Neverending

Crazy. I can't think of a better word to describe my life right now. Some of its a "good crazy" but not all of it.

To update: I had my bronch last Monday, the 4th. All went well. I did require more sedation than last time, but for some odd reason it didn't take me as long to sleep it off. Once I got home, I slept for about 4 hours. When I awoke, I was sort of in a panicky-agitated mode. I couldn't breathe. I was extremely nauseated, shaky. I couldn't move. These are common side effects after a bronch, but the extent to which i was experiencing these was much more than I had in the past. However, I just told myself it would go away, and I spent the next 5 hours trying to overcome these adverse effects. At about 9:30 or 10:00, clearly things were getting better and I was having an extremely difficult time breathing. I called my doc (the doc on call was the one who happened to do my bronch-and my fav); he was concerned and told me to come to the ER. One of the concerns after a bronch is a pneumothorax. I was having pain on the side they did the biopsy, so it was definitely a possibility.

(on a side note: I did notice that my WBC count had increased that morning to 10,000 from 6,000 the week before. That is very unusual for me, and it actually pretty high, as I normally run around 3-4,000. Also, I had felt ok prior to the bronch, and even went to take a Psych Exam at school prior to the bronch)

So on arrival at the ER, my Dad signed me in, and I sat down. Then he told them about how i was transplant, and had a bronch that morning. My ER does a really good job about taking transplant patients right back-even skipping triage area. So once they signed me into the computer and took baseline vitals, everything went extremely fast. I did have a fever when i arrived, a high heart rate, and O2 sat of 85% on room air. Once I got back to the room, they did blood work, stat xray, EKG...the works. After about an hour or so, things finally calmed down. I was on 4 liters of oxygen, hooked up to all sorts of lines. They wouldnt even let me get out of the bed too pee without my oxygen (even thought I knew i would be ok-UGH). My lab work came back and it was all out of whack. My WBC count was now 16,000. My xray was also suspicious of pneumonia. UGH!

So I got admitted...finally arrived in a room about 2:45 AM. LONG day/night. My doc thinks it was just a reaction to the bronch. He said since they stir a lot of things up down in your lungs, you can have increased WBC counts. However, he said they never see them that high. I did receive 2 doses of IV Vanomycin, Tobra, and Ceftaz while admitted. So my doc thought it was safe for me to be discharged. I told him i had to be at clinicals Thursday anyway...and i was already doing IV Ceftaz at home. My NP, however, was concerned, and didn't want me to go. But i guess the doc wins in that situation. When I left, my WBC count had actually increased to 18,000. So she just told me to have a really low threshold and report any minor/little thing.

I ended up feeling fine on about Friday last week. I felt pretty good over the weekend too, and soaked up a lot of sun. However, yesterday I felt horrible and had a really high resting HR. Today was some better, and I'm hoping yesterday and today were just off days. I finish my IV antibiotics Friday, and return to clinic next week. My oxygen levels are still struggling, as several days that have been below 90% at rest. They are 86% and below with excertion (even saw an 82% today-UGH). But then i've had days where they are in the mid 90s...so it's really a confusing cycle here. Still sleeping with oxygen. I'm praying that this infection will be rid of for a very very LONG TIME as it's been really hard keeping up with school.

Tomorrow is our last day of Psych clinicals. We have 2 more weeks of classes until the end of the semester..YAY. Definitely ready for my 2 week break.

It's Over!

Summer semester is officially over. I took my last final exam (which was in my developmental psychology class) this evening. Although I struggled with the course at the beginning and complained about the amount of work give, I ended up pulling an "A" in her class. I ended up with a "B" in Microbiology. I know that's not bad, but it still brings down your GPA, and I was really hoping to get an A in that class as well. But like always, other life events interfere, so I'm thankful that I achieved what I got.

So I have about 1 1/2 week break before fall semester....nursing school....starts back up (August 17th).

I babysat all day today, babysitting all day tomorrow, babysitting for a few hours on Sunday. Hoping to get some pool time in with a friend this weekend...hopefully. And then next weekend I'm going to Nashville to visit one of my good friends for a little "mini vacation." I have my Nursing Orientation Session next Friday from 9am until about 1:15 pm then will leave from there to Nashville. Then I'll return Sunday. Classes will start back up that Tuesday, which I am excited about...just wish I had a little longer break. I also already have 2 babysitting jobs that Wed and Thursday night of the week school starts.

