Hospital Blue

Miss J, her wrinkles, dark circles and double chin prepare for another cortisone shot.


Miss J went for her second cortisone injection on Friday. Excuse the frightful pic. Miss J will blame the lighting. All went according to plan. Miss J arrived at the hospital at 6:30, was taken to the holding area and ordered into hospital garb. Nice cap, no? Really brings out Miss J's... nervousness.

Actually, all was well until just before she went into the operating room. Miss J was second patient of the day and was wheeled to the hallway just outside the OR to wait her turn. The patient ahead of her... well, he carried on as if he was being skinned alive. Miss J could hear him through the door of the OR. "Oh, my God! It hurts, it hurts..." That's about the time MIss J whipped outher Crackberry to snap this lovely photo.

Despite her misgivings, Miss J must give props to all the docs she has encounterd on this journey. All smart and professional and each with their own sense of humor and sass. Miss J does love the sass.

Miss J's doc, Dr. F, came out just before Miss J was wheeled into the OR and chatted up Miss J for a min before wandering off with her associate.

"Dr. F, I'm gonna need about 10 times the amount of drugs that guy had."

"Oh, that. Don't worry about him. He's got issues."

"Oh, so do I, believe me."

"You'll be fine. We're not going in through your back this time. I think we're gonna go in right... here." She indicated a point on Miss J's throat.

"WHAT?"

"Don't worry. You'll be knocked out." Dr. F wandered off as nurses wheeled Miss J into the OR.

Miss J repeated: "I'm gonna need way more drugs than that guy had. Like twenty times more." Laughs all around, then OR chatter.

Dr. F entered. "O.K. Where's the big needle?"

"I'm awake! Where's my drugs???"

"Tell me everything you remember about last time you were here."

"They asked me to lay on my stomach on the gurney and I wished I'd worn better underwear because I realized everyone would see them."

"That'll teach ya."

"Oh my GOD! My arm is burning. What is that? That didn't happen last time. Is that what they give to condemned prisoners?"

"Oh no, we have to be nicer to them..."

Miss J awoke some time later, neck really hurting and wanting to go home. No funny docs to trade jibes with makes for a very boring hospital visit. By 9:00, Mr. J was shuttling her home.

The good thing is- Miss J likes her doctors and feel she's getting good care. The bad thing is she feels like she'll be seeing more of all of them soon.