A Visit to the ER

I'd had some nasal congestion for a few days; the air is dry, and I use oxygen at night, so your sinus passages can really dry out.  It was 9pm and I was ready for bed, so I walked into my bathroom and saw WC Fields staring back at me from the mirror.


I've always had a pretty small nose, not this virulent red bulbous thing there in the mirror.  I got dressed quickly, and Jane and I drove to the ER.  We got there about 9:25PM.  My face was really starting to hurt, and it hurt if I bent my head over.  The nurse came and accessed my port in hopes of getting blood flow back so they could get some bloodwork done.  But no, it wouldn't cooperate and so, she proceeded to try to tap a vein to get what she needed.  After two tries, she got someone else.  He went into my hand, blew out THAT vein, but got enough blood to fill the two vials.  Today, I am sporting the black hand of death.


Doc says it looks like cellulitis and they start me on IVF's and Vancomycin.  Meanwhile, it becomes Thursday and as we all know, the Thursday after Chemo is my day from hell.  The bone pains start up, and I didn't have time to get the Naprosyn, nor the benadryl on board.  Oh well, I think, that's the least of my problems right now.


Nurse comes in with two HUGE tablets and water.  Bloodwork said I was low on Potassium.  I tell her about the tumor in my esophagus, and could she cut those puppies in half?  She's great, and comes back quickly with four bits of potassium pills.  I got 'em down.  Doc comes by to tell me he's talked to my oncologist and I'm going to get to go home, but we have to watch my face like a hawk, take my temps every hour and down some more antibiotics for the next 10 days.  I can do that.


Everyone at Banner Baywood was so kind, and really, the process they have developed for the Emergency Room is amazing.  You never felt like you were left anywhere to rot.  And boy do I love my port. :)


So we got home just a little after 2AM, and I knew there was no way I could use my CPAP, so I just propped myself up with pillows, took the Naprosyn and I was out like a light until 7AM.  Then I sent my manager an e-mail and told him I was taking a sick day.  And now I am going to go rest for a bit.  Jane just came home with my antibiotics, so I took my morning dose.


Be well, all.