Bimmer 09 sails APEX to Iceland June 2023

[pretty princess]

Welcome Home.  Take care and rest. This is the best news

[perfect match]

Norris, I’m so very glad to hear that you’re back home and feeling better. Remember though, that this is just the next stage of recovery. No relapsing please! 
 

Carol, thank you very much for all of your updates on Norris. Please be sure that you’re taking care of yourself as well. It’s so easy when you’re in a caretaker role, even temporarily, for someone you love to neglect your own needs because you’re so busy taking care of them. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way for sure and yet still catch myself and needing to regroup.

[Altamar]

Great! Please take care.

[tcmagnum]

9 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

       THANK YOU EVERYONE!

I have just come home after 5 days in the hospital and am feeling much better. My thanks to everyone who sent good wishes. Too many to reply to individually, alas.

I had asked Carol to let you know why I wasn't writing- I was tied up in wires and bristling like a porcupine with tubes. Home now with a list of drugs and future specialist appointments.

I will finish up the GSJ tomorrow and summarize and give an update on our next cruise.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Norris, with thanks.

So glad to see this update this morning.

We may not know you personally but many of us were worried.

Rest up and get ready for your next adventure!!!

[montythecat]

Such great news. Now be a good boy and take the greatest care

of yourself.

[macsford]

Norris, I am so pleased that you are able to be at home. However not recovered yet so just rest and continue getting well again.

Sending all good wishes to both.

[manunia]

Norris, i am so happy to hear you are back home.

please, take it easy with everything to get better sooner.

Carol, your guarding angel, was keeping us up to date.

Healing thoughts your way

[Jasperdo]

So happy to hear you are out of sick bay. Time to get out on deck and smell the ocean air.

[Bimmer09]

THE HOSPITAL VISIT

You realize how lucky you (usually) are when, like Carol and

I, you sit in an emergency room for 6 hours on a Sunday and watch the sick and wounded come in for treatment which they might wait for 2 to 3 hours while more urgent cases pass throughTriage in stages.

I got oxygen within 2 minutes of registering and Triage within the first 30 minutes. There was no Guinness I learned but remained optimistic. I had an EKG an hour later in Triage.

The 6 hour wait was for a bed as I was going to have to stay for the night. We arrived at 6 p.m and at midnight I had a room just off the emergency area. Carol had to go home at midnight as it was so late.

It wasn't quiet enough to sleep, particularly when I could hear a suicidal girl tell the nurses she doesn't want this life. Just let me die. There but for fortune.

At 3 a.m when I was dozing off as the hubbub died down I was wheeled through the corridors to a quieter room on the floor above. I wasn't in Intensive care but that's where the intensive care and a rigorous schedule of waking me up to prod and poke and question and draw blood began. I got 3 hours of sleep during my first night (Monday morning)

A Doctor came to see me-prod, poke, questions and told me she was having me moved to a higher floor "in about an hour or so". That was at 11 a.m. Carol came to visit. Was moved at 6 p.m to the 13th floor where I had a scary "can't breathe" incident and within 2 minutes there were 5 people in the room to help including a doctor. My oxygen was increased to just under max.

This was a big private room with it's own big bathroom, an electric bed that can fold you like a pretzel, tilt in all directions, raise your feet so they point at the ceiling etc. It also had furniture, enough for 5 visitors. It had a remote for the TV, lights and to get a nurse. It had a door!!! This was my new base camp until release on Thursday at 6 p.m. I was hooked to the oxygen with a 20 ft long tube so I could use the bathroom. 

I began a diet of antibiotics and steroids and machines like this did my IVs at night- 2 different drugs in sequence with a back-up. 

 

My care was around the clock including the parts of the clock where one is usually sleeping so having 3 vials of blood drawn at 4 a.m was normal. Blood 4 times a day, inhalator 6 times, vitals checked 6 times. Someone would come from "Nutrition" to have me choose what I wanted for breakfast lunch and dinner which was appreciated. The cuisine was not as good as Eden as I had hoped and the plating lacked finesse but I ate whatever it was. Like a sea day when it's cloudy the meals were the highlights of my day.

