And now, for something completely different

Just didn't see this coming.

Last Tuesday morning I woke up and realized I was starting to feel the symptoms of another uti. I had just had a follow up appointment about my last two UTI’s and had told the NP that everything was fine. He told me to just call their office if I had any problems. So that afternoon, after deciding this was really happening, I called the office. I explained what was happening. She told me she was messaging the doctor and he would call me back. “Wow,” I thought, my doctor’s going to call me back.

Soooo, needless to say, nobody called back. The next morning I woke up freezing cold. I closed the window and covered myself with two blankets but I lay there shivering uncontrollably for a good hour. I have never shivered like that in my life. Let’s see what else? I vomited, was nauseous, had a fever, a searing headache, back pain (unlike my normal stenosis pain). I eventually came downstairs but was so weak I could barely make it. Ernie called the doctor’s office asking if he could come and get the vial for a urine test and bring it back for me, because at that point I didn’t think I could get to the car. Many calls later, with no answer, we decided to just go to convenient care as I guess we should have in the first place. Ibuprofen had brought my fever down so I felt a bit stronger but if you’re wondering how I felt, please consider the following:

• I didn’t bother putting a bra on.

• I wore a dress that had a big splotch on the front from dinner the night before.

• When we got there I told Ernie to get me a wheelchair.

I gotta say I am very grateful to the doctor I saw. I REALLY didn’t want to go to the emergency room but the longer I was there (and it was awhile because I was too dehydrated to give a urine sample. I tried to drink the water they gave me but it made me nauseous) she became more and more definite about me going to the ER. She told me a lot of the nurses there were out of the ER and they were all saying I did NOT look good.

So I gave in tearfully and off we trundled to the ER…$200 copay, here we come. They shuttled me off to a ‘fast track’ section, put an IV in and poured me full of fluids, pain meds, nausea meds and the first gallon of antibiotics. I dozed. Ernie sat in an uncomfortable chair. They took me for a CT scan of my kidneys and as we zipped through the ER on our way to get that I realized how lucky I was to be in my quiet little section. After many hours they said I could go home but I could also stay and get more fluids and antibiotics. Of course I said I wanted to go home.

The next morning we were curled up, I felt better albeit exhausted, and we were just about to watch Top Chef, when the phone rang. They’d gotten all of my bloodwork back and ordered me back to the ER immediately. Hello again, my good friend, $200 copay. Into the morass of the regular ER this time. More of the same. About five hours later they admitted me to the hospital.

My uti had gone into my kidneys and into my blood. Sepsis.

It’s all a bit of a blur. More bloodsticks than you can imagine. My hands and upper arm are still sore from those and the IV. Lots of antibiotics poured into me. What can I say? Nobody likes being in the hospital. I did have great nurses (and techs) which helps. I liked the Infectious Disease doctor, and the urologist too. Again, these things heIp. I also didn’t have a roommate which was nice. AND I got the bed by the window. Woo-hoooo!

I have determined that when ordering hospital food, go for what takes the least cooking. A sandwich is your best bet. The hell with gluten. Breakfast though?

I don’t know why I can sit at home and watch tv and be happy. It just doesn’t work in the hospital. I tried.

A little of the original Footloose.

A bit of M*A*S*H.

And SpongeBob, although sadly they were new episodes. He’s just not the same sweet SpongeBob of my youth, er, my forties.

After a couple of long days and sleepless nights I was released. My corner of the couch has never felt so good. And for breakfast the next day? Well, it was Biscuit Day.

I’m on a godawful antibiotic, but I’m grateful. More to come but that’s all I have the energy for right now. Thanks for all the kind messages and good thoughts. Truly.

Onward.

Love,
Cynthia