I was going to start a new blog, but decided what I wanted to say was still a part of a journey, so I thought I would include it in this blog.
Since I last posted anything in a blog, a lot has happened. I have been laid off from my job due to a merger with the other area REALTOR Boards. I now collect a weekly check from Uncle Sam. That is a little off the subject so I'll get back on track.
I have always had a weight problem. My Grandad used to say I just had big bones, but since having 3 pregnancies whch produced 4 children (last time was twins!), raising those children, and then menopause, so I just quit trying to lose weight. This has resulted in my being morbidly obese. I was in pretty good health I thought, with the exception of high blood pressure, and I never really worried about it. Well, I got a really drastic wake up call on our last trip that almost cost me my life.
We planned a trip to Riudosa, NM. It's a long story of why we picked there, but it is in the mountains of New Mexico only 125 miles north of El Paso. It is close to Roswell, NM and the White Sands National Site. It is kind of off the beaten path, but we like that sort of place. (I must interject here that I was not getting around very good, and had not been sleeping at night yet I would fall asleep several times during the day, and thought I might be depressed since losing my job. Luther and I had had a discussion about my health just a couple of weeks before we left for vacation. Our discussion was quite eye opening and I came to a realization that something was wrong with me. I went to the doctor and he just changed my hormones some. He also mentioned that it might be sleep apnea and he could get me in a sleep center if I wanted. I did not take him seriously.) So on we go to Riudoso and it is 6,000 feet elevation. Luther had had a cold and had some serious cough medicine and I had started coughing and felt lousy so I tried some of his cough medicine on Friday night. On Saturday morning I woke up feeling awful and decided to stay in the condo that day while the others went out to do some sightseeing. I slept nearly all day, but it was just a chore for me to move very quickly or do anything other than sit. On Sunday I did go see the sights with the others and Monday also, but still felt awful. Little did I know that I was being watched and Luther and one of my sister-in-laws were very concerned about me. I hardly talked, or ate or did anything at all except sleep. This was unusual for me because I am quite a talker. So on Tuesday Luther woke me up and said that we were headed back home because they knew I didn't feel good. They thought I had altitude sickness. They had started packing everything up getting ready to leave. All I had to do was take a shower and Luther kept checking up on me to make sure I wasn't asleep again. I tried to protest, but I was outnumbered. So we started home and to tell you the truth I don't remember much of it. I do know that we would stop every so often and some times I did not get out and when we got out to eat I did not eat much. We stopped in Amarillo, TX at a hospital (Baptist St. Anthony's) and Luther and Kay took me in the ER. I was too sick to protest and I know I sat in a chair and they asked me my name and I guess Luther told them what was wrong with me. The last thing I remember is the nurse saying something about when they got me up to my room they would do that. I do remember asking if they were admitting me and they said yes ma'm. The next thing I know I am in a bed with restraints, and my sister- in-laws are there and I have a ventilator in my mouth. This was sometime Wednesday morning I think. I really don't remember a lot until Wednesday night. I was in ICU and was told that my oxygen level was in the 50's when it is supposed to be over 90. And my carbon dioxide level was supposed to be 40 something and mine was close to 100. Dangerously close to causing brain damage among other things. Apparently when I came in the ER my lips were blue and purple and they were treating me as a "blue" patient. Well, it gets worse from here. We also find out that I had serious sleep apnea and that is made worse by high altitudes. And I had pnuemonia, and had had a slight heart attack. Luther had called our kids Tuesday night and Mandy and Lindsey came out on Wednesday. The other two came out on Thursday. I told Luther they didn't need to come, but I was really glad they did. Our traveling companions left on Thursday morning early.
I had the ventialtor until Thursday morning. The restraints were there so I would not pull the ventilator out of my mouth. Those came off anytime someone was in the room with me. I could not talk so I tried to write notes. I kept these notes and you can see the progression I made coming out of the fog.
I know there were a lot of prayers going out for me and I really appreciate them. God spared my life at that time and now I am on a journey to get healthy. In coming posts I will let you know about my time in the hospital and my time at home since then. (I am now on oxygen 24/7.) Also, I will let you know how my weight loss is coming along. Hope you enjoy!
Oh - If you have sleep apnea don't go to the mountains!! Stick with the beach!
