The aches and pains left with me a big bang. I was rushed to the emergency room, TWICE in once night.
I haven't been well at all but forced myself to get out of the house yesterday. Since it was such a gorgeous day yesterday, I decided to do a couple of errands and took my Mom to the mall. But even at the mall the body ache persisted and I couldn't stand for a long time. I had to sit at the mall benches to relieve the pain. I told my Mom I wasn't feeling well so we went home.
As soon as we got home, I went straight to the bedroom. The smell of food made me nauseous. Dinner time came and I had no appetite. I had one sip of soup and I suddenly had chills. I went back to the bedroom and was shaking from the chills. I dozed off for a few minutes and when I woke up I knew I developed a fever. True enough my temperature was 38.7 C, after 15 minutes I took it again, it was 38.8 C. I called the ER, told them what happened and I was told to go the hospital as soon as possible because it was right after my chemo (March 23rd).
Anyway, we finally arrived at the hospital around 7:45 p.m. It was my first time ever to be personally admitted to the emergency room. The scene wasn't even close to what we see in the TV shows like ER or Grey's Anatomy, no George Clooney or Noah Wyle look-a-likes, no McDreamy or McSteamy, it looks like a sad place where people look so sick, groaning, or bored out of their minds because of the long waiting hours at emergency rooms.
I was admitted within 10-15 minutes. I was given a letter by the oncology team to process the admission of cancer patients right away if needed. (Hospital staff expedite the process if you're an oncology patient to avoid catching infection from other patients in the ER.) They gave me a mask to prevent infection. My temp was 39.1 by the time they processed my papers. I was so nervous and I wasn't even surprised my blood pressure reading was high. The doctor even asked me why my breathing was abnormal. Ah... because I'm in the ER and I'm as nervous as hell?!?!?!?! Duh!
Dr. Ch told me to relax, explained what will happen and requested a series of tests to ensure everything is ok: blood, urine, chest x-ray. We waited over an hour to get most of the results, the best news was that my white blood count was normal. I was relieved! Dr. Ch thought that I might have caught an infection somewhere. After waiting another hour, it was time to do the x-ray. I was wheeled out of the ER on a hospital bed and it brought back memories when I was brought to the operating room for my lumpectomy. It really felt weird. At least this time I only had the x-ray and the results were normal. Before I was discharged, Dr. Ch gave us a pep talk what to expect the next few days such as getting the results of my urine and blood chemistry tests and to contact the oncology clinic that I was admitted in the ER. Dr. Ch gave me an antibiotic called Moxifloxacin plus a prescription for the next few days.
Not even 30 minutes since we arrived from the hospital, my forehead felt itchy. It didn't bother me at first I thought it was an insect bite. Then my left leg felt itchy, next my face, I looked at the mirror and I developed hives. What the heck?!?!?! I called the ER and told them what happened. They told me go back to the hospital again. Two trips to the ER in one night! I could not believe it.
As soon as we entered the ER the nurses who admitted stared in disbelief I was back. So I told them I developed hives from the antibiotics prescribed to me. They checked me in right away and had to do exactly what we did the first time I was admitted. We didn't wait long before going to urgent care. Dr. Ch was still on call, he checked my symptoms and ordered that I take Benadryl. He left us for about an hour for any other reactions. When Dr. Ch came back he said he had good news and bad news. The good news was the hives started to disappear. Dr. Ch explained to us that it is rare to develop hives from the medicine but I did. The moxifloxacin covered a whole range of effective antibiotics but was concerned that these meds might also give me allergic reactions. The bad news was they have to give me another type of antibiotics through an IV and that I have to stay in the hospital for a day or two for observations. Bummer! I was expecting to go home and sleep in my own bed.
After midnight Dr. O was the doctor on call. He did a much thorough check-up than Dr. Ch and ordered additional blood/urine tests. Let's just say that if I hated needles before, now I loathe them to the nth degree! They couldn't use my right arm because that's where my surgery was, so my left arm took a real beating from the series of tests. It's like the game "connect the dots", mine can be called "connect the bruises". They took so many blood samples that I've lost count how many needle pricks were done on my left arm and they were painful!!! Other tests were done, they took swab samples of my throat, my nostrils and another place I don't want to mention. They were so uncomfortable but they did it so fast I didn't have time to complain. All these tests were done because they want to make sure all the bases were covered and didn't cause any harmful effects on me.
At 4:20 a.m. they wheeled me to the oncology in-patient unit and was given a private room complete with a shower and an awesome hospital bed (the only thing I will miss during this ordeal). I am sleep deprived because almost every 30 minutes to an hour a nurse came over, tortured me with more blood samples or some other type of tests. Around 10:30, Dr. S popped by, he was the oncologist on call. He said he was glad my white blood count is normal and almost all results are normal. Dr. S said the overnight stay at the hospital will not delay my chemo treatments. But Dr. S told me my potassium count is quite high and wants to do another blood test!!!!! Gosh another one! He told me he was ready to discharge me but if the potassium results will be high again, I might have to stay for another night. Gulp! Dr. S also told me the liver enzymes/count results was a bit abnormal and he will request a liver ultrasound. Dr. S assured me this is quite normal for people getting old (yeah, thanks!) and just wants to make sure my liver is healthy. I will book an appointment at the hospital this week for the liver ultrasound.
Mark and the kids came over to visit me. While they were having lunch the nurse told me my potassium level is normal and I'm free to go home. Finally! Dr. S prescribed a new antibiotic, I just took one 20 minutes ago and so far no allergic reactions. I hope not.
I do not want to go back to the ER again (keeping my fingers crossed). Josh said the same thing to Mark during their lunch, "I hope Mommy will never go back to the hospital again!" I am hoping the same thing.
Thanks to my loving, supportive husband for taking me to the ER.
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