So, I Was in the Hospital

Hey, everyone, how's it going? You're good? Oh, me? Well, I went to the hospital yesterday and just got out this afternoon--but don't worry, I'm mostly fine. You see, it all started at 8:30 AM on the 28th (as I said, yesterday). Samii had left for work, and I was getting Clarkson and Gibson ready for school. I had gotten the backpacks and such ready, so I sat down while Clarkson finished his breakfast to gather my thoughts. Then, I suddenly felt dizzy. Like, really dizzy. The whole world started spinning for 30 seconds. Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. I told Samii via text, but figured, as I had my physical scheduled for later that day, I could just ask about it then and see if it was a sinus/ear issue. I got up and was packing some vintage cassette tapes I sold online...then it happened for 10 seconds again. I was getting worried. Gibson suddenly ran up to me and clearly had peed his diaper, so I got on the floor to change him. Then, the dizziness resumed...and didn't stop.

The whole World was spinning, and I couldn't do anything to slow it down. I called my wif,e and she said she'd get coverage at work STAT and come home. I then called 911 and explained what was happening. Samii arrived home and got the boys ready to go to school. As they were leaving the EMTs arrived. They were asking me questions, and I stated I needed a bucket as I felt nauseated. I then threw up. It was the first of seven or so total times I'd get sick due to how dizzy I was. I was given Zofram and other stuff, and we went to the big Mercy hospital, with me throwing up along the way. As we arrived at the E.R., Samii had beaten us there by a few minutes, having dropped the boys off at school and gone straight there. I wasn't sitting for long before they started to move my stretcher, and there were a lot of doctors waiting for me, like, a lot. Normally, when you go to the ER, if it isn't a huge emergency, you'll find you're stuck sitting for a bit. I was actually a bit worried I was being seen so fast, as that meant there was a great deal of concern. Apparently, between the dizziness and extreme nausea, they wanted to rule out that I was having a stroke, of all things. I was given another IV (I had already received one in the ambulance) and was instructed to read various words and describe pictures between a CAT scan and an MRI. 

Thankfully, it was determined there was no bleeding in my brain. Instead, it appeared I had some inflamed nerves that were screwuig up my Vestibular system. That was making my balance all wonky and causing how dizzy I felt. I was given steroids to help reduce the inflammation and sent to a room to rest and recover after all the mayhem. I was still extremely dizzy, but given an assortment of medications to help with that and my unending vomiting. It was explained my inflammation could have been related to a sinus infection, virus, or just been a random occurrence--I am the poster child for random and weird medical stuff.

Overnight, the dizziness got a good deal better. I met with multiple doctors and had a great staff of nurses and techs who assisted me. I had a PT for my vestibular system who had me lie in all kinds of interesting ways, and that helped with the dizziness to a degree as well. I was told that my condition had settled enough that I could go home on oral steroids and dizziness meds. I'm home now, and when I sit stil,l I feel okay. Walking is a bit tricky, and I need to lean on walls. I, obviously, cannot drive for a number of days, but it is thought I might feel mostly back to normal by the end of this long weekend (happy Early Labor Day to me). I appreciate all the words of support from the people I updated about what happened--so much occurred so fast, I wasn't able to tell many friends about this until I was finally back home. I spent much of my time at the hospital either going through emergency evaluations, throwing up, or lying in my hospital bed, utterly exhausted. I'm just glad to be home with my family now (I missed them) and will take it easy over the next number of days. The whole thing was just strange to go from perfectly fine to completely unable to stand in a matter of minutes. I appreciate all of you readers and wanted to update you, too, of course! I'm not fully recovered, but I'm working on it and appreciate all the good vibes you can send me.