...of Classified Dignity

Need to play catch up?

After the first surgery, I did not need pain medication. Of course I was in pain, but it was bearable. Well, maybe I had been too proud of myself for not needing the pain medication on the first time, because pain taunted my body the second go round. Therefore, I readily accepted the Morphine they offered! Slumber overcame me but condensation interrupted it. I awoke with a concern for the wet condition I was in. At first thought, I assumed that I started perspiring. However, I noticed that only the bottom portion of my body was saturated. “Oh no! Surely I didn’t pee on myself!” I thought. But sure enough, upon a more detailed investigation…

Now I’ve not mentioned to you all about this thing I deal with called humility. Oh yeah, it’s true, the Lord is longsuffering with me in this area, however, He does not ignore it. I was not about to have anyone know that I’d wet the bed! So I decided that it would be best for me to just try to go back to sleep. Of course, this proved to be uncomfortable so I thought maybe I could place a few paper towels in the bed to cover the soaked spot and flare my gown outward so that I would not be lying on it. Didn’t work. Finally, in shame, I pressed the call button. A nurse walks in and I was horrified, IT-WAS-A-MAN!!! I had no idea that a shift-change occurred during my siesta. Cheerfully, he asked, “What can I do for you Mrs. Norvell?” Oh the horror…

Full of pride, as if it were no big deal, I asked if loosing control of one’s bladder was a side effect of Morphine. Delicately and still smiling, he asked if I needed my sheets changed. With my head slightly bowed in shame, I said that I did and thanked him. I had not been cleared to shower yet so my nurse told me that I should just clean “the affected area” at the sink. When I came from the bathroom, (after MUCH contemplation on taking cover there until he left my room), the nurse was putting the last sheet on the bed and he explained to me that Morphine has quite a few side effects and everyone responds differently.

Okay, so was he telling me that I’m the only 27-years-old, (at the time), human who has urinated in their bed? Or was he just trying to offer some consolation? Hmmmmm…

Either way, I felt it was my duty to inform him that this incident had taken place during my slumber! I tell ya, talk about a delicate ego! I recoiled back to the bed, but in fear of another mishap, I fought forty winks and definitely did NOT request any more Morphine for the remainder of my stay!

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19 NIV