Sunday, May 2, 2010

Doing time in the hospital

I am sorry that it has been so long but I have had a rough two weeks. Colby has a job in Pueblo, CO so we flied out there to look for places to live. We got back on Saturday and after church on Sunday I started to hurt in my left shoulder and side. I thought I had pulled a muscle because I carried my bag over my left shoulder and was in a lot of pain.

The next morning I took the kids to the grocery store and when we got home and I lifted Kylie out of the carseat I was in more pain and having a hard time breathing deep. I finally decided to go to the walk in clinic. They told me that shortness of breath was not a side effect of a pulled muscle and said that I should go to the ER. I drove there and the doc got my history and decided because I had traveled recently that I needed a CT scan. I kind of fought him because of the money involved but he insisted. It came back positive for blood clots.

I had three blood clots in my lungs, one being quite large. They call it a pulminary embolism. I was immediately admitted to the hospital and put on pain medicine and blood thinners. It didn't hit me until the next afternoon when I had my "episode". The pain became severe and I couldn't breathe. The more I lost my breath the more paniced I became. It was touch and go there for awhile as they put me in ICU, I couldn't have done it without Colby there holding my hand and helping me calm down. I don't remember too much about those few days except that I could be at peace because the ward was AWESOME and stepped in to help with the kids, came and visited me and Colby was able to be there with me.

It was huge motivation to get better so that I could see my kids, they were not allowed in ICU and it was very hard for me. I went in on Monday and was out of ICU on Friday. I loved seeing the kids again! My Mom flew into town to help on Friday afternoon and it was good to see her. I got out of the hospital on Monday and it has been so good to be home!

I am on blood thinners for 6 months and have regular appointments with the doctors. They do not know what caused this and so after the 6 months when I am off the medications, they will do some tests to see if there is some disorder in the blood. I am tired and get winded pretty easy and bruise easy (I look like a purple people eater!) I am grateful to be alive and when I look back I see so many tender mercies of the Lord that I can't count them all. Our family was being watched over and we are so grateful for the thoughts and prayers you all had in my behalf. Thank you!