August has finally passed and now I see I am starting September off in pretty much the same manor I started August. On Wednesday (Sept 7th) I got another ambulance ride! This time though it was from my house, not from the ER. About 9:30 pm I had 7 paramedics in my bedroom trying to get me breathing well enough to transfer me to the hospital.
Earlier that day I had an appointment for some tests at the Pulmonologist. One of the tests included an inhaler. At first all of this seemed fine, but as I was driving I started feeling disoriented and had a hard time concentrating. My heart was racing and my breathing was strange. But I had a couple of errands I had to do before I went home. By the time I was heading home all I wanted was my bed! And that is exactly where I went when I arrived. That evening when Gary and Mom got home they asked why I was in bed and I told them. I think they are frustrated with all of this as well and just said sorry and left me be. By 8pm I felt as though I was struggling way too hard to breathe and I just tried to relax and control it. By 9:00 I could no longer control it and I also could not yell loud enough for my family to hear me in the rest of the house. I couldn’t get out of bed either. Gary always goes to be by 8:30 and I kept hoping he would come back and find me, but he didn’t. Then I realized that the phone was laying on Gary’s nightstand (it is NEVER there!) so I managed to grab it and use the intercom function to call Gary in the family room. When he finally answered I could not talk but he could hear me gasping and realized it was me in the bedroom (he did not know we had an intercom on the phone till then). He tried to get me up and tried to get my breathing under control but it just didn’t work. By now I was in full body tremors, both my hands had cramped into what looked like lobster claws and my feet were totally cramped and misshapen too. Gary got my Mom to try to help but nothing they did helped and I kept thinking “why aren’t you calling 911” Gary was starting to panic and I finally was able to say I’m going to die here” this made him finally call 911!
I’ll tell you this, paramedics are quick but when you are waiting for one it seems like forever! I had a hard time concentrating and understanding everything they were saying and doing to me that night. But I do know I looked like a human video game again with all of the wires etc hanging from me. My blood pressure was through the roof, something about my heart and its sinus rhythm and my blood sugar was high. I got several doses of nitroglycerin in the ambulance and a couple of IV’s (they are not as gentle or maybe it was just the bumps in the rode as we drove). Once we arrived I had the nicest people helping me! And the big bonus was they all spoke clear English! Another set of chest films were taken and all of the regular blood work and monitoring. Then they made the decision that I needed to start a course of steroids to help me breathe. So I got the fist 2 doses there in my IV and now I am taking pills at home. I am very tired but this morning I actually feel as though I can breathe easier – this is a BIG plus for me. I even managed to finish packing my kits for my Saturday class (with the help of my Mom)
The other news around here is that the room is still full of gas – I can’t go near it and have had no luck in finding any resources for removing the gas. So for now I just have the big fans trying to blow it out the open window and the forest remains. I have a favorite scripture that I try to live by and remember when things are tough . . .
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. Jeremiah 29:11-12.
So today I am trying to rest in these words. I am trying to understand what lesson I am supposed to be learning from all of this. And trying to keep my spirits up and be happy. Hopefully soon I will have a post that is full of fun photos and fun stories to share with you all again. Thank you to all of you that have commented, sent emails, phone calls and hugs.
Earlier that day I had an appointment for some tests at the Pulmonologist. One of the tests included an inhaler. At first all of this seemed fine, but as I was driving I started feeling disoriented and had a hard time concentrating. My heart was racing and my breathing was strange. But I had a couple of errands I had to do before I went home. By the time I was heading home all I wanted was my bed! And that is exactly where I went when I arrived. That evening when Gary and Mom got home they asked why I was in bed and I told them. I think they are frustrated with all of this as well and just said sorry and left me be. By 8pm I felt as though I was struggling way too hard to breathe and I just tried to relax and control it. By 9:00 I could no longer control it and I also could not yell loud enough for my family to hear me in the rest of the house. I couldn’t get out of bed either. Gary always goes to be by 8:30 and I kept hoping he would come back and find me, but he didn’t. Then I realized that the phone was laying on Gary’s nightstand (it is NEVER there!) so I managed to grab it and use the intercom function to call Gary in the family room. When he finally answered I could not talk but he could hear me gasping and realized it was me in the bedroom (he did not know we had an intercom on the phone till then). He tried to get me up and tried to get my breathing under control but it just didn’t work. By now I was in full body tremors, both my hands had cramped into what looked like lobster claws and my feet were totally cramped and misshapen too. Gary got my Mom to try to help but nothing they did helped and I kept thinking “why aren’t you calling 911” Gary was starting to panic and I finally was able to say I’m going to die here” this made him finally call 911!
I’ll tell you this, paramedics are quick but when you are waiting for one it seems like forever! I had a hard time concentrating and understanding everything they were saying and doing to me that night. But I do know I looked like a human video game again with all of the wires etc hanging from me. My blood pressure was through the roof, something about my heart and its sinus rhythm and my blood sugar was high. I got several doses of nitroglycerin in the ambulance and a couple of IV’s (they are not as gentle or maybe it was just the bumps in the rode as we drove). Once we arrived I had the nicest people helping me! And the big bonus was they all spoke clear English! Another set of chest films were taken and all of the regular blood work and monitoring. Then they made the decision that I needed to start a course of steroids to help me breathe. So I got the fist 2 doses there in my IV and now I am taking pills at home. I am very tired but this morning I actually feel as though I can breathe easier – this is a BIG plus for me. I even managed to finish packing my kits for my Saturday class (with the help of my Mom)
The other news around here is that the room is still full of gas – I can’t go near it and have had no luck in finding any resources for removing the gas. So for now I just have the big fans trying to blow it out the open window and the forest remains. I have a favorite scripture that I try to live by and remember when things are tough . . .
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. Jeremiah 29:11-12.
So today I am trying to rest in these words. I am trying to understand what lesson I am supposed to be learning from all of this. And trying to keep my spirits up and be happy. Hopefully soon I will have a post that is full of fun photos and fun stories to share with you all again. Thank you to all of you that have commented, sent emails, phone calls and hugs.
Till we meet again. . .
