I'm back- thanks to my little sister who saved my life.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I got my knee replacement on the 21st of March. It went well and there were no complications... or were there?

They held me for three days, keeping me totally wacked on pain killers. Then they transferred me to a local rehab facility, which continued feeding me the high levels of morphine and oxy. I was totally out of it, and didn't realize something was wrong. Nor did they.

Then my sister visited me- she walked in and the first thing she said was "You're YELLOW!!!" She was right- I was badly jaundiced, and nobody had noticed. My liver and kidneys were shutting down.

She forced the staff to transfer me to a local hospital's ER, and they were able to reverse my course in about three days. I slowly came back to reality as my organs kicked in and started working again, and I went back to rehab and began therapy on my new knee as I came back to life.

I finished my course of therapy on my knee today and came home with all bodily parts and pieces working as they should, thanks to my sister (a nurse for 30 years) who was the only one in the room with her eyes open.

This is the third time in my life I've had one foot dangling over the abyss. I don't know how many more times I can face the big sleep and end up walking away from it.

Glad to be back!!!

[elleng]

1. GLAD you're back!

and no longer yellow.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. I even SAW in yellow.

The jaundice gets into the eyes, and everything turns yellow. This took the longest to go away.

[elleng]

4. Gee, I didn't realize that.

I woke up one day and my family said 'Mom, you're yellow,' so went to ER and thereafter had gall bladder removed. Had no other symptoms. Don't recall SEEING in yellow, and don't recall how long jaundice took to depart. GLAD you're better.

[femmocrat]

3. So glad you are OK!

The fact that no one else noticed is frightening though. Give that sister a huge hug!!!

Hope your recovery continues uneventfully!

[redwitch]

5. Hooray little sister and hooray you!

But what the heck is the matter with the healthcare workers who didn't notice? Jaundice is really obvious!

[beergood]

9. overworked, understaffed, and underpaid

the same thing with the majority of American business/institutions.

[daleanime]

28. Of course....

profit>people.

[greymouse]

30. I think everyone in the hospital

needs to have a family member with them at all times, except in the OR, of course. Tough luck if like me there are none around.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Thank goodness you're okay!

I'm glad your sister got you help.

[rurallib]

7. wow - thank goodness

now aren't you really sorry for the way you treated her when you were kids?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Not really- we always got along okay.

Now, my big brother, on the other hand...

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

10. Glad you're ok kitty cat!

After three near misses it sounds like you have six lives to go

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. Lord, I hope not...

I'm getting too old and tired for this nonsense.

[silvershadow]

11. Wow Glad you made it!!!!!

[libodem]

13. I've heard knee replacement is rough

Glad you have survived thus far. Keep up the good work.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. Tbe knee replacement was easy

as it was my third one. It was the almost dying thing that was rough. (Come to think of it, it was my third time for that, too...)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Just how many legs DO you have???

[libodem]

24. Having your liver function messed up

Sucked I'm sure, but I have heard the rehab and discomfort are difficult to get through. Sorry the medicine meant to help you nearly took you out.

Glad you made it. Good thing your sister saw the signs.

[aggiesal]

14. 9 lives. You have 6 more to go. ...

Welcome back!

[Divernan]

16. A get well gift I hope you'll enjoy

Good to hear you survived a close call - and thank heavens for your little sister.

This is a link to a really rare 1970's interview with Patrick McGoohan, the brilliant man who not only starred in but created the unique TV series, The Prisoner. I hadn't thought about this series in years until I just saw your Prisoner Number Six handle.

A very rare interview from Canadian Television circa 1977.
Warner Troyer interviews Patrick McGoohan about the making and meaning of the 1960's T.V. series "The Prisoner".

I enjoyed his description of his visit to the unique village of Portmeirion in Wales, and how it inspired his concept of The Village. I found this Wikipedia link:

Portmeirion is a tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village, and is now owned by a charitable trust.

The village is located in the community of Penrhyndeudraeth, on the estuary of the River Dwyryd, 2 miles (3.2 km) south east of Porthmadog, and 1 mile (1.6 km) from the railway station at Minffordd, which is served by both the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway and Arriva Trains Wales (Cambrian Line).

Portmeirion has served as the location for numerous films and television shows, and was "The Village" in the 1960s television show The Prisoner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmeirion

[pnwmom]

17. So scary. Glad you have a wonderful sister.

[Solly Mack]

18. Great news! Little sisters are cool like that.

[roguevalley]

19. I am so glad for you. I remember when I was a kid and my mom got hepatitis. Seeing yellow eyeballs

marks you for life. Hug your sister for me.

[Jack Rabbit]

20. This one's for you, Number 6 . . .

[center]

[/center]
So glad to have you back.

[mnhtnbb]

21. Good grief! Glad you are ok and your sister was there for you.

Now for the fun part of rehab, huh? Do everything the PT's tell you to do!

[hibbing]

22. Scary...glad you are back to reality n/t

[Silver_Witch]

25. I think I know a Sister

That should be getting some nice stuff for her birthday.

So glad you have a Sister who loves you and makes you behave!

[Duval]

26. Sounds terrible.

Glad you are okay now.

[Lunabell]

27. I'm a nurse and DAMN!!!!!!

What the hell was wrong with those people? Did anyone else notice? If they did, did they notify the doctor? Have a lawyer look over your medical records and see if someone was neglectful. This shouldn't have happened if the nurses and doctors were properly doing their job.

Glad you're better and congrats on the new knee. As a former rehab nurse I can tell you, there will come a day when you will wake up and forget you even have a new knee.

[thesquanderer]

40. Yes, that rehab facility needs to investigate this incident and it may require legal action to do it

They are not properly caring for their charges if they do not notice this kind of thing and address it. The OP is probably just happy to have survived it, but if you don't hold the facility responsible, the next patient may not be so lucky.

[daleanime]

29. ......

[TuxedoKat]

31. Wow

Thank God for your little sister! Glad you are on the mend now.

[Dont call me Shirley]

32. WooHoo, P#6!....

I've been dangling in the abyss too many times too

[CaliforniaPeggy]

33. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

Omigod! I've been thinking about you and hoping everything was going OK.........no idea you'd had such a rough time.



Thank goodness for your little sister! Once a nurse, always a nurse.

I hope you'll soon be up and walking on that great new knee!

[aidbo]

34. I'm glad you're ok. In honor of the shade that your sister saw..

[felix_numinous]

35. WOW glad you survived that

but what a disturbing story. Jaundice should have been caught much earlier! Get well and take good care of yourself, extra treats and rest <-- picked a smiley that isn't yellow

[In_The_Wind]

36. Don't worry. Apparently you are part cat.

However take it easy. Don't rush to test out the next 6 lives.

[Duppers]

37. Ohmynoodles, how scary.

Thank goodness for observant, informed sisters...and relatives. They've saved many lives.

Glad you're back and okay.

[lunatica]

38. Heaven has a special place for people like your sister

I basically lean towards Atheism, but since I'm not totally convinced that I absolutely know all the facts about creation I think that if there is a Heaven then people like your sister and all Palliative workers get in without any questions asked, in the fast lane and no tolls collected.

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. Thank u sis!

[LoisB]

41. Kudos to your sister.

[McCamy Taylor]

42. As a doctor, I rec that all patients in hospitals keep a family member at their side

at all times for just this reason. No, not just the kids and elderly. Everyone needs a sitter these days.

[Thespian2]

43. Happy to hear you are okay...

had a knee replaced in January...no complications, great care from nurses and rehab...I live in Nova Scotia...