Later That Day

Later That Day was Originally Posted on June 11, 2014 by lavarock

I got up about 3am for a 6:15 flight. Got showered and was already packed, then sat down on the computer for a while.

I left about 15 minutes later than I wanted but still had time to make the flight. Well, that is until I got behind a gasoline tanker on the way. Traffic was light as expected, but I arrived at the airport about 15 minutes before boarding started. Normally I would park in the free (gravel) lot near the rental cars and walk to the terminals, but that walk is about 15 minutes. I had my boarding pass already and just a backpack. I also had “TSA PRE-CHECK” on my ticket which meant I could take the expedited line. Still, any issues and I *might* miss the flight and I had a tight schedule at the hospital. I opted to park in the paid parking lot and make the 3 minute walk to the TSA checkpoint.

I was first in line at the Pre-Check line, but then again, would have been second in line if I chose regulat screening, so I jumped ahead of one person that early in the morning. However, later in the day, if a busload of travelers hit the line, it could have saved me lots more time.

I zoomed through the scanner and and headed to the bathroom, then to the gate area. The flight was not full, but still waited near the boarding area and was about third in line to board with regular fliers. That is not to say that I ws third to board the plane. Prior to general boarding, they call for first class, people with Gold or Platinum status, people needing extra time to board, families with small children and so on.

Boarding a flight at the Keahole-Kona airport (KOA) is a very low stress deal. The waiting area is outside and there is only a rock wall keeping you from wandering the tarmac. You walk out onto the tarmac and climb a zigzag ramp to board the plane. Hawaiian used 717’s interisland, and fliers will recognize that plan as a zippy sportscar type ride.

We pushed back and had no wait at the end of the runway as there are few flights at 6:15 in the morning. The flight started a bit bumpy as there were lots of clouds and I hardly saw any other islands along the 45 minute flight. 45 minutes seems to include runway time also. Minutes after takeoff we were offered juice or coffee, which I had to bypass as I had been stopped food and drink at midnight (I actually ate and drank last at 9pm so I could go to bed early). I don’t see how people can drink coffee on that flight. Even though they bring it fast, it is hot and most people seem not to be finished by the time they have to secure for landing. The plane goes up to cruising altitude and then almost immediately begins its descent. I have been on bus trips longer than that.

The clouds stretched to the horizon in most places and it really looked like a covering of snow. I snapped a couple of photos with my phone and posted one to Facebook. However, it was not great because of the window of the plane and the best cloud show was back towards the Big Island where the sun was rising quickly.

Unlike other travelers, I can negotiate Honolulu airport pretty well. Off the plane, head to the left and through the far set of sliding doors, then down the steps, bypassing baggage claim that way to arrive at a small parking lot while I await the Kaiser shuttle. There were two small tour buses there and one bus left fairly quickly. It was obvious that the other one was waiting on some people who finally showed up about 10 minutes late. Each member had a cup of steaming coffee and I figured they had no cares in the world that they were holding up about 15 other people.

At 7:15 the Kaiser bus arrived and we got on. They leave on schedule at 7:30 because the driver does not know who is coming or not. The trip to the hospital is fairly short and I went to admitting. At this point it was not known if I would be admitted after my procedure, but I had made plans just in case (cell phone charger, dogs to a neighbors, etc). I had been called the day before so most of my admitting info was already on file, to make check-in quicker. My co-pay was $75 and I headed right up to the 4th floor where operations are performed. People in my waiting room are probably all out-patients, meaning they come, get a procedure and probably leave the same day.

I was taken to small curtained area where I disrobed and got into a new kind of gown. These are called “Bair Paws” and I believe from 3-M. The gowns have attachments which are used with a hose similar to a vacuum hose. That hose forces warm air in which you can regulate, so no more asking for warm blankets!

A nurse asked me questions, then the doctor came in. We discussed what he was going to do, the minimal risk procedure might cause a bit of bleeding because he was taking some biopsies. If there was bleeding or he saw something that needed attention, I would be admitted and watched. Otherwise he said I might be let go the same day.

The nurse tried twice to get an IV going, but apologized a few times when she could not get a good spot. She called for another nurse who used my right wrist and I was ready. They used a numbing agent before the IV needle which makes a difference!

The anesthetist  went over what he would be doing. It is a small amount of drug in the IV to make me a bit sleepy, then a drug to put me out. During the procedure he would use a mask where I would breathe oxygen and anesthesia. I asked if the second drug was Propofol and he said yes. In defense I guess, he mentioned that Michale Jackson should never had had that in a home setting, not for use as a sleep agent, etc. I interrupted and mentioned that I had no reservations about its use and that I have had it before; I just wondered what they were using. I try to be informed about my medical care. I am sure that others are reluctant to ask or are concerned because they heard bad things about this drug, or just misunderstand.

