An Unexpected Trip

On Wednesday (the 11th), I got to take an unexpected trip . . . to the Emergency Room.  It's kind of a long story and I don't know exactly how it all went down, but it went something like this:

I had training that morning for school after less than four hours of sleep.  Must get used to new schedule & soon!  Training got out early, so I went home to eat a lunch of leftover salad from the night before.  Around 3:30, I drove to the teacher's store to buy some supplies and dropped them off at school.  I stayed at school for all of ten minutes, went to the restroom, and drove down the street to meet some friends for dinner and drinks.

It's been so hot in Dallas lately.  We are on our 14th consecutive day of 100+ degree temps.  By the time I got to the restaurant, I was warm and fanning myself with a menu.  To help with the heat, I ordered a yummy frozen Bellini which I had one sip of while my friends and I were waiting on an appetizer.  As we were chatting, my stomach rumbled and I excused myself to the bathroom.  TMI: I had a little diarrhea, and as I washed my hands, I noticed my eyes were still red from that morning.  I was still warm and looking forward to that Bellini cooling me off some.  After I sat down, it hit me that I didn't feel too good and told my friends.  One friend said that my face looked a little swollen and asked if I needed to just go home.  I debated & told her that I probably should.  As I fumbled to get my credit card out of my wallet, I had to ask if they would pay for my drink and I'd pay them back the next time.  When they said it wasn't a problem, I then said I needed to go to the restroom first and asked one of them to walk me.

By the time I got to the ladies room, I was seeing stars and not well at all.  I had more bathroom issues and began pouring sweat.  I have never sweat so much in my life.  Very quickly, my hair was wet, the floor was wet, my clothes were wet . . . everything was soaked.  My friend went to get my purse and tell our other friend what was happening.  I asked her to find some Benadryl when she left the restroom, thinking I may be having an allergic reaction.

Everything gets pretty blurry from here.  I stayed in the bathroom stall for what seemed like forever.  My friends came in to check on me, bring me water, help me clip up my wet hair, hand me towels for my neck.  No matter what I did, I couldn't get comfortable and could not quit sweating.  Itchy spots behind my left ear and the back of my head started, so I knew the hives were taking over my skin.  After I had been alone for a while, I heard a voice say, "Ma'am, are you okay?"  Quickly telling her that I needed Benadryl, she (who I believe was a waitress) left to get a manager.  For legal reasons, they couldn't give me any medicine.  That's fine - just let me die here instead.

My friends returned to the restroom after again what seemed like forever, ready to drive me home.  They called Todd to let him know what was happening, and told them they'd be bringing me home.  As things got to the point where we should leave, I told my friends that I couldn't make it, and finally asked them to call 911.  I immediately stripped off my wedding ring and asked my friend to take care of it for me.  I didn't want it stuck on my finger or getting stolen along the way.

Not long after, I am dripping wet in a bathroom stall with a few strange men dressed as paramedics.  Apparently, this is when I pass out.  They get an IV in my arm, check my blood pressure (which had tanked), and prepare me for take off.  I was worried that I might get sick everywhere & tried to delay our departure as much as I could.  Finally, the lead EMT said, "Kristin, we HAVE to go."  I remember that shaking me up a bit, so with his help, I tried to stand up.

Well, keep in mind that I had been sweating profusely.  My clothing was soaked completely through.  Like an old pro, this former drunk sorority girl at a fun fraternity party wobbly stood up and stripped off my pants using my feet.  The poor EMT said, "Are you trying to take off your jeans?"  I confirmed that and he told me to hurry.  They then got me on a stretcher, covered me up, secured my IV line, and placed oxygen on me.  So during Wednesday night dinner service, my wet-rat, half-naked self was wheeled out of ladies room, through the restaurant, and into the ambulance.  In my altered state, I do remember hoping and praying and squeezing my eyes tightly closed in case any of my students or someone I might know happened to be witnessing this dinnertime disaster of mine.  As far as I know, I am in the clear from my adoring fans being traumatized by it all (well, other than my two friends and paramedics!).

A short time after we got into the ambulance, I began to come to a bit thanks to the three paramedics who were all working on me at once.  I remember looking up to the IV bag and noticing that it was about 75% emptied already.  My finger was pricked and blood sugars tested.  I continually tried to ask to which hospital I was being transported, but either they were ignoring me or couldn't hear/understand me.  They finally told me they were rushing me to the nearest hospital.  I was wishing that one of my friends was in the ambulance with us, but honestly, there wouldn't have been any room.  As soon as he noticed I was responding more, the lead medic said, "Well, it was a bit tight in that bathroom stall with you."  I responded, "

Well, to wrap this long story up soon, I got into the ER, got poked & prodded some more, and finally began to stabilize and feel a bit more coherent.  I was hoping my friends could come back, but they never did.  Not sure if they didn't want to or weren't allowed.  Todd arrived soon after that, and I felt awful that he had to rush across town to deal with me like this.  I asked him to go get my friends, but he said they wouldn't let them back.  I was so thankful for all they did, but told Todd they didn't need to wait around unless they just really had nothing better to do.  Not long after, my mom arrived.  Nothing like a gathering for the wet-headed.  It was nice having my mom the nurse there just in case.

After my blood pressure came up a bit (which sounds weird for me to say since I have high bp), my EKG was normal, the redness and swelling of my face and skin decreased, and my oxygen levels were up, I was finally released to go home.  So . . . with all of my pride, I had my amazing husband tie up the back of my hospital gown, gather my wet belongings, help me put on my flip flops, place my wedding ring back on my finger, and walk me to the car to head home.

Since Wednesday, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what triggered this attack.  Nothing makes sense.  My next plan is to see an allergist/immunologist to see what exactly it is I'm allergic to now.  Until then, I am a member of the Benadryl-carrying club and both Todd and my work team know how to help me if (God forbid) it ever happens again.

Most of all I learned that my friends, Amie and Megan, are real troopers and true friends.  Without their help, I don't know what would have happened.  In fact, I don't even want to think about it.  Thanks, guys.  I owe you more than another happy hour.