And the Ride Goes On
My sweet son (Dougie) just brought me my lap top. At the moment, I’m writing from this lovely place. It has been one long misadventure … and I honestly don’t know whether I should be laughing, or crying.
When I saw him on Monday morning, my new doctor refilled my hypertension medication, and gave me something for my UTI. Well, I know that if I stop taking that particular HTN medication for more than a few days, and then restart it, it always hits me really really hard, and I spend most of my time sleeping until I start getting used to it again. Well … that, and the fact that my worry about the dosage on the antibiotic was right on … got me into deep doo when I went for my stress test.
When I got to the hospital, I warned the fellow that was about to do the test that I had just restarted an HTN med, and that I was light headed. Fine. No problem. He tried taking my (usually skyrocketing) blood pressure, and he couldn’t hear it. He said: “I can see it, I think, but I can’t hear it!” … He went out to get another person to come in and try, and she said the same thing. They then brought in the cardiologist on call … and he said: “Hmmm. I can’t hear it. I think I can see it, but I can’t hear it.”
By this time, I wished I’d either stayed home, or not taken the darn pills. The cardiologist scratched the test, and decided that he wanted a nuclear stress test instead, and for me to have it done today. In the meanwhile, he sent me down to the ER (augh!!!) because he wanted them to give me an IV to bring my blood pressure back up. I kept telling everyone that it was fine … it would pass on its own, it was just because I was just starting these particular pills over again. No one seemed to care about that. I’ve been through that scene at home on various occasions over the years since I’ve started with that med … it’s nothing new. I was not happy to end up back in the ER again.
Anyway, once I was down there, they started the IV, and she put it inside of my right elbow. I told her as she did it - “I’m glad I’m not staying, because I would not want it to be in that spot if I were!” That’s when I jinxed myself, methinks.
After she set me up, she said: “The doctor will be in to see you shortly.”
If I could have sat bolt upright, I would have. I squawked: “WHAT? I’m not here to see a doctor. I just SAW a doctor!”
She replied - “Well, everyone who comes into here sees a doctor.”
And that was that.
Anyway, I became a bit of an attraction in there, since I’d been there the morning before, if you recall. The fellow I’d seen then came in and wished me well … so did the nurses.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw Dr. MacCauseland walk in. I’m actually going to name this guy, because he’s got to be one of the nicest people alive. It was the second time I’d ever seen him. The first time was also in March, back in 2004. I had just been diagnosed with HTN and CRF the October before. I had developed a rather nasty kidney infection, and my nephrologist sent me to the ER … where I ran into Dr. MacCauseland. He admitted me that time, too. Lovely man. *cough* ;o)
The long and short of it … my already high creatinine had climbed into the 4’s (which I’m sure was due to the antibiotic,) and no one wanted to take a chance that the hypotension was due to the pills … and so dear Dr. MacCauseland told me:
“I don’t want to let you go home, and I’m conservative about this sort of thing.”
I reminded him that it was the second time he’d done it me … I’m not sure how conservative he really is! *LOL*
Once I realized that I wasn’t going to talk my way out of this one, I looked ruefully at the needle inside of my right elbow … and caught the next nurse who came in, a lovely gentleman, and asked if he would please be kind enough to find someone to move that darn thing into my hand. He gladly accomplished the task himself. I was just about ready to be shipped upstairs.
There was stomach churning moment when they wheeled me into the room which is immediately next to the one I ended up in on that fateful October 2003 day when they admitted me for the 280/160 blood pressure for the very first time. I was there for almost a week. If I were allowed to look out the window, I’m sure I would see Central Ave. in Dover, since that’s what I could see when I spent a lot of long moments staring out of the next door window. However, they’ve given me a cute, special little yellow bracelet which means I’m not allowed to run around without permission.
They plopped me into a bed that moves by itself (ack!) … and put little boots on me that puffed up and gave me foot massages all night. That part, at least, was nice. So were all of the superheated blankets, because I’m awful chilly-willy. Thus began a long, long night. You never get to sleep in places like this.
They’ve done bloodwork every 6 hours, and this morning they did a nuclear stress test, a fifth EKG, and an echocardiogram. My creatinine is back down into in the 3’s, and I’m raring to hit the trail! I’m just waiting on the lovely Russian lady hospitalist to spring me.
