Most of our family and Hawaii friends have already heard about this but for those who haven't, this is what we've been doing for the past few days.
It started last Tuesday night as I was walking to the temple. My neck felt really stiff, like someone was pulling down on the skin on the back of my head. I tried to stretch it out and forget about it. Later that evening, I started to get the chills which then led to a fever. I had the fever through most of the night. It finally broke by morning, which is when I realized my throat was sore.
Wednesday, my friend Darlene took me to the dr where she confirmed that the white spots on my huge tonsils were in fact strep throat. I had just had strep throat in September.
Thursday I woke up with a headache. The kind when you turn your head, or stand up too fast, or bend over it throbs. I've been getting migraines in Hawaii so I didn't think too much of it. My sore throat was gone but my tonsils were still swollen.
Thursday night at 1 am, my headache and stomach woke me up, so I ran to kneel before the porcelain throne. After paying my respects, I fell asleep for about an hour and 1/2. I woke up again feeling so bad and this time I asked Rob for a blessing. I felt bad waking him up but it was just what I needed. After following the blessing's counsel to drink lots of water, I hugged the commode and refilled the toilet with water. I was able to sleep this time from 4-10:30.
Friday I woke up and still had a headache. Rob came home from campus and said he felt we needed to go to the hospital in case I was dehydrated. I was gonna fight it b/c I really didn't feel too bad, just a headache, but I gave in since he was trying to take care of me.
I've never been to the hospital for myself. I rarely even go to the dr so this was new for me. We got there at 1:30 and by 2 they called me back. The nurse that was checking me in had a paper on her desk that listed several symptoms, and as I read them I realized that I had all those. Rob uncovered the paper and it was for meningitis. I thought that was too serious to be anything I could have.
The dr came to see me around 2:15 and told me I might have meningitis so they would give me an IV and then a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. "The whole thing should take about 2 hours." He then explained the 2 kinds: viral and bacterial. The 2nd is the killer.
This was my first IV and it wasn't very comfortable, but they gave me stuff that got rid of my headache. Around 2:45 they took me to one of the only completely closed rooms in the ER, (with no TV btw). Rob had to wear a mask and wash his hands every time he came or left the room. I tried to sleep while Rob watched The Office on our ipod.
They finally came in at 5 to do the spinal tap. I had been trying for almost 3 hrs to not think about what would happen during this procedure. All I could picture were large needles jamming into hip bones (like the movie Pearl Harbor), extracting yellow fluids, etc. Needless to say I tried not to dwell on it.
So the dr had me sit on the side of the bed and lean over a table. He found a spot in my spine that looked good and started with the numbing shot. "This will feel like a bee sting for about 10-20 seconds." Which is true. The nurse reminded me to breathe and focus on my breath. This did help keep me calm. Then the doctor told me he was gonna put in the other needle. It was so numb I couldn't feel the needle go in but I could feel pressure like someone was pushing on my organs from the back. He filled up 4 viles of my spinal fluid and before I knew it the bandaid was on. It probably took about 5 minutes total.
I then had to lay flat for an hour to reduce the chance of a headache. I fell asleep again and woke up every hour until about 7:30. The results were supposed to be ready at 6 so Rob went out to find the nurse. He came back in with the news: I have viral meningitis. Now my body, which had been freezing for the past 6 hours, requiring Rob to round up 5 blankets from the nurses and tuck me in like a mummy, suddenly heated up and I started sweating. I think this was from the seriousness of what we had just found out. They were debating on admitting me to the hospital that night. I prayed that they wouldn't because I was so uncomfortable there.
Rob left to go call the family and the dr came in to explain some things. Luckily, he said I seemed healthy enough and my headache was mild so they released me. If any symptoms were to return though I was to come back immediately.
So finally at 8pm I got to leave the hospital and talk to all my family members that had been worrying about me. I realized then what kind of scary situation they had been going through for the past few hours, expecting the results in an hour but not getting them for 2 1/2. I also realized how serious the outcome of the test could have been. 50% of those with bacterial meningitis die, and 25% are brain damaged.
There was also a huge concern from people in our ward. I truly felt loved from so many people. This situation helped me realize how great our friends are. I was able to get another priesthood blessing from our friends as soon as I got home, which promised a quick and complete recovery. I was truly blessed this weekend! By Saturday I hardly had a headache and only had stiffness in my back and neck. I have slowly been getting better everyday.
Saturday the school health center heard about what I had and quarantined us to our apartment. She wanted us to post signs on our doors and windows saying we were infected.
Monday my dr told me we are not contagious and it's very rare for someone to catch meningitis (which is what we had originally thought). So Rob called the health center and she said, "Oh yeah, that's what our dr said too. I just forgot to call you on Sunday."
So now Rob is back in school and I'm trying to take it easy. I won't go back to work until the 20th. For v.m. there is no treatment so you just have to let it run its course. I expect to be feeling better by next Monday.
Thank you to everyone who called, texted, offered help, and brought us food. We
really appreciate it! We love all of you and thank you for your prayers. I know that is what especially helped me.
Waiting for the parade to start.
Can you see where my student gets his good looks? His Brazilian mom.
Dave and Rob (being a wah baby)
