Three and a half days in the hospital
January 26th 2008 15:19
I have not been in the hospital for ten years. I have had little colds and low grade fevers that I had to call Cleveland and/or my local Doctor. They just gave me antibiotics and all was well in a few days.
On Saturday January 19, 2008 I woke up with a bladder infection that worsened as the day went by. I even went home from work after only an hour and a half because the pressure was so bad and I was in the bathroom urinating more than I was working. I didn’t feel good so my mom called Cleveland Clinic and my local Doctor. Both were out of town for the weekend.
By the evening the pressure had eased up a bit. By Sunday afternoon I was not having any pressure at all. I just figured the infection went away on its own. I was drinking a lot to flush it out of my system.
Sunday at midnight I woke up freezing. I thought the heat had turned off in the middle of the night. I went and hit the furnace. It clicked on. I tried to go back to bed but I was shivering so bad I came upstairs to sleep on the couch where it is warmer. I even turned on the heating pad. I was still freezing. Mom took my temperature. It was 102. She called my local Doctor. He was able to get me in at one thirty that afternoon.
Monday the Doctor said I was dehydrated and I still had a fever so the best way to fix this was maybe two days in the hospital with an I.V. Trumbull Memorial had a room ready by four in the afternoon.
The I.V. was started in my right hand. I was given Cipro and fluid. The nurse started the I.V. on the first try. I am usually really difficult to stick because my veins roll and are very small. They can only use my right hand/arm because the fistula in my left. Even though I am not getting dialysis the arm still can not be used for anything else.
They checked my temperature very often that day and night. It was 102 during the day and jumped to 104 that evening. I was freezing but they had to turn the heat down in the room. They called the Doctor. I had a kidney scan at midnight. I also had blood cultures down. Luckily the tech got me on the first stick. But because they only had my right arm to work with they had to wait 15 minutes and stick me in they same arm again. They gave me Tylenol and the fever broke within an hour or so. I was taking Tylenol every 4 hours all day.
Tuesday morning I had to have my blood drawn. They had to stick me four times before getting a vein. I barely had a fever during the day but I was not keeping down my food. The Doctor came to tell me I did have a urinary infection that the Cipro should knock out in a few days. It had spread to the kidney but it did not look like I lost any kidney function so we did not need to call Cleveland.
I was still taking Tylenol every 4 hours. During the day my fever only went up to 101. That evening it starting climbing and the nurse for evening shift had not been in my room yet. I did not think it was that high because I was not freezing so I just waited. When she finally came in she said she did not have time to do my vitals yet because they were short people. My fever was 104 again. But she said she might not have time to come back for awhile after giving me Tylenol. This scared me because I was use to them checking my temperature often especial when it went up so high at night. I called my mom to come stay with me so someone would be there if my temperature went up instead of down.
My mom came and by some sort of magic she had time to come to my room every hour. She actually talked to my mom awhile saying how wonderful I am. Usually my mom being there helps in one way or another. My mom came up with an idea to help get the fever down faster too. She put washcloths with ice in them under my armpits. It felt good because my body was on fire. Plus it did help the temperature I think. The nurse also called the Doctor. He ordered Motrin instead of Tylenol. All they had was children‘s liquid that night so I had to drink 4. It put me out within minutes and I slept through the night. My mom went home when I was settled down.
Wednesday morning I did not have a fever all day but I had to get stuck 4 times five times when you count getting my I.V. restarted. The first tech stuck me twice with no luck. She put the tunicate on my lower arm the second time without stopping the I.V. The I.V. was peeping the whole time. I think the others turned off my I.V. before putting anything tight on my arm. There were two more sticks an hour after that and they finally were able to get the blood drawn. When my mom visited for lunch she noticed my hand was a bubble. The I.V. was blown. From my hand to my elbow I have bruised areas.
I learned to use my left hand half way decent. I had to with the I.V. in my right the whole time. When I had to sign anything I am not sure it was legible but my writing is pretty bad anyway. Eating was slow too but I was able to get use to it.
Thursday I got to go home since Wednesday my highest fever was only 100. I was exhausted just after getting dressed but it felt good to be in my own cloths. I petting Enzo puppy all evening. He was wrapped up on my lap not wanting me to leave him even to go to the bathroom. Mara also came to visit and she was so excited I was all better. I told her it was because she said her prayers; made me a picture and the Doctor gave me good medicine. She will be two February 16.
I was so tired I went to bed at 9pm. I slept 9 hours. Friday I went to breakfast at IHOP with mom and Mara. I later took a longer afternoon nap than her. I have three more days to rest before I go back to work. I hope I have more energy by then but I think I will.
