Hi again! How is everyone? Hope you are well and doing all the things you enjoy! I'm going to try and blog a bit while the rest of the household is asleep! Especially Hanz - he really doesn't like me sitting @ the computer when I could be paying attention to him!
As you know, I've been having bleeding issues lately - apparently even though I'm "done" seeing Dr. Yakes, I still have tiny capillaries that need to be cauterized or resect by the doctor who will be doing the next stage of my surgeries! We have been trying for several months to get all my paperwork in order so I can get scheduled to begin this next round of surgeries, but it's been one thing after the other that hasn't gotten us there yet. Unfortunately for me, that means I'm still having bleeding issues! The worst is not knowing when these bleeds will happen - I just had that one July 3 and it was bad enough that I immediately went in to get a blood count to see if I needed a transfusion. I should have gone ahead and gotten it, even though I was @ a decent level.
Wed., July 10th I had gone in to work, and couldn't decide what to do for lunch. I went to the Wal-Mart near work and was looking around, when I felt a sneeze coming on. I dread sneezing, because many times that triggers a bleed. (Although there are times bleeding can start when I'm sitting still) Sure enough, after sneezing I touched my chin and had blood on my hand. I wasn't too far from the ladies room toward the back of the store, so I made my way there as soon as I could. I barely got in and could already feel blood coagulating in my mouth. Made me want to gag and I leaned over the sink to spit it out! A lady was in one of the stalls and when she came out she washed her hands and hadn't really glanced over to what was going on w/me in the sink next to her. When she did, she asked if I needed help. I told her I had already called my husband, but she said she really wanted to call 911. She walked out and I guess got a Wal-Mart employee - she was a manager and agreed that they would call 911. Mark had just sat down to have lunch w/his brother Jim @ a barbeque place when I called - but he got to me very quickly! The first lady kept handing me paper towels as I leaned over the sink bleeding all over the place. I kept trying to rinse my mouth by cupping water in my hand. Meanwhile gobs of coagulated blood were clogging the sink, and I would try and grab a handful of paper towels to throw it out, but that would make me gag! The one lady asked if I needed a chair and I said yes. I thanked her for helping and wondered how all the blood wasn't freaking her out! Between the first lady and the manager, they were trying to help with blood everywhere! Mark arrived and asked if I had any gauze - I usually pack my mouth with it to try and stop the bleeding. Told him there was some in the car, so he ran out to get it and finally seemed to get it under control. It seemed to be coming from way in the back of my lower left molars. It kept coagulating, but I would pull that because it was gagging me and the bleeding would continue! Somewhere along that time, the EMT's arrived and started trying to help. I had sat down on the chair by this time, but still leaned over the sink bleeding. I was feeling light headed and apparently passed out! Mark heard one of the ladies say she thought I wasn't breathing - so he removed my trache cap! I think @ this point the EMT's had cut my kerchief off, as it was in the way and all bloody. I wear it over my trache to keep dirt out, so a lot of people aren't aware I even have it. That's unfortunate, because of what happened with all the bleeding! Thank God Mark thought to pull my trache cap - he saved my life! I started breathing again and the EMT's started an IV by putting a needle on the back of my right hand. Too bad my mediport wasn't accessed, they could have used that. I do not like going to the hospital, especially here locally, but had no other choice with the way I was feeling. Got put in the ambulance and headed to the hospital, with Mark following in his car. He notified my family and they all met us in the hospital emergency room.
Right away I was put in one of the rooms in Emergency, and one of the nurses helped take off my clothes that were soaked in blood. She cleaned my hands that of course were also all bloody. My mouth is packed in gauze and I'm thirsty and can't have anything to drink. Or at least I don't want to because I don't know what's going on in my mouth until I would be able to pull the gauze out and rinse. Course no one wants me to do that yet. My primary care physician Dr. Boynton is notified and arrives soon. My family asks him when I can remove the gauze and he said to wait @ least 4 hours. It's freezing in the ER, my sister Celia is calling up to CO to ask what the hold up has been to get me in for my next appt. We need this bleeding stopped completely! My brother-in-law Jim peeked in @ one time - I waved a greeting. There was only 2 people allowed to be w/me, so family was taking turns. At one point, Celia looked out of the ER room and there was no one around. Seems there was a major emergency, and all staff was trying to help! I can understand that and waited patiently. I probably got to the ER about 1pm and wasn't taken to a room until 7pm or so. I was admitted to ICU because my doctor said that way I would have better care in case I had any bleeding issues. We sent mom home and Celia stayed with me while Mark went home to get a few of my things and checked on the kids (Hanz and Bella).
