So what happened while I was away?

[tpsbmam]

Well, I had one hell of an election week. On the 30th I ended up going to the ER because I was feeling funky and was very wobbly (I have MS....have for 22 years and have done fairly well up 'til now). They did an MRI which showed a whole bunch of new MS lesions and indicated I was having an exacerbation. On top of it, I'd been on a diuretic for hypertension (first time) and it had completely thrown off my electrolytes -- I felt like crap They gave me fluids to straighten out the electrolytes and solu-medrol (high dose IV steroids -- a standard treatment for MS exacerbrations). I felt much better after 8 hours in the ER and they let me go home. My eyes had also changed significantly -- I could no longer see very well through my very expensive prescription progressive lenses -- went to the eye doc the next day and my prescription had changed dramatically (have to pick up my new lenses tomorrow -- yeah, I'll finally be able to see without a looking at blur again!)

Despite stopping the diuretics immediately and my follow-up blood tests looking like everything was going back to normal, on the 2nd, I had the same reaction to the medication (happened all over again), my BP was zooming up to like 201/104 and all of that really kicked in an ass-whooping MS exacerbation. I finally called 911 -- I was getting pretty scared by that point. By the time the ambulance got to my house, I couldn't stand up (was able to before all of this). I couldn't walk in the ER and they admitted me. Spent until 6 tonight on the neuro unit of the hospital. I finally was able to walk.....sort of. My legs were significantly weakened (on muscle grading, my left leg used to be about a 4 or 5- out of 5, my right a 4/5. Now they're both 3/5.) And I now have TERRIBLE ataxia -- very wobby & terrible balance when I walk (my balance hasn't been great for years but it was a hell of a lot better than now).

But, with all of that, I was able to watch the election until I fell asleep and woke up at 2 a.m. to hear the deliriously happy news!! I started crying when I heard it and bawling when I heard Barack's speech and the reaction all over the country and around the world. I was completely overwhelmed with happiness!!

The staff at the hospital couldn't have been more wonderful. I got to know everyone -- the CNA's and the nutrition ladies (delivered the food) were my favs, but everyone was really cool. One of the wonderful CNA's and one of the very cool nutrition ladies kept coming in my room and shutting the door to talk. I asked everyone who came in my room on election day if they'd voted -- everyone had. (Thank God I voted early!!!) Got to talking to a couple of them about Barack, including these two African-American women. A couple of people had said horrible things to them, thus the talking in my room with the door closed. One father of a patient, someone horribly disabled by a stroke, said to this wonderful young CNA who'd been lovingly caring for her patient, agitatedly said to her on election day that he had to leave and go vote because he "couldn't have a black man as his president." And to the wonderful nutrition lady, some asshole said after the election, "Well, I guess you and YOUR people are happy now." Both women were unbelievably forgiving and understanding, but also understandably shook up. I was horrified. We had nice talks and hugs -- needless to say, we were all thrilled with the election results.

My only sadness was proposition 8 and the other bigoted measures that passed around the country. Hopefully those will fall over time -- I certainly have renewed hope, despite Barack's stance on gay marriage.

Very, very happy to be back -- I missed home, missed my dogs (thank god for wonderful friends who lovingly cared for them and for me) and missed DU big time! Boy did I want to be here on the 4th! But I'm here now and, if nothing else, I have my mind (such as it is) and my computer, my friends and my wonderful dogs. And I have my country back -- I can't ask anything more than that!

Thanks for letting me spill -- despite everything I'm one very happy camper now!!

[volstork]

1. "So what happened while I was away?"

Nothing. Totally quiet. No news.

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. "So what happened while I was away?"

Not much, really. I saw something on the teevee about some colored feller what got elected as President of something or another, but didn't catch it all. Dunno what all the big fuss was over, though...


:hide:


Hope you're feeling better now....


Peace,

Ghost

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

3. Glad you're back!

and kudos for what must be some serious inner strength.

As for those naysayers and haters, it's time they got a taste of what we have been experiencing for the past eight years. Brush them off!