My Turn!
“Well, hot damn! Last night it was my turn to take a ride to the hospital in an emergency vehicle.
“What’s going on?” they asked when they got here. Standard question. But it was hard to explain.
“We were watching television after dinner and the entire wall started moving to the right. Then it was back. Then to the right. If I looked elsewhere, same thing. If I closed my eyes, everything seemed fine. Except for the nausea and…”
“So, you were dizzy?”
“No. Not exactly.” And I explained again.
“Vertigo, then. You were experiencing vertigo.”
“Maybe. But that’s not exactly what it was like.”
Meanwhile, I was freezing and they were plastering me with sticky things so they could monitor my heart. “Everything looks good. You have a bundle branch blockage but you probably know about it already.”
“No, actually, I don’t.” “Oh, it’s nothing to worry about. You probably wouldn’t have known about it for another two or three years.” OMG!
Finally, they took me on the gurney out to the aid car. I was shivering, waiting for the promised warm blanket, while we rode interminably, I thought, to Ocean bean Hospital. “It’s never this far when I’m driving,” I thought.
First, the paper work – “medications you take? Have you eaten any banned foods lately? Romaine? You don’t look 82! Here’s a vomit bag if you need it. I’m going to put more heart monitors on you. I’m starting an IV – saline solution. Can anyone come to get you from the hospital?”
The promised warm blanket turned out to be the thinnest of thin covers (was it paper?). Better than nothing, I guess. There were thicker ones in the ER but still I was goose-bumpy. The nurse turned up the thermostat, asked me the same questions, gave me a pill for nausea and something by IV for dizziness. Or was it the other way around? The doctor came in. Looked me over. Ordered a chest X-ray and a bunch of blood samples and other stuff… Nyel called. He was fine. Worried and feeling helpless in his wheelchair. But fine, otherwise.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Back atcha,” I said. “I’m fine. Just freezing.”
About 11:30 they called me a taxi. 16.9 miles to Oysterville – a non-stop talking trip (driver not me.) I was freezing. I was glad I’d gone to the ATM yesterday. I’d better go again today… Nyel was up and waiting for me when I finally got home! What a guy! Tomorrow an appointment with my primary care doctor. I hope he doesn’t say “vertigo” but, if he does, I hope he can get to the bottom of why. I’m still freezing.
Oh, Sydney! This sounds so much like one of my vertigo episodes. They don’t happen often, but the last one ended up with a ride in the ambulance to the ER. I carry Meclizine (OTC) around with me and take one if I feel lightheaded (unless I am driving). At my last episode in the ER, I was given a prescription for valium, and I carry that around with me too. Also, I have low diastolic blood pressure (is that the number on the bottom), so the doc cut my blood pressure med in half. I make sure I stay hydrated. There are great videos on YouTube that demonstrate exercises. I have positional vertigo, but if you have Meniere’s, it is a whole other ballgame. Of course, your primary care doc might have a whole other reason for your vertigo. I am sure things will be fine. Jane (Ridgefield. WA)
Draw yourself a bubblebath – sounds awful!