I kept wanting to remove the gauze from my mouth and rinse so I could have something to drink. All I had all day was a couple of pop-tarts and some coffee while @ work! Mark had to go to my work and get my purse (I had put my license and debit card in my pants pocket) and my "what if" bag that had medical supplies!
The nurse on duty wanted to call my doctor to be present when I removed the gauze. I told him that wasn't necessary - but did wait until Mark came back. He knows best how to help me with everything I need! By the time I was able to remove the gauze in my mouth it was almost 8pm! I knew from a previous visit that there is a thing that is like a stick w/a sponge @ the end that I could clean my mouth up with, so I asked for that. Of course I was given a liquid diet. The only thing I wanted was the teeny cup of apple juice. I know, if I'm complaining I couldn't be feeling that bad - but when you are feeling that bad, it really sucks when you can't even feel better by getting anything decent! Mark insisted I try the chicken broth - gross! Got a popsicle that I told him to eat because I can't open my mouth wide enough to eat that - and orange jello. Ugh.
I kept asking for someone to access my mediport and no one wanted to go there. Meanwhile I am hooked up to all these wires w/a heart monitor and a blood pressure cuff on the left arm. The nurse puts those darned hose on my legs that are hooked up to more wires for circulation. They tell me, "try to get some rest". Connected to all those wires and guess what? I have to go to the bathroom. Celia had asked me when she was there earlier where the bathroom for the room was. I pointed to the toilet chair. Are we having fun yet?
Someone from the lab came by to draw blood - ironic, huh? Mark was still with me and again asked the nurse to access my mediport. Finally they found someone to do this and I know I'm complaining, but OUCH! This nurse did not know what she was doing - the last time my mediport was accessed in CO - I think it was nurse Jason and I barely felt it at all! Soon after this I had asked Mark to go home to be with the kids. Don't like them being home alone so long. I have to show you my baby Hanz sitting in my spot on the couch, keeping it warm for mommy! That's one of the hard things about going to CO or having a hospital stay here - being away from my babies!
I was given 4 units of blood through the night and first thing in the morning, Dr. Boynton came in to see me. I asked if I could go home and he said no problem, he would write up my orders for release! Yay! Got home about 10 a.m. - Hanz and Bella were so happy to see me! Got settled in and communicated a little bit on Facebook to let friends and family know the latest. I didn't want to spend any time on the computer that I could be enjoying Hanz and Bella! Mark as always is amazing! Right away, he fixed me a bowl of grits - nice to have something warm in my stomach! For lunch I asked him for a baked potato, with shredded cheese and sour cream! Normally, I would have tried to go in to work the following day, but I really was feeling weak and needed to regain my strength! Mark had spoken to my supervisor right after the bleeding incident and had no problems there. My supervisor Kathleen is awesome! I texted her later to tell her I would probably wait until Monday to come in and she answered to take more time if needed. I'm glad this bleeding didn't happen @ work! Mark said he hugged the two ladies that helped me after the EMT's took me on the gurney. We'll go back after a while so I can thank them personally. I have been blessed to be surrounded by angels all the time! Can you imagine if I had been in that bathroom alone and had passed out? Well, enough for now - I'm signing off to go check on my kiddos! I'm sure as always I'll tweak this here and there and add info or photos, but just wanted to post this so everyone could know the latest. For now, I have a tentative appt. to see Dr. Robinson (plastic surgeon) in CO on Sept. 11th, but we're trying to get something sooner!
Thanks for all your love, prayer and support!
Cyndi
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