[11-14-08] The System is Down (Day +11)

[6:32pm]
     Here's my counts:
       WBC: 6.9 (1.3 yesterday)
       Hematocrit: 28.6 (29.0 yesterday)
       Platelets: 20,000 (16,000 yesterday)


     This is going to be a short post because... duhn duhn DUHN... THE INTERNET IS OUT!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo

     Something went awry with the medical network yesterday. Nurses were waiting in line to use the printer, because they had to record everything on paper. They would no longer use their fancy "vitals machine". (which combines an automated blood pressure cuff, a digital thermometer, an O2 Saturation probe, and a computer to automate, record, and transmit the information down those network pipes.)
     In other words, if you hit the call button in an effort to get more water, be prepared to repeat your request and wait several hours. Well, that's not entirely true -- some nurses adapt better than others.

     What is interesting about this network disaster is that the free public wireless was working fine throughout the day. The next day, when they finally fix the network, the public wireless fails utterly. And that's where I'm at -- I've been on the phone with the techs -- they say it should be fixed by tomorrow.

     In the meantime, I've been using some unreliable 1-bar public wireless from (I believe) a hospital nearby. It's a bit frustrating.

     So, here is a bit of news for the day:
       Mouth is finally beginning to heal! Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to speak like a real human!

       Continuous portion of pain meds discontinued (clicking on-demand still works)! Earlier today, they decided to cut the continuous portion in half to ween me off the Fentanyl. When it was revealed that my problems going #1 were due to the continuous dose, I jumped on the idea of removing it entirely.

       I may be discharged early -- the doctors pointed to the 18th on the calendar. However, some of the requirements were that:
  1:I had no pain so severe that pain management was necessary (so mouth gets better). Alternative Interpretation: No dependence on pain meds.
  2:Able to eat! (Again, mouth gets better)
  3:No Fever


That is all.