September 22, 2019

The pain began Saturday morning.  The left side of my head and neck and moving downward from there,  Familiar pain.  Migraine I thought, though I hadn’t had one of this severity in 30 years or so.  Nevertheless, I took some migraine meds and retired early.

By the next day, the pain was far worse and I was sure it was not a migraine.  Getting into a sitting position was agony.  Temperature slighty elevated.  99.3.  No other symptoms.  Took a pain pill left over from Nyel’s last surgery.  No help.  Slept most of the day.

On Monday, Nyel called for an appointment with our primary care doctor, describing my symptoms and we got an immediate callback for the OBH’s Covid Nurse.  Neither we nor he thought my symptoms were in line with the Covid virus.  He called back shortly with the directive from our Primary Care doctor — it could be meningitis.  Go directly to the ER.

Nyel called 911 and, within minutes I was being whisked away by the wonderful Ocean Park EMTs.   The lab people took blood, the X-ray techician came to get me for a number of “pictures,”  and I was taken back to the ER.  My temp was a bit higher , 99.8 so even though I felt very cold they would not give me a warm blanket.  Only a sheet.  But they did give me a cup of water when I requested it.  And a specimen bottle for a urine sample “when I was ready.”

Hours went by.  Finally the ER doctor came in, looked at the X-rays and said a few things but, between his mask and heavy Asian accent, I couldn’t make out much.   He was very insistent, though, that I follow up with my Primary Caregiver.  Boy howdy!

More time went by.  I wouldn’t need to give a urine sample after all.  Soon back came the doctor.  “Where is the urine sample?”    Then more blood draws.  “For culturing.”  Finally I was told I could call for a ride home.  I called Nyel who arranged for Tucker to come.  However, as it turned out, we had to cool our jets for another hour and a half.

Meanwhile — the doctor was back.  He told me I was extremely dehydrated.  I told him I was not surprised.  I hadn’t been able to lift my head from the pillow enough to drink.  Why not, he wanted to know.  Pain I told him  Where was the pain, he asked.  In my neck.  Why hadn’t I said so he wanted to know.  I was probably less than gracious when I replied that had come to the ER because of said pain.  And, sure enough, on my discharge paperwork, righi on the very first page of twelve, right where  it says “reason for coming to the ER: “pain in neck.”

No kidding.