At least I had a private and quiet room

 With a view

 

 

Each day I would have 5 doctors visit, including the Resident Physician and they'd take turns poking and prodding and listening to my heart and lungs. I got a few laughs from them as an ice-breaker and from then on they were more casual.

Yesterday I was taken off oxygen and tested during a walk around the floor outside and set off at a rapid pace with two nurses following behind with oxygen just incase. I managed to pass the test after 2 walks totalling 0.9 miles (laps). They let me go after a last dose of steroids via IV and we got a ride share home.

Throughout my stay all the staff were very attentive and helpful and showed my best interests to be their priority. Very reassuring.

I have some recovery ahead, a bunch of drugs and steroids, inhalers and a stream of specialist follow-up visits and tests but I am home and ready to bring this GSJ into port!

Thanks for following!

Norris

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by Bimmer09
punctuation

[Bimmer09]

13 hours ago, JulsInAZ said:

Glad to hear you're home again!

 

I've only just discovered your travelogues and have been bingeing your past ones while you've been away. So much information and such engaging writing! Thank you so much for taking the time to write them all.

 

Hope your recovery goes swimmingly!

Thanks for reading and I'm glad you discovered my past reviews/rambles/GSJ -there are about 20 by now so you've not seen them all I imagine. This is surprisingly one of my shortest but was written after I got home from Amsterdam not feeling well and by now you know how that turned out.

Great to have you along!

Norris

[MJSailors]

Norris-Very glad that you have recovered enough to go home.

Resting at home in familiar surroundings can be the best medicine.

Although , I have to say that your hospital room was quite deluxe as it was a private room with an en suite bathroom and a view!

I am not surprised that you have written a review of your hospital stay, but where are the food photos ?😀

Sending continued good wishes for continued recovery.

I have had bouts of pneumonia and double pneumonia in my time. It is no joke. Rest and taking the meds will bring you to feeling fine-it just takes time.

Wishing you and Carol a good day!

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

[Bimmer09]

MJ I am very fussy about food plating of dinners but here's a photo of a lunch. I had already eaten half of the sandwich. The soup is chicken noodle.

Norris

 

[silkismom]

24 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

MJ I am very fussy about food plating of dinners but here's a photo of a lunch. I had already eaten half of the sandwich. The soup is chicken noodle.

Norris

 

Oh no, the dreaded jello.

[MJSailors]

Norris-Looks pretty good for hospital grub!

Is that the ubiquitous jello I see on the tray????

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

[2chiefs]

Should have shown the nurse your pics from Eden. 🙂 

[MustBCruzn]

Norris, as a nuse for 40-plus years, your description of your inpatient stay really cracked me up! I'm glad they treated you well, and even happier that you're home and recovering.

[lola2013]

Is this Northwestern in downtown Chicago?  My dad had excellent care there.  Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.

Susan 

[Bimmer09]

1 minute ago, lola2013 said:

Is this Northwestern in downtown Chicago?  My dad had excellent care there.  Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.

Susan 

Yes indeed Susan. It's a top notch hospital.

Norris

[Crumbled]

What a wonderful natural storyteller you are, Norris, even when so poorly. Glad to hear you are on the mend and sending good wishes for your continuing recovery and good health.

[Bimmer09]

Meanwhile back in Amsterdam June 19th

We stopped at Cafe de Jaren on the way back from the Rijksmuseum as we apparently can't walk past without going in. There was a free table down on the river and we were in the mood for a snack.

Had to have an order of crispy fries!

 

For Carol a couple of scoops of gelato

 

Postcard next door to hotel-I love the Mona Lisa

 

Carol's plan was for a nap. Mine was to walk with the camera to the train station where the Stromma canal boats are based as we were thinking the clock was running out on taking a cruise.

I stopped for an espresso to charge up my batteries

 

There's an outdoor cafe in this building

 

More... 

 

[Bimmer09]

My brain will eventually become unscrambled...some photos I forgot about in the de Jaren post earlier...

The bridge by Hotel de L'Europe

 

The hotel bar Freddy's ( next visit!)

 

de Jaren-isn't this a cool place to have a drink and a bite?

 

Ok back to my walk next

[TenneSea]

You just can't help yourself, can you !!   Pictures of hospital food;  you're cracking me up !

 

So glad you're better.

