OK, here is an update for everyone -
On Tuesday night May 20th I started feeling 'not myself' and just got really tired really fast. Headed up to bed, had the chills (probably a fever), body aches and basically just fell asleep. Wednesday morning I woke up and was still not feeling well at all. My chest felt heavy, like I was coming down with a chest cold perhaps?I think Scott may have thought I wasn't 'so sick'. It's not like I 'call in sick' very often. But I made it clear to him that I needed him to take care of the kids. I was sick. I slept most of the day in to the afternoon. Scott took the girls to my in-laws and they eventually made it back here. I took a shower and ate dinner, even had Family Game night...was feeling a lot better, as far as chills and body aches...but my chest still felt heavy. But I got the dishes done, laundry done....felt fairly good. Went to bed. Woke up in the morning and could barely move. I was so exhausted. My breathing was very shallow...I could barely speak without losing my breath. Scott had to go in to work so I got my body out of bed, came downstairs w/a blanket and pillow and just sat on the couch. Scott had gotten breakfast ready for the kids before he left. Thank God. I couldn't move. I had left a message for mom to call me, I needed her help! In the meantime...I had Natalie doing anything that was needed. Finally mom called and I told her what was going on in as few words as possible. She got here, dressed the kids and told me I needed to go to the Dr. I opted to go to the walk in clinic at Walgreen's for convenience. I thought I had bronchitis or possibly pneumonia. I told Mom I just needed to rest a little longer to get the strength I needed to get up and just get dressed. She told me to get up and let's go! So I managed to get some sweats and a t-shirt on and off we went.
The dr. at the clinic was hemming and hawing over how to treat me - my oxygen levels were low, my heart rate was up and my breathing was limited. She was going to give me an inhaler and an antibiotic (for possible bronchitis). But instead she told me she would feel more comfortable if I went to the emergency room. She asked me if I needed an ambulance. I said "absolutely not" and told her that mom was in the car with the 3 kids and she could drive me. She asked me for my cell phone # and told me she was going to call me later that evening to check on me. She asked me not to make any stops on the way to the E.R.
So I got in the minivan and told mom in a nutshell what was going on. We had to first make a stop at McD's for the girls b/c they were hungry for lunch. Then we had to make another stop on the way for Amanda to go potty in her portable potty. OK, no biggy, but did you really think I'd get to the E.R. w/no stops at all?!? :) I called Scott and told him to meet me at the hospital.
We arrived and Mom took the kids home w/her. Scott and I waited in the E.R. waiting room for a couple of hours after checking in and seeing the triage nurse. We saw many people come and go and eventually I was the only one sitting there. I inquired and was told we all get a '#' when we check in with the triage as to the level of emergency and apparently I was on the bottom of the list. Finally, we were called in.
The dr. said they were going to run x-rays of my chest to look for bronch. or pheum. My breathing was still very shallow and it was so uncomfortable to just breathe. The dr. mentioned that IF they didn't find anything on the x-rays, the next step would be CTscans. I was pretty sure it would be one of the two and they'd give me some meds and send me home and tell me to rest. BUT, the xrays came back clear. I was off for a CT scan. I was really starting to get scared.
Then it was more waiting. Scott and I just hung out and he was trying to figure out a plan w/the kids and Mom. It was all changing by the minute.
Anyway, the dr. came back in and told me that they saw what appeared to be a tiny blood clot on my lung. Now I was really scared. Let me just tell you the mind goes in some pretty dark places in a short amount of time...when you don't know what is happening or going to happen next. They wanted to admit me and keep me over night. Did I mention that Natalie's preschool graduation was the following day at 2pm? I was going to miss it. I was completely devastated. I could not believe what was happening. I was determined to get out of the hospital to get to her graduation, but things just weren't looking good since they were going to be running a bunch more tests. they were mystified by the size of the apparent blood clot vs. my discomfort w/breathing. It wasn't equating. So I spent the night in the hospital. Scott was there with me for awhile and Donna and Rich stopped by and Tony stopped too. When he walked in I guess I just realized at that moment how scared I was and how serious this could be. Donna and Rich went to pick up Ryan from home where he was w/Mom and brought him back up to their house where he and Scott would spend the night. I was told I wouldn't be able to nurse Ryan until the morning b/c of the dye from the CTscan. So after a long lonely night in the hospital, Scott arrived early w/Ryan and I nursed him. It would be the last time I nursed him, my baby. I was told no more nursing due to the blood thinners they were putting me on to clear the clot. I was determined to pump for a few days and resume, but God had other plans. Among being on a heart monitor, oxygen, IV, an EKG and LOTS of blood tests I was off to have ultrasounds on my legs to check for more clots. I was pretty much convinced that there had to be more somewhere to explain my discomfort. Once in the room for that, Scott had to leave to get ready for the graduation. He still needed to get Natalie a card, flower, gift....Mom had the girls and their dresses and everything they needed for the day...so there I was by myself again. So scary. After that I was wheeled back to my room, had lunch and was going to try to sleep thru the hour so I wouldn't be looking at the clock and thinking about the graduation so much. I felt horrible that I was missing it. Of course, Scott was going to videotape it all and take a lot of pictures. All of the Grandmas and Grandpas were going to be there, Auntie...
