Revolt in the Revolting ICU, Miracle MS Walk?

The ICU was becoming less fun. Constant needle sticking was growing old. Lack of any information on results of tests was just insane. I felt better and wanted out. I drew the line. I wanted OUT. No bath for me the entire time; my hair washed only once when I asked for it. (My hair felt dirtier afterwards.) Teeth went unbrushed unless I asked. And THIS was one of Seattle's best hospitals? Milkshakes were dull and it simply was time to go home.

A "Rehab" guy was sent to make sure I could walk on my own okay. (Did I mention a bed pan was left under me for an hour once, even after I called for removal?) The youngster, er, I mean, the young man brought along another young man for observation. Let me repeat: He wanted to make sure I could walk before releasing me. Obviously a lot of research into my records was done before he arrived.

This reminded me of shortly after my hysterectomy when I asked my Dr. if I would be able to play the piano now. He said, "Only if you could play it before," with no smile and without missing a beat. DRAT! And that is why I love older doctors---they've heard it all before.

"I can't walk," I calmly told the boy, er, PT. "Well, how do you get to the toilet at home?"
"I use a power chair and have a set-up."
"Okay. Move to that chair." He gestured to a chair across the room. Now, I could have said many...things, but I politely responded, "Are you serious?"
"Don't worry," he tweeted, I will help you."
"How so?"
"I will keep you from falling." I clearly out weighed him by 20lbs., and nearly his height.
Soooo, without hesitation I reached out from the bed with my long arm, grabbed his shirt, and literally pulled him out of his shoes. He turned red.
"You think I am weak. Would you have caught me then?" He and his friend left, never to return.

That got me thinking, the entire time I was there I got no ROM (range of motion) exercises; course why would I expect THAT when I wasn't even being washed? Later that night a perky, older woman (PT) stopped by. "I heard you had some trouble with David," she laughed. Word travels fast in the gossipy, hospital family. She proceeded to apologize for him, that he didn't understand MS, and what could she do for me. ROMs were done for 10 minutes and I never saw her again.

The next day I was rolled out of ICU into an open, but private...cubicle. The infectious disease doctor stopped by and we had a civilized fight. It ended by his saying, "I don't want to argue with you." (Ah, the death of discourse. He thought I should stay. I asked for one good reason why and what more could he look for? He had no reply.) My MD "Bob"-ha ha) stopped by and I said, "You can't keep me here like this. If you can't find anything wrong, I want to go home."

"OK," he said, to which I gleefully shouted, "I LOVE you!" He said back, "I love you too!" We both laughed and a few hours later an ambulance arrived to take me home.

Again, I had never seen the snow or ice I heard so much talk about, but I only lived a few blocks away---what could go wrong???

TO BE CONTINUED...