More blogging to come. I forgot to blog about my wonderful ER visit last Monday (missing my 2nd to last day of class, and the day before my Micro Lab Final)...but all turned out ok, just a major 24 hour stomach bug...the worst I've ever had in my entire life. It's definitely going around down here and I'm guessing I caught it at class from someone. It's amazing at how good I felt, then all of a sudden BAM!!

Off to get some rest before another day of babysitting (it helps that they are great kids).

I hope everyone has had a great week. Our public schools start back next week....so for those of you with kids starting school next week, enjoy your last school-free weekend :)

Update

WOW! It has been a LONG and frustrating day. I woke up about 2:30 am this morning nauseated, and unable to go back to sleep. I started throwing up around 3:30 this morning gallons and gallons of junk(abnormal junk). I could not keep any anti-nausea meds down either. I was not able to stop throwing up, and I felt so weak and sick, so I had to call my tx coordinator (which I was trying not to do for awhile considering last weeks events). And believe or not...guess who was the doctor on call this morning...yep, you guessed it (even more frustrating).

They sent me to the ER, but at another connected hospital instead of the main UAB hospital. They said it would be quicker and that I needed to get fluids ASAP. So My mom drove me to the ER, and we did just that. They got me in pretty quick, and gave me a workup. I was still throwing up at this time...my poor body was so weak, shaky, etc. They gave me 2 liters of fluid, and repeated another ultrasound of my stomach. Apparently, the ultrasound looked unchanged from the one a few weeks ago.

My potassium was low due to all the throwing up, so I got IV potassium as well and a supplement to take for 12 days. He also gave me a script for Prilosec to help with some of the acid (although normally is not an issue for me). I was very dehydrated (obviously), and a little anemic (which is normal for me). They gave me IV Zofran, but unfortunately, that didn't help any. Thankfully, after I got home, I was able to keep down an oral Phengran.

The ER discharged me about 1:30 this afternoon. I was shaking so bad and so cold...we weren't sure what was going on. Once I got home, I decided to check my temp, and I had a fever of 101.1 (which is high for me). I took some Tylenol, which helped.

I followed up with my coordinator, and she wants me to follow up with my GI doc in the morning and then call her. MY GI doctor was not in his office today, but my Mom did talk with his nurse. They are concerned that the H-pylori bacteria is still there and wants me to go on another intestinal abx for that. However, I still think something is going on. The nurse thinks that what I was throwing up this morning, was bile from my gallbladder. It was the worst throwing up experience I've ever had, and felt so so sick. I've been so dizzy and lightheaded, that I can't really walk much.

I'm feeling better now, but have not eaten anything, and aren't allowed until tomorrow. I'm on a liquid diet for tonight as tolerable. I'm very weak, and I have a little body, and nothing in it.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to start my internship tomorrow, but are planning on Wednesday, if everything is ok.

Today's events proved more frustration with the transplant team, and frankly, I was glad i was at another ER.

I will update more later...I'm still nauseated and need some rest big time. Thanks for your comments and prayers! I really need them!

And once again...no Music Monday. Sorry!

Update

Sorry it's taken so long for an update. I just got my computer a little while ago. I did get admitted last night through the E.R. I think I got up to a room about 2:00 this morning. HOWEVER--I have to say that the whole ER experience was not that bad. We arrived about 6:30 last night. I signed myself in and they verified my name and SSN. Then the sweet guy told me to be patient that they had a full ER and about a 12-inch thick of people(papers) before me. So i went and sat down amongst the sick, gross, and no insurance people. About 2 minutes later, they called me back to triage. After that, I think we waited in the waiting room for about 10 or 15 minutes. Then they called me back to an exam room. I was in the exam room a LONG time, but at least I had a bed, TV, and more importantly, away from all the sick people. Somehow, I got pushed in front of everyone which was great. The nurse I had was so sweet too. After the usual work-up (labs, xray, iv, etc.) they decided to go ahead and admit me. My xray was clear and they did this more as a precautionary measure more than anything. They did give me fluids, as my labs indicated I was dehydrated.

