That was fun, not

Ok, it wasn’t far at all from billeting to David Evans Medical Center – aka Travis Air Force Base Hospital. Nearest town is Fairfield. And yes, a number of you had been there before. I haven’t. Didn’t even know which Squadron(s) were at home there.  The link provided will let you figure that out for yourself.

Its not a small place and took us a few minutes to find where I needed to check in. The main area (I keep thinking staging area) most closely resembles your average ER/A&E complete with beds, bays, curtains and a nurses station. The actual procedures are carried out in procedure rooms which meet anyone’s criteria for operating rooms/theatres. With the exception of having a lot more rads equipment and some honking huge screens. Travis still uses paper consent forms, so I did a bit of subtracting. Like – no – I’m not authorizing anything and everything someone might find to do. No, not interested in photos or videos of me being used for teaching, publication or quality assurance purposes. The nurse was great with instructions, IV starting and being reasonable about cutting back the amount of sedation used. It might I was somewhat awake, disinclined to move around and could listen without feeling a need to contribute to the conversation. The Interventional Radiologist also turned out to be great.  Air Force hires good people.

The xylocaine wore off on the trip home. The warning about itching in 6-7 days? I’m itching now which means skin glue and I are not best of friends. Otherwise, feel like I have been whacked in the chest with a hoof. Not fun but I will survive. Now I just should go read all the material in my bag.

So that is my story – alive and not looking forward to the drive to SF VA tomorrow. Not that I am unwilling to go to the clinic, it is just that I truly hate driving a car into San Francisco. Unfortunately, the VA is located a bus, a BART and a bus ride from the house which means it takes too long to take public transport. Since the SF VA Hospital is its own entity and not part of the Northern California VA System, there isn’t a shuttle bus from the Oakland VA Outpatient clinic.

Why am I telling you all of this? Pick one: I want to record it, you might be interested, George is snoring and I can’t talk to him at the moment…..

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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18 Responses to That was fun, not

  1. Cat says:

    Pick another one – you need to talk to someone outside the immediate family.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      The really cool thing about time zones is that I can get wonderful replies from Australia, Germany, England, Paris when I can’t sleep at 0130 in the morning. By the time I have answered everyone, I’ve settled down. Doesn’t mean I will sleep but certainly have clarified the whinging and gotten over it. Thanks for being one of my middle of the nighters (well, I’m on GMT-8)

  2. Beth says:

    You are amazing and I am quite sure that everyone is glad you are relaying your story because: (pick one). A). George is probably snoring a lot; B). Friends want to be there in some form to help, even if only in virtual form; C). It is therapeutic to talk about it.

    Xo
    sending positive thinking from a rainy Paris… even though the forecast was for sun.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Ooh. Paris. I might rather be there even if it is raining. Somehow rain in Paris sounds better than rain in California. [reference – Hammond’s Song – 1972]

  3. Anita says:

    Oh! God Holly your sense of humour just cracks me up!! I loved the close on your last email… I just burst out laughing, so very Holly.

    If I was in SF, you know I’d be driving you to your appointment right? I wish you well, dear friend… just ride the thing through.

  4. Margo says:

    Sorry to hear that you are going through all of this – which will hopefully have a very good outcome so it will all be worth it. I’m really pleased that you are getting such a good standard of care.

    What you are going through puts my problems into perspective. I am thinking of you and wishing you the very best for a successful course of treatment.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Advice from a doc – don’t depend on us for good answers to questions and follow up care, especially the surgeons. Nurses are wonderful and understand patients a lot better. I was impressed that George and I were given full follow up information prior to the procedure. Can’t complain that drugs fogged my brain….

  5. Chere says:

    I choose all of the above.

  6. Christiane says:

    I always like to read whatever you have to tell … no matter if it is funny, sad, or just because George is snoring and you can’t talk to him right now *:"> errötend

    Hugs and greetings from Germany

  7. Vicki says:

    I wish there was some witty, comment I could send to you to make some of the challenges in your life disappear, but there isn’t, so I will share that I will continue to pray for a speedy remission for you and you will soon be traveling and writing such fun blogs to read. Vicki

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Actually, just hearing from friends and knowing they are ok and having a fine time does wonders for me.

  8. Ruth G says:

    Sounds like yesterday went well. I sympathize with you not wanting to drive into SF; I feel that way about NY. Maybe George can drive you?

    What do the docs do today? Good luck.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Oh, no question George is driving. Both because he doesn’t mind, and also so he is sure that I actually make it…

  9. Cheryl says:

    Well, I like to think we do! Good luck with the drive today!

  10. Isobel says:

    I’m interested. You know that.

  11. Holly says:

    and I am just reserving the right to whine off and again. Knowing there are people listening does help!

  12. Marise & Mike says:

    Good luck and sending good vibes for speedy healing.
    Love

  13. Egbert says:

    quote: “Air Force hires good people.” end of quote.

    Holly—–I told you already on Splendour……..

    egbert

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