Well...
Within the first month of 2019 I ended up in the Emergency Room.
Over one day I wound up going to Urgent Care, going home, having Rj drive us to the hospital, only to be met halfway by an ambulance.
Here is how it all went wrong:
After a specific activity, I wound up with what I thought was some swelling and inflammation in my bladder.
Since my hysterectomy and oophorectomy in 2017, bladder swelling and inflammation has been a fairly common occurrence, so it was a natural assumption.
So I took my usual bladder-numbing medication to help me get through the pain and left it for a day.
That was my first mistake.
It was not just swelling and inflammation, it was a full-blown Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
The problem with such an infection is that, because I am immunosuppressed, infections go from 0-100 quickly. Really quickly.
By the next morning I was in so much pain that I knew it was likely a UTI and that we needed to get in to Urgent Care.
Due to my history and huge list of allergies to antibiotics, the physician asked what medications I have previously used to tacked UTIs. I was in so much pain and got so confused that I suggestion a certain antibiotic.
This was my second mistake.
The antibiotic I suggested, although was one I have taken in the past, was not a medication used for urinary tract infections. Furthermore, it is in a class of antibiotics to which I am severely allergic, so our pharmacist advocated strongly against taking it. The problem was - it was the weekend so my prescription did not come from my family doctor, but an urgent care physician who may have not even been on shift anymore.
About two hours after getting home - after being in the bathroom nonstop, losing control of my bladder a dozen times, and thinking the pain was improving, something happened.
When I went to the washroom again, not only did the pain become excruciatingly sharp, but I had some pooling blood from a place I should not be bleeding from anymore.
I walked out of the washroom and asked Rj to get dressed so that he could drive me to the hospital. I grabbed my Berinert (expecting a full on throat swell and assuming there was swelling in my bladder), and I had Rj drive us.
This was my third mistake.
Only four blocks into the drive and I was so freaked out and in SO much pain that I wished we had simply called an ambulance.
So that's what we did.
An ambulance met us at an intersection.
This was a much better idea.
With the high level of pain (8/10), my mind running wild with fears of tearing at the previous surgical site or envisioning my bladder exploding, and my inability to communicate properly through the tears, the expertise of two incredible EMTs was absolutely necessary. They were able to not only to calm me down and sufficiently distract me, but also ease my worst-case-scenario fears. We were all joking around (I make stupid groaner puns and jokes when I am in that much pain to distract myself and just get through it) and getting through the booklet of information on current medications, allergies, medical history, previous surgeries, and diagnoses. (One EMT remembered previously picking me up a few years ago too!).
They immediately started an IV and attempted to get the pain lessened enough to calm me down just a little bit.
A nice little bonus: I got to ride in one of those new fancy Comfort-Ride ambulances. The back of the vehicle just glides. Apparently it is harder on the shocks, but for a patient in the back who is getting jabbed with needles and who becomes nauseated, such a better ride!
I was extremely well taken care of at the hospital. The ER doctor was beyond compassionate. The infection warranted IV antibiotics, pain medication, and they even showed me how to give myself my IV Berinert into the IV they had started. They did cultures, a urine sample, bloodwork, and a pelvic exam. The consensus was a really bad UTI, bladder swelling, bladder inflammation, tearing in the pelvic region but no severe damage, followed by a throat swell that required intervention.
A simple UTI turned into a damn monster!
This particular episode was, by far, the most amount of pain Rj has ever seen me experience. I am lucky to have him as my husband.
Here are the extra plus sides:
• I was taking a medication to numb the bladder, which turns my urine a bright orange, so when the first doctor saw it, his response was: "Is that really your pee?"
I thought it was funny.
• Comfort Ride ambulance trip.
• Incredible EMTs, doctors, and nurses.
• Lots of funny jokes.
• Sufficient distraction.
Here is what I learned:
• The moment I feel the slightest tinge of a potential UTI, go and get checked and get a prescription so that, if it goes south, I have the right medication.
• Write down the medication I take specifically for UTIs.
• I learned how to give myself IV Berinert once the IV itself has been started.
• I have the most caring and compassionate husband in the entire world. Honestly. There were things he had to be there for that were thoroughly embarrassing and he took it all in stride.
• There is nothing ANY patient can say anymore to 'prove' they are not drug-seeking - EMTs and physicians now have to go into every situation assuming drug seeking behaviour.
• Being kind, making jokes, trying to be as patient as possible, and trying not to scream or cry out, are all effective ways to receive kind and compassionate treatment. (Just always leave enough of the curtain open so they can see you crying and writhing in pain - so you can avoid complaining but they can see how severe your pain is).
I am still recuperating (obviously) and have several more days of this course of antibiotics, but the worst of it *should* be over.
Thank you Rockyview Emergency Staff and EMTs from Bannister Road. That was the best worst experience I have had in a very long time.
