Hospital Trip

In short, my trip to bed was delayed last night because of a series of seizures. When I was awoken four hours later by the workers starting early on the roof by working directly above my head for the third straight day the seizures continued. Though I had been given a valium to help me sleep through the work on the roof, when someone starts pounding in nails in your ceiling 60 seconds later, it is hard to fall asleep in the .5 second breaks it takes them to grab another nail. My care worker seemed to be gone, Linda was down talking to the manager (who had “forgotten” I have to sleep every six hours: she was the type were you say, “But can we ask them what their plan is, since they have STARTED over our apartment for three straight days?” and she replies, “This roof is for everyone.”)

I did not know when Linda would return and was too weak to move, I felt an aura coming (the precursor of a seizure). The fear that I would be left alone and paralyzed while seizure after seizure occurred frightened me to the point that I hit the life-line button on my wrist. Because Linda was not there, nor could I respond an ambulance was sent and I was bundled up, nightie and that’s about all; into the ER van. After pushing the button, I did have a seizure so could not speak to the ER people. Linda was again, not recognized at my partner, though she announced herself as my medical power of attorney but neither of that got her past the first line of nurses into the ER, an hour later she bluffed her way in.

Apparently in the unloading bay, according the ER Physican Assessment, I had a clonic tonic seizure in the ER waiting area, was given Adovan. Followed by another seizure in the ER while on monitors (more Adovan). Blood was drawn (using Emla), and the anemia was confirmed, I was given Adovan for home use until I could see my GP and the Lyrica was approved for use until a seizure specialist could see me (oh, how many months?). Then back home….to the roofing, with still a few hours sleep. The rest of the day has been sleep and recovery. The roofers ARE here tomorrow and all next week. I HAVE to hope that this is not a daily occurrence. Much of my memory of ER was wiped by the seizures but this I know: One of the attendants turned to Linda and asked me, “So is this your mom?” Yes, I may be terminal, have no sleep and be in ER, but golly, I look YOUNG!

I will try to reconstruct more off the physician record tomorrow, today was survival, banging, talking to a manager who despite having three witnesses, two standing in front of her assures me that the contractor who is NOT at the site assures HER there is NO way the workers are starting before 7:00 am. Linda offered to call her up to our apartment Friday morn when they start but the manager just closed the door. Odd that.