Friday, the 13th. Tonight was the night we were supposed to have a crazy celebration party with friends in town . . and you realize that crazy for us is probably pretty calm for everyone else. It was their celebration . . not ours, and they’re celebrating without us! This was the event we were planning where this conversation began.
They may all need bail money but Vince and I did not. Our wild and crazy Friday, the 13th involved a day at the hospital . . two days actually. Nothing serious . . but it could have been. I now know I cannot take prednisone!
Meals
Being admitted through the ER meant staying in the ER for about 8 hours waiting for a room so for two meals, I had a turkey sandwich. Guess I shouldn’t complain . . at least they gave me something to eat.
I still have my neck and shoulder ache but you can bet I won’t take prednisone ever again.
I can’t say enough good about the Hendrick Hospital system in Abilene. The nurses, the doctors, the staff . . they were all so kind and attentive. Kinda sad to have to drive almost 2 hours to get to a hospital where we feel comfortable. Speaking of 2 hours . . as we were getting ready to leave Thursday morning to go to the hospital, Vince was already headed to the car and I said “Wait! I have to wind two skeins of yarn because I’m going to run out if I don’t!” He said “You are NOT going to wind yarn since you really need to get to the hospital!” I told him it would be much worse if I was sitting there all day with nothing to do so I wound my two skeins of yarn, which I didn’t even need because I didn’t get to do that much knitting.
I’m home . . it’s late (almost 10:30 p.m.). We got home about an hour ago. I think we’ll both be in bed early tonight.
Sue Edberg says
Judy, I hope you are okay. Bad reactions to meds is real scary. Take care!
Erin says
Oh Judy so sorry that you ended up having a reaction. What a few weeks you have had. Hope you feel better soon.
Marti Meadows says
So sorry to hear you end up at the hospital! Hopefully you are on your way to recovering!
Marilyn Smith says
I had an allergic reaction to my blood pressure meds when we were on vacation in Prescott Valley. Went to a doc in the box there. Picked up a prescription and we headed out to Boulder City, NV (just outside of Las Vegas) to our dear friend Cookie’s home there. She also has one in Lake Tahoe. She is a nurse practitioner and has been on the nursing board in NV. We got there and got thru the first night ok. The second night we took her out for dinner. I could not swallow anything (even the margarita). Anyway, we drove back to Boulder and later in the evening I got thru to them that I needed to go to the hospital. My mouth and throat were totally swollen. When we went to the small private hospital ER room, they were wonderful. The first thing they asked was if I took Lisinopril. I nodded yes. Onto a gurney I went. They Epi Penned me three or four times. I started to get better when I could talk (mumble) drunkenly to them. (I was sober as a judge!) I was seen by a Dr. and kept on a gurney in the ER. We had to make sure that I was admitted overnight and not just kept for observation. If it had been for observation we would be responsible for the bill. They released me the following morning and J picked me up. They would not release me until I could talk to them which I was able to do. That night, I could not sleep and went downstairs to the couch to try to sleep sitting up. When J got up in the morning I could not talk but was able to communicate to him that I wanted to come home to the hospital in Palm Springs where they had a Trauma Center. Fastest trip ever coming home from Vegas. J dropped me off at the entrance and went to park. The girls at the admitting desk knew that I was having a reaction to Lisinopril and rushed me in. Spent 2 nights there. Yes, I was admitted. The Dr. in ER chuckled and said we were absolutely right to verify that I was being admitted. (Part of Obamacare). Anyway, I always travel with an EpI Pen and they are very expensive but I would not be without. I just paid 442 for a prescription (heart meds) that I paid 141 for last time (instead of over $1500) because I am in a gap until I have spent $5,000. Then it clears. I will be on this med for the rest of my life.
Judy, thank goodness for decent insurance. I hope that you have no further trouble. I think for both of you in deciding whether to relocate will be for good medical care. I am only alive because 1. DH did CPT on me soon enough. I was gone. Dead.
2. A wonderful police force who pulled me out of the car and continued the cpr on the sidewalk until the paramedics arrived.
3. The paramedics who kept working on me, giving me epinephrine shots. It took 3 shots to get a tiny bit of blood pressure. They kept working on me until they got it to a point I could be transported to the hospital.
Please, please. Give every consideration in moving to a place that has good doctor’s and medical care. I am only here because we had it here in Palm Springs.
I am glad that you got thru your episode alright and hope that you are back to normal soon. Just be very, very careful. Both of you. I care very much about both of you and your issues.
Hugs, Marilyn
Cinda Moulds says
Marilyn, I don’t remember hearing these details before. How terrifying for you and J. Thanks be to God for the miracles you’ve lived through. Cinda
dezertsuz says
Wow. That sounds scary. Taking a med to find out you are allergic is not the way to find out. But how else would you? That’s how I found out I was allergic to sulfa drugs, but I was too stupid to know what all that itchy skin and upset stomach meant. =P Fortunately, that was the worst it was and I didn’t wind up in the hospital like you did! I hope they can find something else that will reduce the inflammation or help with the pain.
wanda j says
Glad you / Vince got to the hospital and were seen and fixed. Yes it is scary to have something go wrong with new medicine. Always be on safe side if you have any different feeling of any kind at all. It is better to error than die.Hope you get to feeling better soon you’ve got loads of things you both want to do. And yes we do worry about you and Vince both when thing medically go wrong being not a big hospital /good one close by. We live 28 miles form one now ourselves. You can always call 911 and that will get you help faster .But you know that.
Donna says
I can’t take any steroids because I have a reaction them all. Predinsone being the worst reaction. I’d rather hurt than go through that again. Glad you went to the Doc and hope you feel better soon.
Karen says
So glad you’re home and OK.
Ranch Wife says
Yikes! So glad you’re home and on the mend! Hope you both take a couple of days to rest up. I love living out, but the lack of good medical care is a downside to that. Not crazy about the availability of that in town (30 miles) so have to go to Lubbock for anything serious (2.5 hours). Sending prayers for the two of you to be well.
Andrea says
How scary! Glad you had your yarn with you, though. 😉
Dottie says
So sorry…..hope you feel better SOON!!
Tricia says
I’m sorry about your ER visit, but it was worth it for your ‘2 skeins of yarn’ story. You always know how to crack me up!
Liz says
Glad to read that you are ok – just curious – what were your symptoms? I assume that they were mainly persistent but annoying in nature and not the lack of breathing, swollen throat, etc which normally means the ER trip.
I went to Africa on business and my doctor gave me some sulfa and other drugs just in case. On the last day, I was feeling sick and everyone around me was also getting sick, so I took the sulfa and ended up with a full body hives reaction somewhere over the Atlantic.I went to the ER the next morning since the rash was not going away. I was put in isolation once they found out I had been in West Africa. I went home with a script for steroids for the hives. The next week, I was back in the ER with severe cramps. Back into isolation until the doctors determined that it was not an infectious disease. I got a script for more steroids for the hives and quinine for the cramps..
Although I had safely taken sulfa for years, I had the reaction. I now have the Epi-pen. BTW, my hairdresser could feel the difference in my hair from all of the pre-trip vaccines, steroids and malaria drugs. He had me on shampoos/conditioners for “medically-challenged” hair.
Teri says
Glad you are ok Judy. Was the prednisone for your arm trouble? How is your arm now? Sorry Vince will miss his trip but glad you won’t be alone. Love
Nelle Coursey says
We have never had a problem with them.They are the best people ever! We were there 3 times last year and each time we had great nurses, doctors and everyone involved was the best we could ask for. Yes it is sad we have to travel so far to get good medial care!