Uncomfortable...
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
January 9, 2016 7:31pm CST
While reading @jabo's post about her husband and the hospital , a childhood memory popped up in my head that I haven't thought of in eons. So thank you @jabo.
I can't remember how old I was but I'm guessing 4 or 5. I was in Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y. I had my adenoids and tonsils taken out.
I remember being in a children's ward. There were lots of beds but only a few children. I remember my mother there when I woke up from the surgery but I had to stay overnight
I had two uncles that were doctors working at that hospital. One was my Uncle Ev, the medical missionary to Quito Ecuador that I wrote about last week. They visited me several times during the day and made me feel comfortable. The nurses were comforting too.
A window was open in that room. This was back in the 1940's. I was sleeping and woke up because I was cold. I pushed the button to call a nurse and no one came. I fell back to sleep. Eventually a nurse came, woke me up and asked what I needed. I couldn't remember until she left...then I was really cold.
I remember that insecure feeling that I should have remembered and the feeling that the nurse was ticked off, maybe even thinking I just wanted attention... And the adult me knows I was cold...
Funny how our thought processes as children and adult are totally different.I guess insecurity and the desire to please as a child grows up with us if we are lucky.
Do you remember that childhood insecurity?
21 people like this
20 responses
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 16
Now you've sparked off a memory in me - I also had my tonsils out at about 5 or 6 years old. All I can remember is struggling as they held a chloroform impregnated cloth over my face - there were no fancy anaesthetics in those days. That's not a good memory, so I won't thank you for it !
6 people like this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
10 Jan 16
I was slightly (not completely) sedated when they removed my brain tumor. I had to be aware of their commands, wiggle your foot, move your hand. I still remember the sounds of that long operation, and it was cold, so very very cold. My Dad told me that when they saw me in the ICU after the surgery I was blue, so maybe I was cold from the blood loss.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
10 Jan 16
I don't remember that part, I think it could be because of my uncles. Maybe they were there... @jabo
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
10 Jan 16
I felt that much of what I would have wanted to talk about or say was not important enough. I often did not even try. Probably why I talk so much now.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
Very interesting, I rarely met a child who wasn't a motor mouth, including me.I think it's probably with the number of siblings and the attention given to us as children by our parents that makes gabby or quiet.
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
10 Jan 16
I had to deal with that a lot through my life... haven't really gotten past it until the last couple years, actually.
I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out when I was 6 or 7. The surgeon was great, and started telling me a story about a rocket ship while they were putting me under. I was so disappointed that I fell asleep during it, and I distinctly remember fighting the anesthesia because I wanted to hear the rest of the story, darn it! When my dad took me in for the follow-up appointment, I made a point to ask him about the story... he had no idea what to say to that one! Now that I'm older, I suspect that it was just a few sentences that he came up with on the fly to put pediatric patients at ease. 
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
That was a smart doctor to distract you. I have no memory of being put out so I 'm thinking they must have done something similar to mr.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
10 Jan 16
Yes I remember my childhood insecurity. I remember when I broke my right elbow and I was in the hospital waiting for surgery, I was in a little room alone, it was cold, no one around. After many minutes I started to cry, not because I needed something, I just wanted to be sure I has not been forgotten there.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
11 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I was scared, the room was dark and I heard nobody around, this has been a bad experience that I will never forget.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
Oh my, that hurt my heart, I could feel the distress you feeling. I would have been crying too.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
10 Jan 16
bless yer heart. i fear i don't recall much from my childhood that i'd care to share with a livin' soul.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
13 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate 
thanks, hon. yepperz, i've gotten to where i jest seem to swim 'bout'n a pool'f sarcasm these days...love ya!
thanks, hon. yepperz, i've gotten to where i jest seem to swim 'bout'n a pool'f sarcasm these days...love ya!1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
Oh oh, that sounds like being a child was difficult. You make me laugh and have a great sense of humour and are really good with sarcasm. I enjoy our conversations so forget the history. You are loved.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Jan 16
I was very shy and felt insecure arouond other kids who were not shy.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I was too at first but by 4th grade I was a gabby show off...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
11 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate It took becoming an adult for me to get over the shyness.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
School is a scary thing. I don't remember starting school but maybe that was my teacher lived across the street and I knew and trusted her... @Moondebi
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
10 Jan 16
I remember spending lots of time in the hospital when I was young. I had my tonsils out when I was around 6 or 7 which was just a short stay in the hospital, but the summer that I turned 12 years old I was hospitalized on 3 different occasions. And the last time was in a childrens' hospital about an hour away from our home. I remember the nurses being so awfully nice, they even pitched in and bought me a birthday gift when they found out it was my birthday and they gave me a little party when my grandparents and an aunt came with a chocolate cake. I remember feeling very very scared and although those nurses were nice they didn't seem to be able to calm my fears when I cried. And of course I only felt that way when my family didn't come to see me. Memories.....
