It Was Bound to Happen at This Rate
What a week I had!
Guess where I was from 30/3 - 7/4? Not on a holiday... I was in hospital.
I reported to the emergency department the Thursday night because I hadn't been able to eat for close to a week but was still bringing something up. They saw me pretty much right away.
My bloods and such were tested and I had lots of ketones so they kept me in Short Stay on a saline drip. Further blood tests revealed low sugar levels and my blood was acidic. I was moved to the Medical ward on the Saturday, diagnosed anorexic. I also had glucose via IV, then they noticed my potassium was super-low on Sunday so they gave me that via IV. (Word of warning, that stuff hurts! They had to do it slowly in half doses so I wouldn't feel like my arm was being snapped in half.) That night, I was hooked up to a portable heart monitor and was also given magnesium via IV. (Two canulas, one in each arm.)
The next morning, I went to the toilet and a nurse rushed in to make sure I was alright. The monitor was hooked up to their computer so they were alerted when I went tachycardic. My heart rate is normally between 90-100, it got up to 150. Had more potassium and then some magnesium gluconate. The doctor made his rounds and informed me straight out that if I didn't start eating, I would require a feeding tube...otherwise I would die. My body was in Refeeding mode so it was important for me to keep eating. I also met my nutritionist and we discussed ways to get through days I lack appetite, how to combat nausea (been taking "wafers" that dissolve in the mouth) and ways to improve dietary intake. I also met a social worker.
The next day, I was still on the monitor and still had nurses rushing in when I walked to the toilet, so we had to come up with a plan. Instead of me walking to the loo, they brought me a pan. (I still had nurses rushing in to ask if I was alright, though I only got to 130 instead.) I spoke with a psychiatrist and was put back on mirtazapine (anti-depressant/sleeping pill).
Next day, my levels had improved so I was able to get off the monitor. My heart rate was back to normal and I was encouraged to take small walks. None that day though, my breakfast didn't agree with me so I spent the day back and forth to the loo. I started taking supplements (magnesium, potassium and thyamine) which were crushed up and mixed into ice-cream for me (though I also had dissolvable phosphate that tasted like lemonade) since I can't swallow pills.
Thursday I got news I had been hoping for...I would be going home! Though it didn't happen until Friday, it was still great news.
I mainly passed my time watching TV, they had a ton of cartoons going on one channel and when the time was right, I would watch Danger Mouse, Pointless (hosted by Alexander Armstrong, new VA for Danger Mouse) and Spicks n Specks. My main visitors were Pa, Tash (and her kids Bryce and Baylee), Dad, two of my aunts, my brother and his girlfriend.
I am happily home again, my dog cuddled up beside me. Just finished breakfast.
Guess where I was from 30/3 - 7/4? Not on a holiday... I was in hospital.
I reported to the emergency department the Thursday night because I hadn't been able to eat for close to a week but was still bringing something up. They saw me pretty much right away.
My bloods and such were tested and I had lots of ketones so they kept me in Short Stay on a saline drip. Further blood tests revealed low sugar levels and my blood was acidic. I was moved to the Medical ward on the Saturday, diagnosed anorexic. I also had glucose via IV, then they noticed my potassium was super-low on Sunday so they gave me that via IV. (Word of warning, that stuff hurts! They had to do it slowly in half doses so I wouldn't feel like my arm was being snapped in half.) That night, I was hooked up to a portable heart monitor and was also given magnesium via IV. (Two canulas, one in each arm.)
The next morning, I went to the toilet and a nurse rushed in to make sure I was alright. The monitor was hooked up to their computer so they were alerted when I went tachycardic. My heart rate is normally between 90-100, it got up to 150. Had more potassium and then some magnesium gluconate. The doctor made his rounds and informed me straight out that if I didn't start eating, I would require a feeding tube...otherwise I would die. My body was in Refeeding mode so it was important for me to keep eating. I also met my nutritionist and we discussed ways to get through days I lack appetite, how to combat nausea (been taking "wafers" that dissolve in the mouth) and ways to improve dietary intake. I also met a social worker.
The next day, I was still on the monitor and still had nurses rushing in when I walked to the toilet, so we had to come up with a plan. Instead of me walking to the loo, they brought me a pan. (I still had nurses rushing in to ask if I was alright, though I only got to 130 instead.) I spoke with a psychiatrist and was put back on mirtazapine (anti-depressant/sleeping pill).
Next day, my levels had improved so I was able to get off the monitor. My heart rate was back to normal and I was encouraged to take small walks. None that day though, my breakfast didn't agree with me so I spent the day back and forth to the loo. I started taking supplements (magnesium, potassium and thyamine) which were crushed up and mixed into ice-cream for me (though I also had dissolvable phosphate that tasted like lemonade) since I can't swallow pills.
Thursday I got news I had been hoping for...I would be going home! Though it didn't happen until Friday, it was still great news.
I mainly passed my time watching TV, they had a ton of cartoons going on one channel and when the time was right, I would watch Danger Mouse, Pointless (hosted by Alexander Armstrong, new VA for Danger Mouse) and Spicks n Specks. My main visitors were Pa, Tash (and her kids Bryce and Baylee), Dad, two of my aunts, my brother and his girlfriend.
I am happily home again, my dog cuddled up beside me. Just finished breakfast.