Wednesday Wrandom Wrambling's - Medical style - 'cause that's how I'm rollin.....

I think the picture says it all. Medicated and motivated. When was I ever NOT medicated? I can't remember a time. Maybe I should give it a try? Nah.......

Yeah, so a little scare yesterday. See I've been having these 'Sympathetic Lumbar Nerve' blocks. They inject some sort of anesthesia or something like that into the nerve in my left lumbar into a sympathetic nerve that carries messages from the brain to the nerves in that leg. It is to help the CRPS. I went in yesterday for my third block, and the bottom fell out. I felt as she was doing it that something didn't feel right. I said something. She said everything was fine. I then felt a sharp pain straight down that leg. I told her. This had never happened before. She assured me things were okay.

I get moved to post op and all hell breaks loose. I KNOW something is wrong, I tell them, I describe what is happening. They think it's because I am dehydrated and low blood sugar. They make me drink juice (HELLO!!! I don't DRINK LIQUID CALORIES!!), they monitor blood pressure and heart rate. My heart rate was in the 50's and even dipped below. BP is fine but I feel like I can't swallow, I am freezing cold and now all my muscles from head to toe have started spasming. I could give a tourette's patient a run for their money on the spasms.

I'm pretty sure I am gonna die, I am kinda aware of what is going on, but kind outta my body. I can hear them and they are trying to get my temperature and finally I hear someone say we better call an ambulance.

So the ambulance comes. I'm not thrilled since they gotta ask me a whole lot of questions and I'm busy trying not to die. My blood sugar was 110, I already had two liters of fluid and my spams are outta control. Preeeeetttty sure it's not because of low blood sugar or dehydration. Something went wrong with that block, I felt it and my body was now reacting.

Just a side note to emt's who work the ambulance shift? People on the gurneys ARE NOT DEAD! I might have looked dead, but I was still alive! Flinging me up and down to get me in the elevator was a little uncalled for. Just saying.......

I get to IMC and I know that I am not going to die now. They won't let me. They have the equipment, the doctors, the technology to fix whatever the crap is wrong with me. I get into a room, another IV placed, monitors, more questions. Can't you people see I'm freaking spasming like no other? MAKE IT STOP! I am fricking FREEZING, make me warm, NOW. I know you have those in those warmer, oven thingies!!

I get settled and because of the jaw pain and some mild chest pain and my family history, well then for the love of all that's holy, we have to do an ENTIRE cardio work up. Does the term defense medicine mean anything to you? Sure as hell does to me and I don't blame them. With the litigious society we have, they can't NOT run those tests.

Of course all is normal. I am given some benadryl and steroids and told it is likely an allergic reaction to something with the block.

YA THINK????? Really now? Several hours later, couple grand in the bank and that's the best you can come up? Now, I'm no scientist, but I had no hives, no rash, my throat was NOT swollen. They even came to that conclusion. The problem swallowing was the sensation with my jaw. It wasn't typical anaphlayctic(sp?) shock. Instead I have the extreme cold and the muscle spasms and a weird weird feeling. Could that be, oh, I don't know TOXICITY REACTION?? Like maybe she missed the nerve and injected the anesthesia into my bloodstream? Yeah...that makes more sense. But, hey, I'm no doctor. Although I have stayed at a Holiday inn once.

And since the Benadryl, Steroids and sleep in the ER have now eased the spasms and I am now coherent and feeling like I can go home, well there is just one more thing. I need to do a cardio stress test. You know, just to rule out the final cardio work up factor. Um, let's see. I had a full cardio workup 2 years ago. Fine. Normal. A-OK. But again, still, what with my family history and all. You see, when I tell medical people that my father died of a heart attack at age 35, they freak out a little and it becomes overkill on the cardio workup's.

I went again this morning for an adenosine stress test. They inject nuclear tracers in through your heart and take a little looksie. Then they inject this medicine that tricks your heart into thinking it's exercise (since I can't run the treadmill with this effing stress fracture). Wow. That was fun. Can you say....weirdest sensation? Like I was sprinting the last K of a 10k but no leg burn. Very odd.
And, like we knew it would, it all turned out okey-dokey. However, the cardiologist had to have a serious talk about making sure that I stay followed up on. Yup. I know. I do.

So, here I am. Planning on the gym tomorrow. I lived for yet another day. I keep getting punched down and somehow keep coming through, for the better part, unscathed. I really am NOT a drama queen. I don't like this kind of attention. If I am being hysterically funny, then by ALL means, yeah, pay attention to me, but this....no, I prefer not to have all this kind of action happening.

I started wondering when the bottom fell out. And I tracked it down. Right after Elder L left on his mission. Hmmmm..... can I hold him serving the Lord as responsible? Thoughts?........................... Okay, you're right. NO!!! We just need opposition in all things.

When does one get to yell uncle? And when does one get hear? Just wondering.....

And for the record? No, I am not going back to that doctor. Or that clinic. Ever. (except to get my medical records). She didn't even have the decency to call me back herself. And when I finally did get someone in her office? She AGAIN disputed the fact that it had anything to do with the block. Dumbass.