Last Thursday morning....

[JanusAscending]

I was up and out quite early for me. My daughter had an appt. with her Dr. for some important tests, so Nana went to "play" with Aidan.
Last Thursday night, Nana called Aidans mommy to come to her house to unlock the door for the EMT'S. I collapsed in my hallway on the way to the bathroom. I had what the Dr.'s and emergancy personnel called a
"vaso vagal response" Everything went black and then I saw green stars floating around, and felt my body "purging",but couldn't move. By the time my daughter and the ambulance arrived, I had purged at least 3 times, and then once again in the Ambulance on the way to the hospital.
They got me in a room real fast....to clean me up..'cause I "reeked"! Once cleaned up and on oxygen, I was put out in the hall like the others to "wait my turn"!! When I finally got into a trauma room, they hooked me up to every machine in there! At one point my blood pressure in the Ambulance was at 66 over some other low # I can't recall.
They decided to admit me after a CT scan showed big time colitis, and diverticulosis. However I was in trauma overnight while they worked to get my blood pressure up to normal. They hung a bag as soon as they got my blood drawn, and from there on, I lost count....but I know that until I was discharged on Monday, every time one bag emptied, here came another. The ironic thing is, my Dr. finally got his way, and I had my colonoscopy Monday AM.!!!! No cancer..no polops...but it HURT !!I was told it was because of the colitis. They also discovered that I was very low on Magnesium...which they think is the cause of my muscle weakness, and spasms. They gave a medical term to my dry mouth and loss of taste etc. It's called "sicca" of unknown origin still. I will be seeing the
Rheumatologist on the 30th, and they are certain that we will solve that mystery. In the meantime I had a visit from the VNA and will be getting some home health care and rehab. I'm still on clear fluids only because I'm afraid to eat anything solid!
Guys, I really thought I was going to meet my maker last Thursday night!!! ,,,,and am so grateful to the Universe..God...and Godess's...that this didn't happen while I was babysitting Aidan!
I'm going to stop here for now, as it makes me very emotional to relive this nightmare. More later...LUV YA ALL!

[crikkett]

1. Hang in there. I'm glad you're home.

I'm also glad your daughter was close by. Colitis is a horrible experience.

:hug:
I'd stay on liquids too.

[Kookaburra]

2. Love and light, JA

I'm so glad you're still with us.

Have you tried soft, bland food? Rice? Pudding? Something like that?

[MorningGlow]

6. LOL K look what we both posted

I think I picked up on your post just before I clicked "post message" on mine--that's not usually something I would say!
:rofl:

[Kookaburra]

7. Oh, you know...

Great minds, and all...

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

3. OMG how terrible!

So glad you're still with us!!!!!! :hug:

Yep, colitis sure is scary--and dangerous--as is a trip to the ER. But that trip sure got you some much-needed medical attention. My first impression was that that needed to happen to get you on the path to recovery. Damn, though, sometimes the drama required to move you forward can be traumatic!

Hang in there, JA. And keep us posted on how you're doing.

[BanzaiBonnie]

4. I'm so happy you're on the mend

I'd been really concerned because we hadn't heard from you all week. I kept asking myself, why have we not heard from JA?

So, you're on the way now. You are on your way to restoration of your health.


Yes, sometimes it takes a drama to get things moving.

[Kind of Blue]

5. Good Lord, I'm so glad you had very good care

during this nightmare and the outcome is moving in a positive direction on several fronts, especially hearing doctors say they're certain they can solve the mystery. I'm holding on to that for you, JA.

Love, KOB.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Bless your heart, JA....

What an ordeal! But hopefully you will finally get the complete attention you have needed all along.

Look into Sjogren's Syndrome, btw; that's the more common name for sicca.

Keeping you in my prayers...:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[JanusAscending]

13. Hi!

That's already been ruled out. I had TWO lip biopsies, and was sent to a retinologist. All confirmed NOT sjogrens. Not diabetes. Neg. rheumatoid factor. Not sure about what, but they are certain it is an "auto immune deficiancy" of some sort.:shrug:

[Oak2004]

28. Cold comfort, I know

but the average time from when symptoms become apparent to final diagnosis is something like 10 years with autoimmune disorders.

I'm negative for everything except plainly obvious symptoms of something rheumatoid-like. I joke that what I've got is "autoimmunish disorderish". Fortunately I also have a doctor who is aware of the limitations of our ability to accurately diagnose autoimmune disorders.

[I Have A Dream]

9. Oh, JA, I'm so glad that you're OK!

What a terrible thing to have to go through, but, as you said, thank goodness that Aidan wasn't there!

Well, if anything, at least the doctors are taking you seriously now.

