On Friday, June 3rd, 2011, I went out to Karaoke with my family and a good time was had by all. Life was normal. On Saturday, June 4th, 2011, I was awakened by crushing chest pains that radiated into my shoulders, back, and abdomen. I thought I was gonna die of a heart attack on the spot. Never one to leap into untried waters, I called my hubby who was working Saturday and had him look up symptoms of female heart attacks on the internet for me. He called an ambulance for me since I was far from lucid by then.
The rest is mostly a blur. I remember a little about the paramedics, a bit about the ambulance ride, my ex-Catholic guilt coming up because I wanted to stay still for the CT scan but couldn't stop my body from moaning in pain....it turned out I had an abdominal rupture from a stomach surgery two years ago. Thankful for the news that it was not a heart attack, I was happy though still in pain, until I found out what the treatment woud be. Total "rest" of my stomach, meaning I couldn't eat or drink anything for at least a month. Also an aggressive drug treatment protocol of IV antibiotics and antifungals was started. After a few days they started feeding me through the IV. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital, some of it in ICU, and now I'm home learning from a home nurse how to manage my own IV treatments and feedings. Right now it feels like a full-time job, but I'm sure as I get a few more days under my belt, it will seem more manageable. Unfortunately I will still be starving and coveting food and drink with an intensity I couldn't have anticipated. I am so emotionally addicted to food! This will be a learning experience, that is for sure. So far, all I have had energy for is managing all the IV meds, sleeping, and reading. Hopefully I can make some jewelry soon.
I want to say a big sappy thank-you to all my hospital nurses at Skyridge, in ICU and unit 6, who were wonderful, and to Dawn, who is my visiting nurse and who has the patience of a saint. Nurses rock! They work so hard and take such good care of people....wow. What a noble, hard job, and how admirably it is being done!
Sorry for the boring post, but I thought I should explain my absence recently.
The rest is mostly a blur. I remember a little about the paramedics, a bit about the ambulance ride, my ex-Catholic guilt coming up because I wanted to stay still for the CT scan but couldn't stop my body from moaning in pain....it turned out I had an abdominal rupture from a stomach surgery two years ago. Thankful for the news that it was not a heart attack, I was happy though still in pain, until I found out what the treatment woud be. Total "rest" of my stomach, meaning I couldn't eat or drink anything for at least a month. Also an aggressive drug treatment protocol of IV antibiotics and antifungals was started. After a few days they started feeding me through the IV. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital, some of it in ICU, and now I'm home learning from a home nurse how to manage my own IV treatments and feedings. Right now it feels like a full-time job, but I'm sure as I get a few more days under my belt, it will seem more manageable. Unfortunately I will still be starving and coveting food and drink with an intensity I couldn't have anticipated. I am so emotionally addicted to food! This will be a learning experience, that is for sure. So far, all I have had energy for is managing all the IV meds, sleeping, and reading. Hopefully I can make some jewelry soon.
I want to say a big sappy thank-you to all my hospital nurses at Skyridge, in ICU and unit 6, who were wonderful, and to Dawn, who is my visiting nurse and who has the patience of a saint. Nurses rock! They work so hard and take such good care of people....wow. What a noble, hard job, and how admirably it is being done!
Sorry for the boring post, but I thought I should explain my absence recently.
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Oh Joani you poor thing. Your presence has been sincerely missed. Lots of prayers, hugs, and positive thoughts being sent your way. Rest up, relax, and I can't wait to see you back online when you're better!
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