Rollercoaster Ride Begins

 

 

These next few posts are going to cover events that took place over a very short period of time. I’d tell the whole story at once, but there’s just too much and it’s a bit of a wild ride. If I hadn't been there myself, I’d think it was a big ol’ lie because you just can’t make this stuff up!

If you recall from my last post, I stated that on December 18, 2019, I had celebrated 5 years cancer free.  

Literally less than 2 weeks later, I found myself full on hemorrhaging again.  This would make the third time in my life that I was hemorrhaging.  On January 5, 2020 the bleeding began. I could not keep up with it.  

I was so worn out and tired that I finally grabbed a stack of towels and put them on my bed and laid down. I kept feeling very faint.  I hoped that that feeling would pass and I could resume normal activity. 

By the afternoon of January 6, I realized I was in trouble. Every time I got up to do anything, I would literally pass out for a hour or two.

Part of me wanted to just give up and pass, but I had finally been accepted into the Idaho Medicaid program so the fighter in me strongly suggested I find my phone and call 911. 

Now keep in mind I live in an apartment building that is not ADA compliant. Less than 5 minutes from dialing 911, I had an EMT at my front door. I let him in. I had managed to get dressed during the time from hanging up and his arrival. 

Usually there are at least two EMTs that come with a visit. I was informed the other guy was parking the truck while he ran in to help me. He also told me that they could not get a gurney up my stairs so if at all possible, could I walk down the stairs and the other guy would meet us at the bottom of the outside porch with the gurney. I agreed, but as we were in the middle of a major snow storm, I would need my shoes. He helped me put on my shoes and grabbed my winter coat

We walked out my front door, and I immediately went weak in the knees. He helped me to the top step and had me sit down while he locked up my apartment.

After locking up, he sat next to me on the step. Any time you are ready, let me know and I’ll assist you down the stairs, he says.  

I was so overwhelmed by everything going on. I naturally started to laugh hysterically.  He says he doesn't understand the humor, can I elaborate?

I said I was afraid to stand up because I could picture myself falling head first down the stairs and then there would be additional diagnoses and charting involved. And it’s just my luck that we were having a major snow storm right at that moment. 

He tells me that he appreciated me thinking of the extra paperwork involved should I fall on my head. And we decided I scoot down the stairs on my butt. He’d help me stand up then, and guide me through the outer door. The second guy is waiting for us at the bottom of the porch - just four more steps down once we get outside and he could assist if needed.

So I scooted. And giggled the entire time because I felt like a silly schoolgirl. 

We got to the Emergency Room at the hospital in Blackfoot. I was still in a very weird mood and still giggly.  The standard question of why was I there was asked multiple times. I tried to explain that I was hemorrhaging but I lacked proper body parts and organs for that to be happening. 

The staff just looked at me like deer caught in the headlights. Yeah.. that instilled a lot of faith in the personnel… not!

The lab tech was struggling to find a vein. I told him my veins are bad, and I’ve lost a lot of blood. He’s not going to find a good vein in my arm or hands. I told him to just stab me in the neck for the IV and other lab needs. The poor guy didn’t believe me and continued to torture my arms. Finally, after my persistence, he was able to get me a J Line close to my left clavicle.  

The J Line worked twice and stopped working.  Finally, the ER Doc arrived.

Once again, I have to explain why I am presenting in the ER. And it’s explained that the J Line is not working. So he decided to put in a MedLine near my right clavicle. 

To do this, he tells me he needs to ‘tent’ my face so I don’t breathe on the open area as he sews in the MedLine. This typically would not be a problem.

But this is ME that we’re talking about. 

Typically, when you are tented, a nurse holds plastic sheeting upright between your face and where they are working. This bonehead of a nurse laid the plastic over my face, only holding it up enough to give me maybe ¾ of an inch space to breathe. 

To complicate matters, the doctor was leaning over my head while he did his thing.

I normally don’t have a problem with claustrophobia, but the doc was taking too long and my face was sweating and I went into full blown panic attack.

I asked the doc how much longer, I’m having trouble getting fresh cool air and I’m not able to control my filter of ‘niceness’ 

Tryin to distract me, he asked me his name..

I said I didn't know.

He says I'll give you a hint... It starts with J

Okay I'll play... It's Jackass!

To be fair... I did warn him my patience was wearing thin. He walked right into that one.

Finally he got the MedLine installed and it was working fine. He asks me his name again. I say Dr Jensen, but you’re still a jackass. I was serious, but glad that he laughed.

The staff informs me I will be spending the night in ICU while they figure out what to do with me. They still had no idea what was going on with me, other than I was hemorrhaging. 

Until next time…