Code Blue!

This morning I dropped Miss A off at preschool and then headed to the hospital for some pre-op blood work. If you follow me on Twitter, you already know this, but I am having to have my gall bladder removed. Sounds like fun - huh? Anyway, I had to get some some pretty specific blood tests run, which resulted in 10 vials of blood. Yes - 10!

All 10 vials were drawn and that it when it started to go downhill....I started to feel a little hot and sweaty, I asked the lab tech for some juice or water and by the time she got it for me it was too late.

I had closed my eyes, rested my head on the wall behind me, and then.... bam! Next thing I know, there is a code blue being called and I am being transferred to a stretcher. I remember not being able to catch my breath or open my eyes, each limb felt like it weighed 100 pounds, I was covered in sweat, I heard ringing in my ears and when I was able to open my eyes, all I could see were black spots. I felt like I could not take a good breath, which resulted in the cardiac resuscitation team being called there.

There are doctors and nurses everywhere. I can hear everything and know what is going on, but it is like I am in a fog and cannot really move or talk. Such an odd sensation.

They wheel me down the hall and into a room... They immediately lowered my head, started an IV of electrolyte fluids, hooked me up to an EEG, strapped a blood pressure cuff on me, attached a pulse ox sensor to my finger and covered my face and neck with cold rags.

It was not too long before I started to feel better.... and when I opened my eyes I was greeted by at least a DOZEN doctors and nurses. I gave them my history and they come to the conclusion that I had experienced a vasovagal syncope episode.

I was given a bag of fluids and observed for about an hour and half and then I was discharged. Not exactly how I had planned to spend my morning.... I have a friend that is a pharmacist at this particular hospital, so she was able to come check in on me and chat for a minute.

I have passed out before during medical procedures, but never to this extent. From now on I am supposed to have blood drawn while lying on my back and I should give them a warning before hand.

I tried to get one of the nurses to take a picture of me, but she said it was against hospital policy. So, here are some lovely self portraits I took. :)