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate You were lucky. I was misdiagnosed twice that summer and the nurses were starting to blame my mother and I for being 'attention' seeking. In reality an eye surgeon found the tumor on the back of my optic nerve and he ordered me to the childrens' hospital in another city. Our little local hospital didn't do that kind of work. It was just over an hour's drive and my mother had a lot of bad feelings for being wrongfully accused and then there were still my 3 brothers at home to care for as well as my Dad. She had to prepare meals, he was a farmer and the big meal is at noontime. I was all alone up there in that hospital, it was good for recouperating.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
@Juliaacv that just grabs my angry genes and wonder how that could happen, I guess I should be greatfull we were healthy most of the times but makes me angry when anyone assumes one is looking for attention, especially back when we were kids. Today it's not unheard of people prending to be sick for money...seems recently I read about three or four Canadian women faking cancer to get money...but they didn't go through a doctor, they pretended to see a doctor..
I'm sorry you and your family had to go through that.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I think my experience was made easier because I had two uncles who were doctors stopping in to talk for a minute and a nurse Aunt, who stopped in too. Plus my mother and father came, all of that within one day and a sleepover. The hospital was very near my home. I think I was lucky.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
11 Jan 16
Yea I had my appendix out when I was 12 I remember my side hurting really bad the nurse came in and just looked at me my dad was the custodian at the hospital so he came in a lot but he told the nurse my daughter is in pain do something about it.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
11 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate Yes your right about that for sure
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
14 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I would agree with that.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
Your dad was right, there is no reason for a child to be in pain in a hospital. I still have mine and hope they stick with me.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I guess we take a few of them through our lives. But not all of them, thankfully.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
12 Jan 16
I think it's easily done because of the size difference but no matter what kindness makes life easier.
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
12 Jan 16
Oooh yeah i remember.
Lucky me i have never gone under the knife,thanks to God
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
That must be a very terrible time for you and your family.
I cannot remember anything that happened in my childhood so clearly.
Perhaps I do not have such experience.
I can only remember the school days when I had to face the dentists. I practically shaking with fear when my name was called.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
School can be scary. I hadn't of the scary school things. Lots of children never see a hospital when they are young. My kids didn't either.
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
11 Jan 16
I can't say it is a 'childhood insecurity' I think it is the unknown (and even adults can feel this), and fears of past events.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
Unknown is a good word for it. Certainly as a child we have a lot of unknown experiences.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 Jan 16
I remember being shy and unsure of myself.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I only remember being afraid of dogs when I was a kid...it didn't go away until I was an adult.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I think that happens to a lot of people. I was still afraid of dogs when I was a young adult all because I got knocked down by one when I was a toddler. I had to force myself to learn that they were nice animals. No problem now.
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
10 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate , I had to go to hospital for observation many times when I was eight years old, for problems with my tummy, and all the older ladies would give me sweets and always put talcum powder on my arms, no idea why talcum powder. I always tried to be well behaved as a child, but had my temper even back then, so when I had my tonsils removed, I think I was seven years old, and the doctor promised me that when I woke up it would not hurt, I woke up, felt the pain and let rip! You could hear me yelling, you lied, on the top floor, of the hospital, apparently...
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
10 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate I do think it is funny how we can look back as an adult and know why we reacted a certain way when we were children. I can remember being in the hospital with a kidney infection when I was about 7 years old. A nurse was trying to give me an IV and had to keep poking me. I can remember her telling me if I didn't stop crying she would poke me more. It didn't stop me crying.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
11 Jan 16
I certainly hope the nurses now would be gentle with children. A bit of kindness goes a long way with a kid. I would have been screaming , not crying, especially if she wasn't kind to me. Don't blame you a bit.
