There is this elderly patient who sits across from me during early morning dialysis. Less than a small amount of feet - he is facing me. Unfortunately he frequently has a cough. And... he refuses to politely cover his mouth. Arrgh!
During his phlegm-filled, open-mouthed coughs, "slightly OCD, germaphobe" me can visualize the grotesque, monsterish, distorted creatures floating towards me at an accelerated speed. Entering, invading my every opening. Potentially contagious germs racing towards (me, who is already suffering in some way like the other present patients) like an undisciplined military troop.
Various shades of greens, browns, golds... huge globs of non-discriminating germs aiming right at my potentially compromised immune system and, I'm stuck -- in an inclined dialysis chair for the next three plus hours. I can't run. I can't hide. Can't duck or dodge for protective cover.
Once an adjacent patient was standing preparing for his treatment shouted, "cover your mouth" and gave the germ-spreader a crossed look. Immediately my ears and eyes perked noisily. There, observant and curious I lay, looking and wondering, what would the response be. Glad it wasn't me saying what I wanted someone else to be bold enough to say. Will the "frequent cougher" start using some form of etiquette most of us adults have been taught at some point in our lifetime. Or, will he ignore, thus carry on with this disgusting habit of his - selfishly infecting us all. Is he married, have children I wondered. Someone in his love circle has to have had brought this habitual occurrence to his attention.
Is the cougher even noticing those of us with hopeful faces (like mine) wishing he'd cover his mouth or the at least ask the staff to give him a medical covering for his mouth and nose.
Staff just roam around working like worker bees as if this repetitive coughing is not happening. I try my hardest not to complain and the few times that I do, it's something worthy of addressing - i.e. like blood left on my chair from previous patient.
Recently I had a sore throat while on dialysis. I was miserable the whole three plus hours. I desperately wanted to be disconnected and permitted to go home and rest. But prematurely ending an incomplete dialysis session is out of the question. This can also pose negatively on my transplant privileges as a non-compliant patient - which I am not.
Sigh! Somehow I'll survive this minor annoyance. Things can be quiet worse and I'm very thankful they are not. In the meantime, "I will wear the medical mask to protect myself from his and others germs". I'm growing more and more anxious to be a privileged a healthy kidney. Patience is a virtue. Complications of kidney disease and the stroke has helped cure some of my OCD, germaphobe tendencies. There is little energy or memory to worry about unimportant happenings around me that I can't control. I've gradually learned to ease up on my compulsions to fix or create a certain atmosphere for myself and my family. Adjusting and "adapting like water" as Bruce Lee would say has become my reality.
