Tests of Jan. 18, 2012
I am late in giving my latest update. After catching up with everyone else I decided it was time to make an entry into my journal. In October for my last CT and MRI they decided they could no longer give me Versed, a light anesthesia, because I suffer from sleep apnea. Their thinking was that the radiology area is not located close to the ER and anything could happen while in the MRI machine. I am so claustrophobic that I get very anxious in the MRI machine. So in October they gave me 2 Atavan and I was allowed to take my 1mg of Xanax with it to calm me down enough to go through the machine. It worked perfectly and I swear I fell asleep. So for my next set of tests scheduled for January 18th, my doctor called in an rx for the 2 Atavan and took them and my Xanax shortly after leaving the house. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital ok and parked in front in the handicapped area. My daughter grabbed my purse to carry and I got out of the van with my portable o2. Her back was to me as she was getting an extra tank out of the back of the vehicle. I was just standing there waiting for her. I remember nothing except hitting the concrete and the awful "crack" it made. As soon as I hit the ground I came to and was lucid. I have no recollection of going down at all. No dizziness or weakness. It was the noise and the pain that brought me to. As luck would have it, the handicapped parking is directly in front of the hospital's ER. People from 2 rows behind us heard the crack and my daughter's screams and came running. Some stayed with us and others ran into the ER. A doctor came out with a nurse and behind them a nurse with a wheelchair. To make a very long story shorter I was in the ER for 2 hours. They took a CT of my head because they were concerned about a brain bleed because I am on warfarin/coumadin - a blood thinner. They finally gave me morphine for the pain. They called over to radiology and told them I would be late as well as calling my oncologist and telling him what had happened and I was running late. I barely remember going through the MRI for my kidney. It must have been the morphine as I'm sure the Atavan had worn off by that time. Then I had another CT for my lungs this time. We were more than an hour late for my Dr's appointment but he didn't care, he had waited. They had "stat'd" the results of the 2 CTS and the MRI to him by the time we got there. The brain showed no bleeding but the test would have to be repeated in 3 days at our local hospital. Apparently, if there is going to be a bleed it will appear within 3 days. The kidney showed the mass, 2 cm, with no growth from the last time. The 1 suspicious node on my lung showed a little activity, not enough to address at this time. My lymph nodes showed activity. This was new to me but he said it could be explained away by something like excessive coughing. I had been coughing for 2 weeks until my doctor told me I had a sinus infection - so possibly that explains that. I pray so. My CT of the brain showed clear 3 days later. That was Saturday the 21st. I had followup visits with my Primary and my Cardiologist that week on Thursday the 26th. Both told me that if anything out of the ordinary occurs to call 911 immediately. On Thursday night I was on the phone with my daughter when a terrible feeling came over me. I can't describe the feeling. I wasn't dizzy but just felt "off" and had pins and needles in my upper torso, arms and hands. I asked her to come over and help me get dressed as I was calling 911. She came immediately and after the EMT's assessed me, I was off to the hospital. They admitted me for observation and ran all kinds of tests. They kept me two nights. A nurse practioner from my cardiology group spent a lot of time going over my meds. It was her determination (and the doctors agreed) that the cause of my problems was a medicine for RLS. Ropinirole/Requip. It has a very high side effect of syncopy (sp?) - blackouts. They took me off of that med right away. They cut my blood pressure meds from 5mg to 2.5 and now I take my lasix/furosimide PRN - as needed. I didn't know that blood pressure meds can make your legs swell. I always thought it was related to my kidney. I have been fine so far and hope to continue this way. In this state if anyone who has a driver's license has a blackout event they are banned (and reported) from driving for 3 months. Now that will be a huge adjustment. I am not used to relying upon others for my shopping and errands. I just pray that there will be no further events to slow down the process of my driving again. Since I cannot tolerate the MRI contrast without damaging my kidney and am allergic to the CT dye we are again in a "wait and see" mode. There are no tests I can have to be more definite of my condition. Would appreciate being included in your prayers as you are in mine.
Andrea
Andrea
Replies
Dearest Andrea,
Just reading all yo have been through upsets me, Honey. I\'m so glad that your daughter is there for you. Having taken a Zanax and two Ativan, plus the morphine....no wonder you slept through that MRI. I would have been out for days. Bless your heart.
Please know that you are in my prayers. Hang in there.
Love,
Ingrid
Thanks for being there, Ingrid. It is much appreciated.
Andrea
Andrea what a traumatic time you have been through!. I am so happy that you have not been affected physically by the bumpt to your head- this could have been so dangerous. Also I am really pleased that your masses have not had any significant movement. You must be a really strong woman to cope with so many negative issues. You are certainly in my prayers and my thoughts and please keep me updated with your progress. Julie x
Love and support you 100%
Here for you through it all
Always in heart prayers
Thank you for sharing