Queenee came home from her Las Vegas vacation a week and a half ago with a bad cold. Nevermind that business about "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". She got some rest in bed those first three days she was home and felt marginally good enough to go to work on Monday. By the time she got home Monday afternoon, I knew I had her cold. I went to bed early, around 6:30pm, and that was the beginning of the end. When she came to check on me Tuesday afternoon, she says I was beet red. My temperature was 102. An hour later it was 104, and off to the emergency room we went. She called Dr. Zaidi and the nurse there said don't waste time bringing her into town, just get her to the nearest hospital right away. I must have looked frightful, beet red and wearing a white nightgown. They pretty much admitted me on the spot, got me onto a gurney, hooked up to IV fluids, massive doses of hydrocortisone and antibiotics, and put me in the trauma room where they could keep the temperature low. Everyone commented about how cold that room was, but they needed my temperature to come down asap. The steroids were to get my blood pressure up, which had dropped from my normal low of about 100/60 to 70/30. A couple chest x-rays were taken to confirm one doctor's thinking that what I had was pneumonia. Another doctor was talking about doing a spinal tap to check me for meningitis. Sheesh. I think one of the nurses talked her out of that, thankfully. They did nasal swabs and a throat culture to rule out other things. By 11:30pm I was stable enough to be moved upstairs to a room.
I must have gotten 10-12 bags of fluids during the two days I was in the hospital. I felt a little better on Wednesday, but when I asked the attending physician if I could go home on Thursday, she said no, probably Saturday, maybe Friday. I was still pretty red, and I definitely had pneumonia. By Thursday morning I was significantly improved, my color was close to normal, and I was up and walking around, dragging my IV pole behind me like a recalcitrant child. The doctor was impressed enough with my improvement to say I could leave after 3pm on Thursday. She would have preferred I stay another day, but I sleep better here and my constant coughing couldn't have been doing my poor roommate any good. Queenee picked me up at 3pm and brought me home. I've been resting and doing my breathing exercises and taking my meds ever since. This is the first morning I can say I actually feel a little better, though I do get lightheaded if I'm up too long and the coughing gives me headaches. I'm weaning myself off the high steroid doses slowly and should be back on normal meds by the middle of next week.
Meanwhile, Queenee's cold is hanging on and PopPop is the sickest person on the planet. He's coughing a lot at night and not getting much sleep. DamCat was sick last week when I was in the hospital and Deacon has been sick and had a fever since late last week. So far the Wasabi Peas are holding their own and staying healthy and with luck will stay that way. For the rest of us, it's just a matter of time and we'll all feel better.
Oh, if I ever turn beet red again, will someone please take my picture?
One more thing...I want to mention that the South Shore Hospital *rules*. It's a stroke of luck to be so near to such a good hospital. From the moment I went into the emergency room, without exception everyone was doing everything they could to keep me comfortable and get me back on my feet. The nursing staff is top flight (a special thanks to Shannon). I know that's their job, but we all also know that there is usually a grumpy nurse that nobody likes, or receptionists who are barely functional, or orderlies who bump you into the walls. Not here. I have not one nit to pick with anything. The dietitian even managed to get me Tabasco sauce for my vegetable soup and then remembered it the next day for my tomato soup. That doesn't sound like much, but considering the volume of patients they have to deal with, I think it speaks highly about where their focus is. I wouldn't hesitate to go there for any reason.
ReplyDeleteWell, we are all pretty happy that you're on the mend now. It's good to hear that you were treated so well at South Shote too. It's refreshing news nowadays. I surmise we could get a pretty good likeness of you by using the "beet-red" filter with Photoshop; you might want to give that a whirl and post it as a best effort. : = )
ReplyDeleteMeantime, best wishes to all - Queenie, Pops, Deke and Deb - for a swift recovery, and timely protection for the Peas too.
I saw wabbit Sunday and she really looks good...I'm awful happy she's home and starting to feel better. This winter has taken more out of us all than it should have. The Peas are doing just fine though. Strong & healthy....ahhhh, youth!
ReplyDeleteBluephan has her 1st track meet today, providing the weather holds out. It's looking a little gloomy at the moment. Now, everyone....GET BETTER. Easter dinner at our house this weekend and I don't want ANY germs!