This was quickly written … on a WIFI connection which is almost non-existent. I haven’t done my usual reading and re-reading, so please excuse the typos. When I wrote the “Testing the Waters” post, I had no idea that this was going to be a series. *sigh* ;o)
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Quickie addition …
My lovely doctor came in and told me that she would like me to stay until tomorrow morning to make sure my numbers continue to go in the right direction, but since she’s sure that she wasn’t going to sell me on that one easily, she would let me go under certain conditions. YES! :oD
I’ll do my very best to be a good girl … just let me out of here! *LOL*
Anyway … I called home to ask for a ride, and was told that someone had sent me an edible greeting (bouquet?) of some sort. He told me that he can’t find a name on it. Since I’ve only blogged about what’s happening, and none of my family or local friends know, I suspect it’s one of my very kind, thoughtful readers. I wish you’d let me know who you are! At the very least, I want to say thank you. That’s awfully, awfully sweet of you. Unless I’m going out to eat, fruit is my main fare … so you either already know me pretty well, or you made one heck of a good guess. I assure you that I’m going to go home and demolish the lovely piece! :o)
Next post will be from my nice warm water bed! Now I have to catch up on my school work … I have a really gnarly lab to pass in, and a midterm to take. I’m afraid that I’m at a disadvantage, because I’ve missed both of my live lectures this week. Ah well … I’ll have to do a bit of catching up!
A Long Search:
- A Tale of Two Offices
- Testing the Waters
- On a Rollercoaster …
- And the Ride Goes On
March 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Well honey, you have sure been through it this week. Thank GOD you kept that doctor appt. on Monday! I know you and I have talked before and compared BP meds. and that we take two of the same one’s. I am wondering if it is hyzaar that causes your BP to go so low when it is restarted? Demadex causes mine to drop sometimes, but not to the point they can’t even hear it…
I hope you go home and rest for the next couple days. Can’t you just forget about school work until you are felling better? I wish it was something I could help you with.
Moof, please don’t ever get to the point where you run out of your meds again. Like someone else said, when you get to that point, you need a doctor (any doctor) more than he needs you.
Please take care of yourself and DO what these doc’s are telling you to do.
Love ya, my friend!
March 28th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I am sending you a virtual flower bouquet and little low-sodium treats via the internet. Oh, and a big, old hug….Take Care!!!! May they spring you soon…
March 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Well Cathy has said it all. It has been a stressful time for you but you seem to be bouncing back. Hope you learned your lesson, be good in future.
I hope you are well soon, as well as you can be. I admire the way you are not letting your illnesses keep you down.
Take care
jmb
March 28th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Typically, beta blockers and alpha blockers — very effective BP meds — are the ones that have to be built up slowly. If I encounter someone who used to be on, say 200 mg of Toprol or 8 mg of Cardura (doxazosin) but hadn’t had it for a period of time, no WAY I’d start them right back on it at that dose, no matter how bad the BP was. I’d start a lower dose and bring them back frequently to bump the dose.
Also, WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF THAT ANTIBIOTIC and make sure that anyone prescribing for a UTI in the future knows that it doesn’t play well with your kidneys. Don’t worry about insulting someone; I’m grateful when a patient points out things like that to me. Also: consider a Medic Alert bracelet for CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease.)
Finally, I’m tremendously proud of you for the way you’re going through all this. You’re a real trooper, especially given how hard it is for you. Believe me!! I KNOW how much easier said than done it is to “talk back” to docs (re: antibiotics, etc.) and “stand up for yourself” when you’re petrified with fear.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
ahhh poor moofie… i hope things settle down soon for you and you get sprung from the hospital… i am also very glad you got to see that doc you like so much again;) and that it wasn’t a total stranger taking care of you… take care of yourself miss moof and many many hugs and prayers going your way.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I’m really overwhelmed by the comments on these three posts. When I wrote the first one, I never expected to have much of an update beyond: Yup! I went! *LOL*
Anyway, I’m home. The food basket did have a name on it - count on men to not be able to figure that sort of thing out. See the name at the top of my shoutbox … Barbara Weisman. They’re friends from the KoC. Apparently, she found my blog just on time to see these posts … *cough* and is the only one local to me who knows I was in the hospital. I’m going to call and thank her tomorrow … since I’ve already made a huge dent in that lovely bouquet (melons, pineapple, grapes, strawberries … wow!)
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Cathy, the Hyzaar and Norvasc don’t bother me that much. It was the Clonidine. It and I have had an issue from the beginning, and I really wish they’d change it to something else. Over the 4 years I’ve taken it, it’s always given me a hard time.
