I cannot believe I have not posted a blog since July 10. I went to my mom's for a week and then literally - all Heck broke loose.
I don't know how many of you know about my planned trip to Honduras with my church. I was scheduled to leave two days from now. We were going to San Pedro Sula. I have purchased "first aid" items, drink mixes, have my packing list together and worked on encouragement care packages for each of the 20 people going. The last "big" thing I had to do was get my tetanus shot booster. I had already had the Hep A and B shot series when I went to El Salvador to serve through the KBC Disaster Relief 9 years ago. I didn't want to wait until this week to get it, so last Monday, July 12, I went to my doctor and got the shot.
I then got in my van and drove 6 hours away to my Mom's. I did not give it a second thought. I have had shots through the years and never had a reaction. I mean it was a TETANUS SHOT! Routine, right?
Tuesday morning I awoke to a small rash on my left underarm. That was where I got the shot. They had told me a stiff/sore spot at the site of injection was common. I have sensitive skin, so I didn't think much of the rash.
We swam and played outside all day at my Mom's. We cooked dinner and stayed up way too late that night!
Wednesday morning, I awoke and the rash had spread down my arm a bit. Again, I did not think much of it. My mom had some anti-itch lotion. I put that on and went about my day. We were in the pool and playing all day long. I noticed there were a few spots on my right arm. Jen, Mere and I stayed up to watch a movie and I took some Benadryl. I fell asleep during the movie, Dear John, which I never do!
I woke up on Thursday morning to a rash down both arms, on my elbows and on my thighs and knees. I started feeling a little achy, fluish even. I called my doctor at home after looking up tetanus shot reactions online. He confirmed that I was most likely having a reaction to the shot. He said I needed to come in and get a shot of cortisone. I told him I was at my Mom's. He said I needed to get to a clinic/ER there and be seen.
Mom took me to a local ER. They saw me, gave me Benadryl, and oral steroids. I also got a prescription for prednizone to be taken for 5 days, each morning. I went home, the Benadryl kicked in and I spent the remainder of the afternoon on the couch, asleep. I woke up and felt a little better. We went to a local pizza place and took the kids to a park. I came home, packed up our stuff and watched the movie, FAME, with Jenny and Mere.
Friday morning, I got up, took my medicine and drove 6 hours home. I was tired, but ok. Saturday, I felt a little wiped out, but had a lot to do. I was preparing for some work I needed to do at school on Monday, doing laundry, preparing for Honduras, etc. Blake had a ballgame at 3 and we went to that. I made bookmarks to give out at church the next day with a list of people who were going to Honduras and things to pray for each day.
Sunday, I woke up at 5:45 and was so stiff and in a lot of pain. All of my joints were stiff. I had to have Greg's help to get in the shower. I ate breakfast and took my steroids. I went to church and didn't know how I would walk up the steps onto the stage. I made it through the practice and sang at both services. I got home and was wiped out. I needed to take a nap, but we had a team meeting for Honduras at 3:30. I went to that and came home. By then we needed to do dinner. Jenny and I walked about 2.5 miles that evening. I was feeling tired, but ok when I went to bed.
I woke up Monday morning and could not get out of the bed. Meredyth was coming to watch the boys so I could work at school. I waited until she got here and took a shower with much difficulty. I noticed my left hand/fingers/wrist was very swollen. I decided to call my doctor's office back before taking the steroid. Several people at church had mentioned to me the day before that swelling could be a side effect of the steroid. My doctor said to stop taking the medicine. He instructed me to keep my hand elevated as much as possible and that I should be feeling better by Thursday. I went on to work and got everything done I could and came home and crashed. I stayed on the couch the remainder of the day. I continued to swell. By the time I went to bed, my whole body was in pain and swollen. I could not sleep and was very uncomfortable. I had to have Greg's help to get up and go to the bathroom throughout the night.
Tuesday morning, I woke up and it seemed the swelling had switched to my right side. I was tired and felt weak, but the pain seemed to subside some in the day. I took it easy (as easy as you can with three boys!) and did a few things around the house. I went to bed that night hoping to be on the upswing.
Wednesday morning came and my left hand/wrist/arm were swollen again and hurting worse. Greg stayed home for a little while that morning and helped me get ready. We called the doctor's office and they said I should come in - the next day. They instructed me to continue to keep my hand elevated. Wednesday was Noah's birthday. I was determined to do something for him. Jenny offered to drive us all to Lexington in my car so he could get his weekly allergy shot. We went to Chick Fil A and let the kids play in the indoor playground. I came home and rested while the boys took their naps. We went to Greg's parents for dinner and celebrated Noah. I was tired and felt a little weak, but ok. I came home and after we got the boys in bed, I laid down on the couch. Greg went for a run. When he got back, I could not get up to walk to bed. He had to help me down the hall to our room. That is when the real fun began!
About 1:30 am, I awoke in extreme pain and had swollen all over again. I tried sitting up and couldn't do it. I got Greg awake and he helped me to the bathroom. I sat down and then felt I was going to pass out. I yelled for Greg and he caught me as I was heading for the floor. I then came to and passed out again. I got violently sick and we decided I needed to go to the ER. Greg called my sister, Jenny, to come over with the boys and took me to the ER. By God's grace, a friend of ours was working. Crystal got us in and checked in and people were jumping everywhere. They did an EKG, took blood, hooked up an IV and asked a lot of questions. They ruled out a few really bad things(rheumatoid arthritis, heart problems, etc) and decided it was still a reaction to the tetanus shot. They gave me anti-inflammatory and pain meds through the IV. I felt better and eventually they sent us home.
I spent the day at my sister's so she could monitor the boys and make sure I didn't pass out again. I stayed in the recliner or on the bed all day. I felt ok - no pain and no swelling. I was hopeful that I was getting better! We called the doctor and his office said they could not get me in until Thursday (of next week). They would have all the labs from the Er and some that were sent off.
I went to bed early, taking ibuprofen and thinking Friday would be better. I woke up stiff and in some pain, but not quite as bad as it had been. I told Greg to go on to work - I'd be ok. A little later I finally got up and went to the bathroom. I woke up - not sure how much later, draped over the bathtub, with the shower on. I had passed out, somehow grabbed at the faucet and turned it on. WEIRD!!! I yelled for the boys and Blake finally came in there. I got him to dial Greg on the phone. He got Jen to come over until he could get here. I stayed on the floor until he got home. I have spent the better part of today in my bed. My mother-in-law came over and kept the boys and continually checked on me. I have slept off and on all day. I still feel completely wiped out.
I had to tell Drew, our team leader, that I absolutely could not go to Honduras. I let someone else take my airplane ticket. I am so disappointed. I have been looking forward to this trip. I really felt that God wanted me to go. I had some reservations about leaving my family for a week, but I was trusting God to take care of them!
I am searching for answers and trusting that God has a purpose and plan for keeping me home. I am frustrated and want to feel better. I am a go-go-go person. I have things I need to do for my boys, for back to school, for friends, for my home. I am NOT a good patient. I want to know what is wrong with me and GET IT TAKEN CARE OF NOW! I can only hope and pray that resting today will help. Greg's parents took the boys for the night. I am going to go to bed and try to rest some more.
Please, if you read this, join me in my prayers that God will heal me from whatever has taken over my body.
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