This morning was a shocking reminder of why I cannot push myself.
I woke up around 2am, nauseous, with stomach cramping and high, sharp, stomach pain... I started vomiting. Just like the episodes that I used to get on a monthly basis, but with worse pain. Much worse.
So, as usual, the vomiting became cyclical. About every half hour my body would writhe and cramp and contract and I would need the bucket.
So - old habits became second nature. I grabbed my handy-dandy puke bucket, threw my hair into a high pony, grabbed Zofran, Gravol, a cold compress, a Kleenex box, and a bottle of water and set them all right beside me on the bed. My phone was charged and in reach, a pair of glasses put into my purse - just in case.
Usually these episodes tend to last 6-8 hours, with the last few hours slowing down and with lower levels of pain. This time, however, nothing was slowing down, and the pain was increasing. This particular episode was much worse than they used to be. So I had made a decision that if I was still writhing in pain with no sign of any decreased pain or frequency by 9am, that I would have to call an ambulance. By 8am, in between vomiting spells, I managed to get Decker into his kennel, unlock the front door, turn on the outside light, grab pants, slippers, and a sweater, and throw on two medic-alert necklaces. I called the ambulance at 9am.
This is where things start to look up. Not only were they kind, gentle, well-informed, and amazing, but he got the IV going in one try, they immediately did an ECG for good measure, helped settle down the shaking (which were so violent that he asked if I had a history of seizures), and then gave me IV Morphine, IV Gravol, and IV Zofran. Within minutes things started to settle down a little - even though I still vomited bile on the way to the hospital.
When I get to the hospital, not only do these amazing paramedics stay with me, but they actually sat and chatted with me, waited with me, consulted the doctor (who was also phenomenal), and even walked me out to the waiting room. The nurse, the doctor, and everyone around were absolutely amazing. I'm not sure that I have ever been treated better.
The paramedic happened to be a student - which I never would have guessed, and the staff at Rockyview offered me a room (which I did not need, so I did not take it). I had a very comfy bed, good people around me, and I just needed to be checked on now and then, given major amounts of fluids, and kept on top of the nausea. They even administered an extra low dose of IV gravol before I left just so that I could manage the ride home. AND a really great friend of mine offered to drive me home.
So all in all, I had my worst episode (which we are all assuming was an intestinal Hereditary Angioedemic episode), but absolutely incredible care.
Almost makes up for the time with the nurse with the pink hair ;).
Almost.
I am back at home, on full fluids for a day or two since the pancreas was mildly inflamed, but feeling MUCH better than the 8 hours of hell this morning.
Thank you to Daniel the paramedic, Dr. Scott at Rockyview, all of the rest of the staff, and to my friend Buffi for driving me home. And thanks to all my friends and family for being concerned. Dad even drove up, helped me grab some soup and Gatorade and ice cream, and is staying the night just in case.
The other great thing? Every single staff member said that if I start vomiting again at ALL, to call an ambulance right away to get me sorted again. Told me never to hesitate if I can't get a handle on it. They said it likely would not have stopped without the IV medication today.
Thankful for so many caring people around. And, to be honest, I had some great conversations and even some laughs with the staff today once things started to settle down. Good quality time in the hospital. There really is nothing like it. Ha.
Time for bed. Hoping to feel even a little bit better again in the morning.
My bucket, water, Kleenex, cold compress, and gravol are all ready though, just in case ;).