: Thank you, Dr. Jackson.
Dr. Jackson leaves as Jing-Mei sits on Erik's bed. She holds his hand and they smile at each other.
Jing-Mei: How are you feeling, baby?
Erik nods.
Jing-Mei: That's good. Any pain? Are they giving you enough pain medicine.
Erik shrugs.
Jing-Mei: I'll check your chart and make sure. So, you're looking better.
Erik: T....ank y...u, Z...i...g uh, Z..n----Ch...i....n. T...ank..y.o.u. C..h..i.n
Jing-Mei: Your speech is getting better. Your getting there. Keep working on it.
Jing-Mei gets up from the bed and starts to look around.
Jing-Mei: Nice room they gave you. Great view.
Erik: R...oo..m h..os.ital be..t..er..l..i..ke. (shaking his head) No. L...i..k..e ro..om ... be. no (frustrated) r...o..o.m
Angry, Erik keeps hitting his legs with his fists.
Erik: D...m.. E...r...iii...k d...u...mmm
Jing-Mei moves back over to the bed and grabs his hands, stopping him from hitting himself.
Jing-Mei: Dave, uh...Erik. Stop that! You've got enough bruises. You don't need anymore. You aren't dumb. It's just your aphasia. Your doing great given everything you've had done to you. Please, you know I don't like hearing you put yourself down.
Erik raises his head to look at his wife, with tears in his eyes.
Jing-Mei: You know what next week is. It's your birthday and I'm going to have a very special birthday present for my big guy.
Erik nods excitedly.
Jing-Mei: Only if you do as your doctors and therapists tell you to. I want to hear some good reports about you when I come back and visit again. Okay.
Erik: K....k..ay.
The door to Erik's room opens and his primary care physician walks in.
Dr. Butler: How's it going today, Mr. Evad?
Erik: E.....e.r..i.k.
Jing-Mei: He likes to be called Erik. He's not the formal type.
Jing-Mei stands up and holds her hand out to the doctor.
Jing-Mei: Hi. I'm Dr. Ji..uh, Dr. Deb Chen. I've decided to volunteer some of my time to the center and Erik here is my first patient. We've just been getting acquainted. Nice to meet you.
Dr. Butler: You too. I'm Dr. Butler. I'm Mr. Evad's...
Erik slams his fist onto a nearby table.
Dr. Butler: Sorry, I mean I'm Erik's main doctor. I'll be monitoring his condition while he's at the center.
Jing-Mei: So, how's he doing? Not causing any trouble, is he?
Dr. Butler: No, as it goes. He's one of my most quietest, obedient patients.
Jing-Mei: That's a first.
Dr. Butler: Excuse me.
Jing-Mei: Uh, nothing. It's nothing. Are you getting ready to examine him, now?
Dr. Butler: No, actually I have to start training him on his meds. You know, when to take them, how to take them, side effects--all that good stuff.
Jing-Mei: He knows all that.
Realizing her slip up, Jing-Mei slowly puts her hand to her mouth, unnoticed by Dr. Butler.
Dr. Butler: How? (grabbing Erik's chart and skimming it) It says in his chart here, that Erik is a minor league hockey player. These are some very heavy duty medications he's on...now unless, he's had some kind of medical education then...
Jing-Mei(interrupting): Well, I was told that he's a transplant patient, as well as a heart and respiratory patient, so I assume that he was educated on all these meds before.
Dr. Butler: I'm sure that he was, but I always make it a point to go over, with every patient of mine about how to take their medication--until they have it down packed. Anyway, he's always had his meds administered to him or had help with them. Part of his regimen here, will be to learn to take these by himself--without help. It's one step closer to being able to care for himself on the outside.
Jing-Mei: Good idea. Do you mind if I stay and watch?
Dr. Butler: Not at all. If you are going to spend a lot of time with him, you can help me teach him. (pause) By the way Dr. Chen, what kind of doctor are you, anyhow?
Jing-Mei: I'm..a...ER...doctor. I just moved to this city and am looking for a residency but until I find a steady job, I decided to keep my skills up by helping out here.
Dr. Butler: Smart move. Why don't you speak with Human Resources about getting hired over here?
