Monday, June 18, 2007

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Good Morning!

It's been almost a month since I last wrote an entry in this journal.  I have been so busy preparing for our move to Easley, SC .  We are moving on Juloy 14th.

Also, I have been neglectful in commenting on other's journals.  Please forgive me.

On June  7th I was sitting in my doctor's waiting room when I started to feel my face and upper body on the left side begin to feel tight , get tingly and go numb.  I got the attention of his receptionist and she called him out to check on me.  He had just finished with his patient and took me in his office.  He examined me and suspected that I was having another TIA so he sent me right over to the ER.  I panicked and ended up driving.  Stupid I know.  At the ER they took tests (blood, X-ray, CAT scan.)  It was determined that my coumadin level was too low.  it was 1.9. A therapeutic range for someone with APS is 3 to 3.5 so I was admitted for observation and stroke watch.  I was hooked up to a heparin IV as a precaution and my coumadin (I take the generic form called Jantoven) was increased.

Needless to say I was not happy about being in the hospital.  I just wanted to go home and I made everyone there aware of that fact.  I was not a very good patient.  But I knew that I needed to stay so I calmed down.  Plus they gave me something to relax me.  Which it did very well.

 

             

Now when I get admitted to the hospital I tell Gary to stay at work.  It's not necessary for him to come hold my hand.  It's fine that he comes after work.  In the beginning when I got sick he would always leave work.  It got to the point that sometimes I would be in the hospital two times a month.  He always wants to leave work but now I make him wait until he gets off.

           

I only ended up staying overnight.  Although early Friday morning I started to have some visual problems so the hospital attending doctor (they call them hospitalists now) had to be called.  I heard them over the loudspeaker calling him STAT to my room.  The visual disturbance only lasted an hour or so.  They saw no cause to worry.  But, (as those of you who are familiar with being in the hospital know) they come to draw blood a few times during the day.  The Hospitalist returned to my room to tell me that my H and H was off and they suspected internal bleeding somewhere.  The tech returned to take even more blood.  My counts were returning to normal.  But they wanted one more blood draw before they discharged me.  It came back fine and I was released at 6:00 PM. 

                            

 I was very happy to get home. 

I'm asking all of my readers to pray for Dawn of  http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Dawn has some serious health issues.  Please visit her journal and offer support.

Thank you!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

have a good week:)

Deb

Anonymous said...

Darn that coumadin for getting so off level!  ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) prayers that the levels will hold steady for you dearheart.
loving you
karyl

Anonymous said...

Tricky, balancing the INR, particularly if you're taking a lot of other meds alongside. Glad things got sorted and you could go home.

Anonymous said...

How time changes things!
Sometimes it is easier to just rest when we have some alone time in the hospital. I have gotten in the habit of telling Jerry to go home when my ER visits look like they are going to be loooong.
I am glad that you were in the hospital where you could be observed. And even more happy that you're home.
Love,
Loretta

Anonymous said...

Oh Lu!!!!  I am okay... just a brain tumor... now I have an excuse for all my stupidity!  It really is wonderful!  lol

OMG... I am so worried about you... you need to have a whole bevy of docs ready for you in Easley!  What if something starts to happen like that during the move!!!!!  You know I love you dearly and I am going to be the biggest worry wart thru this!!!  Argggh!!!

Do pre prep work for the medical stuff and let everyone else pack.  Okay... yeah, right... i know... i know...

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry you have had to go through so much.  I hope things are looking better now.
Lori

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy that you are home from the hospital. How scary that that is happening. Good luck with the packing and stuff.

Anonymous said...

Prayers going up for you!  Take care of yourself I worry about you!  Big hugs my friends!  TerryAnn

Anonymous said...

Wow, your move is coming up so soon!

Krissy  http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink