Saturday, April 22, 2017

Two Hospitals, One Ambulance, Five Days

Some of you may have heard that I was in the hospital recently.  Over the past few days, I have finally had a chance to do some research into my current health situation in an attempt to better understand it myself.  I am sharing my story with the hope that it can help inform others who have not heard of these conditions. 

If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback,
please feel free to leave a comment here or to get in touch with me!


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               It is a bit surreal to recall that, just last week, my life was a whirlwind of hospital beds, doctors, nurses, specialists, daily bloodwork, neurological examinations, imaging tests, procedures, and an ambulance ride. 
Ultimately, I was diagnosed with a rare condition called carotid artery dissection, which puts me at high risk for having a stroke.  In some cases, this condition leads to partial blockage of blood flow through the carotid artery to the brain.  In my case, however, the internal carotid artery on my right side is completely blocked.  I might also have a vascular disease called fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), which might have caused the carotid artery dissection.  I’ll be getting further testing to determine if arteries in other areas of my body are affected by FMD.  I've also heard that there is a genetic test I may be able to take, so for my relatives reading this – I will keep you posted.  I also need to see an ophthalmologist to determine what damage might have occurred to my right eye.
I am so unbelievably lucky that I did not have a stroke.  The vascular surgeon agreed with my mom that I had “dodged a bullet”.  I had no bleeding in my brain.  I had no neurological deficits.  Apparently, my body was able to compensate for the blocked blood flow from the carotid artery by developing new vascular pathways to keep enough blood going to my brain.  How amazing is that?  The human body is such a delicate, complicated, incredible network of moving parts that never ceases to astound me. 


Please watch this brief video about FMD (less than 2 minutes): 

Here is a good overview of carotid artery dissection:


Five days in the hospital felt like so much longer.  I am grateful to have access to high quality medical care close by, here in Houston.  I am so grateful for all of the people who helped me out along the way.  It is amazing how many different people one patient interacts with.  I am grateful to no longer be tethered to all the cords that made it challenging to sleep, get out of bed, and go to the bathroom – heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, IV line, an oxygen sensor taped onto my index finger, and compression devices attached to my lower legs to prevent blood clots. 
I was finally able to go home one week ago, last Friday evening, where I’ve been instructed to get a lot of rest and to “take it easy”.  I have been prescribed blood thinners for long-term use, and pain medication and muscle relaxers for short-term use.  The hope is that the blood thinners will help my blood to flow better around the blockage and eventually begin to relieve the pressure and pain on the right side of my head.  They will also reduce my risk of blood clots and stroke.  I’ve been instructed to stop taking my migraine prescription (Imitrex) and Advil, and to take Tylenol instead.  Unfortunately, Tylenol doesn’t seem to work very well for me.  I am not sure how long it will take to get back to “normal”.  I can’t read or write for extended periods of time without my eye and head hurting, but I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to get back to my coursework and maybe even finish off the spring semester on time.  The first few nights back home were a little rough, but I finally started feeling some improvement a couple days ago, so I am becoming more optimistic about my recovery process.  I am still experiencing some pain every day, but it has definitely gotten better.  There is even a possibility that the dissection will heal and the blockage will go away.  I’ll be going back to the hospital for a follow-up imaging test in 3 to 6 months to check on that. 
Meanwhile, I’ve been catching up on my favorite podcasts and charting out my new normal.  One of my priorities is figuring out how to update my desk setup so it is more ergonomic and minimizes strain on my neck, back and eyes.  I’m also trying to plan out a good exercise program going forward.  I want to improve my vascular health – and if I can continue working on getting more fit before my wedding in 7 months, that would be a fantastic bonus.  However, I was told not to lift more than 10lbs or do ab work for the next 6 months because it can cause too much strain.  I can walk and jog, so I might look into getting a treadmill or elliptical.  I was given the go-ahead to do cardio exercises, but nothing that causes too much strain, particularly for my neck and head.  Any recommendations? 
If anyone wants to be a walking buddy, let me know!  There are some great parks and neighborhoods around Houston and near me.

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For anyone interested in hearing a longer version of what my week in the hospital was like, here goes...

