A fearsome, ghostly adversary crept up on me eight days ago just after lunch, and pounced.
I had just finished my one daily meal and was cleaning up, when I began to shiver with cold and sudden weakness. Since morning I’d felt- vaguely stalked- by some ‘ghost of the unwell,’ but, as I’m seldom ill, I’d ignored the predatory chill in the air.
Then, suddenly, BANG! I was down for the count. For fourteen awful hours, home alone, I was as sick as I can ever remember being. My husband, 150 miles away and unable to return, rang my sister Kathleen, who lives very near. In that dark morning’s wee hours she and her husband Joe immediately brought me to the hospital, and just in time, too. I was severely dehydrated: two 1000 ml bags of IV electrolytes barely touched the problem. Lying there, shattered, I tried to upchuck yet again; they promptly injected anti-nausea medication into the IV line. 20 seconds later I felt peace for the first time in ages. The medicine was supposed to last four hours; I was desperate for another hit in two. They gave it, bless ‘em. Again, the practically instant relief was indescribable.
These little medical miracles are often taken for granted. Considering my state of dehydration, a hundred years ago I probably would not have survived.
Swathed in heated blankets I was moved upstairs and monitored all that day, and overnight. Two more 1000 ml bags of IV fluid were given.
During intermittent awakenings, they took more blood, measured my extremely low blood pressure and gave me oxygen.
I slept, on and off, for 24 hours.
In between, lying there, I had time to think.
For the first time ever, I’d felt helpless in my own home. This-Thing- was terrifyingly ruthless. (But it did vanish after that second injection. I never needed another one.) Most importantly, I’d resisted help far too long, reasoning that surely I’d turned the corner. What was left to expel?
That delay was ignorant, and dangerous. Dehydration and collapsing blood pressure almost got me killed.
This predatory entity- probably a viral gastroenteritis- is out there haunting others. The doctor told me that in the last 48 hours they’d had three more patients admitted with the same affliction. Sure enough, I could hear another poor wretch being sick just down the hall…
30 hours later, I felt renewed. Off came those bright red hospital socks with the vivid black words- “Fall Risk.” Not any more. I frolicked around to show the doctor all was well; he happily discharged me. Hooray!
However, two days later, I had another fright. I woke up with acute lower back pain! Fearing the stabbing agony that accompanied any wrong move I sat, frozen, or crept around with a hunted look. Two miserable days passed.
The third morning, though, sitting timidly at the kitchen counter, a new feeling flooded through me.
ANGER.
I couldn’t keep lurching around like the undead.
Disgusted, I made a plan.
Information was first on the list.
I thoroughly researched my situation on the web. Turns out my vertebral discs were fine. Muscles were still attached correctly. This new spectre was muscle spasm, incurred from all that relentless vomiting. Spasm typically shows up about two days after the initial trauma.
And- it’s eminently fixable.
Joe came home: more Internet research directed us to the pharmacy for a chemical heating pad (ThermaCare). It’s a thin, wide fabric belt housing a chemical reaction in the back part, initiated by contact with air. When the belt is unpackaged and applied to an ailing back, continuous heat is released. What an improvement! I’d been staggering around with my large, unwieldy hot water bottle cinched by my jeans belt, but it kept detaching with an unnerving splat. This clever belt is light, completely invisible, and it stays put.
I was so impressed I bought two more boxes.
Two Tylenol tablets taken twice during the day really help, too.
I’m doing the Internet’s sensible exercises to keep those upset back muscles stretched and limber. Slow and steady does the trick. A few painful motion-mistakes tend to keep me motivated.
With my attitude adjusted, in synchrony with my back, I’m much better already.
Knowledge, liberally sprinkled with self-disgust, has provided the Power to exorcize this second malevolent ghost.