We have this adage in the medical world: if a nurse or a doctor is involved, something will always go wrong. No doubt.
In addition to the eye surgery, I had a torn muscle repaired in my neck - right over my Adam’s apple. Both repairs went well, in fact so well that the doctor only used local anesthesia with mild sedation. (I remember every single yucky needle poke in the eye and the hook down the front of my neck.) That was Thursday.
Saturday was another story. All day long, I felt as if I couldn’t catch my breath…like my airway kept closing. That evening, wearing my blinders, I told my husband he needed to call the doctor, there was something wrong. The answering service couldn’t get hold of him and after ten minutes, my husband didn’t like the looks of me. My respiration was rapid and I was using accessory muscles to breathe. I’d grown clammy and diaphoretic.
So here’s the scoop:
Hubby - “We’re going to the hospital. Which do you want to go to? The local hospital or my hospital?” (the one he works at)
Me - gasp - “Yours because at least I know the doctors there.”
Hubby - “Yeah, but can you hang on for thirty-five minutes?”
Me - gasp - “I think so.”
He helps me into the car and we haul ass down the road in what might have been the worst wind/rainstorm of the year. I’m hunched forward in the seat, trying my best to breathe. We make it to the bridge just south of town when I feel this hot air blowing in my face (hubby, thinking I’m cold, has turned on the heater) and my airway slams shut. Just like that.
I rip the eye patches off, flip the air onto cold and stick my mouth on the vent, trying to suck in air, any friggin’ little tiny bit of air that can possibly get through my partially obstructed airway.
Me - sucking wheezing gasping - “I’m not gonna make it. Call 911.”
Hubby - “But we’re on the bridge!”
Me - in serious distress - “Call 911!”
Hubby - yelling at his phone - “Call 911! Call 911!” (voice dial - doesn’t work) “You’re gonna have to dial it!”
Me - borderline conscious, nearly blind, searching for the tiny 9-1-1 buttons on his whatever kind of phone. Manage to do it on the third try.
Hubby on his bluetooth - “My wife’s in respiratory distress! We need help! We need help now!” “Where am I?” “I think I’m two miles from the college heading back into town.” “You gotta meet me somewhere.” “She needs help!”
I’ve always told my patients when bad things happen and I have to call 911…”Oh, you’ll just love the paramedics, they’re so hunky.” Long story short…a rescue truck found us within a few minutes. I have no idea if these particular guys were hunky. I couldn’t see them. All I know is the passenger door flew open, someone grabbed my legs and flipped me around, got down on his knees in the rain, pressed an oxygen mask over my nose and mouth, and began squeezing that ambu-bag, forcing oxygen past the obstruction. Sweet sweet air has never tasted so good.
My memories of the ambulance ride involve sucking down O2 like it was a priceless illegal drug. Somebody said - “Respirations 40, Sinus tach at 138…mumble mumble mumble. I got home at 3 a.m. after a big ol’ honkin’ injection of steroids had decreased the swelling in my throat. PTL.
My husband has not left my side in two days. The faceless paramedics were amazing, the 911 operator who stayed on the line with my husband and told him exactly what to do and where to go, was an angel. The ER staff that dropped everything to keep me with them, was perfection. My puppy won’t let me out of his sight and my cat insists upon accompanying me to the bathroom. He’s also trying to lick the tangles out of my hair.
So, that’s my story. Glad to be among the living. Still pretty freaked and worried it will happen again, but I gotta close the old eyes because I’ve had them open way too long today and they are burning. Oh, and believe it or not, with all that, I’m winning our March Madness basketball pool! Love you. Julia
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Julia. OMG. I saw your post on twitter and almost had a heart attack when I saw the title! I’m so sorry you had to experience that. Thank god the paramedics got to you so quickly. I had no idea you were having two surgeries, instead of just the eye repair. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, wihing you a speedy recovery with no more incidents like that one! Get well
Whew! That’s quite an adventure, Julia. I expect you will draw on that in future writings. Meanwhile do rest and recuperate. Let us know how you are doing.
- Pepper
Well, that was a helluva way to meet hunky paramedics! Glad you’re okay, woman! Now, no more scares, okay?
OMFG! How scary. I’m so glad you’re okay.
Hugs
Here’s a bunch of wishes that you get well soon! What a frightening experience!
Very scary! I had severe asthma as a child and nothing is scarier than not being able to breathe. Glad you’re okay!
Give your hubby a big hug from me. He’s doing a great job taking care of you. Don’t scare us again!!!! No more 911 calls!!!! And, I sent a little get-well gift to make you feel better.
Pamper yourself! Lots of love,
Penny
Glad to hear you are ok now. Scary!
I wish I could comment on every one of your lovely comments, but I’m too beat. I am going to try to visit the virtual world today. Yeah, not being able to breathe is the scariest!
Later…
Get better ASAP, you! Stacey xo
I’m so glad you made it thru, what would we do without our Daily Dose of Julia. So scary. Give hubs big hugs from all of us!
OMG this is crazy..I’m glad you are ok….
Thanks all. Yeah, it’s been crazy. I did just see the doctor. I’m okay, but incredibly swollen. I look like I have a broken jaw. It’s so weird. But then…my life tends to be on the weird side.
I probably should just leave you all in the dark - you don’t deserve to be dumped on - but then I’d feel even more isolated. And I guess when things turn out okay, you are really grateful.
Seriously? One NDE isn’t enough for you? Poor hubby. I don’t know how he kept it together. Weren’t they supposed to be simple surgeries? I’m so glad you’re doing better Julia. {{hugs}}
Oh my, what a scare! And was that second surgery planned? Well, glad you’re well my dear. And do rest your eyes like the doc said.
Hugs,
Evie
OH MY GODDESS! Oh my freaking gods. I am so freaked out about this. Your husband better stay with you all the time. Did you have a reaction to the an antibiotic laced gore tex patch or was it just swelling from surgery?
The sensations during eye surgery are totally freakish and creepy. You stay in rest mode. Rest Rest rest.
BTW U are actually more effed up physically than I am.
OMGs Steph
OMG - just saw your post. Way too scary. So glad you’re okay. Rest up and get better. Hugs!
Steph, Charlie…thanks and I’m good. Alive. Sore, swollen throat but good.
OMG, Girl! I can’t imagine how stressed you and hubby were. My heart goes out to you. I was in respiratory distress once, I know how FREAKED out you must have been. Take it easy, and let hubby and puppy care for you. My prayers are with you. I wish I lived close to bring you some dinner, or go shopping for you or something. That’s what we do in Georgia. Cook and run errands for people.
OMG! I just read this today. How frightening. I’m so glad hubby was home and ready to help. I just can’t believe what you’ve gone through! Thank god you survived it.
XXOO Kat