GREETINGS PP Folks!
Just a (maybe more than) brief Update Note!
I’m home since Sunday afternoon – and boy does it feel GOOD!
When triaged into the ER on Tuesday morning (God, I am glad I drove myself there ASAP & not wait for ambulance) as the sickest patient.
(NOTE: No one likes to wait in the ER – but trust me … you do NOT want to be at the top of the list to be seen … “Please, take SOMEONE else first if possible”!) and saw my VS monitor screen.
(Not to be overly dramatic, but I honestly thought I was going to die looking at those numbers!!)
Maybe sometimes ignorance IS bliss. But knowing what the numbers meant I honestly thought this was my “Hello, Jesus” moment.
That was reconfirmed a day before my discharge when the nurse for the Hospitalist told me I was blue, mottled, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. (I was there – I remember!)
I have NEVER been so scared in all my life!
As my Vital Signs (VS) deteriorated, I do not believe I would NOT be here if it were not for the BIPAP machine!
GIF
It was literally a lifesaver!
As you are all aware, Trump’s gross mismanagement of the COVID Pandemic has put literally MILLIONS of Americans at risk – and is the cause of TENS of THOUSANDS of DEATHS! (That is NOT hyperbole!).
Given the COVID crunch, on Wednesday morning they tried to wean me off the BIPAP to make it available to someone else. (Understandable – all the BIPAP & AIRVO machines were in use.
At least at this hospital, you get a 4-hour window to see if you can tolerate being off the BIPAP before they take it away.
After an hour, I could tell I was NOT going to make it. My ER nurse told me to think “positive thoughts”.
I told her I was – and I was POSITIVE I was NOT going to be able to tolerate being OFF the BIPAP. (She was not pleased – understandable given the crunch … but survival is a damn strong force.)
When I was gasping again & my O2 saturation dropped below 80% (Normal: 95-99%), she put me back on the BIPAP
Second time that machine literally saved my life!
On Thursday they moved me to a Telemetry floor and started to SLOWLY wean me off the BIPAP machine.
By Friday I was off the machine, and just on nasal FiO2 starting at 7 Liters.
They slowly weaned me down & by Saturday morning I was on Room Air (RA).
When you’re on the BIPAP you cannot eat or drink. (They give you tiny sponges soaked in water to suck on.)
So I fasted from Tuesday morning to Friday.
Not that I couldn’t use a fast weight-wise, but I’d rather be more proactive in selection.
My Hospitalist (assigned – no chose) was really pretty good.
The Cardiology & Pulmonology consults he ordered were EXCELLENT!
The entire hospital system – from doctors to dietary personnel – were excellent! I was VERY pleased w/ the care I received!
My only major complaint is that I felt a GREAT deal of pressure to get me OFF the BIBPAP and OUT of the hospital.
I can understand the pressure – but I wonder what happens to folks who don’t have the background knowledge I bring to push for my own interests.
(WRONG – no, I really do not wonder … THEY DIE!)
I lost 20+ pounds during my hospitalization per my scales. (I believe them)
Mostly just fluid loss I’m sure. BUT the good news is I’m glad to get rid of the weight no matter how!
The bad new – wonder if all the fluid retention is a possibility for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
My BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) was only 1,020 – which is right on the margin of normal. But most folks in CHF have BNP values ot 20k-30k!
So 1k is just on the border of normal.
The Hospitalist thinks I have CHF. My Cardiologist does NOT!
The Cardiologist does NOT believe my acute onset & fulminant course could be explained by a BNP of only 1,020.
It is what it is, but I’m certainly in a gray area.
I have a Pharmacological Stress Test scheduled for mid-December w/ a F/U (medical Follow/Up – NOT the other F/U) w/ my new Cardiologist.
I really liked my original cardiologist – but he’s at a different Medical Center. I haven’t decided which one I’m going to go with.
(Nice to have choices that are BOTH good.)
Makes sense to consolidate all my care around the new Medical Center – particularly WRT communication/sharing of info.
Will have to wait and see how it goes – but that’s the direction I’m leaning.
(Hard to leave folks who’ve I liked & worked hard for me. We’ll see …)
Bottom Lines:
Felt like I was on the brink of death – LITERALLY (I know it’s chewing-the-curtains dramatic-wise, but I honestly believe it) – so happy to be posting this.
Glad to be alive
Very pleased with my care
Still questions down the road.
I deeply missed you guys!
Going back, I’ve been in the hospital overnight four (4) times previous to this – going back to being hit by a car as a 5 y/o kid.
This is the FIRST time I’ve been in longer than overnight!
It was a true eye-opening experience (which I would have been HAPPY to forgo).
But I had NO idea how energy-sapping a hospitalization (when you’re really not doing anything) can be.
(TC – I yield to your “expertise”.)
I’m EXHAUSTED!
I’ll see how it goes, but right now I doubt there will be a “Friday Fun” for a week or two.
I’m just all done-in.
Hugs & “THANK YOUS” for all the thoughts & prayers sent my way!
But I hope I NEVER have to call on your powers again!!!
15 Responses to “SoINeedAName Medical Update – Doing WELL!”
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Those are pretty much the salient highlights.
Maybe down the road I might flesh-out the experience for those who are fortunate enough to have NOT spent an extended period of time in a hospital.
Then again – maybe not.
It truly was an eye-opening experience being on the receiving end of medical care.
I truly would be interested in what you guys have experienced from hospitalizations (if any).
Once was MORE than enough to my druthers …
Welcome Back, Nameless!!
Awww… Wonderful and Happy News for you! and me, and our others.
