- Okay, this will be my final thoughts on the meningitis adventure Jodie and I have been on.
- I hope it will be the last thoughts
- Just as I have come to terms with how damn lucky we are that Jodie is here recovering and “playing god” with her new Sims 3, I met this family and once again find myself freaking out with the thought that we could have lost our beautiful golden haired child. Please go right now to their web site and read their story about their beautiful son, Alex.
- Honestly, the morning of May 23 I figured that Jodie was experiencing symptoms not unlike a migraine. I really felt this was nothing a dose of naprosyn, a cold wet, washcloth and a darkened room couldn’t cure. After all it (usually) works for me when I get a migraine.
- I thought Jodie was crazy when she insisted she had to dance and would just rest in between dances. I also thought that I was the worst mother on the planet because I so willingly agreed with her plan to go ahead and dance.
- Even after she vomited to the point that she was dry heaving still figured she would get better after nice, long nap and would be okay.
- I called 911 that early afternoon not because I thought Jodie was rapidly deteriorating with suspected meningitis symptoms; I called 911 because she was panicked over the fact that she couldn’t see after a 20 minute nap and I didn’t think I could drive her to the hospital alone with her freaking out like that.
- When we arrived at the ER it was clear that it was a damn good thing that I called an ambulance.
- If my daughter ever wonders if I love her all she has to do is remember that I wore a freaking N95 mask for hours and never left her side in spite of the fact that I couldn’t breathe and was so claustrophobic it wasn’t even funny. I won’t do that for just anyone and I hope she never forgets that fact.
- many families have a hard time seeing their loved ones restrained chemically and with 4 point soft restraints. I guess I can be too much of a nurse sometimes because I was clearly relieved when they had to tie Jodie down at one point. I’m sure that earns me more bad mama points.
- I guess wearing that mask was all for naught because around 11 PM that night I began to realize that the vomiting I was having was not related to the bad Taco Bell I inhaled an hour before when I realized, OMG I haven’t eaten all day. Oh and the stiffness in my neck had nothing to do with the physical and emotional stress I had been dealing with all freaking day either.
- Once again I realized that I am not a good patient which means I am not the nurses’ favorite patient that they all want to take care of.
- I also came to the conclusion that I do not want to get so old that I have lost bowel and bladder control ever! Having a nurse clean me then fitting me with an adult sized diaper pretty much made it easy for me to come to that conclusion.
- I think I broke the record for the number of times one patient can utter “Mother Fucker” during a lumbar puncture.
- But oh yes I was reminded how much I love morphine…I don’t think the nurse heard me when I whispered “Hello lover, it’s been too long” as she administered it. I’m pretty certain of that because she offered me more later.
- Med surg nurses work their asses off!
- My nurses (with the exception of the one who refused to help me clean up after one of my accidents) were amazing.
- The one exception, she went to get a tech. Her tech was so sweet as I literally broke down from shame, worry, fear and just missing my family. Of course it goes without saying that the techs who also cared for me were amazing too.
- Their day shift charge nurse on Sunday, not so much. For the record lady, patients don’t like it when you refer to us as “that” or “it” as in, “Is that from ER? Put it in room 39.”
- Some medical students must live under a rock since the two I had taking my health history and physical exam never saw a tattoo with color before. They were first year students.
- I may have felt old and infirm wearing an adult diaper for 12 hours or so and dealing with med students, interns and residents who looked like they would need me to buy them alcohol but the reaction of the people caring for me that there was no way I could be a 47 year old grandmother because I didn’t look even 40 was awesome for my ego. Thanks for the love guys!
- Certain case managers need to realize that if they are having insurance issues with my daughter they should talk to the parent who is NOT hospitalized at the moment. I’m just saying….
- Of course clueless case managers and insurance stupidities unleashed even more F-bombs than when I had the lumbar puncture
- Although Jodie and I became a public health concern in two counties, I am happy to report that there have been no documented meningococcal meningitis cases related to us.
- I also have to say that although the Sainte Claire Hotel is far more luxurious and highly recommended by Jodie and me for anyone staying in downtown San Jose, we were equally pampered and treated well by the amazing staff at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. I guess if one has to be seriously ill, or worse, near death, that is the place to be.
- For now I am just counting my blessings and Jodie’s too and expressing gratitude to everyone who reached out in anyway to support us through this crazy-assed adventure that I hope we will never ever have to live through again.
- are you wondering if my family will receive the Menactra vaccine? oh yeah, hell yeah!
Adventures in Juggling
living this circus life, what else would I be doing but juggling?
OMG!!!! I’ve been really out of the blogosphere for a while and am SO VERY shocked to see what you and Jodi went through!
Thank goodness they were able to treat both of you! It’s scary how quickly life can be turned on its head huh?
Gosh – I’m so glad you guys are on the mend!
Jen D.
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OMG! I had no idea you two when through this. My brother had it as a baby. Scary stuff! So glad to hear you are on the mend. I really need to catch up on my blog reading. sheesh
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Whoa – I didn’t realize it was BOTH of you! Holy freaking cow! And you weren’t far from me, either! Less than half an hour away!
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