It’s been a while! Being so new to this Lupus and not knowing what to expect…lets just say I had an experience I wasn’t expecting.
About a month ago, it started with a migraine that last almost a week and I finally made myself go to the ER. Meds, benedryl, fluids, within an hour it was gone, an I was home. The week following I just didn’t feel right. I returned to the ER with chest pains, they sent me home, with Xanax and said it was anxiety. Ughhh… No!
Another trip to the ER, said I had pneumonia, they started me on antibiotics. Lots of antibiotics because I don’t have a spleen and they wanted to just kick it I guess. Three days in, they sent me home, with oral antibiotics. This was the beginning of where I thought I was going to die, literally.
I ended up in the hospital beginning of November. I was vomiting, excruciating pain in my abdomen and chest cavity. I was swelling up, 25 lbs of water weight. My legs and abdomen became so huge I couldn’t even lift my legs into bed. I was on continual antibiotics. I had 4 doctors, one being a GI doctor of course. I spent the first week on so many drugs. Pain, nausea, anxiety, lasixs…it was crazy and I don’t remember much. I do remember the fact I was so thirsty and all I could do was chew ice chips and spit them out. The minute I ate them, I vomited, continuously.
Eventually, at some point the put a tube in my nose to my throat and I stopped the vomiting. They seemed to take me down for so many tests. Scopes, CT scans, X-rays, throat scopes, colonoscopy. Everything needed a good IV, and they blew every vein I had. Finally putting in a pic line and making it a bit easier.
At some point they realized I had absolutely NO infection. My increased white blood count was caused from inflammation. SERIOUSLY ? They consulted with my rheumatologist… He halted the antibiotics, started me on steroids. This is when things started to turn around. 3 weeks. That is the turning point. It was my lupus they knew I had going in. By the grace of God, they figured it out. But, it took them 3 weeks.
I am eating again. I am home, I am weak, but getting stronger everyday. I am thankful for that. I was scared, and still am a bit. I go to my rheumatologist today. I haven’t started a Lupus drug yet, but will insist today. I know I’m going to be ok, but I have a little more anxiety than I had a few weeks ago. I would like to find a support group here in Vegas?
Thanks for reading. I just need share this with people who understand. Please comment and any tips you have to being new to this, I will embrace. God bless you!