Confined To Bed

One thing I really hated was being physically able and yet not had the freedom to move around.

With the chest tubes (nurses generally refer to coop loop as chest tubes) and on oxygen I was confined to the bed. One end of each tube was connected to a sealed measuring box and these boxes were hooked onto either side of the bed.

So for those few days that I was 'hooked up', I did practically everything in bed (well, almost). Sponge bath; meals; the 'small business' with the bedpan; ahh.... but when it came to the 'big business' - that's another problem.

For urination, although I hated doing it on the bed with the bedpan, I tolerated it, but with lots of tissues, especially wet ones. Just got to bear in mind that I had one tube running across my face and another two - one on each side of my body, and make sure that the tubes did not snag onto something or tipped the bedpan over.

But whenever I wanted to move bowels, I lose interest immediately whenever I see the bedpan. I had to tell the nurse, 'sorry, ah.. but I can't do it'. Until one kind nurse, a Filipina, said, 'I bring you the commode.' I went, 'oh, you can, hah? ok, ok'. Thank you so much, you made my day!

Oh, there was another big 'to do' with the commode business. With chest tubes patients, the hospital would leave a pair of clamps by the bedside for emergencies. Well, I supposed this is one. First, she clamped both tubes. Then, she unhooked the box from the further side to this same side (although I thought it was probably not necessary as the tube was long enough, but she was taking no chances). Then I had to get down slowly and made sure I didn't snag the tubes, and there was my oxygen supply too. And not forgetting the tissues, both wet and dry ones.

When I was done, the nurse came back. While she replaced the box, I had to make sure that I turned in the correct direction (i.e. in reverse) so that the tubes would not get all twisted. With me seated safely on the bed, the nurse then removed the clamps. The whole episode looked so funny, like a mini circus.