Rest, they say

...they lied. You don't rest in the hospital. But my plan is pretty simple. Steroids, twice a day, for about 30 minutes. And a few rounds of fluids. Piece of cake. Just let me rest, lol. 

I did opt to wear my own clothes. so that's a plus. They didn't put the alarm on the bed but did REITERATE, "Call, do not fall!" 

Uh oh, ER

Well... it's not terribly crowded in here but me thinks it's going to be a long night. The first sign that it would be a long night? No parking spaces. Oh yeah, I'm at Capital Regional Medical Center. The second sign was the line OUT to the door, when I try to enter. But I waited. I signed in. Took my mask. And I waited.

The Log: 

• I got here around 645pm, Wednesday, January 15. Checked in!
• Around 815ish, they called me back for Triage. They sent me back into the lobby because, although I had notes to be admitted, the doctor hadn't accepted me as a patient. 
• 845 I was called back into the ER to be given an IV. It's time to start the fluids and steroids. 
• There are NO beds available in the main hospital so to kick this process off, we're going to hook you up, put you in a room and keep it moving. They didn't say that but that's what's happening. 

The door

The waiting room

• 10pm, i'm here here. In the ER. In a room with *counts* 6 other patients. Some were also hooked to an IV. Some were just waiting. Because, well, they're being admitted and got nowhere to go. 

• Around 1am, we're getting hungry. Well, I'd been snacking (sneakily pulling grapes out of my bag) but everyone in, especially those that have been here for HOURS are hungry. So we' started asking for food. 
• There were only two of us left at that point
• At 2am, we got a sandwich, chips and juice. 

• 3am they came in to tell me they're moving me. 
• I was the last one at this point. 
• But by moving me, they meant, to the hall way. on a stretcher. 
• I'm tired. I can't sleep or at least I don't want to go to sleep. But i hadn't been asleep since 730am so I'm just going to lay here and wa.....zzzzzz

• I rolled over around 4am, to use the potty. It was right across the hall from me. A nice looking chocolate male nurse, lol, unhooked me so I could go. When I came back to the bed/stretcher he came back to tell me he was taking me a room. I HAD A ROOM!!!  
• And I'm excited to know it's on the 4th floor. The same floor I was on back in April the last time I was here. I enjoyed the nursing staff on that floor. 

It's not the best plan but it is a plan

At this point (It's that time of the season) there are no beds at the hospital so we can't directly Admit you. You can go through the Emergency Room with a note that you are to be admitted and they will work you in. << Paraphrased

Not the most ideal situation BUT at this point it's what I've got to do. It can't be that bad. I'm packing up my things. I've got the boys handled and I'm ready to roll. 

Eat the cake, Anna Mae

As of right now, they're still working with the hospital to get me in. BUT, at this point, (Tuesday), for a process that'll take about 5 days, I can't do inpatient anymore because I can't go into the weekend. "so your only other option is to take the (cake) pills." 

NO Keep trying, please. thanks. 

What Can I Do For You?

That's what the neurologist asked me. "you read my file right? you read the notes on why i'm here, right? I just want to make sure we're on the same page before I start telling you this."  The room they put me sort of had me worried. Are we doing nerve tests? 

I told him what's happening and he agreed that we need to get a steroid treatment started. Pills. Outpatient. Inpatient. 

I opted for the Inpatient process. In my past experiences, I've been deemed a fall risk. My potassium has fluctuated and my blood pressure has gone up - all while taking steroids. These are not things I feel comfortable (or able to) monitoring at home. They're going to work with the hospital to get me admitted. We're a go! 

Only issue... I have an appointment at Mayo on Thursday. If we get this worked out today, maaaaaaaaaaaybe i can still make it? Maybe lol

Go To The ER

I haven't been able to get into a local facility to have the infusion done. I did, however, have Mayo send my PCP the information regarding the "need to have the infusion" so they could just rewrite it for me to go somewhere locally. After a few conversations he told me to do to the ER. He, being my PCP. It's a lot of medication to take in a pill and I should be monitored (i'm paraphrasing). 

Me being of sound mind and [most of my] body will pump the brakes on that as an option. You see, the last time I went to the hospital with a flare, they sent me back home. And it doesn't look like any physician is sending me there with any type of documentation. I don't presume someone in the ER is going to just 'give me steroids' blindly. So, I'll wait until Monday to see the local neurologist. 

I Can't Feel My Face...

...ok not really but I can't feel my toes. As a matter of fact, my toes, feet and legs are starting to lose sensation. AGAIN! It started on New Years night. I thought it was just the socks that I had on, my toes felt weird. So I'm thinking the footie sock things are too tight, or something. The same feeling, the next night. Finally, this morning I'm thinking to myself, "OH NO, It's happening again." So I call the nurse at Mayo and my local doctor to let them know what's up. We've got to get something worked out. 

I already have a follow-up appointment scheduled for January 16 at Mayo but I don't want to wait that long. I was able to get in with the local  doctor on Monday. Still 'too' long but we'll see. 

After talking with the Mayo nurse/doctor, we agreed that I need to begin a steroid treatment. I've got option. Pills (a LOT of them), Outpatient Infusion (Jax or Tally) or Inpatient (Jax or Tally). I'd rather not go back to Jacksonville because it's a 3-5 process and I'd have to bring the kid(s) or leave them AND foot the bill for a hotel. So I'm going to check on the outpatient option locally. Oh to my surprise, it would be "out of network" for my insurance. Not a terrible thing. BUT, after further discussion I'd also need a 'referral' from a doctor that's authorized, locally. So, I call my PCP. He can do it. I think. :-)