I was wheeled down towards the operating room, but by then I don’t remember anything. I awoke in recovery a little while later and it appears I awoke about 5 minutes after getting there. I felt find and I spoke with the doctor (actually surgeon) a little while later. No bleeding from the procedure and he does not suspect cancer but will wait for the biopsies to be evaluated.

So far everything was going smoothly, UNTIL he said I could be discharged…

Being from the Big Island means they first ask, whio is here with me? No one. That is not a problem, but how did I get to the airport on the Big Island and do I have a ride home from there. NO? Because I was given essentially 3 anesthesia and still have a Foley catheter, they did not want me driving for 24 hours. I have had the current catheter for a month but still, they worry. I called my friend with the dogs and told her I would not be there until tomorrow. I also called a friend who said he would pick me up at the airport at 4pm and I could stay at his place. He could then drop me off at the airport in the morning on his way to work. The only thing I had to do upon landing was to go to the paid parking and move my truck up to unpaid where he would pick me up.

He has a visitor from Germany staying there and there were a number of discussions about politics, capitalism and US laws, patents, and so on. I slept on the pullout couch in the living room and watch TV until after midnight.

In the morning I stopped by the airport and transferred to my truck. Then it was a half hour to wait until COSTCO opened. I needed gas and got a big bag of dog food for the people who took care of my dogs. A thank you gift.

I stopped by the supermarket and got soda and headed south. Just south of town I got a phone call from a neighbor who was having printer problems. His printer refuses to stop trying to print an alignment page. The HP printer came from COSTCO so we called COSTCO concierge service who had me do some tests. I had already done them, but re did them so the call taker could follow his script. people don’t understand that these people are not all that technical, they follow a script with questions that direct them solutions. They do them in order because then the computer will direct them to steps that may solve the problem.

The call taker then gathered other info and conferenced in HP support. HP asked me a couple of questions and decided to ship a new printer out. We will return the old printer and they will evaluate it to see why it got stuck in this loop. Normally with a $100 printer they would have probably had us scrap the old one.

As I was leaving there and heading south again, I got a call asking if I knew what time I was going to pick up the dogs and I told them about an hour. I stopped by the house, put a wire dog crate in the truck bed and took out my  lunch (turkey sandwich and salad from COSTCO). I changed from my nice shirt and made room for one of the dogs to be on the passenger side of the truck.

The dogs are staying about 10 miles south of my farm and that part of the trip is a windy road and it started raining. O`lena likes the crate so she will be a bit wet by the time we get home, although they have been in a kennel outside overnight anyway. Koa likes being up front and often lies on the seat with his head almost in my lap. I have to drive slowly so as not to get them car sick on the windy road.

So they got home and immediately went to the bedroom and took over the bed. I have one of those gel/foam mattress toppers that they seem to enjoy, although Koa often sleeps on the floor beside the bed.

I am helping a friend from the mainland investigate farms as he wants to buy one. I think we found one he likes and will be a good fit. I caleld the agent to try to set up a time to see inside.

I did some computer work and unpacked and went in to take a nap about 7:30pm. I awoke at 1am and decided I had better wake the dogs and feed them. Then they went back to bed and it is 3am and here I sit, blogging for a while and catching up on news and emails. I’ll get to bed by 4am.

My next projects are to get a guy to weed whack the coffee and fruit orchard, I need to use some Roundup, get fertilizer down and spray for the beetles. I also have two leads for people to put in fencing so I can contain the dogs and make the logistics easier. They stay on the lanai (porch) and I let them out periodically. This will allow them to go out when they want and free me up form the vigil.

In have a phone appointment with the doctor in 2 days and he will review the results of my biopsies. If all looks good, we can schedule the final procedure. That will probably involve an overnight stay, but who knows. With no bleeding I guess I could get out the same day, but I think I’ll figure on an overnight stay. It will help if I have the fencing for the dogs as they would not have to be relocated if I’m away. A local neighbor can just come over and drop some food in the dishes and check the water. That will make things even better.

I expect this last procedure they are planning will solve the prostate problem I have had and I can get back to being well, not that I’m feeling bad or having major problems. Most of this is investigation to ensure I don’t have any tumors or bladder cancer, which we have had no indications. I’m just taking it all in stride and collecting those frequent flier miles