:loveya:

[northernlights]

10. so sorry you ended in the ER, JA, but glad it got you some answers

First, tho, a "vaso vagal response" is just a fancy name for fainting due to drop in BP, which is the cause of 80% of fainting episodes. Another term you may have heard them use is syncope. Same thing -- fancy word for fainting.

Low magnesium is a serious concern. It's usually associated with low calcium -- were Ca levels down as well? Both calcium and magnesium are important in nerve conductivity and muscle activity. Most common cause to be low is malabsorption -- which would fit with colitis. Colitis can be caused by a number of things, including infection and also include an auto-immune response. Either could fit in with some of your other issues, which seem to point to either an immune system that is either not able to respond or is over-responding or inappropriately responding to stimuli. Another common cause would be increased excretion.

One thing that I've found is extremely helpful with symptoms of GI inflammation is curcurmin (turmeric) -- but don't start taking high doses without discussing with your doctor first. It's an active emough anti-inflammatory that it can interfere with some drugs and "double-down" on pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories.

Be good to yourself. No smoking. No alcohol. No coffee. Eat healthy. Rest. Fresh air. Gentle exercise.

[JanusAscending]

14. I was led to believe that it also was brought on by

straining to have a bowel movement, that it makes the pressure drop from blocking blood flow to the vena cava. My Mom had this problem, and one of my daughter's do as well. Screwy thing is, I've always had low blood pressure, and have fainted on maany occasions from stress and anxiety. Most times when I was pregnant with one of my kids. WHY did my doctor put me on blood pressure pills????
I hadn't had any problems with my bowels at all for months! The night I got sick, I had just eaten a late dinner, and got cramps (like one does during one's cycle) I went to the bathroom and tried to evacuate, but couldn't. I strained so hard that I broke out in a cold sweat, and started getting dizzy, so I made my way down the hall to the LR holding on to the walls for support. I lay flat on the couch waiting for the dizziness to pass. It didn't, so I called my daughter to come down and unlock my door in case I needed to call 911. Before she got here, I had the distinct feeling that I was about to have a bought of the runs. For some reason my angels whispered in my ear...."take the phone with you"!! I got halfway to the bathroom and everything let loose. I let myself down on the floor easy, and in the dark I tried 6 times to call 911, just by feeling for the numbers. I fianally got through and they arrived just minutes after my daughter. I'm going to have to come back to this later....it's getting ready to storm .

[northernlights]

15. mustn't try so hard to, er, succeed, lol

If you're body isn't ready to evacuate, it's not ready. I've gotten pretty severely crampy a couple times (back when the crap company I worked at poisoned me). I was able to find a position on my living room couch that relieved the cramps and enabled me to rest, usually propped up on my side and either with my knees pulled up tight or sometimes with my legs slung up over the top of the couch. Odd positions that would relieve them. I also keep a crossword puzzle by my throne. If I've been bad food wise and am paying for it, I just sit down and work on my puzzle. Amazing what total distraction and *relaxation* will do. Another trick that helps me sometimes is to drink warm or hot fluids...sometimes (being in school and doing 18 hour days) I'm drinking too much coffee to get through it. Coffee is a diuretic, so I end up slightly dehydrated. Get some fluids in and everything is happy to finally be able to slide out.

I have low blood pressure as well -- 100/60. So why *did* your doctor put you on blood pressure pills? What is your blood pressure these days -- or rather about what was it before this incident?

[JanusAscending]

16. Because whenever I am ill, it has the tendancy to get a little high.

When I had the UTI, and then when I had bronchitis recently, it went up to 140 over 90. It's normaly in the 120 over 60 range. I suspect he was being extra cautious because no one knows what we are dealing with yet regarding the "sicca"???? Emergancy room personel were a little bit baffled by this too!!!

[northernlights]

18. ok, I never heard of "sicca" so just googled it

turns out it's another name for Sjogren's syndrome, which I thought you said the biopsy had ruled out?

Textbook BP is 120/80. 120/60 isn't low, it's in the middle. Mine (100/60) is low normal, but normal for athletes.

140/90 is borderline high.

[japple]

11. Dear JA, I'm sorry to read about your nightmare, but so glad

you got the help you so desperately needed. Maybe this will help your caregivers find the solutions for all of the puzzling health issues you've had for so long. Hope you will soon be restored and able to taste and enjoy food once again. Asking the Universe to surround you with love and care. Blessings and peace to you my friend.

[Celebration]

12. low magnesium

Low magnesium is about as big of a problem as low D3, but it is harder to correct. It's just really hard to absorb, particularly for the elderly.

Dr. Shealy developed a magnesium cream that he claims takes care of the absorption problem. I just started using it.

By the way, the cellular levels of magnesium are really the key ones. If you are low on the electrolyte magnesium, you REALLY have problems. That could be severe electrolyte imbalance.

