A Trip to the ICU

I just wanted to give everyone an update on my health. Last week on Wednesday night, I had symptoms of hypotension (low blood pressure) and high rate also known as tachycardia. This is opposite of how my body is during the night while lying in bed. Thursday morning I decided to go into the ER to see what was wrong. They had to bring me by ambulance because I couldn't sit up in my wheelchair due to the low blood pressure. In order to use the stretcher, they had to come down the side of my house to bring me out.

Since it was still covered with snow and thick ice, it couldn’t be hand shovel. When the cops got here first, they called the fire department to shovel it out. In the meantime, a nonemergency ambulance showed up and another EMS team to help bring me out. Once I was finally in the vehicle they hooked me up to oxygen and I was able to bring my home ventilator with me which was nice. I forgot how bumpy those ambulance rides are!

When I got there, they did a chest x-ray and an EKG of my heart. Based off the results I was admitted to the ICU. I stayed overnight on IV antibiotics while they monitored me. Friday morning I had a CT scan done and a small infection was found in my lungs. Then they did a bronchus copy of my lungs which will indicate what strain of bacteria it is.

I was discharged Friday evening and was feeling much better. Saturday during the day was the same although during the afternoon and throughout the night I started needing oxygen for support along with multiple suctioning. However things turned around Sunday afternoon and right now I'm only using oxygen when needed and feeling much better! Because the results weren’t back get yet, they prescribed me with a broad spectrum oral antibiotic so hopefully I continue down this path without intervention.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I still have some healing to do. Thanks!

Jenni