Saturday, February 07, 2009

New Hospital

Brett and I arrived this afternoon at UCLA Santa Monica. While is isn't as new as the Ronald Reagan Hospital in Westwood, I do have my own room, TV and Internet access. I'm really getting tired of hospitals. Or more specifically, being a patient in a hospital. I pray this stay is short.

My Mom is arriving tomorrow to stay with me, so it's safe to tell you what happened earlier this week. I didn't want to alarm my Mom, but Brett insists I share the news that I now get to have a "falling star" outside my hospital room because I fainted on Tuesday when my home health nurse was taking blood.

It was the strangest thing, and I've never fainted in my life. The nurse arrived early in the morning and I hadn't eaten. As I sat at our table watching her draw blood from my PICC line, I got a little light headed and sweaty. She asked if I felt faint and I told her I wasn't sure. We decided to try to move me to the couch and according to Brett I made it within a step of the couch and then fell back (where the nurse caught me.) I honestly don't remember even standing up from the chair. The nurse called my oncologist right away and she wasn't concerned. She ran an extra test to make sure I wasn't anemic. I stayed in bed most of the day and felt fine that evening. We believe it was the low blood sugar from not eating before the blood draw. We're being cautious now so I lie on the couch for all blood draws at home.

It was a wake up call and made me realize now why I'm restricted from driving. I have been feeling great, but it seems with blood cancers things can change quickly. I look forward to talking to my oncologist to get a better idea of how long I have to stay. We really want to keep visitors at a minimum to help me avoid infections so I can get home sooner. I'll update when I get more information from my oncologist.

Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers! KCA!

7 comments:

Fantastagirl said...

Sending you many thoughts and prayers - so you can keep KCA!

And if I haven't eaten, I get a little light headed after a blood draw - so don't feel bad!

Rebecca said...

We are praying for you, Kelly! Hopefully your stay will be short, and you can get back home. I am inspired by how strong you have remained through all of this.

Naomi said...

Sending you lots of good thoughts and hope you're home soon. I used to live about 10 minutes walk from UCLA Santa Monica and Callum was in there for a time when he was a newborn.

I used to faint quite regularly as a teenager and was always convinced that I'd never actually blacked out, even though people told me that I crashed to the floor rather than sitting down gracefully which is how it felt in my head.

Vodka Mom said...

I'm still praying for you and your family.

Me said...

I'm learning so much from you. Not that I ever wanted to know and not that you ever wanted to be in a position to teach... but I am.

Bogart said...

You probably fell over from the overwhelming sense that your husband was hot...sorta like seeing the Beatles for the first time...right!!??

Kim said...

Hugs Kelly! I pass out all the time! I almost lost it three (!) times during and after delivery... I hate that feeling!
Hope you are going home soon!