Something Isn’t Right
One week into this “journey into the unknown” I have this compelling feeling to start a diary or journal, whatever the correct term may be. I’m not sure of it’s purpose yet – maybe just a way to get all of these thoughts and emotions out.
I will say that although these writings will begin on April 26, 2023, my journey began much earlier; in fact, as I think back on things I believe I am already several years in.
April 26, 2023
I have finally decided to get checked out. I have been dealing with a cough for years – just a dry cough for the most part – I find it most annoying in the morning and when I lay down at night. It keeps me from doing simple chores like the laundry and vacuuming; climbing a flight of stair will make me cough and be short of breath. Today at work I didn’t feel any different, but I could feel my heart POUNDING after a simple walk from my office to the nursing unit that I work on. Checked my pulse and it was 130, out of curiosity and decided to check my oxygen saturation – 85%!…..WHAT?! I would have never guessed I was that low as I didn’t feel lightheaded or any different than I have felt for a while – which that itself was scary to me. Have I been like this? This oxygen deprived, and if so, for how long? I checked myself throughout the day, called my primary care physician who suggests urgent care – go there, they do a chest xray and recommend I go back to the hospital where I work and present to the ER, she states there isn’t anything she can do for me.
I present to the ER, they run several tests as expected but it isn’t until the physician’s assistant walks me around the ER for a lap or so that they decide to keep me for further observation. (Thank You, Lord – I have their attention). I am seen by the admitting doctor’s nurse practitioner, started on antibiotics and steroids – the same ones I have had twice in the past year for similar episodes, one in which I passed out. I am OK with the meds but deep down I know it’s more and this will just be another “quick fix” – a band-aid to a bigger problem. I decide I am going to ask for an ANA from the admitting Dr in the morning as God has placed the right person on my path. You see, I work as a nurse care manager at a local hospital. It’s kind of hard to describe quickly what that entails but let’s just say I mediate the care for the patients, making sure they get the care they need while also keeping in mind the resources and financial aspects of all. Anyways, in this particular line of work we work closely with the admitting physicians. He is exactly the dr I need right now, someone who will listen to me when I describe that my issues have really been chronic and that my family has a history of autoimmune disorders, especially lupus. I’m hoping he will at least get the ball rolling so to speak.
Leave a Reply