I normally do what I’m told … my problem is usually with trying to stay away from all of them so that they don’t have to tell me anything! *LOL*
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Pattie … you angel! You don’t need to send anything! Just your comments do so much more than you could possibly imagine. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but the comments have been like a big hug fest, and I’ve been gobbling them right up! :o)
Thank you for being so thoughtful, my friend … but seriously now, don’t think you need to do things like that … *blush*
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Ahh JMB, you’re a sweetheart. Thank you. I know that I should have made up my mind about who to see sooner, but I think you have to be as focus-phobic as I am before you understand how easy it is to put off something that you know is going to be a major trauma for you! *LOL*
You know - my hospitalist told me today that she hates doctors. Imagine. She IS one! I don’t hate them, I just can’t deal with that intensity and type of focus on myself.
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Dr. Dinosaur, I want to say thank you in very huge way. You reached across the miles, and in a timely way, pulled my kiester off the grill.
I’ve shared that with another very dear friend, who has since visited your blog, expressed that he really liked what he saw, and I bet that he will now be a frequent guest of yours.
The antibiotic isn’t hard to remember … it’s Cipro. However, what I couldn’t remember was the dosage. It’s still not right, I think. I *think* that this dosage is the one I’m only supposed to take 1/2 of every other day. But I’m not sure. Whatever, my creatinine is back down to the mid-3’s, and that’s a lot lower than it was yesterday. Hopefully it will continue to decline, although I got differing views on that from three different docs. The ER docs from both days weren’t happy with what they saw, while the hospitalist thinks it might go all the way back to the stage 4 CRF instead the 5 I’m in now.
Getting a bracelet is a good idea. I will definitely hunt one down. Thank you.
About talking back … dear heart, I need to get to the talking at ALL stage before I start talking back! *LOL* Actually, when I end up in a hospital, all of my really “tweaky” areas get kind of numb from being bombarded by constant questions, tests, treatments, etc … so it actually makes it easier for me to be more open. Maybe it will last? A year ago, I could never have admitted any of that “out loud” anyplace, never mind on my public blog, so …. there’s a bit of progress.
Thanks so much again …
March 28th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Wolfbaby, didn’t mean to miss you. I think, you posted while I was still writing. Thank you for the kind wishes, my dear. You’re a sweet heart. I’m home, and now I need to get caught up on my midterm assignments and the test … for Logic and Design. Oh my … *blink* … *LOL*
March 28th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Moof,
Glad to hear you are on the mend. I hope your new doctor is every bit as compassionate and caring as he is competent. You have a lot on your plate to deal with and you are, simply put, an inspiration.
girlMD
March 28th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
What a bummer, glad you were ok to go home, hope you’re feelin better soon!
March 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
My dear friend Moof. Please please please! Take care of thyself!! You make me worry!!!
I am praying for you.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Well, I’m very glad to read all these happenings. Take care and have a rest.
{{hugs}}
March 30th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I’m so glad that you are home now.
I wish that you didn’t have to go through all of that, but I’m glad that you’re okay!
I pray that you recover nicely and that you pass your tests with flying colors!
later…
March 30th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
GirlMD, thank you for stopping in, and for your very kind words. I’m also hoping that my new physician is compassionate … but mostly, I’m hoping that I can find a means of communication. That’s the toughest part for me.
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RDL, thank you kindly for the well wishes! :o)
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PK … quit worrying NOW! I’m fine! I’m in much better shape than you are! You, my dear girl, give me some serious reasons for worry!!! *blink*
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Ipanema … thank you, dear heart! Rest is what I hope to do as soon as I’m caught up on my school work! :o)
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TJ, thank you, my friend. Doing much better than I was. Also - I took that midterm this morning, and the autograder said that I got all the questions it could correct right. It will be next week before I find out how much my professor liked my little pseudocode program I had to write. Tricky to do on the fly …
March 31st, 2007 at 1:31 am
*here we go again*
My Dear Friend Moof, I do believe that if our health were stacked up side by side, I would come out the stronger one. Therefore, I have more reason to WORRY!!! Don’t argue, your blood pressure can’t afford it, neither can mine. Hush now. I win. *smile*
Love ya!
I hope you’re resting well, I am praying for you.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Jeepers, I can’t leave you alone over here for a minute. Seems when ever I don’t check in, somethings going on with a friend. So sorry your going through all this. Hope you will be out soon and back in familiar, warm surroundings. Love to you.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Oops, reread quick and see you are home. Sometimes I’m responding the your post, and don’t read all the comments. Glad to know you are ok and safe at home.
April 4th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Godspeed, my friend. Thoughts and wishes go with you.
Ian
August 27th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
[…] in that same spot I was in back at the end of March … […]