My friend, Garnet, asked me to go with her to the hospital when she had her day surgery to have her defibrillator replaced. We rode on a special bus for senior citizens to the out of town hospital. We arrived at 6:30 AM. We sat in the main entrance area awaiting the arrival of the staff that handled the registration at 7 AM. Then we were told that her doctor had asked for a special test to be run on her, an echocardiogram, while she was there. That was scheduled for 9 AM, then surgery at 11 AM. The echocardiogram went well for my friend. I went to get breakfast in their cafeteria. This is a heart hospital and I was surprised at the cold, greasy food that was being served there. YUCK!

After her echocardiogram, we were told to sit back in the main entrance area again. My friend, Garnet, was freezing, because of all the cold air that was coming in the main doors. We finally got called to go with a lady to go up to Garnet’s room up on the 7th floor around 10 AM. The air conditioning was on in the room. Garnet started complaining to the staff about this being in the dead of winter and they were trying to give her pneumonia. From then on, she complained about everything. When 11 AM, came and went and she did not go to surgery, she was upset. This continued on until a nurse came in and told her it was scheduled for 1 PM. Then when 1 PM came and went and no surgery, she was mad and wanted to take off her wires and IV tube and get dressed and go home. She had me upset too. I finally went and talked to the nurse and told her what Garnet was saying to me. The nurse came in and had a talk with Garnet to calm her down some. I had a talk with Garnet and told her I was there to be supportive of her but all the complaining was bringing me down. She finally settled down.

One of the problems I was experiencing personally, was the lack of sleep, stress from Garnet and my blood sugar was high. I forgot to bring my Novolog, fasting acting insulin, with me. I did take my blood glucose meter and took my reading. It was 427. The nurse was concerned about me too. She advised me to go ahead and take my Lantus shot, long acting insulin, which I take at night and take extra units. I did start feeling better about an hour after taking the shot.

I learned a valuable lesson about going with someone to a hospital as well as out of town. I am going to have a better plan of action with my diabetes and packing my own meals or snacks. Hospitals do not have the best cafeteria food that is healthy.

My friend had her surgery and the bus service had to make a special trip back to pick us up. The driver was so nice about making the extra 2 1/2 hour round trip for us. I left him a tip and said “Merry Christmas”.

Called this morning (Friday) and she is doing very well at home now. Glad my friend’s heart is back ticking the way it should.