*Takes a steadying, relieved breath*
Apr. 10th, 2011 03:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ferineOkay.
After a week hospitalized, then a week spent recovering, today I'm finally able to get on the computer.
Turns out a urinary tract infection had dogged me long enough to turn my system septic. I'd never presented the typical symptoms of a u.t.i., which made the diagnosis a surprise. The intense bacterial infection rendered my circulatory system septic.
That experience was both dire and curious. Some really heavy shit.
Thankfully, we took an ambulance down to University Hospital, which is both a teaching hospital and more cutting edge than the closer Platte Valley Medical Center, which is where I went in August for my still undiagnosed virus.
This time the feelings were unnervingly similar to what landed me in the hoosegow last time: abdominal, back, arm and leg muscles tightening beyond control, making it difficult to catch a breath, and contorting my body like a freakin' flesh pretzel. A stabbing headache ice-picked through my sinuses and my eyeballs, blurring my vision and making me nauseous. My heartbeat was in hyperdrive. My temperature was 103, exactly like the previous incident.
It took some doing, but the doctors were thorough and surmised I was fighting sepsis, spurred by a lengthy u.t.i. They bombarded me with IV fluids and IV antibiotics. Lots of Acidophilus--ensuring no C. diff as a result of all of the antibiotics this time, thankfully. It took a lot to come through this, but with their expert and attentive care, and that of my parents and the boys, I survived and felt sprier upon release than when I left the hospital last time. That said, it took six days to overcome my migraine, which remained fairly constant since the hospital admittance. My vision finally cleared yesterday, and all of my excess fluid is mostly drained now. I was tiring of looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. >;-)
The leader of my team of doctors was freakin' scary hot--Amira Del Pino. Amira, what a cool name! And, I shit you not, she looked a lot like one of my serious celebrity crushes, the gorgeous Fairuza Balk. So, of course, all of my female docs/RNs/CNAs are cute and here I am, all bloated and gross looking. Damn it.
>;-)
Oh, and the RN I had the first two nights--Anne Hewitt--she was the doppleganger of Nona. She appeared to be the same age, she had the same hair, features, body, voice, mannerisms, even eyes! That was utterly bizarre, yet comforting in a way.
Given that both incidents had so many similarities, I think this u.t.i. has been lurking since last August. I mentioned this to my doctors, and they agreed that a u.t.i. can "hide" in the body for months. Yikes.
Still tire easy, but I feel so much better now. Better than I have since last spring, truth be told.
Love you all. I'm back. >:-)
After a week hospitalized, then a week spent recovering, today I'm finally able to get on the computer.
Turns out a urinary tract infection had dogged me long enough to turn my system septic. I'd never presented the typical symptoms of a u.t.i., which made the diagnosis a surprise. The intense bacterial infection rendered my circulatory system septic.
That experience was both dire and curious. Some really heavy shit.
Thankfully, we took an ambulance down to University Hospital, which is both a teaching hospital and more cutting edge than the closer Platte Valley Medical Center, which is where I went in August for my still undiagnosed virus.
This time the feelings were unnervingly similar to what landed me in the hoosegow last time: abdominal, back, arm and leg muscles tightening beyond control, making it difficult to catch a breath, and contorting my body like a freakin' flesh pretzel. A stabbing headache ice-picked through my sinuses and my eyeballs, blurring my vision and making me nauseous. My heartbeat was in hyperdrive. My temperature was 103, exactly like the previous incident.
It took some doing, but the doctors were thorough and surmised I was fighting sepsis, spurred by a lengthy u.t.i. They bombarded me with IV fluids and IV antibiotics. Lots of Acidophilus--ensuring no C. diff as a result of all of the antibiotics this time, thankfully. It took a lot to come through this, but with their expert and attentive care, and that of my parents and the boys, I survived and felt sprier upon release than when I left the hospital last time. That said, it took six days to overcome my migraine, which remained fairly constant since the hospital admittance. My vision finally cleared yesterday, and all of my excess fluid is mostly drained now. I was tiring of looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. >;-)
The leader of my team of doctors was freakin' scary hot--Amira Del Pino. Amira, what a cool name! And, I shit you not, she looked a lot like one of my serious celebrity crushes, the gorgeous Fairuza Balk. So, of course, all of my female docs/RNs/CNAs are cute and here I am, all bloated and gross looking. Damn it.
>;-)
Oh, and the RN I had the first two nights--Anne Hewitt--she was the doppleganger of Nona. She appeared to be the same age, she had the same hair, features, body, voice, mannerisms, even eyes! That was utterly bizarre, yet comforting in a way.
Given that both incidents had so many similarities, I think this u.t.i. has been lurking since last August. I mentioned this to my doctors, and they agreed that a u.t.i. can "hide" in the body for months. Yikes.
Still tire easy, but I feel so much better now. Better than I have since last spring, truth be told.
Love you all. I'm back. >:-)