Monday 4/10

Last Monday morning, April 10th, Seth took me to the emergency room at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital in northwest Houston with pretty bad head and neck pain on my right side that had worsened over a few days.  The peripheral vision of my right eye had also been affected.  My migraine medicine – sumatriptan (Imitrex) – and some Advil had kept the situation manageable enough from Wednesday through Saturday.  Thinking it was nothing more than a persistent headache, I was just trying to make it through some schoolwork that was due Sunday and Monday for my online classes.  Since it was unusual for a headache to last so long, I planned to go see a doctor on Tuesday.  But by Sunday night, the pain kept me from sleeping.  The medicine wasn’t helping anymore.  Just laying my head on the pillow made the pain worse.  I felt pressure in my ear and wondered if I possibly had an earache.  It hurt to sneeze.  My neck hurt so much whenever I swallowed.  The right side of my face was sensitive to even the lightest touch, especially around my temple, ear, and jaw joint.  My neck was also sensitive to touch under the jawline and at the right lymph node.  I knew this was definitely more than “just a migraine”. 
Even so, I didn’t expect to be admitted to the hospital overnight, much less for the entire week.  At the ER, I first got bloodwork to check whether my kidneys were healthy enough for me to get a CT scan.  Apparently the contrast dye used in diagnostic imaging such as CT scans can damage kidneys.  The ER doctor, Dr. Hall, put numbing drops in my eyes (those really stung) and used a device to measure my eye pressure.  All looked good so far.  

I was able to get the CT angiogram scan, which examined the blood vessels and arteries in my head and neck.  When the contrast dye was injected into my IV line, it was a pretty odd sensation.  First a slightly metallic taste arises in the back of your throat, then a warm sensation spreads through your chest, trunk of your body, and limbs.  I was warned that it might feel like you’re peeing in your pants for a minute!  It sorta did!!  The scan didn’t last too long, then I was taken back to the private ER room to rest.  I think it was about an hour later when Dr. Hall came by to let us know he had taken a preliminary look at the scans and luckily did not see any masses or bleeding.  That was welcome news.  While we were waiting for the radiologist’s official report, he said I could get a “migraine cocktail” – start with some pain medication, add Benadryl, throw in a steroid, and top it off with an anti-nausea med.  I was definitely ready for some pain relief.  Before leaving the room, he said, “Hopefully it’s just a migraine, and you can head home soon.”  



I asked the nurse, Brad, what a person could do for some food around here.  He told Seth where the cafeteria was, but said I couldn’t eat anything yet since they were not yet sure of my diagnosis.  Oh well, at least I had my cocktail coming.  We joked with Brad that he must have learned bartending as part of his medical training.  Each part of the “cocktail” was administered directly into my IV line, just like the iodine dye had been.  One of the meds made my entire backside feel tingly, like I was laying on a thousand tiny needles.  I kind of jumped up at first, saying “It feels prickly!”  Brad gave me a quizzical look and said, “Prickly...?”  Then, when the Benadryl was administered, I suddenly got really cold and it made my teeth chatter like crazy.  I felt like one of those wind-up toys of the chomping set of teeth.  So, that was strange, but also funny as I lay there loudly chattering away for a while.  Thankfully a nurse came back with a big, magical blanket, nice and warm like it was fresh out of the dryer, and draped it over me – oh man, that was the best moment ever.  The warmth of the blanket and drowsiness from the Benadryl lulled me to sleep for a little while. 
I’m not sure how much time passed before I was abruptly awakened by Dr. Hall talking to me.  He told me that according to the CT scan it looks like I have something called a carotid artery dissection; that they would be admitting me into the hospital and I would be there overnight.  All I remember saying was, “Huh?  Overnight?”  I was still waking up and trying to figure out what the heck was going on.  That was certainly the moment we realized that $#!+ just got real

MRI image. Now I know what I'd look like without hair.
While waiting for a hospital room to become available, I was started on blood thinners (two shots to my stomach each day) plus one aspirin a day.  Seth started googling carotid artery dissection.  Around 5pm I had an MRI of my brain, then we finally settled into our private hospital room around 6pm, and learned that we were now just waiting to meet with a neurologist and a vascular surgeon.  No one seemed sure yet if I would need some type of procedure or surgery that same day, but I was finally allowed to eat around 7pm.  My parents came over for a while that evening, and Seth spent the night in the hospital room with me.  
Dinner: meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
and squishy flavorless vegetables.
Room with a view. Nice after being in the
window-less dungeon of the ER all day. 
Seth's accommodations