Honestly, have you ever tried drinking Pedialyte? It sounds like your electrolytes are all ##($%& up. It sounds ridiculous, but it could make a huge difference for you, in the short run. And, NO, do NOT try other electrolytes other than Pedialyte. I don't really consider this medical advice.........after all it is OTC and it is for babies so it can't be too bad.

I have family members with lots of good experience with Pedialyte, and they are not infants. I have no idea why doctors don't understand the benefits in certain adults....................

[JanusAscending]

17. When I go to my DR. tomorrow

for a follow up visit, I'm going to talk to him about the pedialite, and pick some up at the drug store. I had the visiting nurse this AM and then the physical therapist stopped by to see what I needed in equipment. Looks like I'll be getting a shower stool, a set of bars for the commode, a hand held shower head, and a porta potty for in the bedroom. My pulse ox drops severely when I am sleeping, and they don't want me getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and falling. Social worker also came this evening, and is going to get me on "meals on wheels" 5 days a week, and help at least once a week with cleaning. YAY!! I haven't been able to vacuum in months....it hurts my back too much. They will also help me change the bed linens when necessary. etc. etc. Plus dear #1 son felt so guilty that he didn't even know I was in the Hospital, he is coming up to take care of the jungle that was once my yard. Everything is overgrown, and my back yard where my Flurry used to romp and do his "business", looks like a prairie!

[BanzaiBonnie]

19. Oh, JA

Things are moving to get you the help you need. And that's a good thing. It seems awful that it took this long to get the doctors attention. I'm sad that you've had to go through such a painful time, but things are looking brighter.

[rumpel]

20. I am so glad You are ok and back!

Strange, in a sense that you had to have such a horrific experience to get the help you need, and may also finally have the answers to your symptoms. You are protected.

Just take it easy, and let yourself be pampered, JA, you deserve all the attention and care.

:grouphug:

[JanusAscending]

21. Thanks Rumple!

Since my last post, I went to my PC Dr., and it was VERY HOT yesterday (Fri.) My car doesn't have air, so the temp was probably up around the 200's!! To add to the drama, the visiting nurses won't allow me to do any walking on my own without my walker, so pushing it up the wheelchair ramp just about did me in!! When I walked into the Dr.'s office I asked for oxygen, and they rushed me into a room and gave me some right away. My Dr. was appalled that the Hospital released me with out giving me some to bring home. He checked me out did my vitals and so forth, and the name of another Rheumatologist, because the one I had an appt. with on the 30th called to postpone because he was going to be out of the country until August!!1%(#*)$ !!! Long story short, my Dr. called the EMT's to take me to the ER for exrays and oxygen( with me kicking and screaming because I had no way to get home!!) Turned out for the best, because I got a prescription for it as my 20 stats wouldn't get up over 88 while walking. That is the cutoff # to qualify for Medicare to agree to cover it. That turned out very well for me. I had all my tanks delivered this AM. I am also going to be getting meals on wheels 5 days a week, a visiting nurse twice a week, and a home help aid two days a week.(someone to vacuum my floors thank God!) This Thursday I go for MRI for my back and pinched nerves. They are giving me a shower stool and hand held shower spray, as well as lift bars for the commode and a new walker with wheels and a basket to carry things from room to room! So this ole gal made out pretty good. The icing on the cake came today when my firstborn son came up and did all my yardwork for me. Now you can tell one shrub from another in the front of the house. It's nice that God gave me a professional landscaper for a son, and that he found the time in his busy schedule to come help his Momma!! (I think someone laid a guilt trip on him 'cause he didn't even know I was in the hopital!!) LOL Now if I can just keep everyone's schedule straight I'll be happy.

[MorningGlow]

22. Well there's a silver lining!

So glad you're getting the help you need while you figure out what's going on, JA! :hug: Here's to healthier days in the near future! :toast:

[I Have A Dream]

24. Wow, that's absolutely wonderful, JA!

:loveya:

Thank you, Universe!

[rumpel]

25. So glad it is working out for the best, JA

but lets get you into the best shape ever!

Healing vibes and positive light..

:grouphug:

[JanusAscending]

27. My Doc OK'd the pedialite!

Will try some this week.

[BlueIris]

23. My poor JA. ((((( JA )))))

I want all the best for you and your family.

[JanusAscending]

26. Aw.....BLESS your heart's,

each and every one of you. If there is such a thing as a "heart light"(as in ET) you all are making mine shine!! People were actually drawn to my room while in the Hospital,...just to chat! One nurse that befriended me went and got her friend from another wing to come and meet me...they couldn't believe I was 71 !! I miss seeing them each morning??? Go figure.:grouphug: