Hi everyone, actually writing from a hospital bed this morning, but wanted to update you all and inform you of something I learned too. I've been here since Saturday night and fortunately, get to go home some time this morning.
For any of you that have vitamin deficiencies, are on lasix (diuretics), or have had bariatric surgery and that have any of these symptoms, see a doctor and get it checked out. Trust me, you do NOT want to go through what happened to me and I know from now on, I will be much more careful to be listening to my own body.
Friday morning started like any other typical day, when the family is getting ready to leave to go camping for the weekend....packing, etc. For myself and my family, we take the pets with us, which means the dog and two cats as well (its not a crazy as it sounds, they actually like going, hanging out on the dash of the RV and getting a different view than what they get from home, since they are indoor kitties). Anyway's, while my husband and kids went into the grocery store on our way, I opted to stay in the RV with the pets and wait, especially since with my edema being so bad, I can't walk very far. My husband even made sure we had access to a golf cart for the weekend, since our lot, where we were camping with friends was so far from everything else, he knew I would need it. While they were shopping, my stomach started cramping up, like always, even though I did think it was a bit odd, since I had not eaten yet, but I took my medicine and laid down. Unfortunately, it didn't stop there and my hands started to cramp up, I couldn't move my fingers, then my feet started to go numb and I panicked. Thank God for cell phones. I finally managed to dial my daughter after several attempts and they all came running. My husband thought it was my blood sugar that was low, so he made me chew to glucose tablets, I drank 1/2 a bottle of Gatorade with my daughter holding the straw and then ate half a banana and after a while started to feel better. My husband was already on his way driving me to the hospital by this point, but since I thought I was okay, we turned around and proceeded on and went camping instead. We had a great time Friday night, and all day Saturday, even though all I did was sit around and talk to friends, it was nice getting out of the house.
After dinner on Saturday was when the nightmare started. As per usual, my stomach started to hurt, so I said good night and went to the RV, while everyone else did marshmallows and such. I took my pain medicine and my other nighttime meds, figuring I was going to go to sleep. But, the pain got so bad, it wasn't letting up and the same cramping feeling was starting in my hands again. I finally called my husband and told him I wasn't feeling good, so he would come inside. By the time my husband and daughter's got to me, I literally could not stand up, my legs felt like they were paralyzed and my hands too. My stomach hurt so bad I was begging for anything to make it stop. I can honestly say, I'm glad I don't remember too much. My husband carried me out to a friends car, met the ambulance and followed to the hospital, and then I had to get transferred to another, larger hospital from there. My potassium was so low it was causing hypokalemia, which is basically a paralysis/cramping of the muscles from the potassium in my blood being too low. The normal symptoms include the arms and legs cramping, but for me, it included my stomach too, which took what I normally go through and jacked up the pain ratio triple fold of what I usually go through, which is bad enough. My daughter told me, I was begging to be knocked out. I had to be put on the cardiac floor and on a heart monitor because it can cause severe heart and kidney problems. They had to give me low doses through an IV for the last 3 days to build it back up to a low normal range, and now I'll take pills to build it up more once I go home. If I had continued to ignore it, I might not be here to write this, so please listen to your own bodies. If your getting strange cramps, numbness, or something isn't right, at least call and check it out or it could be too late. I got lucky and would hate any of you to have to go through what I did.
Well, pain specialist this afternoon, then more appointments over the next few weeks with more tests...oh joy..will keep you updated. Oh and SSD denied my claim because of my age and education, as if that makes a difference or not on whether I can walk, drive or be comfortable. I see a lawyer this evening as well.