OOTD! Rockin' my new duds
and feeling good after my migraine cocktail

Tuesday 4/11


EEG Medusa
Mom came over around 7am every day to stay with me and Seth, and to be there whenever the medical personnel and specialists came in to check on me, discuss test results, etc.  On Tuesday, I had an EEG test, which turned me into Medusa for a while with 22 electrode wires stuck all over my head (and which left lovely globs of Vaseline-like gunk stuck all throughout my hair, blech).  I also had an ultrasound of my heart – an echocardiogram – and got to watch my heart pumping on the screen and ask questions about what she was observing.  
My dad, my brother Gabriel, and his girlfriend Sydney came over that afternoon to provide entertainment, great company, and bring Thai food for dinner.  Every time someone entered the small room, I loved the look of surprise on their face upon realizing that 6 people were already crammed in there.  When the neurologist came by to examine me, the party had to move out into the hall for a bit.  As my dad later said, “there was so much silliness and hilarity that we decided to give her a break the rest of the week so she could rest.”  Thank you, Gabriel and Sydney, for spending your last day in Houston together hanging out with little ol’ me!  
Aptly named game: Escape the Room
  
Wednesday 4/12

If we had to be stranded in the hospital for a while, we were definitely grateful that it was just down the street from our favorite local restaurant, Mario’s Taco & Burger House – just what the doctor ordered!  Seth made a breakfast taco run Wednesday morning, and I had to laugh when he handed me my potato taco.  Medicinal, indeed.  

Can you spy what's missing on this MRA?
Hint: my right side is shown on the left of the image.
Wednesday morning, we finally got to meet with the vascular surgeon, who recommended that I be transferred to another hospital for an angiogram.  He was the first person to mention the possibility of FMD being involved.  I got another MRI – this time it was an MRA of my neck.  After lunch I finally took a shower, which was so nice just to be able to be out of bed for a while after two days of being confined to beds and wheelchairs.  We packed up, and once all the transfer paperwork was complete, I was transferred via ambulance to the Neuroscience ICU at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Medical Center.  Mom rode in the ambulance with me, while Seth went home to prepare for staying at the new hospital with me for a few days.  Honestly, the ambulance ride was a nice distraction for a little while.  When they wheeled me outside on the stretcher, before loading me into the back of the ambulance, it felt SO good just to be outside and feel the sunshine again.  It was nice to watch the world outside of the ambulance windows, too.  

Farewell, Room 330
My first (and hopefully last) ambulance ride
Mom 💚💗💜 
By the time I got settled into the new room, it was around 8pm, and I was told not to eat or drink after midnight in case I was getting the angiogram the next day.  The hospital cafeteria was already closed, but thankfully I was able to request dinner from the Lamanuzzi Kitchen, which Seth delivered upon his arrival.  

Sandwich, fruit & cheetos, made fresh
from the Lamanuzzi Kitchen
with love and silliness.
Just some light bedtime reading
Hospital guest bed #2
     


Thursday 4/13

               Thursday morning brought a new round of doctors to re-tell my story and symptoms to, and to continue the neurological exams.  It had become a kind of game for me, like an ice-breaker game for every new doctor or medical student who came to see me.  Each person had a slightly different technique for doing the exam.
“Cover one eye.  How many fingers am I holding up?  Now how many?”  
*brushes fingers along both sides of my face* “Does this feel the same on both sides?” 
*snaps near left ear* “Can you hear this?”  *now right ear* “How about this?” 
“Hold both of your arms out, palms up.  Now push against me, don’t let me bend your arm. Don’t let me bend your leg.  Don’t let me move your foot.  Now pull against me, don’t let me straighten your arms.” 
“Clench your jaw.”
“Say ahh.”
*while moving their finger around in the air* “Touch my finger, then your nose, now my finger again, and your nose again.”
Etc., etc.  They also hammered all over my arms and legs to test my reflexes. 


View from Room 7S4-7
All of a sudden they were ready to take me away for the angiogram at 7am.  We requested to speak with the vascular surgeon or neurology fellow, and were able to have a nice conversation with both of them to get a better understanding of the procedure and to ask some questions.  Unfortunately, that meant we missed our time slot and I couldn’t eat or drink for 6 more hours until they could fit me in for the procedure later in the day.  Luckily I was doing better this morning due to another “migraine cocktail” I’d been given the night before, so I was finally feeling well enough to make a few phone calls to friends and family.  Having been on the other side of a loved one’s hospitalization before, I know how relieving it can be to actually hear that person’s voice, and it was healing for me as the patient as well.  


               At 1:30pm, the nurses wheeled my entire gigantic hospital bed out of the room and through the halls, turning on the self-driving mode of the bed – who knew??  That was fun.  Before I went in for the angiogram, two of the medical personnel couldn’t agree where my pulse was in my feet and I ended up with black and red permanent marker X’s decorating my feet.  Also fun.  The procedure took about an hour and a half, I think.  Check out these cool images they got: 
In the image on the right, the dissection is seen in the lower-right, just above the 
spot where the main artery branches into the internal & external segments. 

