2 days in Santa Chiara Hospital... oh joy

Last week, I got pretty violently sick. Throwing up, sever pains, nausea...the works. I called my mom at 4 a.m. Italy time telling her I was dying. She didn't love hearing that news. Told her I was getting pretty dehydrated. Thought I could make it until sunup then head to the ER. Seven a.m. arrived and I was half dead at this point so I woke up my roommate to take me to the er. I could barley walk at this point for lack of fluids. Got to the er at 7:15 and we were in pretty fast. I was lined up in the hall on a gurney for a five foot tall person. They only have like 3 rooms in the er so everyone is lined up in the hallways and one area up front. I got an iv that hurt like heck and they ordered some x-rays and sonogram. Meanwhile I got pain meds. but still kept throwing up. I was in the fetal position with nausea and pain. You would think fluids and nausea meds would be a first but nope. None. Waited in the hall butted up next to some other lady's gurney. Finally the tests. I get rolled back up front where I am now butted up next to 4 other gurneys. I could have crawled off the end of the gurney to go throw up but they put three gurney cross ways at the end of ours. psycho at this point. then all the 4 different types of ambulances keep arriving with more people. Some girl comes in with a cut hand and they sow her up in the hallway as she stands at the medical cart. Two super cute doctors arrive so things get a little better at least to look at. One of them talks to me and orders more pain meds. He just keeps walking by. Then another dr. comes over. Still no nausea meds or fluids after 2 hours and just feeling worse. Saw the cute guy one more time and he ordered more pain meds. Nice guy. Got a new IV in my other arm since the first lady messed up the other one. After almost 4 hours they move me to a room. The route was quite fun. A man who looks like he should be on Hannibal Lecter came to wheel me through the building. We pass through he laundry room and supply room and arrive at my room. My roommate is like a 100 yrs. old. I was told I would get meds and fluids now as soon as the dr. came. So after 2 more hrs. of waiting and my teammate yelling at the nurses. Nothing. She went home to get my clothes, etc. Two more hours in the fetal position pass and now the sickness has moved to the lower stomach so I'm in the bathroom every 5 mins. Misery! The roommate comes back and finds the garbage cart left in my room with dirty smelly diapers. Just what you when when you are nauseated. She moves the cart and gets yelled at that visiting hours are over. I think they hate her by this point. She leaves. Finally after 6 hours a Dr. shows up and gives me some pain med orders and a nausea shot. The nurses don't talk and aren't nice. At 8 p.m. after 12 1/2 hours I finally get iv fluids after being dehydrated since the night before. I couldn't even pick up a bottle of water at this point. My teammates come by and then sleep time. Except nurses are in and out all night. Everyone asks me if I have a fever. I'm like I don't know you got the thermometer. Apparently, you are suppose dot bring one with you and take your temp every 2 hours for them. I am in the bathroom and have to get meds from the nurse every time I go to the bathroom. Another really nice Dr. comes at 1 a.m. Then they take my blood at 3 a.m. No sleep in 2 days but the night nurses are awesome. At about 8 a.m. I get 12 sticky things attached to me for an EKG. They loves doing those here. It's like taking your bp. Everyone gets one. Finally morning comes and a new dr. who says I can go home later but need a liquid diet for 3 days. So I wait to be dismissed for hours. I ask everyone when can I go. Each nurse says um not sure when they get your papers done. Finally at 3 p.m. I ask the new nurse who says this are your dismissal papers we were just waiting on you. AHH. She comes and yanks out the iv with no gloves mind you while the ambulance people transfer the old lady. The nurse asks you think hospitals in America are better. I said yeah some things to which she responds no I'm telling you they are better. HAHA.I shuffle out of the hospital and there are no taxis available. So I have to walk to Jim's house and he takes me home on the scooter. I feel like crap again at this point. So I am in my bed sleeping for days living on Gatorade, water and sweet teas. The pounds are dropping off. I developed a blood clot in my arm from the iv. Fun times. Still trying to start back eating. The energy is still low and I can't eat much food. But I can't complain I guess. It was all FREE!!!