Shake, Rattle and Roll

So one minute you are sitting at your desk in the library and the next your volunteer is standing over you, while you are laying on the floor, asking you what is wrong. Then, because she's scared s*!t-less. and because I banged my head in 12 places on the way down and broke my glasses too...a Rapid Response Code was called to the Library.

Now, nothing ever happens in the Library. It's quiet, has no patients and it's mostly just me in there all day, much like you would imagine a library to be. So when everyone heard this over the loudspeakers, across the entire hospital mind you, they came running!!! So as I was coming round, there's Bunny, then John from Respiratory, Minetta from Critical Care, the boys from Biomed and then about 70 other people I couldn't see, due to not having my glasses on!!

Ok, most people would find this awesome, since when they call a code, you really do want a "rapid response." Well, mostly I was mortified!!! I BEGGED John from respiratory to let me get up and just sit in my chair or even walk down to the ER if that is what he wanted but NOOoooOOOOO(do you hear the sarcasm:)) Since I bumped by head 12 times on the way down, I needed a neck collar. And a back board. And to be lifted *gasp* over the counter and around to the stretcher. *sigh* What did I do to myself? And whose kitten did I kick to deserve this?

Well, I had a seizure. I've known that I've had a seizure disorder since dad's was diagnosed and I was on meds for awhile and yada yada, but it hasn't been an issue since 2003. Well, now it's an issue!!!

So down to the ER I was rolled. Bunny followed, Darcy, Laura, Ayden, Bobbi Jo, Dad and I'm sure more visited. Ayden called Corey (who was at the vet with Jadey) and I spent a solid hour being mortified. And having more seizures. Oops!!! Dr. Wheeler, who was very nice and good at what he did, looked about 25 when he walked up to me, so after I made a crack about him being too young to help me, he assured me that he was actually older than I am.

Bunny made sure I got a CT scan, since I hit my head 12 times on the way down (have I mentioned that?) They found a lesion of some sort of my CT scan so after a long wait (with nothing to eat or drink I must add) I had an MRI. Corey enjoyed my MRI since he got to catch up with Mark Varney, a friend from High school who was administering the test, and he now has proof of my brain matter! The MRI was clear (phew...no stroke lesion!) and I was eventually released from the hospital(around 5 pm) with instructions not to go to work until I saw the neurologist on Thursday and he cleared me.

Phew...that was a long day! I was tired, hungry and thirsty as heck. Corey grabbed a pizza, at my request, Ayden and Josie stopped by with my car and I sent an email. Got up to go to bed, turned to Corey and said, "I'm having another..."

Woke up to Corey half holding me, calling 911 for taking a digger on him! How many friggin' times could I possibly bounce to the floor in one day????!!!??? So the ambulance came (and I cried hard, hoping Corey would just let me go to bed and sleep it off) and it was back to the hospital I went. Had another seizure when I got there and was admitted to the hospital around midnight. *sigh* Poor Corey he sure had a long day of it. He didn't make it home until around 1:30!!!!

So I spent a long night in the hospital, not allowed to get up to potty without a helping hand, with padded bed rails in case I started to seize and then being woken up every two hours for a Neurological check. Thankfully I felt MUCH better by Wednesday afternoon. I needed to see the Neurologist before I could go home, and he wasn't available until Thursday morning.

Luckily, my friends, family and coworkers rallied around. The guys from Biomed hooked me up with a great remote for the TV. Bobbi Jo changed the whiteboard date and wrote in my Nurse and LNA's names. Darcy had breakfast with me and brought a box of chocolate munchkins and a coffee (all cleared by my great nurse Gail). Bob changed my ice water. And then I had a ton of visitors. Dad brought flowers, as did my boss Sally and coworker Julie. Bunny popped by to make sure I was still alive with some flowers and Auntie Carol, Shelley, Connor and his girlfriend brought a beautiful bouquet. Corey spent most of the day with me, going home to walk the dog and bring back some clean undies and other requested items. Poor guy, he was tuckered! Aunt Mimi popped in, Jessie visited, Ernie the volunteer stopped to make sure I was kicking, Daniel and Jamie stopped by and John from Respiratory stopped by in the early AM to make sure his handywork paid off!!! I'm really SUPER lucky to have so many good people I work with, know and love! I also got many phone calls. Jill called, as Corey had told his mom when he'd gone home around the dinner hour. Cousin Judy called, cousin Amy called (she has full on Grand Mal Seizures) and my neighbor Linda checked in. Josie also popped over after work!

Of course, everyone wanted me to tell mom and I didn't cause why worry a Mama Bear when she is 3000 miles away in Florida, but since she knew about the "code white" practically before I did, the gang talked me into calling her. I have some MAJOR lapses in my memory, but Corey assures me that I called her from the ER bay and said "Guess where I am!?!" Sounds like me huh?! She is still in Florida with Jeff, Karen and the kids, but we are now taking bets on how fast she can close the house up and beat feet home to see her baby bear! *GROWWWWL* "NO ONE MESSES WITH MARY'S BABY BEARS!!! *GROWWWWL* NOT EVEN MEAN OLD SEIZURES!!!!

She must have called dad too, as he popped into the ER to make sure his "young 'un" was ok! I heard him from down the hall say, "I'm here to see my daughter Jennifer" and I said to the nurse..."that's my dad!" It was nice of him to come down and he stayed quite a while.

Anyhoo...after a EEG on Thursday and meeting with my new Neurologist, I was released this morning. I have to go see him again next Thursday and I may have to go to Dartmouth to have a three day video-EEG something something, but I won't be sure about any of that until I see him next. He was going to consult a colleague first. Mostly the additional testing would be to make sure it is actual Epilepsy instead of a heart issue, since my heart rate drops quite a bit, along with some crazy low blood pressure, when I have a seizure. The biggest bummer is that I won't be able to drive for at least three months. And the three months don't start until I start the meds. *sigh* That will be a hardship for sure, but again, I have many loving family and friends who have already offered to help out and I only live a mile from work and should walk my big butt there anyway. (Oy, that hill!!!)

Ok, didn't make a long story short on this one, but thought I'd fill everyone in. Just hanging around keeping it real. I suggest we post Jokes about Epileptics in the comments section...I'll start!