A gentle knock on my hospital room door announced the arrival of 5 or 6 of the "white coat" brigade. Okey dokey, now I was really scared. Why would I, little ole' me, need to be seen by so many doctors? This was starting to look a little too serious for my liking. My stomach started to churn.
One of the doctors stepped forward introducing himself as the consultant neurologist on duty that day. I swear to God his introduction nearly made me throw up. I now understood that I was on the neurology ward, the "going's on" of the night before becoming oh so crystal clear.
I sat on my bed and tried to answer his questions without falling apart emotionally. There was the distracting whispering back and forth between the other attending doctors after each of my answers and there seemed to be a look of growing concern on the face of the neurologist. I was asked once again to perform a number of physical tasks, failing miserably at each and by then I could no longer hold back the tears. Understatement really. I was a sobbing, crying mess.
I didn't ask what the neurologist thought. I don't think I wanted to know or could handle knowing at that point. I was just plain scared.
An hour or so later an orderly arrived to take me away for some tests. A chest x-ray to begin with apparently. I don't exactly know why but this freaked me out. Totally. What the hell did a chest x-ray have to do with anything? What were they looking for? I lay on the bed, in the lift and vomited from pure fear. I vomited until I was dry retching and did not care who was there to see or hear it. I have never been that scared in my whole life, before or since. I had now convinced myself that "they" knew what was wrong, that "they" knew I was dying and the chest x-ray would just be confirmation of my demise, confirmation of what "they" already knew.
The whole x-ray thing was, as expected by all concerned, an ordeal. I had no sense of balance, had virtually no feeling in my legs and was trying to recover from a 10 minute bout of uncontrollable vomiting, retching and crying. I was scared out of my mind but yet had to stand up, stand still and hold my breath while the x-rays were taken.
I'd always thought I would be one of those stoic souls, one of those people that when faced with their own mortality would quietly go about their business without complaint or fear. Yeah right!
Apologies to the radiology staff and especially to the poor orderly left mopping up my puke...on Christmas Eve!
I was not back in my room long before once again I was taken for tests. An MRI this time.
I'd seen these tunnel like machines on many a medical show but had no idea how narrow the "tunnel" actually was. I remember saying something like "well that doesn't look too claustrophobic haha" when I entered the room but had no idea what sort of grief I was about to cause the MRI staff too.
Head first into the machine I made it about half way in before having a full on claustrophobic panic attack. I've never really liked small spaces but had no idea just how much until I had my first MRI experience. This was something else entirely.
I was pulled out and tried going in feet first instead. Nope.
I was put back in head first and was given an oxygen tube to blow cool air on my face. Nope.
I'm going to sound like a right royal pain in the arse again but no matter what they tried I just could not go into that machine. Once again I was a hysterical mess and now not only did I feel terrified, I felt guilty and was also bitterly disappointed in myself. I felt I was messing everyone around, wasting their time and now it also meant that I would not be going home. It was Christmas Eve and I would not be with my family.
Once back in my room it was confirmed that I would not be going home. An MRI by general anesthetic had been booked for the following morning - Christmas day. My symptoms were progressing at a rapid rate of knots and the MRI was crucial for both diagnosis and treatment.
By that evening my speech had begun to slur. I was slurring like a drunk but without the fun bit! I found I could not concentrate for long and would loose my train of thought easily and also began having difficulty finding the right word to use in a sentence. I felt like I was loosing my marbles!
My family spent Chistmas Eve with me and I cried for hours after they left. I lay in the dark that night alternating between crying and praying my heart out to a God I hadn't prayed to since I was a kid. A couple of years beforehand the mother of my husbands friend had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and as I lay there it struck me that maybe this is what I had and that absolutely pertrified me. I prayed and prayed and I wheeled and dealed with a God I no longer knew, that if He could spare me from MND I would accept anything else...anything else...just as long as I wasn't going to die. It was a long, long night.
Christmas morning finally dawned and once again I was wheeled down to the MRI department. This was it. When I awoke I would know my fate. I felt sick. Again!
"There's no tumor" were the first words I heard upon awakening. This was not said to me but in passing from the registrar neurologist whom I'd previously met to someone else in the room. He had a big smile on his face so this was good news. Very good news.
I was actually on a high once back in my room. A natural high from sheer relief that the MRI was actually over and that the news was seemingly very good. I relaxed for the first time in days.
The "there's no tumor" doctor came to visit me a little later on and explained that the test showed some little areas of inflammation on my brain and spine but not to be concerned, it was treatable and that no, I was not dying (one of my first questions!). This WAS excellent news. Then he informed me that he would be performing a lumbar puncture as my cerebospinal fluid needed to be tested. All par for the course apparently! The idea of having a needle shoved into my spine and having CSF drawn out while I was awake did not thrill me to bits but I really didn't care anymore due simply to the absolute relief I felt that I was not going to die.
to be continued...
Friday, December 31, 2010
When life gives you lemons Part 2
Posted by Claire at Friday, December 31, 2010 1 comments
Monday, November 29, 2010
When life gives you lemons... Part 1
The area we lived in at the time was very "hilly", so pushing a stroller complete with bag full of all the bit's and bob's you need for a toddler emergency was no mean feat.
I noticed that at about 15 minutes into the walk my little toe on my right foot would go numb, completely numb. Once we were home and I'd had the chance to sit down, cool down and rest for awhile the numbness would dissipate. I really thought that my runners were to blame and swore never to buy cheapies again.