The frustrating part was waiting around all day today to actually see the doctor and get orders in. I didn't get any food until about 4:00 this afternoon, because the admitting doctor failed to put in an order. Finally, about 3:30 this afternoon...Dr. Y (the one we don't like) came by. I was really dreading this after yesterday's situation. He pulled up a chair and basically made me feel like an idiot and acted like I was making all this up. He asked stupid questions, and I really just wanted to cry. I did what I was told to do, and yet I have a doctor that in reality, doesn't seem to care. I talked with my coordinator this morning and after the doctor came in, and she said we made the right decision, considering my fever and shortness of breath. ( I literally could not breathe yesterday). While nothing serious is going on with my lungs(at least not on paper), we aren't sure what is causing me to spike these fevers and other symptoms. This doctor doesn't feel the need to do anything, and more than likely will discharge me tomorrow. And let's just say that me and my family will not have anything to do with this doctor ANYMORE...and I'll make sure of that. He's humiliated me, made me want to cry, and frankly is lazy and doesn't want to put any effort towards figuring out what's wrong. I have put on a happy face, had a conversation with my coordinator (who will be handling things from here on out),and talked with my parents. This has gone on long enough. I guess he's just old and worn out in his career. (and just so you know..I'm not the only patient that has issues with him).

I did miss my GI test this morning. And during my conversation with my doctor, he proceeded to say that they could have sent me down for it if he had known. BLAH!!!! I told everyone and paged everyone I could think of to actually get something done...and he says that??? I guess he is just burned out with his job and doesn't care. I'm just the patient...and all I want is answers and to feel better. That's all I'm asking. Don't humiliate me, make me feel like an idiot, and question someone else's decision. My coordinator said she would have told any of her other patients to do the same thing.

My coordinator (who is the best in the world)...is going to take care of everything and reschedule my GI test (for the 4th time) for next week. Hopefully my body will decide to behave for the next couple of months so I can get this internship out of the way and concentrate on school!

And from here on out...(after tomorrow)...I will have no association with this doctor. Thank you all for your comments and prayers. While I'm feeling better, I'm not 100%. But needless to say, I'm basically sitting in a hospital bed doing nothing. No medications, tests, treatments, etc. And to top things off...our normal transplant floor was full, so I'm on the pulmonary/cf floor...which is the germiest of all floors!! On the plus side, I'm not hooked up to any monitors and have free roam of the hospital if I want it. But considering my severely suppressed immune system, I think the best thing is to stay in the room.

I'll update again tomorrow with the official discharge words!

Headed to the dreaded E.R....

Well...because my doctor (yes, the one I don't like) just now called my coordinator back...I have 2 options. If I want to get checked out I can either go to the E.R. or wait until tomorrow to start IV abx. But here's the catch: The doctor won't even see me tomorrow unless I go to the E.R. My coordinator really wants me to get checked out. My breathing has been really bad today and my temp has gotten up to 102. Normally (when all the other 4 docs are on call), we have an outpatient room on our transplant floor where we can go to get checked out. I've always been able to go here when needed. But this particular doctor is being a pain in the you know what. So even if I wait until tomorrow...he still won't see me...and I need to be checked out. I may just have the crud (hopefully)...but it could be worse. And we won't know for sure unless I make a trip to the dreaded E.R....and believe me UAB's ER is awful...I've only been once--and vowed to never return unless i was literally knocking at death's door. While I'm not knocking at death's door...this is the only way to get checked out. So wish me luck..hopefully I'll get through quickly...and either return home or be admitted.

I won't have a computer with me...so there won't be an update until tomorrow at least. And I'm not sure whether I will make my GI test in the morning or not...I'm guessing not, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make it :)

My sputum culture was successful...but have to wait for results in order to start me on iv abx..but of course now that doesn't really matter.

I'm waiting on my Mom to get home from work..then we will take off. Thank goodness for wonderful parents and for being close to my transplant center.

Oh..my Dad is sick too...so that doesn't help! I'm guessing we've shared a few bugs over the last week or so!