6 day hospital stay

Mar 02, 2012

 Very long (my way of letting go).....
Woke up Friday morning due to pain in my breast bone/tummy area, proceeded with my daily routine and took a sip of my shake and OUCH!!! Pain, pressure, burning.  Tried water and same thing.  Something wasn't right.  Surgeon's office sent me to local ER (as soon as you say chest pain).  Had CT scan with contrast (had to drink way too much contrast -- I think they were really confused about bypass patients) and radiologist thinks he sees twisted bowel.  YIKES...ambulance ride to Hopkins.  Note too much happens over the weekend except I get lots of IV fluids and pain meds and Dr. Steele comes to see me (and of course I burst into tears).  Ulcer o gallbladder?  Monday is endoscopy day....no ulcer and ultrasound....gallbladder is happy.  Tuesday is upper GI day (but no can do because I'm still full of contrast from friday).  Wednesday upper GI day and as soon as I drink the barium the radiologist goes "ohhhhhh" and I say YES that's it.  Now I'm officially no longer crazy and thinking that I'm imagining the pain.  You can clearly see where the liquid stops then the esophagus relaxes and down it goes.  Next steps...need to have a manometry test, see a hematologist (blood work just doesn't equate to the anemia...thalassemia may be the culprit), adding a few meds to hopefully calm the esophagus, warm/soft food diet).  Thursday.... YEAH time to go home.  Lots of appointments in the next few weeks eating and drinking is not the easiest nor the most comfortable but I will get the protein shakes in (prealbumin is down to 8).  Not going back to work until after my follow up on Thursday and I honestly need the time --- I am exhausted and feel totally out of control (hard to imagine ME not being in control and susceptible, open and vulnerable -- my weaknesses in full force).  Family....take them like they are.  They mean well but do not get it.  A lot of that is my fault because I always minimize everything but most of them can barely take care of themselves and there is not too much that they can do or offer that can help me.  Not going to let this little hurdle get the best of me.  Taking the next few days to be totally selfish and think about me only.  

Hospital highlights... the 60 minute ambulance ride with a NASCAR driver behind the wheel, having my IV moved 4 times, 4am blood draws, 6am rounds, keeping my arm straight so the IV pump alarm didn't go off,  the staff banging on the drug cabinet every night, the day the security guard was arrested for assaulting a patient in the stairwell, my tech Eloise (cute wig but the gold tooth was a bit much)


Whew.....feeling better already time to take some meds and tylenol PM (it's gonna be a good nights sleep).

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