Some of you may be aware of my recent health issues of the last few weeks (suspicious mole, cold, etc). And I think I mentioned last week about having a fever and shoulder pain. Well, that escalated.
I realized Wednesday night that the shoulder pain wasn't just simple pain from cutting fabric at work. my neck and the area leading to my shoulder joint were very swollen. I called the next morning and made an appointment for the doctor. The doctors were confused and sent me to blood work and ultrasound. The next afternoon, I headed back for the follow-up, with a different doctor in the clinic. She took one look at my white blood cell count and my neck and shoulder and told me I'm going to the hospital... NOW. My WBC was very high and she was concerned there were abscesses needing to be drained.
I headed over to OHSU (major teaching hospital here... top notch doctors) and waited to be called in to the ER. At 8pm, I was called in, looked over. Everyone was concerned... so I was sent to the considerably quieter Observation Ward. One night there and it was decided that I was to stay a few more days... I was officially admitted to the hospital.
Before heading to CT scan (before admission) they gave me two painkillers, so I could lift my arm for the scan... needless to say, I have very little memory of the rest of Saturday. I do remember
a couple times, on the bed I was just transferred to. Apparently I called my friend (who has been taking care of my cats and has my car) and mumbled a bunch of things and somehow managed to give her my father's phone number.
It all comes down to a few diagnoses... My shoulder/neck has a case of Cellulitis (nasty inflammation under the skin, this one was also deep in my muscles). I also has a mild case of Pneumonia. I was in for nearly a full week, only getting out today...
I'm exhausted, primarily due to lack of sleep. The nurses were (mostly) phenomenal. There were a few overnighters who weren't exactly the best, but the good ones certainly canceled out the negative ones.
It also turns out that my Oxygen levels drop a bit low when I'm sleeping or resting flat on my back. I needed my oxygen far too long... but I've been mandated to see a Pulmonary Doctor once I'm better...They found a possible murmur as well... gee, nothing like having a semi-mysterious illness (no clue how I got the Cellulitis) and a long-ish stay in the hospital to discover some issues. And some of these could explain some of my lack of energy issues.
So, the coming weeks... months... may deliver some answers I've long needed.
And thus is my reason for not being around the last week. September is now over... I got a decent birthday present: Discharge from the hospital.
Now I get to rest...
I had something else I wanted to mention but my brain is still on vacation... maybe tomorrow I'll remember it.
Amanda
I realized Wednesday night that the shoulder pain wasn't just simple pain from cutting fabric at work. my neck and the area leading to my shoulder joint were very swollen. I called the next morning and made an appointment for the doctor. The doctors were confused and sent me to blood work and ultrasound. The next afternoon, I headed back for the follow-up, with a different doctor in the clinic. She took one look at my white blood cell count and my neck and shoulder and told me I'm going to the hospital... NOW. My WBC was very high and she was concerned there were abscesses needing to be drained.
I headed over to OHSU (major teaching hospital here... top notch doctors) and waited to be called in to the ER. At 8pm, I was called in, looked over. Everyone was concerned... so I was sent to the considerably quieter Observation Ward. One night there and it was decided that I was to stay a few more days... I was officially admitted to the hospital.
Before heading to CT scan (before admission) they gave me two painkillers, so I could lift my arm for the scan... needless to say, I have very little memory of the rest of Saturday. I do remember
It all comes down to a few diagnoses... My shoulder/neck has a case of Cellulitis (nasty inflammation under the skin, this one was also deep in my muscles). I also has a mild case of Pneumonia. I was in for nearly a full week, only getting out today...
I'm exhausted, primarily due to lack of sleep. The nurses were (mostly) phenomenal. There were a few overnighters who weren't exactly the best, but the good ones certainly canceled out the negative ones.
It also turns out that my Oxygen levels drop a bit low when I'm sleeping or resting flat on my back. I needed my oxygen far too long... but I've been mandated to see a Pulmonary Doctor once I'm better...They found a possible murmur as well... gee, nothing like having a semi-mysterious illness (no clue how I got the Cellulitis) and a long-ish stay in the hospital to discover some issues. And some of these could explain some of my lack of energy issues.
So, the coming weeks... months... may deliver some answers I've long needed.
And thus is my reason for not being around the last week. September is now over... I got a decent birthday present: Discharge from the hospital.
Now I get to rest...
I had something else I wanted to mention but my brain is still on vacation... maybe tomorrow I'll remember it.
Amanda