Tiny step backward...

OK...I knew that was too easy! And, I had an inkling that God had more to teach me...if I weren't so hard-headed the Big Guy would have a much easier job raising me!



Tuesday night I felt like I had a fever but I chose to be in denial and "wasn't able to find a thermometer," before falling dead asleep at 7:30 pm. I woke up several times with yucky night sweats, but due to the "denial," I blamed it on the pain. Wednesday morning my neck was very achy and stiff but I blamed it on muscle spasms...until my sweet mother and designated massage therapist tried to rub out the spasms...I about jumped across the room when she touched my neck because it was soooo tender. At this point one might think I should call a doctor but I had one of my closest friends and her daughter coming at noon and a chauffered coffee date with another friend down the street at 2:45...ummm, hello? Social therapy is great for extrovert's spirits, so, out of true concern for my health, I had to go!



By 5:00 I was in bed with fever, lots of neck pain and high pressure pain and swelling in my head. I had lots of night sweats that night (so much that Jack asked me when he snuck into our bed early that morning if I had had an accident...heehee). So, I decided I should call my doctor...right after Paul and I sold our house at 9:00 am and bought our new one at 1:00...ummm, hello? Priorities!



I called my internist and she told me to go to the hospital. I didn't like her answer so I called the docs in NY. They told me to go to the hospital. Bummer. Paul and I went straight there after we bought our house. We flew through the waiting room b/c by this point my loose, child-stretched sunglasses were making at least 1/2" indentations behind my ears that lasted over an hour and I was sweating and I have this tiny scar on the back of my head that has been useful for so many things (free coffee at Starbucks, cutting in airport lines, better parking, fast trips through the ER, etc.). They did my bloodwork and examined me and then transferred me to the Level 1 neuro-specialty hospital where I was immediately admitted to the CRASH Unit. I don't know exactly what that is but Starflight kept walking in front of my windowed doors rolling their patients to my neighboring rooms and we must have heard 10 "Code Blue's." I think it was at this point that I realized this might be kind of serious. Oops!



We got the lab results back and my white cell count showed I definitely had an acute bacterial infection and the Cerebral Spinal Fluid test showed gram-positive bacteria...drum roll...bacterial meningitis. That night was very scary. I felt like I was way out-of-it (more than usual, anyway), my head was huge, hot and squishy, I was having chills and low fever, terrible head and neck pain, etc. They immediately began treating me aggressively for meningitis with one antibiotic after another, steroids and whatever else they slip into my IV when I'm not looking. I finally got transferred around 2:00 am to the CCU (one step down from ICU) and I stayed there until tonight when I was moved to the corner, penthouse, 2 walls of windows room on the 9th floor. It feels like a hotel more than a hospital and I don't have 20 residents staring into my windows like a hamster cage all the time while some mysterious Attending says who knows what about me. Although, I like this..."Well, I've been practicing medicine for 20 years and I have never seen another patient with Ehlers Danlos, much less with your neurologic problems. You are a very complicated case (followed by a low, nervous belly laugh)." Then I feel all covered with warm fuzzies and just know I'm in the best hands (followed by my own nervous laugh...ummm, no).



I don't know how long I'll be here. I'm supposed to get a PIC line (an IV line in my upper arm that can remain for several weeks) so I can continue my antibiotic therapy in the comfort of my new home (that Paul and the movers moved us into today). I have had a great afternoon compared to yesterday, but still have some hurdles to jump before I can post bail. The doctors are about as certain about when I'll get out of this place as they are what the heck to do for me. Oh well, God is the Great Healer, not them. It's all in His timing. As for now I am getting to spend great quality time with my mom, watching all the HGTV I can stand, enjoying the view and trying to honor this time God has chosen for me to rest.



Thanks for all your support and prayers and posts that lift my spirits so much. I love you all and can't wait to see each of you. Please continue to pray for my family and caretakers here at the hospital, as well as for God to continue to bless me as incredibly as He has been in showing me how great He is and how much He is present and in control of all of this, rather than feeling sorry for my family and myself and taking a "worldy" view on our situation.



Love,

April