It sure is comforting to know that you are up and at it.
I am so glad to see you on this page, and that the BIPAP was there for you and saved your life!
Great to know also, that the care that you received was excellent too. Fantastic!! news!!
Take good care!
Great post, and welcome back, Nameless!!
Welcome Home Nameless.
What you were experiencing (except for the BIPAP) sounds very Reminiscent pf my experience with septic shock. As my vital signs readouts were dangerous as hell.
I can also assure you that my updates were much more brief.
For future reference, I’m the only Administrator here at PP that gets to die, so you STAY ALIVE!
SO glad to see you (both here and at DK)! I was in a hospital once from Monday morning through Saturday morning for abdominal surgery (removal of a 9# benign endometrioma), but I knew what I was in for, so packed books and knitting And I still couldn’t wait to get out. I know I can’t possibly be as glad you are home as you are – but I am very glad indeed.
Incidentally, hubby had a cousin Larry who dies very young (low 40’s) but who was a MD specializing in sleep apnea before it was a thing. He was a huge crusader for CPAP. His son Joe will tell anyone who asks (and some who don’t) that if it weren’t for his dad, CPAP would not be the standard treatment for sleep apnea that it is today. Was CPAP an ancestor of BIPAP? If so, you’re welcome. More than welcome.
Briefly, the major difference between CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) & BiPAP (Two [Bi] Positive Airway Pressures) is that the BIPAP machine does not continuously try to force air down your lungs.
It has a higher pressure setting for inspiration & a lower (or even zero) pressure for expiration. It makes breathing MUCH EASIER than a continuous pressure.
The second time I went on the machine I had a great Respiratory Therapist (RT) & asked her if there was anyway she could set it up that my own inspiration would trigger the positive pressure.
She said that’s unusual because most BIPAP patients cannot generate enough inspiratory force to make the machine fire. But she gave it a try and it worked even better than the first time.
The machine and I were in synch breathing-wise the entire time – so I never had to “fight” a random release of pressure.
I’ve actually tried CPAP years ago and could NOT tolerate it. But it is my understanding that portable BIPAP machines are now available for sleep apnea.
My cardiologist (who ordered the sleep test) said I did NOT meet criteria for sleep apnea. But my PCP wanted me to give it a try.
BAD IDEA! This was back when I was working and my insurance didn’t cover the cost – so it was ~ $750 out of pocket cost I ate.
Both hubby and I were older than Larry, so it must be about 30 years ago that he died. From your description, it does sound like CPAP came first and BIPAP was an improvement. It’s challenging to improve on something that doesn’t exist.
Wow! So glad to “hear” from you, Nameless. I can imagine that your experience was totally frightening. If I’m not being too nosey, what brought on your crisis?
I was also hospitalized after an auto accident, at age 25, for most of a week. I carry an improperly healed posterior cruciate ligament in my left knee, which is not horrid, all these decades later, and a healed rt. clavicle that “mysteriously” showed up on an x-ray many years later, about which no one knew back then, in 1967. Yeah, I’m THAT old. Other than that I’ve been hosp’d twice, but only overnight, most recently after shoulder replacement surgery, last year.
The time before that I found the hospital bed to be more uncomfortable than any other part of the experience.
“If I’m not being too nosey, what brought on your crisis?”
Not nosey at all. But I have apparently flummoxed the medical staff – although I’d really rather know myself.
On admission, three (3) pulmonologists, my cardiologist, my Hospitalist and the radiologist were all positive I had COVID.
For better or worse, two (2) COVID samplings turned up negative.
From what I’ve read, I believe both samples were appropriately & deeply take. Both were uncomfortable – which is good for sampling. (I might be missing a few axons & neurons from the 2nd one – it was that deep.)
My Hospitalist believes it’s Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
And while there are components suggestive of that – it really does NOT fit all the symptoms and more importantly the lab. My BNP was only mildly elevate – not nearly enough to explain my acute, fulminant course.
My cardiologist does NOT think it was CHF. He thinks it was either an atypical viral pneumonia or bronchitis.
Again, many components fit that diagnosis – but not all.
One can certainly have more than one disease process at the same time – but the acute, fulminant presentation is very puzzling.
Bottom Line: No one knows for sure what precipitated this episode.
I’ve got a pharmacological stress test scheduled for mid-December – it hopefully will clarify things.
Welcome home Nameless.
You certainly have been thru a scary ordeal this past week. Ever so grateful that you had all of the expertise while you were in the hospital. I applaud them for keeping on top of your urgent life threating readings.
I pray that your health continues to move in a positive direction without any further issues.
Thank you again for letting us know all that you went thru this past week. We’re so happy that you’re doing so much better.
Please take it easy and keep us posted when you can.
Will pray that you continue to get healthier.
Bless you. Nameless
So Nike finally got up the courage to go and haul you home! He must really have missed you!
Welcome home Dude! I am very happy that you are feeling better and able to come home where things are more comfortable. I hope you have someone who can check in on you from time to time. The prayers will continue for you!
You know they say that doctors are the worst patients but in your case being a doctor may have saved your life. And I’m so glad you did.
Good luck with deciding which road to take for further treatment (and being a terrible patient again 😉😁)
Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and kind wishes of support.
While I’m not 100% yet – I’m getting there.
So I most likely will be even more spotty than usual in posting. But rest assured, I visit every day – even if only to read.
(As you’re aware – I tend to comment more rarely than most. Potato – Potahto.)
“More rarely that most” – yes – but also with greater length, and greater clarity (they don’t necessarily go together.)
We are most glad you’re back!