My mother in love Alicemae has made for me these 3 by 5 cards on a binder with important words or phrases on them. Stuff like yes, no, hungry, thirsty, pain meds, bed pan, barf bucket, suction. These index cards gave me a way to communicate. The nurses relied on them as much as I did. I am in my hospital room getting settled in. This is when Greg went back to work for those of you doing the math Greg has not been back to work for about 3 weeks. Greg’s company has been so good to us.
They come in to take me to my swallow test. I am taken down to a part of radiology on a stretcher which means you get parked in a hall way until they are ready for you. Finally my turn, I am wheeled in propped up so they can see the path that the food takes once it leaves my mouth. Now this is where stuff just gets gross, so GROSS ALERT. In order for the technician to see the path the food takes they cover the food with barium. First they start with water, water why don’t they just ask me to drink barium. Next apple juice mixed with barium, then mashed potatoes with barium, from there hamburger meat covered with barium and lastly barium covered chicken fried steak. All I can taste is the barium and it is heavy in my mouth. I just wanted to vomit and I almost did. Needless to say I fail my swallow test. Liquid diet and the liquids have to be honey thick. I am not happy.
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I forgot all about doing the index cards up for you. I remember your smile when I gave them to you - YEAH I can talk after all.
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