UP PERISCOPE, DOWN PERISCOPE

             Well, hello folks, it's been awhile, have been quite busy taking care of hubby, back and forth for his treatments sometimes 3-4 days a week, no rest for the wicked, we are in limbo now, only beginning the process so no miraculous cure has or will occur as of yet.                                                               Hospitals, i grew up with them when i was 9  I developed Rheumatic Fever, I had to spend 2 weeks at St. Bernards hospital in chicago, What a frightened child was I , no family around mom and dad could not visit every day there were 3 kids to take care of at home, kids were not allowed to visit back then and mom and dad could only stay for an hour when they came to visit. I felt completely abandoned, that was probably the start of all my anxieties and fears that  I face today.  I can remember in the evening sitting on the windowsill behind the nurses desk watching the el trains go by in the dark, the sparks flying off of the wheels, a pretty sight back then, my only form of entertainment besides reading. A huge window with a window seat that the nurses would set up with pillows and a blanket for me so i could gaze at the chicago sights of the evening, I even remember seeing children thru their windows across the street going about doing things with their families, eating dinner, playing board games, mom or dad helping with homework at the dining room table. I envied them, I sure did miss mom, dad, sisters and brother, homesick is what i was feeling, many nights i would cry myself to sleep. The day finally arrived when i went home, only to be treated like an invalid for a year, at this time we lived on the third floor of our home and i could not walk up or down any stairs, poor mom and dad had to carry me up 3 flights of stairs, needless to say i did not go out much, I had home schooling for awhile, I was finally able to attend a special school- Christopher School near 51st & Western. I did not like going there, taking a special ed bus every day, going to school with the "special kids" I had to use a wheelchair just like the rest of them, I felt so out of place, I wanted to be back at Vis with my old schoolmates. I was in a class play there and had a starring role as a singer but could not attend or participate in that affair due to the fact I came down with strep throat 2 days prior to the main event, back in the hospital, this time to have my tonsils removed. I was so excited I was told after the tonsils were out I could have all the ice cream I wanted.  TRICKSTERS!  They neglected to tell me I couldn't swallow or eat anything for over a week, it hurt to much to swallow. After a long year I was back to "normal" back to my old routine, enjoying childhood once again.                                                                                                                                             Just this week here i am back in the hospital, a different one of course, facing a colonoscopy and endoscopy, as i say up and down periscope. When you enter those doors all dignity and decency does not accompany you, the gown with the slit up the back opening, stripping me of all my clothes except socks of course. Me complaining because I did not shave my legs after my shower that morning. We had a contest the staff, my sister and myself that we put on the dry eraser board at the nurses station of how long my leg hair was, it was a split the pot contest, of course my sister and one of the nurses won the pot, enough for lunch for both of them.  3/4 inches was the winner !!                                 THE PREP-  a whole gallon of that luscious lemon lime drink to be taken in 8 ounce increments every 10 minutes for the next two hours, now mind you, you only drink half a gallon at this time. After about 45 minutes plan on being near a bathroom for the rest of the evening, do not let another human being go near that room, keep that path free and clear. The  prep started at 3pm, drinking that half gallon up until 5pm, now mind you the day before was a clear liquid diet which i followed religiously, so how could i have that much stored up in my bowels? Talk about uncontrollable, I was kicking myself on my sore behind for deleting that free sample of "depends" underwear, Two rolls of toilet paper and 4 changes of underwear later  I thought I was finally done about 10pm that evening , good i can get a few hours of sleep before i have to finish the other half gallon of that wonderful lemon lime beverage at 3am. Lo and behold i was up three more times before that alarm went off at three. 3am- every 10 minutes until 5 am  OMG, how can i make this 45 minute drive to the hospital without an accident, I was prepared I packed extra underwear and pants for the trip. Jeez, how much more can my poor sphincter take !!  Now I know why you need to be sedated for this procedure. My journey to the hospital went smoothly, thank GOD !  after all what's open at 7am in case an emergency stop is required, Just to be on the safe side I brought a 5 gallon bucket with me. I told my sister never, ever, absolutely never again, I would live with a tumor hanging from my rear dragging across the floor as i walked and still I would not do this again, C'mon there has to be a better way of doing this people !!                                                                                                                          All went well, polyps and biopsies done but doctor said everything looked pretty good, follow up in a month, So ask I  "So what is causing diarrhea and difficulty in swallowing ?  DR: "Are you under a lot of stress?" My reply was a hearty laugh, ain't that a kick in my sore butt, probably $15,000.00 to find out I have stress.  IMAGINE THAT !   So my "SPECIAL READERS" that's it for today.  Ta-Ta for now !!