In the basement

So here is the story on how I got admitted to the hospital with accompanying my brother.

Micah was admitted on Monday to the hospital due to severe edema in both legs and problems with breathing. I was with him in his room and decided to stay up all night and talk and work. I did not eat any food after 12:30am EST. I was up until about 7:30am EST. I was using a hospital recliner to sleep in. Between 9:15am & 9:30am EST, hospital transportation services arrived to take Micah for a ultrasound scan on his kidneys. Diabetes sucks. I woke up, acknowledge he was leaving, and fell back asleep; in what I describe as an “uncomfortable position”. Now here is where it gets foggy.

I woke up with the most uncomfortable, all over, needle-like sensation from head to toe; as well as, not breathing, or not being able to control my breathing or what was going on. I panicked. I stood up, started walking to the door - there was nurse at the door, and I called out for help, turned around; trying to fall into Micah’s bed, and blacked out.

I don’t know how long I was out, but, when I started coming around, I saw that there were a lot of people around me asking me if I was ok. I started to immediately feel better as well. I was laying on the floor. Questions were being asked, and at that time, I didn’t know what to say, so I started cracking jokes.

“I thought the floor would be a great place to get some good sleep.”

Blood pressure was low… Blood glucose level was good, in an acceptable range. After the initial exam, it was strongly suggested that I go to the ER to be examined more throughly. I hesitantly agreed.

Once in the ER, I was looked over and the interrogation, er, questioning began:

1. Why are you here in the hospital?
2. What happened to cause you to be seen in the ER?
3. Do any drugs?
4. Are you a diabetic?

And so on and so forth. The same ten or so questions by about ten or more people. It got old really quickly. But I answered. I joked and tried to put the pieces together so I could better understand what had happened myself. Then the testing came. But first, I got a finger shoved up my ass. Then, I got an IV.

Once the IV was put in, then it was on to the ECG or Echocardiogram. That test showed previous abnormalities. Then doctors became concerned that I had had a heart attack. At that point, I knew this was going to be a long day, in the basement.

I was starting to become concerned that this was going to be an expensive day so I immediately called for a hospital social worker. She arrived and we started talking about me not having insurance and getting treatment. She offered to help me through the hospital’s non-insurance-covered insurance plan, but, I had to apply. I agreed. Then, it was the waiting for the blood test. Once those arrived and showed nothing; I thought I would be able to be discharged from the ER. NO! It was strongly suggested to me that I remain in the medical care of the hospital and stay for observations. I told all of the personnel seeing me at the time, that I would wait for the head doctor in charge or cardo medicine to see me and then I would make my decision.

Ok, I think I would have left but, seeing as though Micah was upstairs and going through challenging medial issues, I wanted to experience what it’s like in his shoes. And I was scared it may happen again. So, I stayed.

People are crazy sick and need the medial care bad. I felt bad for taking up a spot in the hospital, which a person who really needs medical help, could be getting. I also know that if I am not healthy, I cannot help anyone else, especially my siblings.

I was moved to another holding section in the ER and waited for about eight hours for a hospital bed. And I tweeted my condition. And talked to the client. And slept. And wished I had my toothbrush. Or some gum. I know my breath was kickin!

So now, I am admitted as a patient into the hospital and I am feeling well. I will stay the night and let them run the tests. I will pay the bills once they come. I will learn from this episode. I will hopefully, be around to help someone else. I will go into details on what the sensation is like at a later time.

Thanks you’s and kudos go out to the 4B Nursing team & ER staff at The University of Michigan Medical Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Thanks for not letting me die today. Thank you to all of my friends on Facebook and everywhere else that sent best wishes. You FUCKING ROCK! Thanks to Tumblr, Twitter, TwitPic & AT&T for the communications outlets.