Showing posts with label Lumbar Puncture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lumbar Puncture. Show all posts

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Traditional Holiday Stay

It's Time to CELEBRATE!
I finally BROKE OUT of the joint. I'm ready to party... as soon as I can walk!



I'm warning you i'm forgoing punctuation and spelling tonight. Sorry Scarlett frankly don't give a damn!


Last week I checked into the hospital for one very long week, full of tests and pricks. I was welcomed with four pricks to my arm to try to get an iv in my little veins; they sure don't like those needles so they suck themselves in making it impossible for nurses to place the iv.


Finally after two nurses and four pokes they called in the life flight nurse who placed it in my left thumb. That's right, my left thumb. I'll try to post pics later.


I was set up with 27 EEG electrodes atop my fine blond curls and roped to the bed. I looked like I was ready to go to a gay pride parade with my colorful wires. Which was fitting because I kept trying to repeat their motto to myself over and over again "It Gets BETTER!"
The first night was hell because my jerks and muscle pain was at a ten, which made me paranoid that i was setting myself up to be known as the whiny patient for the rest of the week. I didn't care and eventually gave in and begged for someone to help me sleep.


The next day the EEG Spec Doc came in to inform me I don't have seizures. And that they are psychosomatic and I need therapy. Then proceeded to hound my mother about my non existent horrible childhood. We kept trying to explain my main doctor asked for the EEG just to double check for herself but we knew because of the Mayo Clinic my convulsions are brought on by low blood pressure. But she just kept her ears shut and told me I need to love myself and get therapy.


My mom laughed at her. For better or for worse my self worth isn't anything anyone needs to worry about...


This is when I knew it was going to be a hell of a long week because It was obvious she didn't actually read my file she just came in gabbin proving her arrogance was a beard for her ignorance.


My main Doc, Dr S. came in a few hours later and I was terrified that there was a big misunderstanding of why I was there. There wasn't thank heavens, Doc S explained that there was a bit of an education going on and we continued on with the adventure.


The next day after a few more of my wiggly and stretchy limbs Doc Epilepsy came in and apologized,
she kept saying i'm rare, and pointed out all the obvious signs that it war neurological and not psychosomatic. Like the fact that I didn't have any reflexes during my events, my face slid and my heart was funky.


I understand why Doc Epilepsy so easily misdiagnosed me, 50% of people who come in with seizure like symptoms are experiencing psychosomatic related events. However, after I have been to five different mental health professionals (who cleared me) and been down this road before two years ago with another doctor it wasn't a welcome visit down memory lane.


But once we finally got passed the initial annoyance we were able to make some progress. Like I said, we found I have no reflexes during my events. I exercised twice and my blood pressure went from 137/85 to 63/45 the first time and 117/73 to 42/35 the second time. I know i'm awesome. BTW my heart rate was above a hundred both times.


The week was just full of boring headaches and wiggly limbs with an occasional swollen sliding lip until monday. I had to get a spinal tap or LP that night but first I had to have a blood test where I sat completely calm and peaceful.


The intern student doc that was the most hands on kept reminding me to breathe and not think of the LP. But I was wound tight, couldn't stop bickering with my mom (we clearly had spent way too much time together in that tiny room) and as soon as the end of the test came Doc Epilepsy walked in which i'm sure made my levels go way up. So much for that test.
The spinal tap went beautifully thankfully to the Chief Resident who did it. The test for the LP was so complex that not a single drop of blood is allowed or else the whole thing is null and void. Thankfully she got it with such ease I do declare her fingers must be magical.


Right after the LP they stuck me three different times, to get blood, put in an iv for liquid to help me gain spinal fluid quicker and then another whuussy but annoying prick for blood sugar. I wouldn't of minded it so much if i hadn't been pricked so mush early that day.


I kept wondering why they couldn't have spread stuff out more.


Then the nurse came into inform me she was going to give me a shot to prevent blood clots.
amyagainsttheworld.blogspot.com

I couldn't stop laughing, not because it was funny but because if I didn't laugh I was going to either cry or cuss her out. So I laughed then begged her to put it away. I was able to talk her into let it slide since my blood is so thin to begin with, that giving me a blood thinner didn't sound like a smart thing to do.


I stayed on my back for another day then was electrocuted by a test similar to a EMG without the needles. I don't know, i've done it with the needles, and I think it was almost lest painful then the darn probs they had on me this time.


I think it's hilarious that I was so worried about the LP which turned out to be cake but wasn't even concerned about the fact they were planing on shooting electricity up my nerves.


To say the least my inner idiot got punished. Just know, I may have never given birth, but there were points in that test that I would have rather been pushin out a nine pound baby.


I finally went home late that day and had to stay on my back because my head kept threatening to scream out. Migraines after LP's are sign of the spinal fluid leaking which could be very bad, so it's vital you stay laying on your back and continue to drink water.


They unofficially gave me another title to add to my weirdieness. However I won't post it until it's official. The results from the LP need to come back before we can really jump to any conclusions.


So that was my adventure during my 2011 holiday stay at the hospital. One of these days i'll be staying at a spa during the holidays and not somewhere they are electrocuting my spine right after it was stuck with a huge needle.


I do have to say one thing, my parents are absolutly amazing. They were there consistantly which was extreamly annoying but knowing that there was someone there to hit the button when I had an event put my mind at ease. They never complained just loved.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

My Tramp Stamp

It's been ages since my last post, and things have changed a little for the better!
I'm completely exhausted right now because although things are looking up this last week has been a hellish whirlwind.
I had a Lumbar Puncture, better known as a Spinal Tap on Wed. It was the second one i've had. The first time it went off without a hitch, but of course this time I couldn't be soo lucky.
I ended up being one of the 20% with the biggest brain ache in the universe that wouldn't go away. I was of course hopped up on pain meds but not even my ridiculous high dose of Loratab could keep the little men hammering away at my skull at ease.


This is the band Spinal Tap. Yes, I know, they have nothing to do with my adventures this week, but believe it or not they are actually much less scary then a picture of the real thing....probably cus they are fictitious.

I'm a he-woman warrior though and stuck it out...that was until I got this mysterious pain that started at my sternum and flushed throughout my right breast and back.
At first it felt like bad acid re flux/heartburn mixed in with a under wire bra that was two sizes too small, but then it started radiating and I collapsed to the floor.
My eyes were bursting in pain from the headache and my heart was playing ping pong along with my blood pressure. But i could barely notice it because of pressure spiraling out of control in my chest, arm and back.
I've never been in that much pain in my entire life...and that's saying something. I really wondered if i was having some sort of heart attack.
So I finally gave in and let my parents take me to the ER. An X-ray, Cat Scan and one "blood patch" later along with a heavy continual dose of morphine my body finally calmed down from its Barnum and Bailey audition.
I was put on 24hr flat bed rest yet again, making it a total of about 48hrs just lying on my back this week.
Oi.
Thank heavens I've got my peeps JN and CG to come and keep me company at my grandparents. CG works in the death business and after my fiascos we started talking about my death, which comes up often, and my grandma informed him that when I die she has a dress that may work for me.
Yup, granma is gonna out live me.
Weirdly i'm very comfortable with that.
Best part of this week, I now have a bruise that's sort of in the shape of lips. I've always wanted a tramp stamp...