ER and CTscans and such..........
I feel as if the last 5-6 months has been a never-ending journey. I shared with Tim yesterday (the Pastor for Youth at my church, Cov Pres, who came to visit me yesterday in the hospital) that at times, I feel like Christian in the book Pilgrims Progress. I feel that each time I pass one milestone another one just comes right at me again, blocks my view, and I wonder if it will ever end or I will have the courage and strength to continue this journey this sinful world.
Well, before I get to that let me explain:
This past Saturday, I wasn’t feeling my best. I didn’t eat much. My upper GI was hurting each time I ate and I felt sick each time I ate, no matter how little I ate or not. The pain got worse so around 11:45pm, Dad and Mom decided to take me to the Augusta Heath Center ER because my upper GI (near my chest) was hurting very badly. I (as well as my mom) was disappointed at the service received at AHC. I complained of upper GI and hurting esp when breathing. The doctors there only did a chest x-ray and some blood work; and he didn’t do much as even lay a hand on me. He discharged me as having acid reflux. Ok…..whatever. Oh, and two nurses were whispering to each other and passing notes and I am thinking they were talking about me because they kept looking at me. I kept telling it HURTS not burns…he didn’t seem to care. Another nurse however, said to me "you're not faking....I know you hurt....I can tell it in your voice and how you look." What's a nurses' words against a doctors? So, we got discharged and sent home at 5am. Sunday was an “ok” day for me. I was still hurting and ate some better but later on again felt pain and nausea as the night went on. I went to work as usual on Monday, hiding my pain and nausea. I called my GI doctor but the nurse there told me that since I did not see them in over 3 years, I had to get a referral from my primary doctor. I was upset because I’m thinking that I’m in a lot of pain and can’t wait for a referral; but called my PCP anyhow. Her nurse said to me that it may take a while, and I told her that I really can’t have “take a while” because between a referral and making an appointment will be at least a few weeks. I didn’t eat at all Monday because I felt so horrible. I called my mom after work almost in tears not knowing what to do because I was in pain and vomiting. Mom thought it was best to go to UVA hospital ER because at least the ER doctors can get in touch with my GI doctors there. It was a loooooooooooong and painful night. I got stuck 3 times before a successful I.V. was placed. The very first thing the doctor told me was that I was extremely dehydrated by just looking at me, so I was on I.V fluids right away. Then I got to get poked again for blood work. Interestingly, AHC said all my bloodwork was negative. UVA ER doctors said my potassium levels were very low. UVA ER doctors did a very good work up and couldn’t figure a good explanation of my sudden dehydration (though I did drink somewhat on Monday) and low potassium levels; this was when the Attending Physician looked over me (head to toe) and said that it was best for me to be admitted into the hospital since I was unable to drink and eat well enough that they were comfortable to send me home. I wasn’t expecting to be admitted to the hospital. In fact, I don’t even remember being admitted to a hospital that didn’t involve surgery or any kind of procedure. So, after 10 hrs in the ER (koodos to my daddy for staying with me the entire time), I was put in the “Short Stay Unit” because they were hoping I’ll only be outpatient (23 hrs or less in hospital/unit is still outpatient). Other than IV fluids, I was put on potassium drinks (yuk) and heprin shots to prevent blood clots....DOBLE...no...TRIPLE yuk!!). My whole 3 days there I had to get those shots 2x daily and all I can say is that I’m thankful I’m not diabetic and need insulin shots. OUCH!
The next morning, Tuesday, I am now under the care of a nice Cantonese Chinese doctor, Dr. Ling. (no, we didn't communicate in Chinese although we both were very tempted to---talk about patient confidentiality! haha) He asked me how I was doing and I told him I still was very much in pain; but I wanted to go home; he told me I was still too dehydrated to go home. My mom couldn’t make it that day because she thought I was going to be discharged but Dad was with me until 8pm.) Dr. Ling was going to order me a CT scan to see what was going on; he put me on a NPO diet (nothing by mouth) until the CT was over, which never started until 7pm. During the time between my doctor’s orders, CT, naps, etc, Burress came by for a visit which indeed cheered me up (actually any visitors cheers me up! (He’s always been a great support during these last 4-5 months of my trials and ministering to me in many ways…whether it is by Scripture reading, hearing me cry/vent/ or praying with me). After the CT scan, I was then moved up a floor to the medical and surgical unit….still in pain…still sick to my stomach----and still on I.V. fluids.
Wednesday, Mom came to my hospital room around 10am hoping to take me home; Dr. Ling said CT was clear but since I have been on IV fluids and had hardly anything to eat, so he wanted to monitor me an extra day to see how well I tolerate foods. He already told me that he does not expect me to tolerate a usual meal that I normally would eat but he wanted to see me tolerate at least 1/3 of my meal all day long; it was a disappointment not to go home but I could understand why he didn’t want to discharge me until I proved I could eat “well”. I didn’t do the best yesterday while eating…but he did see me eat a little less than expected but was okay with that since he does know and believe that it hurts to eat. Since couldn’t go home, Mom left around 1:30 and Tim came by around 2:30 or so. (may I just add how blessed I am to be in a church with such loving pastors and friends??). He spent time just talking to me, reading me Scripture, and praying with me…..and just talking about life (such as what we remembered watching on TV growing up). I have been blessed with loving friends who has called me and asked about me….so very blessed.
Finally, it’s Thursday. Mom is at the hospital around 8:30. Dr Ling comes by around 9ish (another insert: he was by far the greatest doctor ever…
So now my friends, I am at home; very tired; still in pain; and eating what I can. So far, work is treating this as a sickness time and nothing else, which is good so I THINK my job is safe for now and I will try to endure a day of work tomorrow (at least it’s FRIDAY!). I plan to get plenty of rest this weekend. If I feel strong enough I do hope to go to my church on Sunday; again it depends on my energy level and how I feel. I would really like to be “back to myself” for next week for a full work week.
Please continue to pray for strength and endurance; ability to maintain nutrition (I was told if same symptoms were to occur again to go back to the ER), hydration and such.
I am really trying to maintain a positive attitude during these trials. I just pray nothing else comes up; but if it does, I know I'm in good Hands of the Father, and am Loved by my church family.
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