Jinx's update

[Guest guest]

OK, I think I finally feel up to sitting here and attempting to let

everyone know exactly what happened, to the best of my memory, which is

really spotty!! For 8 days I was in the hospital in Grove, with them

trying desperately to figure out why they could not get my Potassium up,

and keep it in acceptable levels for transfer to a Tulsa Hospital. They

finally released me one day, with me scheduled in Tulsa for a sleep study

the next. On the way to the hospital for the sleep study, Steve says I

started to grab at my gut and make small noises of discomfort, by the time

he was in town, I was doubling over and moaning rather loud (I have very

little memory of any of this), so his next stop was the nearest ER, where a

doc walked up to me, looked at me but did not examine me, and proceeded to

tell Steve he thought it was a strained or pulled muscle, to which my

charming hubby responded, " That is the biggest bunch of bull crap I've ever

heard. " The doc looked at him, walked off, but did order x-rays. which

revealed an embolus, or a place where my gut had stopped. They admitted

me, and it was the following day before Steve could call in my Internist,

who was practicing at both hospitals, and was able to get me transferred to

the 3rd hospital, where my Ng and Int. both practice, and where our

insurance is also good.

Small coup!! Well, by the time I hit the 3rd hospital, my gut had

completely shut down, I had a NG tube, and a PIC line for ong term tube

feeding installed, because they were not sure they could restart my gut!!

It is about this time I have some memory, other than having the NG tube

installed, and going down to have the PIC line installed and pics taken of

my gut, which showed an ulcer, on top of not working. After the oral

equivalent of a fleet enema (nope-not kidding, I remember that, too) they

did, in fact, jump start the old gut, and slowly introduced me to food

again. Brother, does food ever taste bad after that one!!

Anyway, after some more Potassium, Magnesium, Previcid (for ulcer), all of

which are horse-pill sized, I swear, I finally got to come home, with the

orders to return to Phoenix, to see the Surgeon that removed an

intramedullary Ependymoma from C2-C7 for me in 1990, because, there is

obviously something neurological causing all of this, but they have not

been able to determine exactly what, here, so far.

So, all my film and records have been sent to Phoenix to Dr. Spetzler, and

I await a call from him, letting me know what he suspects or finds.

Thanks to all who sent cards, prayers, and thoughts!! Without all of you I

would not have the strength to keep fighting, Jayne, I understand your

depression and straight-headed look at life with ACM/SM. Thanks again, my

dear ones. Family has decided my only problem is too many pain meds,

nothing more, just lazy. Rather have me mentally ill as physically ill -

go figure!! Hurts, but I will get through all this with Steve's help, and

that of all my 'buds'.

Jinx