We arrive at Methodist West Emergency Room and they hadn't received any of my information (the doctor was going to have it sent over). We explain what we know and they start me on blood thinners. While that is going they take more blood (remember how I hate having blood drawn?). Only took three different people to get what they needed- it is that much of a challenge. Methodist West is in contact with my doctor getting all the information, and with Iowa City to get the transfer lined up. They worked on lining up the ambulance ride I was going to take (remember that spring break trip I wanted to go on...). Nick and I decided (I pretty much bugged him until he agreed) that he should take Neve to the doctor. At 4:45 p.m. Nick went to the doctor with Neve and I boarded the ambulance for what seemed like the longest ride ever to Iowa City. Thank goodness for my sister and a good friend that I was messaging with most of the way. The ambulance did not have any music and I was secured to a gurney for the ride (I couldn't even walk from one location to another). I was hooked up to a heparin drip to start the process of thinning my blood- it was a blast.
I arrived at the Iowa City Emergency Room and guess what... they took MORE blood. Looking back it was nothing compared to what I was going to go through- but it was torture at the time. Wait, did I mention that I left home at 8 a.m. that morning and didn't eat breakfast? Or when I suggested that I wait in the café at the clinic the doctor said no food or drink because he didn't know what sort of tests/etc. they would need to do at my next location? I was starving. And it was after 7:00 p.m. at this time. The ER doctor said I could have something to eat and hooked me up with some water and crackers (highlight of the day!) The neurologists came to visit and Nick arrived (yes, Neve was diagnosed with the flu). They were not sure it was actually a blood clot (WHAT?) and wanted to get a closer picture of the area. Since I had an MRI earlier they couldn't do that, so they set up a CT scan. I asked the doctors if Nick could get me some real food and they did even better-- they got me an intern/student/really sweet younger girl to go to the cafeteria and get me whatever I wanted. Chicken wrap it was. Did I mention that the wait time for a room on the neurology floor was 4-5 hours from the time you were admitted to the emergency room? I was admitted around 6:45 p.m. We hung out in my own private room in the emergency room, ate part of my chicken wrap, watched some basketball, got a CT scan and waited for a room to get ready.
Sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. we were set-up in an official room (which was really tiny and I shared with an older lady). More blood draws from our awesome nurse, Nina (no really, she was awesome). Lots of blood pressure checks and tests to make sure I wasn't showing signs of a stroke. We didn't know for sure if it was actually a blood clot, but from what Nina indicated yes it was. Nina kept patting my arm and telling me how blessed I was that we caught it (over and over again). I should have realized then how serious it all was. But in my defense I thought it was a blood clot in my nose or ear or something (i.E. sinus') and I knew of two different people that had blood clots that spent the night in the hospital for observation and were released the next day to continue shots and treatment at home (with frequent visits to the doctor for monitoring of course). Once again I was the optimist and figured I would go home the next day... despite what the Methodist West ER nurse said and Nina hinted at.
To be continued...
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