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Chuck Hinman IJMA 360 : Waiting in the doctor's office It's Just Me Again No. 360: Waiting in the doctor's office The next earlier Chuck Hinman story: Ice Cream, Ice Cream Reader comments to CM are appreciated, as are emails directly to Mr. Hinman at: charles.hinman@sbcglobal.net By Chuck Hinman Waiting in the doctor's office In 1994 after retiring, I was accompanist for the Phil-Four men's quartet. We all had employment ties with Phillips Petroleum Company - hence the name - Phil-Four. We had many engagements in Tulsa - a one-hour drive from here in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. On one such engagement we went in someone's station wagon so we could take my electric piano. The weather was cold and I was very uncomfortable in a vehicle where all but two of us smoked! And they smoked incessantly! It was before the days when non-smoker's rights were considered! It was too cold to have a window rolled down. To crack my window a bit only created a draft drawing all the 2nd hand smoke by my face. I had been a smoker in my younger days. I was tolerant of others' smoking. This time was drastically different for some reason. I felt miserable, but I didn't protest! By the time we got home after performing - I felt unusually up-tight - kind of panicky! I had never felt like that before. We set the piano out of the station wagon into the garage. One of the guys was going to come by the next morning to help me set the piano back in the sun-room. Morning arrived. We had just finished moving the piano to its place when I had a telephone call. I sat down as I talked. When I finished talking and returned the phone to its cradle, I blacked out and fell to the floor. My Phil-Four friend and Connie helped me back to the chair. In a matter of minutes I felt OK and was puzzled and embarrassed why I had blacked out and crumpled to the floor! My friend went home and Connie insisted I see the Doctor immediately. She called and got an appointment. Our son, Paul came from Tulsa as soon as Connie alerted him. The doctors office was crowded and apparently my urgent need was not conveyed to the doctor. I sat in the office for three hours before my name was called. In the meantime, I was feeling "out of it." When the Doctor finally examined me he told Paul, "I believe your Dad is trying to have a stroke." He acknowledged that his office had erred in not getting me in to see him immediately. He prescribed some medicine to be picked up at the pharmacy on my way home. I went straight to bed and Paul returned home to Tulsa. In retrospect I never understood why the Doctor did not hospitalize me immediately. It seemed there was one misjudgment after another! About 6 PM I got up to go to the bathroom and again fell to the floor. Connie called our son-in-law Larry DeLaPorte and he rushed me to the emergency room. I was diagnosed as having had a full-blown stroke! I was in the hospital for ten days and came out with significant damage. I lost some vision in one eye and had extensive motor damage to my left side. I had difficulty walking. Over time, I have been helped by therapy and most of all by the prayers of my prayer-warrior friends! In subsequent visits to the Doctor, he acknowledged several times that his office had mishandled my case. He said that I had done everything that I was supposed to do to lessen the long-term damage for which strokes are noted. Fortunately it wasn't so bad that I had to enter a nursing home. Connie already had Alzheimer's disease. I have had a second light stroke within the past two years after I was living alone. I drove myself to the emergency room where the doctors confirmed that a mini-stroke was in progress. Because I had acted quickly -- the stroke damage was minimized and I was released from critical care within a couple of days. My advice after the experience of my strokes -- don't be timid about speaking out for prompt treatment if you feel endangered. Doctors and their staff do make mistakes. I know! Raise your voice if necessary -- it's your life! Second-hand smoke is now considered a factor causing strokes. I am thankful at this special time of year (Thanksgiving) to be enjoying a pretty good quality of life -- with only a few dings here and there! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Chuck Hinman, former Nebraska farm boy, spent his working days with Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Houston, Texas. He lives at Tallgrass Estates in Bartlesville where he keeps busy writing his memories. This story was posted on 2010-01-24 05:38:26
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Chuck Hinman - Reminiscences:
Chuck Hinman IJMA 317 : Ice Cream, Ice Cream Chuck Hinman. IJMA No. 185: Predicament in Tulsa Chuck Hinman: IJMA No. 117: Winter Is Coming Chuck Hinman, IJMA No. 020: A work of Art Chuck Hinman, IJMA 027: Memories of Christmases Past Chuck Hinman: Christmas Memories from My Show Biz Days Chuck Hinman, IJMA No. 083: Long-John Weather In Nebraska Chuck Hinman: IJMA No. 161: Our old fashioned Thanksgiving Chuck Hinman, IJMA No. 323 Hi! Where Are You From? Chuck Hinman IJMA No. 327: The Sower Atop Nebraska's Capitol Building View even more articles in topic Chuck Hinman - Reminiscences |
 
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