Jing-Mei: I...thought about that...but I'm an ER...doctor. It's always been a dream of mine...you know, trauma, excitement...taking a near-dead body and bringing life back into it.
Erik yawns.
Dr. Butler: I guess we had better get started before he falls asleep on us.
Jing-Mei: Right.
Dr. Butler: Okay, Erik. Let's get started with your heart medicine. First, you want to make sure when you apply your nitroglycerin patch, you place it on your upper chest or arms. Not on any hairy areas or scarred tissue.
Jing-Mei: Which given his medical records isn't going to be easy. He's got scars all over.
Dr. Butler: Well, the doctors at the hospital where he came from managed to find a spot, so we use the same spot. Next, if under any circumstances you get chest pains, you take one of these small pills and place one under your tongue and let it sit there. DO NOT BITE OR SWALLOW IT. You can repeat it in 5 minutes if you still have chest pains. It may be repeated up to 3 times within 5 minute intervals. If you continue to experience chest pains, call a doctor or nurse.
-Isosorbide 60mg, 1 tablet p.o qam before breakfast. Take with water.
-Norvasc- 1 tablet p.o. bid. Take with water.
-Albuterol inhaler- 2 puffs qid.
-Combivent inhaler- 2 puffs bid prn.
-Prograf- now this is extremely important because this is one of your transplant rejection meds. Take 5 tablets bid. Don't drink grapefruit juice with this medication. Make sure you take it with water.
-Lasix 40mg- 2 tablets bid. Take with water.
-Ibuprofen 800mg- 1 tablet qid prn. Take on a full stomach to avoid nausea.
-Ultram 50mg-1 tablet daily. Take with water on an empty or full stomach.
-Singulair-1 tablet qpm with water.
-Percocet 7.5mg- 1 tablet bid prn with water or milk. Take with food to avoid upset stomach.
-Effexor 75mg.-1 tablet tid prn. Take with water.
-Peridex- measure 4 teaspoons of liquid in a cup. Swish in mouth for 30 seconds then spit. Do not eat or drink anything for an hour after this medicine is taken to allow it to continue to work. This is going to protect your teeth and gums from some of the bacteria that you'll be getting from some of these other meds.
-Tobrex eye drops- 4 gtts bid ou.
-Dilantin 100mg.-1 tablet daily with water on full stomach.
-Imuran- 1 tablet bid with water on a full stomach. Hair loss and loss of appetite are possible side effects to this medicine.
Now Erik, most of the side effects of these meds are headaches, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, and depression. That's why they've given you the effexor. It's for anxiety. If you experience any other symptoms then these, let your nurses and doctors know.
Dr. Butler's beeper goes off.
Dr. Butler: I've got to go now. I'll be back later if you have any questions.
Dr. Butler leaves and Jing-Mei looks at disbelief at all the meds that Erik has to take a day.
Jing-Mei: That's like 31 pills a day. God! You poor thing. I'll take good care of you, though. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you.
Erik: L...l..uv..e..e., mme....me.
Jing-Mei: You better believe it, pal. I haven't even told you about the boys.
Erik seems uninterested but Jing-Mei continues, anyway.
Jing-Mei: They are getting so big. Rusty's going to start school tomorrow and Antonio, he's just 5 months now and should be crawling around soon. I'll have to get the house babyproofed.
Rusty is teaching Rascal to sit up now.
Erik's eyes pop at the mention of Rascal's name.
Erik: Pu...pp..py
Jing-Mei: Yes Erik, puppy.
Erik: Lu..lu..c..i..ano.
Jing-Mei: His name is Rascal, Da..Erik. Can you say that?
Erik: Raz...zz.a..l Ra..s.h..l
Jing-Mei: Close enough.
Jing-Mei looks at her watch.
Jing-Mei: Sorry Erik, I have to get home to the children.
Erik: R..a...c.a.l
Jing-Mei: Yes, Rascal too. I'll give them all your love. You take care and I'll be back to visit. Okay.
Erik nods. Jing-Mei kisses him and leaves. Erik, unable to keep his eyes open any longer, goes to sleep and starts to dream again as a smile appears on his face but tears run down his face.
Erik: W....a...an...t. L....lu..c..ano.
To be continued. Please read and review.