Over the next 2 or 3 years I had quite a few weird little "goings on" like this. There was the time when my right leg had constant pins and needles from my knee down for almost 3 weeks. Then it went away. My right shoulder blade went completely numb too which I was unaware of until one night I asked hubbie if he could scratch an itch on my back I couldn't quite reach. He was scratching away (Heavenly!) and once he reached my shoulder blade the scratching sensation suddenly changed. I couldn't feel it. I could feel the pressure of his finger tips but that was it. The only way to really describe it is to think what it's like when your leg, arm, whatever, goes to sleep, that complete numbness you get just before the pins and needles kick in, that's what it was like.
Stunned, I drove home. By the time I had explained my head spinner of a doctor's appointment to Dan we were both convinced that this doctor was nuts and completely overreacting. Feeling slightly calmer I convinced myself that my back was indeed the culprit. Maybe a nerve was trapped, that's what was causing all this mayhem. Mum arrived to take care of Josh and Kye and we were off.
At around 11.30pm was told I was being admitted. They needed to perform an MRI but could not do so until the next day. There had been a car accident involving multiple people, the MRI machine was working overtime . Dan went home and I reluctantly stayed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve I thought, it'll be over and done with just in the nick of time at least.
Posted by Claire at Monday, November 29, 2010 1 comments
Friday, November 26, 2010
So what DO we do all day?
What are we doing today? - So Kye know's what's going on and when and to remind us which bloody day of the week it is!
Used to be my bookcase :)
We like bright, happy colours.
Makes life more interesting don't ya think?
The Simpsons
New York - Kye's nut's about the place!
Windows to his Soul
Ain't this the truth. I love this. Could be the next tattoo!
My precious boy
Now he shines. Now he flys. Now he soars!
Posted by Claire at Friday, November 26, 2010 1 comments
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Luceat lux vestra
I've pretty much loved drawing for as long as I can remember and since the age of about 13 I've been fasinated with drawing tattoo designs and cool album covers.
I spent hours locked away in my bedroom, music cranked, surrounded by pencils, charcoal, chalk and cartridge paper and I would draw for hours, totally absorbed and lost in my own little world of LOUD music and pencil shavings.
For me, without really knowing it then, it was the ultimate in Zen and helped me escape from many a teenage angst for awhile. I still find that, when I take the time to put pencil to paper. Hours can go by and feel like only 5 minutes and none of that time is spent thinking about anything else other than what I'm doing.
I've never attended any art classes apart from the obligatory lessons through my school years but it is something that crosses my mind from time to time, like a gentle little voice reminding me to go do the very thing that I love to do and be taught by someone that loves it too.
Anyway, before we left for Bali I was secretly working up the nerve to finally go and get "inked" while we were there. How could I not ever get a tattoo when they have held such fasination for so long and anyway, getting "inked" was on my 101 things I have to do before I pop my clogs list and as they say I could always get run over by a bus tomorrow!
I'd done my research and had come across a cool looking little shop in Sanur with a great reputation, all very clean and sterile and because I happen to be a fan of Kat Von D's work, the shops name jumped out at me too...Sanur Ink! That's the place for me I thought!
Apel "The Master" outside his Studio
Me trying to be casual and as cool as a cucumber "pre-ink" when I was really about to loose my lunch over Apels funky chequer board floor.
Mid ink - taken with much amusement by Kye
Nearly done
LUCEAT LUX VESTRA
Posted by Claire at Thursday, November 25, 2010 2 comments
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
There was of course plenty of floating around in the hotel pool and lazing on sunbeds, reading books and getting burnt to a crisp whilst sipping on obligatory ice cold Bintangs.
Water Bom Park is a must when you go to Bali, whether you go with kids or not and we used up 2 of our 6 days there. We hired our own private gazebo both times and lazed about in the shade of the thatched roof when we needed a break from all the stair climbing. I'll tell ya, thighs of steel I had by the end of the first day. When you hire the gazebo you also have lunch, drinks, whatever you like delivered to you. I felt like Royalty for the day.
Some of the rides are seriously scary and one in particular none of us were brave enough to go on but there's always next time... This place was just brilliant and you can't wipe the big cheesy grin off your face the whole day. It was the best fun.
The Boomerang
The Climax - the guy in the tube is going "up"! This was a seriously scary ride.
Kye in the Sky!
More to come...
Posted by Claire at Wednesday, November 24, 2010 2 comments
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
More snippets of 2010
Me and Josh with Dave from The Umbilical Brothers
In depth conversation about the finer points of comedy with Shane from The Umbies
Kye and Shane
If you ever get the opportunity to go and see these guy's...GO SEE THEM! That night was definately one of the highlights of 2010 for me and that particular night was being filmed for their next DVD...might get my 15 minutes of fame yet!
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, November 23, 2010 3 comments
Been quite awhile since I was last here in my little bloggie home but it's nice to be back and this last year really has been so full of changes, some fantastic, others... hmmm not so great, but all in all it's been a really really good year.
These will give you some idea of just what I've been up to!
I don't know what everyone goes on about...nothing to be afraid of...nope, nothing at all...
Arrghhhhh! Arrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh! Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Get it off. Get IT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!
Bali - October 2010
xxx
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2 comments