Update 1:
Yesterday was so packed, I have to start at midnight. The NSA (Nursing Student Aide) records my first noteworthy temperature (38.3 C, 100.9 F). A few hours earlier, the nurse had shared a story about a patient of hers who was happily up walking and two hours later needed help breathing, due to a galloping infection. Sweet dreams! And I have been told that once a fever reaches 38 C, we start to address it.
Me: That's kind of high.
NSA: Yes.
Me: Are we going to do anything about it?
NSA: I'll tell the nurse.
Me: (To myself -- were you going to tell the nurse if I didn't ask you to?)
I wait... wait... close my eyes... wait...
1:15, I wake up to pee. I'm pretty sure the nurse hasn't been in. I wonder which of the following is true:
- The NSA forgot to tell the nurse.
- The NSA told the nurse, and the nurse didn't think it was important.
- The NSA told the nurse, the nurse thought it was important, and she just hasn't gotten around to my room yet. Did I mention that there are a lot of sick people here in the hospital?
I page the nursing station. "Can I help you?" "Yes, I'm wondering if my nurse was told about my fever and if she's going to come in." "I'll tell the nurse."
More waiting... 15 minutes... still wondering about the three possibilities above, because I have no idea what is going on outside my room. My dad (staying with me this week) heads out to the nursing station to see what's going on, and returns to report that the nurse is gathering supplies and will be coming in soon.
When the nurse arrives, the eventful day begins in earnest. Blood draws, to test for blood infections. Urine sample, to test for a urinary infection. We start several intravenous antibiotics, just in case there is a bacterial infection behind the fever. (Yes, this means Ivy and I were not as "done" as I thought. Instead, we were "done" in the manner of Jersey Shore's relationship authorities Ronnie and Sammi.) Tylenol.
Maybe a little sleep. Then, chest x-ray, without leaving my bed -- a mechanical dinosaur partially enters my room, cranes its neck over the foot of my bed, cocks its head to look at my chest, and bzzzzt.
Maybe a little more sleep. Vitals. The usual early morning tablets. Fever falling.
Breakfast time, feeling reasonable, but anticipating a need for a nap, both because of the disrupted sleep and because my hemoglobin count is below 8. I'll be getting blood later in the day, so I plan to work out after that.
But it didn't work out as planned.
Sorry you felt awful and glad it's better today. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story. :)
ReplyDeleteHowdy Joe,
ReplyDeleteWill you be getting on the treadmill today? Not too fast, I assume. 9-10 minute miles? I'm still hanging in there with 12 minute miles. Feels like a good pace. Hope you have a better day.
Much love and peace.
Neil
If you actually *said out loud* that you felt like crap, I am sure that you did. :-( I'll look forward to hearing more when you can. :-) -Roger
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like someone had pointed out that you can run a fever in the absence of infection - hoping that's what it is. If it helps, I can tell you about a former patient of mine who was needing a lot of help breathing and shortly thereafter was up and about.
ReplyDeleteThree important nuggets from this:
1) Getting and staying actively involved with your treatment is a good idea.
2) Having a patient advocate (whether formal or informal) is a really good idea.
3) At some point I'm going to have to watch Jersey Shore, if only so I can grasp the ubiquitous references.
Durma bem,
JNR
Three important nuggets from this:
ReplyDelete1) Getting and staying actively involved with your treatment is a good idea.
2) Having a patient advocate (whether formal or informal) is a really good idea.
3) . . .
I was headed here to say something along the lines of 1) and 2) because it had seemed that you mostly didn't have someone on hand to help you keep an eye on things (and seemed perhaps a bit too trusting yourself). Glad someone with more weight than me has said these things. I hope there are means to take them into account.
I feel so wimpy for thinking that I was tired, and that it took me a while to get on the treadmill today, when you had this kind of day and still had the energy to plan on a workout later in the day.
ReplyDeleteI hope all your tests came out negative.
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the difficult day yesterday. I hope by the time you get this note that you have some results back and feeling better. Our thoughts are with you.
Love,
Ginger, Ralph,Angela, Alli
Joe, I kept checking back today; I feel unsettled--can you please tell us what "But it didn't work out as planned." means? Roger
ReplyDeleteI will make a point of always posting at least a minimal status, even if I don't have time for a lengthier post.
ReplyDeleteHi, Joe:
ReplyDeleteWhile I have to say that I feel special that you replied to my post, PLEASE KNOW that you are under NO PRESSURE to have to post anything in particular (other than whatever you want to). I only said what I did out of concern and worry and care. Ok? :-) -Roger