I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: SheilaW on November 17, 2007, 05:18:19 PM
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It's not even 6 and I'm ready to crawl under the covers and hide until tomorrow morning!
I got up this morning and got myself and my kids ready to go. Of course they were being slow about it, so I was running late. I took them to my sister in law's house, only to have to practically pound the door down to get her up. I needed to stop to get something quick to eat and some ice. So I went to the gas station and got ice and one of those packaged pastry things. Even later. I have a 9 am dialysis appointment in a town 50 miles from my house, and it's after 8:15 by now. I'm cutting it pretty close!
Finally I get going, and I'm going along quite nicely when my car suddenly starts making this horrific sound. I pulled over to the shoulder of the freeway and the noise stops....my car sounds fine. So I start moving again, and the noise comes back! I get out of the car, look around it, and my passenger side front tire is FLAT. The weirdest thing about it all is that the car never ever pulled or acted like it had a flat.
I called my center, and they assured me it was no problem because there was nobody behind me and they just wanted me to be safe. That was a huge load off me! Knowing help isn't home (as in hubby's at work, everyone else I know that could help is gone) I start getting the flat changed myself. I get the lugnuts loosened, the piece of shit jack out, and start lifting the car....but the jack is one of those wannabe things that come with cars, and I'm having a hard time with it and skinning my knuckles, all the while hoping against hope that some vehicle doesn't get too close to mine and swipe it and me into oblivion.
This went on for a good 15-20 minutes when a Trooper pulls up behind my car and gets out to help. We do the standard greeting thing, I thank him for stopping, and he says "Do you mind if I take over for you?" Um....hmm....lemme think about that for awhile..... Hell no I don't mind! But of course I am being nice and say "That would be wonderful! Thank you!" He starts working the jack and makes it look like the easiest thing ever. He gets the tire off and we look at it....all looks well. But the valve stem has a leak in it. While he was tinkering with the wheel my phone rang. It was my husband. We talked for a minute, and I told him "I called my dialysis center and they're just wanting me to be safe. They're ok with me being late." We talk for a few more minutes, and the Trooper says to me "I don't mean to be invasive, but you're on dialysis?" "Um, yeah...." "Well do you mind if I ask a few questions? I have kidney problems, and it's likely that I'll need to do dialysis in the future." So we talked about it for a few minutes, I answered the questions the best I could. After a few minutes of that, we get the donut on, and I'm on my way. UHP Trooper #207...you're my hero!
Let me just say, driving on the freeway at 55 is NOT my idea of fun. There were a few times I thought I was going to get run down.
I got to my appointment about an hour late. They were great though, and nobody else was coming in behind me so that was good.
When I got done with that (about 2:30 pm now) I went to Big O and had them fix the tire. The guy doing it broke off 2 of the stud things (that you screw the lug nut onto) so it took awhile longer to get things done. He also told me that I need new brakes soon....really soon....and my cv joints needed replacing in the not too distant future. He didn't, however, try the scare tactic thing or try to sell me these items. He just informed me it needed done soon. So I go to pay the bill, and they didn't charge me a thing! I did, however, tip the guy and the guy helping him $10/each. And now Big O has a lifelong customer.
By now it's about 4, and I'm hungry. So I went to Taco Bell and got a bite. Bad me, I know. :oops; But it's not too often I actually crave any type of food whatsoever, so I do indulge when I do. Otherwise I'm good with my diet....or else I don't eat. After that I left and got home about 5. I wanted to be home about 3. Oh well....at least I'm safe. My kids were surely happy to see me.
And then in half an hour I get to watch a friend's little 3 year old boy. So I have an extra kid until about 9 tonight.
Really, I'm ready for bed.
Oh, yeah...I forgot to add...my tech was having an off day too. He's usally very efficient and rarely makes mistakes. But today, after he got the needles in and was hooking me into the machine, he forgot to clamp so I got saline all over me. I assured him it wasn't the worst thing to happen to me today. We laughed. Then when he was unhooking me, he clamped, but I guess it didn't take so there was a bit of blood that went everywhere....fortunately not on me, but on the table. I told him it still wasn't the worst thing to happen to me today. We laughed again.
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Laughing sure helps on a off day. All in all I'd say you had a good day. You lived to see another one..ha.
Actually the Trooper probably got more out of this day than you did. Hope for a better day tomorrow. :grouphug;
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Wow, what a day! Glad you are ok. I am sure the trooper will always remember you. He helped you, but I am sure you were a bigger help to him. He saw you living your life, even if it included changing a tire! Hope tomorrow goes a lot smoother!!
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Wow Big O, the trooper, and your clinic all worked with you to help you get through your day I think that could be a good day as long as you get tucked in tonight you couldn't ask for anymore...Boxman
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I never said it was a bad day....just "what a day!" :)
Very long.
I'm tired.
But I am glad I met the trooper....he's a very nice guy. I even dropped a line on the UHP site and thanked him.
And if I hadn't had that flat, I wouldn't have realized the state of my brakes or cv joint.
So, yeah....good day....just very long.
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Definitely a challenging day!
I am glad everything worked out okay.
I bet you'll sleep good tonight!
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Wow. What a day is right! Glad you're able to laugh about it and you got home safely!
But I am glad I met the trooper....he's a very nice guy. I even dropped a line on the UHP site and thanked him.
As the wife of a sheriff's sergeant, thank you. They usually only hear it when they've done something wrong. Thanks for acknowledging when one did the right thing!
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I am so glad that trooper stopped to help, and do you think it was a coincidence that he needed some info on dialysis, i think not, the Lord works in mysterious ways my friend. :cuddle; I just thank God that your day is now over, your home, safe and sound and all is well (now) :) and you said
I even dropped a line on the UHP site and thanked him.
by any chance did you mean to say IHD website? ::) lol, I think it would be great for him to come and check us out since he will be beginning dialysis soon. :2thumbsup;
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If I ever see him or talk to him again, I will be passing this site along.
But I do have a feeling we'll be meeting somewhere again one of these days. I just hope it's not while I'm exceeding the speed limit as I am driving to my appointment. ;)
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You sure have a good attitude for all that went wrong. Glad everything worked out OK :thumbup;
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What a day.... but it fell in place nicely tho!
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I believe UHP is "United Highway Patrol". Am I right?
Glad you made it home to see your lovely family!
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Actually, it's Utah Highway Patrol. :)