Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Stopping to Take Care of Yourself
I was so busy the first year as a HS Principal that I neglected getting a colonoscopy check-up. That was a mistake because when I went today, there was a rather large polop and it took some tricky procedures by the Doc to get it out. Sometimes they don't get it all, which I belive was the case, thus making it necessary to do a follow-up the year later.
I did the disgustiong prep; you know, chugging a gallon of the golytely, eating green jello, taking a laxitive, and giving two enemas in the morning. I took a day off and, fortunately, my wife did the same to pick me up. When I came out of the procedure room I took a long time to recover.
Recovery was way too long because my heart rate dropped to the 30's while under with the medicqtion. They watcdhed the number slowly climb into the 40's and stay there. Donna, my wife, came in at this point since I was about an hour overdue for recovery. We watched the HR climb into the 50's and 60's and the nurse tried to transition me into a reclining chair. At first I was OK but in a short while I felt dizzy and had to be returned to the bed. I did try to go to the bathroom to relieve the tremendous gas pressure, but nothing I did helped. It became more painful.
I diverted myself by eavesdropping on the conversations at the nurse's station to learn their names. When I needed something, I called them by their first name. This is a habbit I have picked up as an administrator. Nurse Maggie called the doctor, which ordered an x-ray to confirm that all was OK , so I was wheeled down to x-ray for a few shots, which ended being a portfolio because they didn't take. When they finally wheeled me out, I told the technician that I was not calling him to do my son's wedding pictures. He was hurt! Boy, what fragile egos.
The doctor finally paid a last visit. I was feeling a little better, enough to go home so when he said he couldn't find any "free air", which means air migration into the abdominal cavity, he felt I was well enough to scoot. I did feel a little better and since I could not feel my hands because of the cold, I was more than eager to get into the sunshine. Donna helped me dress and I was wheeled out to her car.
At home the gas pain was the same, bad, but I was home and could relax. I was not home for long before the urge to pass gas hit me. I still couldn't do it and instead, I was overcome with a bout of projectile vomiting. Having barely reached the toilet I proceeded to give a new coat to the floor and the toilet as well as my clothes. Donna immediately phoned the doctor since this was one of the symptoms that required a call.
The doc said it confirmed his suspicions; that I had an allergic reaction to the drugs they gave me. I felt better enought to write this blog but I'm a long way from being the vim and vigorous HS principal I need to be tomorrow. We'll see what the night holds..........
I did the disgustiong prep; you know, chugging a gallon of the golytely, eating green jello, taking a laxitive, and giving two enemas in the morning. I took a day off and, fortunately, my wife did the same to pick me up. When I came out of the procedure room I took a long time to recover.
Recovery was way too long because my heart rate dropped to the 30's while under with the medicqtion. They watcdhed the number slowly climb into the 40's and stay there. Donna, my wife, came in at this point since I was about an hour overdue for recovery. We watched the HR climb into the 50's and 60's and the nurse tried to transition me into a reclining chair. At first I was OK but in a short while I felt dizzy and had to be returned to the bed. I did try to go to the bathroom to relieve the tremendous gas pressure, but nothing I did helped. It became more painful.
I diverted myself by eavesdropping on the conversations at the nurse's station to learn their names. When I needed something, I called them by their first name. This is a habbit I have picked up as an administrator. Nurse Maggie called the doctor, which ordered an x-ray to confirm that all was OK , so I was wheeled down to x-ray for a few shots, which ended being a portfolio because they didn't take. When they finally wheeled me out, I told the technician that I was not calling him to do my son's wedding pictures. He was hurt! Boy, what fragile egos.
The doctor finally paid a last visit. I was feeling a little better, enough to go home so when he said he couldn't find any "free air", which means air migration into the abdominal cavity, he felt I was well enough to scoot. I did feel a little better and since I could not feel my hands because of the cold, I was more than eager to get into the sunshine. Donna helped me dress and I was wheeled out to her car.
At home the gas pain was the same, bad, but I was home and could relax. I was not home for long before the urge to pass gas hit me. I still couldn't do it and instead, I was overcome with a bout of projectile vomiting. Having barely reached the toilet I proceeded to give a new coat to the floor and the toilet as well as my clothes. Donna immediately phoned the doctor since this was one of the symptoms that required a call.
The doc said it confirmed his suspicions; that I had an allergic reaction to the drugs they gave me. I felt better enought to write this blog but I'm a long way from being the vim and vigorous HS principal I need to be tomorrow. We'll see what the night holds..........
Sunday, September 21, 2003
The rival football team
We have a team that has been a problem in the past. This team's fans can be abusive. We were hosting them on our field on Saturday at 1:00 p. m. I arrived early to make sure we were going to be OK. We had two plain clothes policemen and four in uniform. I gave walki talkies to the Athletic Director and my Vice Principal. Of course, they were useless. I brought my cornet to play with the band. That was a controversial issue this week. The football coach had brought in alumni players to suit up and scrimmage with the team. The AD called him on it and wrote a letter to me and the superintendent. The coach retaliated by saying that it should be OK since the principal plays with the band in the stands. Unfortunately for him a Board of Ed. member also plays with the band; I don't think he has any support.
Well the rival team pulled a paper towell dispenser out of the locker room where they suited up. Many students from the school refused to sit on their side of the field and sat on our side. This caused a lot of tension and possible fights. I was not comfortable until the police finally sent them packing to their side of the field.
On the field a rival team member had his leg broken in two places below the knee. The game stopped for several minutes while they drove an emergency vehicle on the field to pick him up. Years before the same thing happenned to one of our team members. The rivals shouted to get the scum off the field so the game could continue. Our team and parents never forgot that, but they were resectful of the other team and applauded him when he left the field.
The game continued with us leading the score. Many team members came down with cramps and had to hobble off the field. It looked like war. Finally, we scored enough TDs to give us a cushion that could not be reached by the rivals. They were not happe, of course and vowed to return during the playoffs. I began to relax a bit when they left the field and the parents left the parking lot. Now I could go home and relax. The Saturday was shot but at least we didn't have any fights to break up.
Well the rival team pulled a paper towell dispenser out of the locker room where they suited up. Many students from the school refused to sit on their side of the field and sat on our side. This caused a lot of tension and possible fights. I was not comfortable until the police finally sent them packing to their side of the field.
On the field a rival team member had his leg broken in two places below the knee. The game stopped for several minutes while they drove an emergency vehicle on the field to pick him up. Years before the same thing happenned to one of our team members. The rivals shouted to get the scum off the field so the game could continue. Our team and parents never forgot that, but they were resectful of the other team and applauded him when he left the field.
The game continued with us leading the score. Many team members came down with cramps and had to hobble off the field. It looked like war. Finally, we scored enough TDs to give us a cushion that could not be reached by the rivals. They were not happe, of course and vowed to return during the playoffs. I began to relax a bit when they left the field and the parents left the parking lot. Now I could go home and relax. The Saturday was shot but at least we didn't have any fights to break up.