On Saturday January 19, 2008 I woke up with a bladder infection that worsened as the day went by. I even went home from work after only an hour and a half because the pressure was so bad and I was in the bathroom urinating more than I was working. I didn’t feel good so my mom called Cleveland Clinic and my local Doctor. Both were out of town for the weekend.
By the evening the pressure had eased up a bit. By Sunday afternoon I was not having any pressure at all. I just figured the infection went away on its own. I was drinking a lot to flush it out of my system.
Sunday at midnight I woke up freezing. I thought the heat had turned off in the middle of the night. I went and hit the furnace. It clicked on. I tried to go back to bed but I was shivering so bad I came upstairs to sleep on the couch where it is warmer. I even turned on the heating pad. I was still freezing. Mom took my temperature. It was 102. She called my local Doctor. He was able to get me in at one thirty that afternoon.
Monday the Doctor said I was dehydrated and I still had a fever so the best way to fix this was maybe two days in the hospital with an I.V. Trumbull Memorial had a room ready by four in the afternoon.
The I.V. was started in my right hand. I was given Cipro and fluid. The nurse started the I.V. on the first try. I am usually really difficult to stick because my veins roll and are very small. They can only use my right hand/arm because the fistula in my left. Even though I am not getting dialysis the arm still can not be used for anything else.
They checked my temperature very often that day and night. It was 102 during the day and jumped to 104 that evening. I was freezing but they had to turn the heat down in the room. They called the Doctor. I had a kidney scan at midnight. I also had blood cultures down. Luckily the tech got me on the first stick. But because they only had my right arm to work with they had to wait 15 minutes and stick me in they same arm again. They gave me Tylenol and the fever broke within an hour or so. I was taking Tylenol every 4 hours all day.
Tuesday morning I had to have my blood drawn. They had to stick me four times before getting a vein. I barely had a fever during the day but I was not keeping down my food. The Doctor came to tell me I did have a urinary infection that the Cipro should knock out in a few days. It had spread to the kidney but it did not look like I lost any kidney function so we did not need to call Cleveland.
I was still taking Tylenol every 4 hours. During the day my fever only went up to 101. That evening it starting climbing and the nurse for evening shift had not been in my room yet. I did not think it was that high because I was not freezing so I just waited. When she finally came in she said she did not have time to do my vitals yet because they were short people. My fever was 104 again. But she said she might not have time to come back for awhile after giving me Tylenol. This scared me because I was use to them checking my temperature often especial when it went up so high at night. I called my mom to come stay with me so someone would be there if my temperature went up instead of down.
My mom came and by some sort of magic she had time to come to my room every hour. She actually talked to my mom awhile saying how wonderful I am. Usually my mom being there helps in one way or another. My mom came up with an idea to help get the fever down faster too. She put washcloths with ice in them under my armpits. It felt good because my body was on fire. Plus it did help the temperature I think. The nurse also called the Doctor. He ordered Motrin instead of Tylenol. All they had was children‘s liquid that night so I had to drink 4. It put me out within minutes and I slept through the night. My mom went home when I was settled down.
Wednesday morning I did not have a fever all day but I had to get stuck 4 times five times when you count getting my I.V. restarted. The first tech stuck me twice with no luck. She put the tunicate on my lower arm the second time without stopping the I.V. The I.V. was peeping the whole time. I think the others turned off my I.V. before putting anything tight on my arm. There were two more sticks an hour after that and they finally were able to get the blood drawn. When my mom visited for lunch she noticed my hand was a bubble. The I.V. was blown. From my hand to my elbow I have bruised areas.
I learned to use my left hand half way decent. I had to with the I.V. in my right the whole time. When I had to sign anything I am not sure it was legible but my writing is pretty bad anyway. Eating was slow too but I was able to get use to it.
Thursday I got to go home since Wednesday my highest fever was only 100. I was exhausted just after getting dressed but it felt good to be in my own cloths. I petting Enzo puppy all evening. He was wrapped up on my lap not wanting me to leave him even to go to the bathroom. Mara also came to visit and she was so excited I was all better. I told her it was because she said her prayers; made me a picture and the Doctor gave me good medicine. She will be two February 16.
I was so tired I went to bed at 9pm. I slept 9 hours. Friday I went to breakfast at IHOP with mom and Mara. I later took a longer afternoon nap than her. I have three more days to rest before I go back to work. I hope I have more energy by then but I think I will.
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