I'm in the Hospital... 😮‍💨

Unnecessary and gratuitous picture of my kitty Ma'at

UPDATE: Friday, Dec 8, 2023 · 5:08:29 AM +00:00 · jtg

I'm at home now.

#jtg

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UPDATE: Friday, Dec 8, 2023 · 5:08:25 AM +00:00 · jtg

I'm at home now.

#jtg

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UPDATE: Wednesday, Dec 6, 2023 · 5:05:52 PM +00:00 · jtg

I spent a third night in the hospital. 

I got moved out of the heart center to a regular room. Unfortunately, they would not let me use the CPAP from the heart center in my new room, so I didn’t get much sleep last night. 

I am very tired now as I type. The O2 sensor on my finger slows my typing way down. 

I don’t know if I’m going home today. 

Critters are alone…

#jtg

Khonsu and Fenris

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UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023 · 10:50:47 PM +00:00 · jtg

UPDATE:

I’m spending yet a third night here, but I’m being moved out of the heart unit.

Another night with my furbabies alone.

#jtg

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UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023 · 7:42:02 PM +00:00 · jtg

This is a song that I listen to to get courage to keep going on in times of difficulty.

…

So when all hope is gone

look inside of you and be strong

and you’ll finally realize 

that a Hero lies in you

…

This song seems appropriate to me now…

#jtg

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UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023 · 2:30:47 AM +00:00 · jtg

I’m going to be spending another night here. They said, “You’re still out of breath”. 

Another night with my critters alone at home.

#jtg

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UPDATE: Monday, Dec 4, 2023 · 10:24:49 PM +00:00 · jtg

I’m trying to reply to as many as possible, but I am still very weak and sleepy.

Know that I have read every one of these comments whether or not I get around to replying.

Meanwhile, if you want to tell your own ER stories, feel free.

#jtg

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UPDATE: Monday, Dec 4, 2023 · 9:20:12 PM +00:00 · jtg

Thanks to you all who have given good wishes,

I didn’t expect this diary to get on the rec list.

I am still in the heart center as of 1:10 Pacific time,

I just saw my cardiologist. My heart has gotten worse, but not so bad it requires surgery now, but that time is coming.

I’ve been peeing to get rid of excess fluids. I feel a bit better but I am still very weak.

I do not know yet if I’ll see my furbabies tonight.

#jtg

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I’m in the hospital in the heart center.  

I’ve been sick for several weeks with severe coughing and weakness. I thought it would blow over as most colds I’ve had do, but this one didn’t. I finally went to the ER, as getting an actual doctor’s appointment with my coverage would mean several months of wait. 

After tests and x-rays, they found I had an excess of fluid buildup in my lungs, which I expected, and fluid build-up in my heart, which I didn’t expect. 

I was admitted to the cardiac center. I’m in one of the rooms my late father spent some time in in 2000 during his months-long coma. 

I was given some drugs to make me pee, and I did, pee; lots and lots of pee. I tried to sleep, but every time I started to fall asleep, I had to get up to pee.  

The peeing seems to have helped. This morning I am still weak and coughing, but not as much. 

I had a cardiac ultrasound this morning, and the results should come back this afternoon. I will probably read the results online before my cardiologist. I have been looking at my blood test results online from last night and I am very anemic. My hemoglobin is very low, which partially explains the contradiction of me having good O2 saturation, 95%+, yet being out of breath at the slightest exertion. 

It also appears I have, like my sister, a rare congenital heart defect of a thin wall between two ventricles of the heart. My sister nearly died when her heart broke open. If she had not had one of the few experts in Nevada present to correctly diagnosis her issue she would have died. It appears I have the same congenital defect, although this does not appear to be the current issue, but could be someday. 

I do not know when I will be going home. It depends on how I do today and the results of the ultrasound. 

Anubis massages.

This began several weeks ago. I was in a deep griefstorm over the loss of my kitty Anubis. His death set off a flood of delayed grief over my many losses, my mother and my father, and more. I was not sleeping and felt like I was in a manic state. I was in a constant storm of thoughts. Some of you may recall I was posting a lot about this a few weeks ago in my diaries and comments. Then I suddenly stopped. 

I had been keeping the house warm, 74F, for Anubis after his cancer diagnosis. Every day I rushed home to be with him. I quit teaching Saturday School to be with him. I woke up a couple of hours early each morning to feed him and cuddle him before I went to teach. 

After Anubis died, I stopped turning on the heat and just dealt with the cold, especially after I got a $300 power bill.  One night, I fell asleep after getting totally exhausted. When I woke up, it was 50F and I was very chilled and the coughing began. 

I thought I’d be sick for a week or two and this would go away, as had so many other colds, but it didn’t. Finally, I decided to go to the ER. 

When I left for the ER, I put down enough food and water for the critters for about a week. If it goes longer, the friend who took care of my critters when I spent a month in hospital/rehab has agreed to give them food and water. 

I packed my “just-in-case-I-get-admitted” bag with some things I’d find useful, like my laptop and cords. 

Since Anubis has died, his special needs don’t need to be considered anymore. 😿

Needless to say, I didn’t go to teach today, and I don’t know when I will be able to go again. With the time I took off for grief leave and the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, It appears this holiday season will be a tight one. 

#jtg

The Tail of Anubis