What An Experience…..Part I…..

 

   On or around December 21, of this year, I developed an allergic reaction to a new pair of sneakers I had just purchased. I am allergic to neoprene….highly allergic to it, but that’s another story. I got put on prednisone for the swollen lips and rash. I was to take 2 ten milligram pills for 4 days and then 1 ten milligram pill for 4 days to help me taper off. I was on day 5, on December 26 and that would be my first 10 milligram pill and my beginning to taper off the prednisone. I had been feeling very strange on this drug for a few days. The last time I took it, which was back in 2003, it gave me numerous amounts of energy and it worked very well for me….no side effects at all. This time, it felt strange. Christmas came and went and it was a really great one. My son stayed the night here with us Christmas Eve. My daughter arrived here at 11:00 a.m. xmas day and we all had a great breakfast together. After breakfast, we opened up our stockings and gifts….it was great! The rest of the day was spent at my brother in laws with my husband’s family and that was a lot of fun. I was not quite feeling myself but nothing notable was happening.

   Back to that December 26th day…..Hubby and I ended up getting a beautiful Christmas tree but it turned out to be a real dry one. Being concerned about the dryness, he wanted to get that tree out of the house. We figured we might as well take down ALL of the decorations once we started the whole process. That took a couple of hours to do or longer. I was having a hard time keeping up with my husband and that is NOT like me. This is what it felt like….A sore throat coming on and the tubes going from my ears to my throat were very irritated. Pressure behind my head and back of neck. Huge waves of nausea that got more and more persistent. ..dizziness that felt like the worst hangover I had ever had in my life….I thought I was coming down with the flu or having a panic attack. The ONLY place I felt comfortable was sitting on my closed toilet with my head on the sink….the nausea was overwhelming. Hubby called quick care and they were no help so he called Maine Medical Emergency in Portland. Two nurses called back and I spoke with each one for some time. They told me to come in and they would like to administer an EKG?? I wondered about that one?? Why……just to rule things out? Oh well. I hollered up to my husband, who was doing computer work upstairs and said….."They are saying they want me to come in…what do you think….should we go or stay?”   He says…."We might as well go.”

   Off we went. It was an exceptionally busy night at the ER. There was an accident and there were many firemen walking around with people. The ER staff kept coming by and apologizing for making us all wait. Finally I get looked at. I was so sick, I could barely sit still. Oh, I forgot to mention one of the symptoms was restless legs….my legs were jumping CONSTANTLY. They took my BP and other vitals. My heart rate was very low at 44. It was at that point that I remembered I was suppose to get an EKG. The nurse said “Oh…Ok….do you know why?” Nope…I don’t. Back to the waiting room again for a few minutes and then an EKG was administered in the hallway. “Have you had one of these before Debbie?” “Yes, I believe I have.” “Can you hold still Debbie while we do this test?” “I will try…but my legs won’t stop jerking…I’m sorry.” We got through it and I was back in the waiting room again. A few minutes later there was a crowd of people staring at me and holding a wheelchair. “Debbie….you are coming with us.” “Why am I going with you?” “Because you are having a heart attack.” “What???????????”

 

         More tomorrow………and please don’t be alarmed my friends. I am home and recuperating nicely and going to be alright.