Sunday, October 12, 2008

Phantoms

I've heard stories of people who have had a limb amputated, and they experience "phantom pain" in the limb that's not there. I suppose when you grow accustomed to something, it's hard to forget its existence.

Today I have been experiencing two types of phantoms due to our week-long hospital stay.

1. Phantom Beeping--The entire time B was in the hospital, he was hooked up to a machine that read his oxygen saturation level, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and some other things that I can't remember. He had five wires taped to him (chest, stomach, and groin) and a very annoying sensor (for the O2) taped to his foot, sometimes his toe. Those things were *always* beeping. Usually unneccesarily. Granted, he'd get worked up and his heart rate would get too high, so it would beep. (Think: 4:30 a.m. blood draws with NOT-Jim.) But most of the time, it was just that the darn things could not pick up what they were supposed to measure so they would beep. And beep. And beep. Especially the oxygen sensor. We'd wiggle it on his foot to try and get it to pick back up. Sometimes it would and sometimes we'd just give up and let it beep. And beep. And beep. It usually happened when we picked Benjamin up, and I obviously picked him up several times a day to feed him. So now, when I pick him up, I sometimes think I hear beeping and I start squeezing his foot. Poor thing's gonna get a complex.

2. Phantom Bracelet--I was washing my arm today in the shower and started to scoot down the bracelet on my arm. You know, the one that isn't there... Wearing a thick plastic bracelet for an entire week without removing it is quite the fashion statement this Fall. Much like the two-shades-of-blue running clothes you've seen out and about.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I love it!! I hope the marathon training is going well for Matthew. I think pretend beeping and bracelets are always better than the real thing.

Amber said...

I experienced phantom baby kicks after my c-section :( Those were a little sad, I have to say.

Susan Massoud Farley said...

Oh yes, I remember the phantom baby movements after the baby was delivered..who knows, Benjamin may one day be asking you why he dreams about you squeezing his foot!
Glad to hear you are back in some semblance of normalcy.

Stephanie said...

I am so glad they are only "phantoms". Go away hospital people and noises.
Enjoy that big, big bed!!
I saw Andrew at church. He is so cute.

Christia said...

Oh man! I don't now about you, but I HAVEN'T see two shades of blue running about. But I had the phantom bracelet after Gabe was born!

Anonymous said...

Angela, This morning was the first one in a while for Andrew not to be sleeping in the next room, but I found myself waking up- to remember to be quiet as to not wake him. I was up at 5:55 A.M. I keep thinking he is in the back of the house sleeping, so I keep the TV or radio down. Curious George and Frog are waiting in his bed and sure do miss him too! Glad he has had such a good day at home.
Mom