But the among many other interruptions the pulmonogist arrived and we discussed everything back to Tuesday night when I first felt ill. She told me that the 'clot' was so small they weren't even sure that is what it was. It could be a shadow perhaps...but they had to treat me as though it was a clot. So on with the blood thinners (3 months min.) she assured me that the clot would correct itself and I would be able to go on living my life (for a few dark hours, I honestly did not know where all of this would be going). I asked her to explain then why she thought I was having the shallow breathing?! She said it was quite possible that it was in fact something viral?!/ So I was on an antibiotic now too.
With that, the other nurse came in and said the ultrasounds came back OK. No clots. That I could be discharged as soon as they could get the pprwrk together . They all knew I was missing Natalie's preschool graduation. The phone rang. It was my sister-in-law, Sherry calling me while the graduation was in progress to keep my mind off things. I quicky told her what was happening (I don't think she could believe it at that moment!) I called Scott and it was now 1:50 - 10 minutes before graduation. I told him what was going on and he couldn't believe it. I asked him to have his mom call Ricki, her friend and family friend and see if she could come pick me up. Meanwhile I jumped out of bed despite my horrible headache from all of the blood they had drawn that morning and proceeded to wash my hair with one hand (IV still in the other) I had no time for a shower, but had to wash my hair. I didn't even have my purse, just a plastic bag they gave me to put anything from discharge in. I put on my sweats...the nurse called the guy to come get me with the wheelchair and told him to HURRY, I was trying to get to my daughter's preschool graduation. He was a young guy and pushed me down that hallway as fast as he could w/o losing his job. My cell phone rang and it was Ricki telling me she was pulling up to the front of the hospital. I said, I'm getting on the elevator now! We literally met at the front of the hospital at the same time. She drove back home and I dropped her off and drove to the school. Ricki had walked from home to Donna's to get Rich's Lexus) anyway, off I went. By now it was about 2:30. Scott called me about 1/2 way there and told me the kids had performed their songs and they were having an intermission. I said WAIT do anything I am on my way! The teachers knew everything that was going on too, so they were trying to stall as much as possible. They gave Natalie her diploma last in hopes that I would be there. I pulled in to the parking lot, Scott walked out and told me I just missed it by less than a minute. I didn't care, I was there in celebration of it all. Natalie was in her cap and gown(pillowcase w/handprints). Let's just say I was filled w/emotions. My daughter had just graduated from preschool.....and I missed it....but I was there....wow. It was the most surreal day. we celebrated and then celebrated more at Lisa's where they had planned a get-together and dad was ordering pizza, etc. I was there. I know it may sound weird, but, there I was. We celebrated. And Daddy took advantage of his brief moment in control and for Natalie's graduation gift, got her a Star wars light saber. You can laugh. I loved it. But he also got her a beautiful flower too, which is what I wanted.
Anyway, I've been going to the dr. for the last 3 weeks having blood drawn to make sure it's thinning properly and follow ups w/the dr. I am going to see the pulmonologist on Thursday. So it will be very interesting to see what she has to say after all of this drama.
I just hope and pray it's all good news. Thanks to all of you who have called, emailed...it's been a whirlwind and very busy trying to fit all of these appts. in to the normal craziness of our days. But I'll do anything it takes to get this taken care of and be the healthiest I can be for my husband and the children. I feel like I have been reminded of how precious life really is and how quickly things can change. (trust me, the house was upside down with just one night away! haha!)
And one last thing...that dr. that referred me from Walgreens clinic called that night about 9pm while Scott and I were sitting in the hospital. He told her what was going on and she was so thankful that I was there, being taken care of. Scott thanked her. Is she an angel? I think so!
Well, I will post an update after Thursday to let you know how things are going. Thanks again everyone...Grandma Diamond for everything...Donna, Rich & Tony for visiting me during my short visit.....Aunt Sherry for calling me and sharing that moment w/me....Ricki....Wow! I feel so loved. Life is good. Good night. Love to all.
