Day 8 Duffy 4

I've been having trouble getting to sleep most nights I've been here and the medication the doctor has prescribed isn't really doing anything for me.  They seem reluctant to try anything more powerful though.  So last night as I tried to get tired enough to sleep I read the first half of Drink Up!: A Recovery Road Less Traveled, a book written by a Schick graduate about her experiences here and her recovery. It is a great book, and easy to read.  It is amazing how the book so perfectly describes the experience here.  I recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about how things work at Schick.

Eventually, of course, I fell asleep.  I even woke up early.  Today is a big day.  After today I only have one Sleepy and one Duffy, then I can go home.

This morning at 8:00am I went into the morning class, they were showing an old Bill Moyers video about the mind-body connection and how even the immune system can be conditioned to help heal a body by suggestion.  It was old (produced in 1993 based on my Google search), played off VHS, and the interviewees had that very-unsubtle ugliness characteristic of the beginning of the 90s.  The video was bad, but that isn't what was causing me pain.

My stomach was aching in anticipation of my Duffy.  I was feeling queasy just knowing what was to come.  That's a good sign I believe.  Somewhere after 8:30 I was paged to the nursing station, it was my turn.  As I walked out of the auditorium my fellow patients wished me good luck.

I drank some more water then reported to the treatment room.  I was getting so bothered in my tummy I wondered if I'd be able to keep anything down.  I got my shot and drank my two cups of Emetine.  The nurse and I chatted while we waited the 8 minutes, then we got to work...

• Beer
• Beer
• Beer
• Vodka
• Vodka
• Beer
• Beer
• Tequila
• White wine
• Red wine
• Beer
• Beer
• Rum
• Brandy
• Beer
• and finally, Beer

I started puking before I even finished the second beer.  I vomited many more times and after I was done drinking everything I got out the remainder.  One needs to remember to breathe when they're vomiting, I was reminded by the nurse.  But when fluid is rocketing out of your mouth you don't dare inhale for fear of doing so at just the wrong time.  I noticed at one point that the nurse was marking a chart each time I vomited, I guess they track at what points in the treatment we puke.

Last time I "swished and spit" two of the 12 drinks, today I had to drink all 16.

I was led into my room at approximately 9:10am, here's how the rest of my morning went...

9:25 - The nurse comes in to check my pulse, ask if I've vomited or had diarrhea and ask my nausea level on a scale of 1 to 3.  I report a 1, I feel pretty good.  I decide to keep reading the Drink Up! book, maybe I can finish it today.

9:40 - I start feeling more nauseous.  Just about then, the nurse comes in.  I report a nausea of 2, but still no puke or diarrhea.

9:45 - I'm on the toilet making with the wet poo.

9:55 - Another nurse comes in with the Butterfly.  I don't feel well just looking at it.  "My gift to you" she says, and gives me the glass.  I shudder then I drink it.

9:56 - Just a minute after drinking the Butterfly I'm wretching and I empty my guts into the bucket.  The stuff just reeks, it smells terrible.

10:30 - The nurse returns to check on me, I report I'm back to a 1.

10:35 - More diarrhea, I bring the bucket with me in case its needed.

10:40 - I feel mostly pretty much ok.  I don't have anything left to vomit and I don't feel overly nauseous but the beer-soaked rag next to my pillow smells awful.

11:05 - Nurse returns, I'm back at a 2 again.  I hate that rag.

11:10 - Somehow I'm puking again.  I start off with a few dry heaves then out comes the bile.  It is so gross.  And it seems like a lot comes out.  When it is over I feel physically spent.

11:50 - I finish the book.  The beer-soaked rag was so offensive, I pushed my head to the other side of the pillow when I was reading the last bit.

11:52 - The nurse comes back in to check on me.  She says some stuff I couldn't understand then suggested I walk around the room a little bit.  I do that, and perhaps as she wanted I go into the bathroom to squirt some more.

12:05 - I'm released!

I settled my stomach with Saltines and Sprite for a while, then I was called-on by another patient with a Mac who was having trouble getting online.  Once he was sorted I went down for lunch.

That's essentially been my day up until now.  I am going now to get my read-back from yesterday's Sleepy (Rehabilitation Interview). 

Later skater.