# Mr. Shoe is in the hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 12, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279 "2012-08-12T16:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/61 "2012-08-14T00:48:22Z")
I’ve been thinking of you and **The Other Shoe** , I’m sending more good vibes your way! ---
**Author:** ![Shoujin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoujin/32/3884_2.png) [@Shoujin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoujin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/62 "2012-08-14T00:49:18Z")
Late to the party, so to speak, but my best wishes to the both of you. I’d offer beer, but I don’t think Mr Shoe could handle it right about now, so I’ll drink it to his health! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/63 "2012-08-14T00:52:09Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Also, when he is awake, it is a lonely and scary time for _him_. (Even if he won’t say it) When friends ask what they can do, tell them he will often be lonely and afraid and showing up to visit is one of the best things that can be done (when he is permitted visitors.) > > Everyone comes at night, but the patients are alone all day too. If they can, they should try to go at all hours, or call during the day. (Again, when he is well enough and permitted calls and visitors.) (Don’t think patients don’t appreciate the night-time visits - they do! We know it is hard to get away during the day, but if it can be done, it will be an added blessing.) Good advice. I’d also add, bring a book (or an iPad or something else to keep you busy) and let him know that’s it’s entirely okay if he naps while you just sit there. When I was in the hospital I sometimes felt like I had to stay awake and entertain my “guests” when what I really wanted to do was sleep, but I didn’t really want them to leave, either… ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/64 "2012-08-14T01:34:04Z")
My best wishes for continued improvement. How scary and awful. I can’t add much to what’s already been said, except to reiterate the advice to take care of yourself. Make sure you remember to eat, and drink water. (Or tea, coffee, whatever.) I hope Mr. Shoe’s condition only gets better and better from here on out! ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/65 "2012-08-14T01:45:02Z")
Good vibes for both Shoes from the North. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/66 "2012-08-14T02:02:59Z")
Yay for the bit of good news! Now let’s get some BIG good news, and soon! -D/a ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/67 "2012-08-14T02:23:30Z")
He had a pretty good day: four visits in a row with no bad news! Better: the last two visits, I didn’t cry or sniffle or _nuthin_’. 😃 He’s absorbing his slurry well, and they said his lungs sound a bit clearer, soooo … tomorrow, they’re going to start the first stages of the beginnings of weaning off the ventilator! Woo-hoo! Man, I can’t wait to see him batting his eyelashes at all the nurses. Shit, really, I just can’t wait till he’s un-sedated enough to know that I’m there … I had no appetite until today, had to damn near force myself to choke down the least little thing, but tonight I’ve got a couple of chicken wings baking in the toaster oven, a bit of Asian cold salmon in the fridge, and _I’m looking forward to eating them._ ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/68 "2012-08-14T02:30:35Z")
I’ve got my fingers, toes, and everything else I can find crossed! Sending more good thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/69 "2012-08-14T02:30:51Z")
Great news! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/70 "2012-08-14T02:36:46Z")
Wonderful! If it helps, you have my permission as a medical professional to eat utter junk until he’s off the vent. Any food is better than no food right now; your body will see you through the temporary malnutrition as long as you give it some calories for energy. And water. Drink plenty of water, please. The IV’s are reserved for Schmoopie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/71 "2012-08-14T03:00:11Z")
I hope the news continues to be good! Hang in there! ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/72 "2012-08-14T04:09:56Z")
Prayers going up tonight down here in the south for the Shoes 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/73 "2012-08-14T04:23:21Z")
I haven’t been able to post, but I have been reading and praying for good news. This sounds good. I am going to add my advice that you need to take care of yourself. When the othershoe comes home, you are going to be his primary caretaker until he is well. This is an incredible amount of work. I know that you won’t begrudge a single moment, but you will do a better job if you are healthy and well rested. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/74 "2012-08-14T06:14:51Z")
You both have my good thoughts and prayers. I’m so glad things are improving a bit. One question, though. When he’s better, do _we_ all have to abide by your promise not to call him Schmoopie? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/75 "2012-08-14T12:28:19Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I had no appetite until today, had to damn near force myself to choke down the least little thing, but tonight I’ve got a couple of chicken wings baking in the toaster oven, a bit of Asian cold salmon in the fridge, and _I’m looking forward to eating them._ I sometimes feels like a broken record because I find myself saying this so often: it’s very important to take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself you can’t take care of anyone else. I’ve sat by a lot of hospital beds over the years. It’s easy to neglect yourself. It’s important you don’t. Even if you can’t eat a lot be sure to eat something. Eat healthy, not junk food. Remember to drink and stay hydrated. Try to get regular sleep (yes, I can hear you laughing at that). Ask for help if you need it. Take some time for yourself once in awhile, and hour or two to pamper yourself once a week or so. It will take time for Mr. Shoe to recover from this, you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of him. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/76 "2012-08-14T12:30:06Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > **If it helps, you have my permission as a medical professional to eat utter junk until he’s off the vent.** Any food is better than no food right now; your body will see you through the temporary malnutrition as long as you give it some calories for energy. And water. Drink plenty of water, please. The IV’s are reserved for Schmoopie. 😉 OK, won’t argue with the professional. After you eat the healthy baked chicken and stuff I recommend CHOCOLATE. Having dessert is part of taking care yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/77 "2012-08-14T13:05:22Z")
> [@thirdwarning](#): > > You both have my good thoughts and prayers. I’m so glad things are improving a bit. > > One question, though. When he’s better, do _we_ all have to abide by your promise not to call him Schmoopie? I think he should sign up. As **Schmoopie**. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/78 "2012-08-14T14:58:53Z")
Well, he’s off one of the antibiotics per the Infectious Disease doc, but they probably won’t start taking him off the vent yet today. Oh, well. He’s still absorbing his slurry-food well, still peeing OK, and his BP and heart rate are nice and stable. **Broomstick** , if you saw the amount of butter I use to bake two little chicken wings you wouldn’t call it “healthy” anymore. 😃 Surprisingly enough, I’ve sleeping … almost better than I used to. 😕 Maybe it’s just one fewer body moving around in the house at night (hairball-barfing, yowling-at-the-ferals kittehs, I’m lookin’ at you) but sleep hasn’t been much of a problem the last couple of days. Weird. Thanks, all, for following along. It means more than I can say to know random folk are worried, and care about someone they’ve never even met. Hell, you’ve never even met _me_. So: thank you, truly. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/79 "2012-08-14T17:00:27Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Well, he’s off one of the antibiotics per the Infectious Disease doc, but they probably won’t start taking him off the vent yet today. Oh, well. He’s still absorbing his slurry-food well, still peeing OK, and his BP and heart rate are nice and stable. Woo-hoo! Try not to worry (ha! I know, I know…) too much about the vent. Better to leave it in an extra day than take it out too soon and have to reintubate. They’ve got a record on their machine about if/how often his body is trying to breathe on its own (they call this “breathing around the vent”), and if he’s too tired to breathe often enough, better he reserve his energy for fighting that infection and keeping his blood pressure up and let the machine do the work of breathing for now. Peeing okay is wonderful. Truly. Happy kidneys are a very very good sign. There’s a reason nurses are obsessed with urine! ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/80 "2012-08-14T17:28:34Z")
Here is another random stranger wishing Mr. Shoe a speedy recovery! And here’s to taking care of yourself as well. As someone who writes weekly arbovirus and mosquito reports for New Jersey, I only see the numbers of those stricken, not the struggle that must be endured. It’s really humbling. I wish I could only report on infected mosquito pools, but human cases occur and the numbers in Texas this year are tremendous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279.md?page=5)