Comas and you...
I woke last night to Dustin Hoffman telling me it was okay, that I was okay and they were here to help. I remember thinking that this was a bad horror movie and I was 3 steps away from normal, just to calm down and focus on normal. Slowly, through breathing, I was able to recognize the 5 guys dressed in blue standing around my bed as there to help, bringing me back.
I was in a diabetic coma last night.
As I came out and started being able to answer questions, that's what I heard. One of the EMT's telling me that I had been comatose and needed glucose to bring me out of it. My glucose reading was 25. I was incoherent, unresponsive, like a crazed woman in a waking nightmare to my husband. He was trying to wake me up and my son asked him 'what's wrong with momma?' That prompted Matthew to call 911. It took forever, it seems, for them to get there, but Matthew stayed right next to me. Until they kicked him out. It took 3 guys to pin me down and get the IV in my arm. As I was waking, one of the EMT's kept telling how freaking strong I was, that 3 guys had to hold me down to get the IV in my arm, making it seem like some Hulkish moment for me. Nothing like feeling like a naked superhero with EMT's around your bed at 3:40 in the morning. It took 20 minutes from the time they got there to the time I was responsive. I had 2 bags of IV glucose solution. I had to pee like crazy. After I was coherent enough to make sense and answer questions, I told them about Dustin. The EMT's all laughed and started calling him Rain Man. I was ordered by RainMan to eat food and beat street to the ER. Happily, I complied. Called my mom to get Aidan as it's 4 in the morning now and I don't know how long I'll be there. Shivering my ass off because I have cold solution that has entered my body bringing the temp down. It's not warm at 4 in the morning, wearing almost no clothing in a car not warmed up. Mom got Aidan, I got booked into the system at St. Pete's, ER got urine sample (almost clear because of the freaking fluids in me) and I got tested for sugars again. When the EMT's left I was at 135, at the hospital 15 minutes later I was at 67. I ate a sandwich and drank juice there, was tested again at 130. Dr said I was okay, the insulin peaks at 3 hours after, only lasts for 6 hours. Which makes sense to me. Pretty much means that for 6 hours after insulin I need to keep my sugars in check.
I wish I could say it wasn't my fault, but it was. I took too much insulin with dinner, didn't eat enough carbs and went to bed without eating something to make sure it was up. I felt fine at bedtime (11:30), but I have been chastised. I learned a valuable lesson about my insulin tonight, in how it acts, how I react to it, how to NOT call Dustin Hoffman to my house.
I am so thankful to have a husband who listens when drilled on what to do to an incoherent Carrie, EMT's with senses of humor and family who will come grab Aidan without question. All is well over here, despite being a little tired. It'll be okay.
I was in a diabetic coma last night.
As I came out and started being able to answer questions, that's what I heard. One of the EMT's telling me that I had been comatose and needed glucose to bring me out of it. My glucose reading was 25. I was incoherent, unresponsive, like a crazed woman in a waking nightmare to my husband. He was trying to wake me up and my son asked him 'what's wrong with momma?' That prompted Matthew to call 911. It took forever, it seems, for them to get there, but Matthew stayed right next to me. Until they kicked him out. It took 3 guys to pin me down and get the IV in my arm. As I was waking, one of the EMT's kept telling how freaking strong I was, that 3 guys had to hold me down to get the IV in my arm, making it seem like some Hulkish moment for me. Nothing like feeling like a naked superhero with EMT's around your bed at 3:40 in the morning. It took 20 minutes from the time they got there to the time I was responsive. I had 2 bags of IV glucose solution. I had to pee like crazy. After I was coherent enough to make sense and answer questions, I told them about Dustin. The EMT's all laughed and started calling him Rain Man. I was ordered by RainMan to eat food and beat street to the ER. Happily, I complied. Called my mom to get Aidan as it's 4 in the morning now and I don't know how long I'll be there. Shivering my ass off because I have cold solution that has entered my body bringing the temp down. It's not warm at 4 in the morning, wearing almost no clothing in a car not warmed up. Mom got Aidan, I got booked into the system at St. Pete's, ER got urine sample (almost clear because of the freaking fluids in me) and I got tested for sugars again. When the EMT's left I was at 135, at the hospital 15 minutes later I was at 67. I ate a sandwich and drank juice there, was tested again at 130. Dr said I was okay, the insulin peaks at 3 hours after, only lasts for 6 hours. Which makes sense to me. Pretty much means that for 6 hours after insulin I need to keep my sugars in check.
I wish I could say it wasn't my fault, but it was. I took too much insulin with dinner, didn't eat enough carbs and went to bed without eating something to make sure it was up. I felt fine at bedtime (11:30), but I have been chastised. I learned a valuable lesson about my insulin tonight, in how it acts, how I react to it, how to NOT call Dustin Hoffman to my house.
I am so thankful to have a husband who listens when drilled on what to do to an incoherent Carrie, EMT's with senses of humor and family who will come grab Aidan without question. All is well over here, despite being a little tired. It'll be okay.