December 11-15, 2024 Most Recent Posts:
Blue Springs State Park For David, Happy Birthday
AdventHealth Fish Memorial Hospital Kayaking at Blue Springs State Park
Orange City, Florida
My previous blog was a jump forward from December to honor David’s birthday. The one before that, links above, was about kayaking on Tuesday December 10. On that 3 hour kayaking trip I saw a lot of great things but came back unusually tired.
I thought that was because of the 8-10 mph winds on the river. But that evening, I was coughing and blowing my nose. When I took my temperature, it was 100.4 and I thought, well no wonder I don’t feel well.
On Wednesday my temperature went up to 102.4 so I took two tylenol and worried I might have covid for the 3rd time which would push back my being able to get the vaccine in January. At around 7:45pm I was finishing some noodle soup and crackers (thank goodness for my journal) after lying around all day. When I got up from sitting to put the dishes in the sink, I felt unstable. Not dizzy exactly…woozy, wobbly, off balance and then sick to my stomach which I NEVER am. I staggered back from the bathroom to take my blood pressure thinking it might be too low. But it was 176/104.
I called 911 and vomited until they got here and all the way to the hospital in the ambulance. My BP soared to over 200 in the ambulance. They started an IV. I’m thinking now how caring and wonderful they were and how grateful I am. What would I have done without them.
I spent 4 nights and days in Adventhealth Fish Memorial Hospital in Orange City while they tried to figure out what had happened. They did a CT scan, an MRI, EKG and more. Test after test after test. No stroke, no heart attack, no covid, no RSV, no diabetes.
Cardio consults, Nuro consults. I was marked with yellow socks and a yellow wrist band so for those 4 days and nights I could not get out of bed even to go to the bathroom 6 feet from my bed without calling for help.
Eventually they discovered what they said was a “spot of pneumonia” in my left lung and put me on IV antibiotics. They diagnosed the wooziness as Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction. Try saying that fast 3 times. Have any of you ever had this?
I developed laryngitis the day after I got to the hospital. It continued after I was discharged with a continuing oral antibiotic, a steroid, something for the cough, a nazal spray and I can’t remember what else. My discharge directions came with standing and eye exercises to do daily and directions for a follow up in 4 days.
They also discharged me with plenty of bruises on both arms.
Some drugs still in the bags.
THANKFULLY friends Loretta and Jack from Moose River in Vermont live nearby and came to the hospital to get me, take me to CVS to get all the meds and return me to Winnona. This picture is from when I visited their home only a few days prior to my hospitalization. What wonderful friends to come to my rescue.
To date, I am still doing standing and eye exercises for the UVH. Mostly because I’m not sure when I can stop them. The info on the follow up appointment for me 4 days after I was discharged said someone would call that morning to set it up the tela-appointment and then the doctor would call at 1:00. Neither of those things happened. I waited all day.
The next day I called the discharge doctor, the nurse supervisor and the doctor who was to do the follow up. Got none of them. The follow up doctor was on vacation for a week. I left messages with secretaries and on voice mail for them to call me. So far in the 3 weeks and 3 days since then not one of them has contacted me.
When I got back, I had 3 days left in Blue Springs. I’d sadly lost 5 days to this problem. I was able to walk down and see the manatee but I had to make sure I was strong enough and well enough to pack up and move on Wednesday after getting home from the hospital on Sunday.
I was, and I moved on December 18th to Alafia River State Park where I was happy to have a pull though.
Where did this stuff come from? Will it return? Is the pneumonia totally gone?
No idea. To date, I seem fine and am switching “the exercises” to every other day.
It was all a very shocking surprise.
In my next blog it’s back to normal life and more fun things like my holiday visit to see Carrie and her family.
Thankfully you had friends nearby for transportation! Uber would have worked, but not been as nice for sure. I can't believe you've had zero contact from the hospital since your discharge, while they seemed to cover everything while you were there. Sounds like you've improved to near 100% and that Carrie let you come back to Florida :-)) I have ad a couple surprises that were never really diagnosed, but have never returned. Disconcerting and maybe our bodies just get a glitch now and then! Glad it's behind you.
ReplyDeleteIf never used Uber or Lyft and I have no clue how to so yes I was really lucky my friends were nearby. Not sure actually that I know anyone else in Florida but them. I was noticing today when I looked back at previous blogs on this date to see where I was that nearly all of my commenters who were RV friends are no longer on the road.
DeleteHi Sherry. It’s Jeannie. You really got hammered. I’m hoping you are doing so much better. I’m sorry the medical system let you down. If you haven’t read my blog lately, I have quite a bit of news there as well.
ReplyDeleteJust went back and read your latest blog post Jeannie But the link to your newer blog post which appears to be about breast cancer wouldn't work for me. Glad you chose to comment here.
DeleteHi Sherry. This series of unfortunate events is upsetting to read. Carrie must have been so worried. I trust that you are much improved by now and look forward to reading about Christmas with the family. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam I always appreciate your comments and your well wishes.