Edited July 14, 2023 by TenneSea

[Kauai Kid]

5 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

THE HOSPITAL VISIT

You realize how lucky you (usually) are when, like Carol and

I, you sit in an emergency room for 6 hours on a Sunday and watch the sick and wounded come in for treatment which they might wait for 2 to 3 hours while more urgent cases pass throughTriage in stages.

I got oxygen within 2 minutes of registering and Triage within the first 30 minutes. There was no Guinness I learned but remained optimistic. I had an EKG an hour later in Triage.

The 6 hour wait was for a bed as I was going to have to stay for the night. We arrived at 6 p.m and at midnight I had a room just off the emergency area. Carol had to go home at midnight as it was so late.

It wasn't quiet enough to sleep, particularly when I could hear a suicidal girl tell the nurses she doesn't want this life. Just let me die. There but for fortune.

At 3 a.m when I was dozing off as the hubbub died down I was wheeled through the corridors to a quieter room on the floor above. I wasn't in Intensive care but that's where the intensive care and a rigorous schedule of waking me up to prod and poke and question and draw blood began. I got 3 hours of sleep during my first night (Monday morning)

A Doctor came to see me-prod, poke, questions and told me she was having me moved to a higher floor "in about an hour or so". That was at 11 a.m. Carol came to visit. Was moved at 6 p.m to the 13th floor where I had a scary "can't breathe" incident and within 2 minutes there were 5 people in the room to help including a doctor. My oxygen was increased to just under max.

This was a big private room with it's own big bathroom, an electric bed that can fold you like a pretzel, tilt in all directions, raise your feet so they point at the ceiling etc. It also had furniture, enough for 5 visitors. It had a remote for the TV, lights and to get a nurse. It had a door!!! This was my new base camp until release on Thursday at 6 p.m. I was hooked to the oxygen with a 20 ft long tube so I could use the bathroom. 

I began a diet of antibiotics and steroids and machines like this did my IVs at night- 2 different drugs in sequence with a back-up. 

 

My care was around the clock including the parts of the clock where one is usually sleeping so having 3 vials of blood drawn at 4 a.m was normal. Blood 4 times a day, inhalator 6 times, vitals checked 6 times. Someone would come from "Nutrition" to have me choose what I wanted for breakfast lunch and dinner which was appreciated. The cuisine was not as good as Eden as I had hoped and the plating lacked finesse but I ate whatever it was. Like a sea day when it's cloudy the meals were the highlights of my day.

At least I had a private and quiet room

 With a view

 

 

Each day I would have 5 doctors visit, including the Resident Physician and they'd take turns poking and prodding and listening to my heart and lungs. I got a few laughs from them as an ice-breaker and from then on they were more casual.

Yesterday I was taken off oxygen and tested during a walk around the floor outside and set off at a rapid pace with two nurses following behind with oxygen just incase. I managed to pass the test after 2 walks totalling 0.9 miles (laps). They let me go after a last dose of steroids via IV and we got a ride share home.

Throughout my stay all the staff were very attentive and helpful and showed my best interests to be their priority. Very reassuring.

I have some recovery ahead, a bunch of drugs and steroids, inhalers and a stream of specialist follow-up visits and tests but I am home and ready to bring this GSJ into port!

Thanks for following!

Norris

 

Glad you’re on the mend. I’ve been following since your first post. 
Thank you Carol for keeping us informed.

Looking forward to your Ruby cruise. We sail the Ruby out of our home port, SF. It’s an older ship but feels like coming home when we sail her.

Regards, Mark

[Kauai Kid]

5 minutes ago, Kauai Kid said:

Glad you’re on the mend. I’ve been following since your first post. 
Thank you Carol for keeping us informed.

Looking forward to your Ruby cruise. We sail the Ruby out of our home port, SF. It’s an older ship but feels like coming home when we sail her.

Regards, Mark

I should have mentioned that the Ruby, while older, is very well maintained, and a beautiful ship.

[weacat]

So happy to hear you are home and on the mend!  

We leave for Amsterdam tomorrow and been voraciously reading your journal.  I just looked and Cafe de Jaren is a 3 minute walk from our hotel - I'm so excited!

We board Apex on Wednesday.