During the angiogram, considered an invasive procedure, a catheter was inserted near my groin and snaked all the way up to my carotid artery.  Dye was injected, then x-rays taken to get a good look at the blood vessels.  I was conscious throughout, but didn’t feel a thing.  They needed me to be able to hold my breath a few times, I assume while they took some of the x-rays.  This is when the doctors were able to determine that my internal carotid artery on the right side was fully occluded.  When talking with the vascular surgeon after the procedure, we were all pretty shocked by that news.  However, they were also able to see that I was getting enough blood flow through other vessels that had developed in order to keep all the necessary pathways connected.  Apparently a more conservative approach – just taking blood thinners – was recommended as my best option for now, and is much less risky than any further procedures like angioplasty or placing a stent in the artery. 

BEST PUDDING EVER
after 17 hours of no food
               After the procedure, I had to lay flat for 6 hours and not bend my right leg at all.  But – I could finally eat!!  Seth fed me applesauce and chocolate pudding, and it was glorious.  

I even got a couple visitors that evening!  My best friend Rebecca stopped by after work, and Seth’s cousin Elly came by a couple hours later.  


I was counting down the minutes til 9:40pm, written in large black marker on the board in my room to note the time I could finally get up and move around again.  I was determined to avoid using a bed pan if at all possible, and happy to say that I made it – but I did buzz the nurse in at 9:39pm to start disconnecting me from everything!  What can I say – it was nice to have a goal to work toward.  Being in a hospital, the focus of daily life tends to narrow to a few key areas: pain, sleep, food, and bathroom breaks. 


Friday 4/14


               When the nurse came in sometime around 3-5am to take my vitals and some bloodwork, I got nauseous as soon as he lifted my bed into an upright position, and I was sick for a little while.  We guessed it must have been due to the anesthesia from the procedure.  Luckily he put some anti-nausea med into my IV and I was okay after that.  The doctor came by early Friday morning to review some of the angiogram images with us, and pointed out a couple spots of possible irregularities that might be FMD, but it was not conclusive.  The vascular surgeon stopped by, too.  We were informed that the next step from here, in the short term, was just pain management.  Since I had been at highest risk for having a stroke when I first experienced the dissection, they felt I had been under observation long enough that my risk had decreased enough to move out of ICU into a regular hospital room.  When I heard mention of the possibility of being discharged, I perked up at that and knew I would be more comfortable resting and managing my pain at home.  The option to be discharged came as a surprise to me, as I didn’t think I’d be able to bust outta there just yet.  But by 1:30pm, we were in the car heading home!  

Thank you Nancy, John, Phil & Amanda
It worked!
A couple last notes, before signing off.  In trying to determine if my dissection might have arisen in response to some type of trauma, I was asked many times if I had recently been to a chiropractor, gotten a massage, done yoga or anything else that could have manipulated my neck in some way to cause strain or injury.  I was pretty surprised that things like this could possibly lead to a tear in one’s artery.  Although my dissection seems to have been spontaneous (rather than attributed to trauma), this is just a reminder to be aware of what you’re doing to your body, and be gentle with yourself!  And perhaps, think twice before getting your neck “adjusted” at the chiropractor… make sure it is a gentle method. 


Handmade gift from a hospital volunteer
Finally, I want to acknowledge all of the caretakers in the world.  I was truly able to witness the village of humanity at work in my life.  To know that similar networks are at work in communities all throughout the globe brings me much joy and gratitude.  From my wonderful friends and family, to the gracious EMTs with the ambulance service from Patriot EMS, to all of the staff from both hospitals – nurses, doctors, specialists, cleaning crews, kitchen staff, administrative personnel, volunteers, medical students, residents, and fellows – thank you!  I enjoyed your company, appreciate your kindness, and thank you for your efforts to keep the world going ‘round.  I didn’t need a health scare to realize this, but it never hurts to be reminded – I know that I am very lucky, and very loved.  I will strive to spend my time helping others feel the same, and I will continue to seek out my own role in keeping this world of ours spinning.  




More Information:
1.      Carotid Artery Dissection
2.      Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD)
b.      Cleveland Clinic
d.      From the journal Circulation: Fibromuscular Dysplasia: State of the Science and Critical Unanswered Questions -- A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association



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