DeleteWhat a traumatic experience, Sherry. The good news is that you were checked out thoroughly and you're obviously very healthy! What you went through sounded awful, though. Take good care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteTraumatic is really the right word Laurel. I hope I'm very healthy but without knowing that the pneumonia is completely gone or whether this other thing will ever come back it's hard to be very confident. Hope you are both well and have a great 2025.
DeleteOh my gosh! Scary part of being on the road. Glad you are better and were able to move on.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie. Being alone on the road is very different than being with someone else.
DeleteWow, Sherry, so scary! Glad you seem to have recovered. I'm glad you called 911. Vomiting like that can dehydrate you quickly and you could have been in even worse trouble.
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue to do fine and stay healthy. Love,
Lynne
Thank you for your wishes I second them. A hospital is not a place I'd like to go again. Hope things are good with you and your family.
DeleteIt's awful being sick anywhere but being in a with a hospital that was unfamiliar was scary. Being as sick as you were was also scary. It was good that you called 911. It's frustrating that doctors can't always figure out what's wrong with you but I have to give this hospital kudos for doing all of the tests and finally coming up with a diagnosis. So glad you're ok! xxx000
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. The hospital was very good but the follow-up not so much. Once I was discharged it's like they never knew me.
DeleteBeen quite awhile since I've posted a comment. So glad you're feeling much better. It's scarey to be sick and the doctors can't figure out what's wrong. Sad that the hospital can't do their follow up. Hope you're back to normal real soon. I spent a couple of weeks visiting my brother in Merrit Island. First time taking my RV to Florida.
ReplyDeleteDoug Missadventuretravels.blogspot.com
I'm really happy to see you in the comments again it's been ages maybe even years. Wish I'd known you were married island perhaps we could have met in the middle as they say. Don't be a stranger here. It's great to hear from you again.
DeleteI am so glad this is behind you, but I really wish the hospital would be in touch for follow up like they said. That is frustrating! Very glad you called 911 and had friends nearby and a blood pressure machine in the RV. Hopefully, it’s smooth sailing again and I’m SO glad it didn’t put a wrench in your plans to visit here. Love you.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's all behind me and not going to sneak up and scare me sometime in the future. It was the vomiting and the blood pressure machine that sealed the 911 call. We bought it for your dad but I'm so glad I had it. My motivation in the hospital was to get out so that I could move my RV from the spot it was in when my reservation ended and be well enough to keep my airline reservations to come and visit you. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to do both of those. This experience is a really good example of how you just never know what's going to happen from day to day. The day before, I thought maybe I had a cold...ha!
DeleteI'm pleased to see you in the comments again Jacque and to know what's up with you. I'm not sure whether this is related to covid but I did have it back in December again.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why Blogger is not allowing me to comment with my my name. Guess it's having a glitch today.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is Janice Williford Evans. I know that this incident must have been frightening. So thankful you were wise enough to call the ambulance, and go through all the screening processes to get somewhat of a diagnosis.
While I can admire your tenacity in continuing to travel on your own, it's not something I would ever do for reasons exactly like this.
I'm the most strong willed, determined to make it work person I know, but I also have a very vivid imagination of all the "what ifs" and the "repercussions of the what ifs" so coming off the road after my "hospital stay" in Virginia we began discussing our exit plans.
The boys are not happy that we are still 2 1/2 hours away, but they both lead busy, busy lives, so we decided to make Dad being able to golf every day "our priority" and consider our little piece of heaven in East Texas, to be a "gift from God."
Wishing you continued health and blessings in whatever plans you make going forward. All the best!
Janice I had no idea you were in the hospital in Virginia. What hospital and why? I'm sure a lot of people feel as you do about continuing on the road. Perhaps my reason for going on is that I am so used to being on the road with someone who was ill. It is different being by yourself but I really can't imagine what else I would do. As You say children are very busy and my daughter lives in an area where there is no RV park anywhere near her. I'm very glad you have found a place that you like to call home on the road so to speak. I think I might be happy to have a winter place and a summer place I could take the rv to and not do so much moving around but so far I haven't found one that I like or can afford.
DeleteI'm glad this is behind you now, hospital stays are no fun. And pneumonia is nothing to be trifled with. I've had pneumonia 5 times, including once where my lungs started to collapse before an ER visit caught me in time. I've since had the pneumonia shot and have not had any repeats since. Take care, rest and stay well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the information and good wishes Paul. I wonder why they never suggested the pneumonia shot to me?
DeleteYou’re a trooper Sherry! Being sick on the road is tough enough let alone being hospitalized for days! I knew when you told me you were getting back outdoors to walk that you were not going to let this setback get in your way! Stay strong and stay smart! 💜👍💜
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! You're a great encouragement.
DeleteYou really got slammed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Good to hear from you William.
DeleteWhat a wild series of events. So glad you were still able to have Christmas with family and that you’re OK now!
ReplyDeleteMy feelings exactly. Wild events and glad. So sorry Blogger made you anonymous so I don't know who is wishing me well.
Delete