Completely Grateful for Life & Doctors...

Yesterday I was scheduled for an endoscopic procedure to take a look at an ulcer I have been having problems with. It is a fairly routine procedure with a very low risk of complications. The day started normally, in fact the procedure started normally, and then life turned scary for many. While going down my esophagus the doc noticed it started to tear, so he pulled out right away and sent me to the recovery room. The story that follows is what I have been told from my grandmother and the doc as I do not remember a thing after he said "you'll feel sleeping, we'll see you when you wake up" and the procedure began. While in recovery it became apparent to the nurses and my grandmother who were with me that I was in distress. I was asleep yet holding my chest. Shortly after, my heart rate skyrocketed to 180 and my blood pressure went off the charts. The nurses ran and got the doctor right away. He took one look and immediately called the paramedics (as we were in an outpatient clinic). So...my breathing went crazy and I became unresponsive. The paramedics took me, with my Grandma riding in front of the ambulance. Apparently I stopped breathing completely on my own while in the ambulance and they had to intubate me through the mouth and the nose...and still I was completely unresponsive. After phoning my doc and telling him I had worsened, he called a code ahead to the hospital and we were greeted by the trauma surgery team preped and ready to go. Still, at this point all they could tell my Grandma was "we still don't know what happened. She may have had a stroke." They rushed me in for several CTs. The CTs came back fairly normal, one showing a slight tear in my chest, but it was not severely bleeding. After about 45 minutes of them pumping in various medications and helping me breath...my vitals came down and I became responsive (which I still don't remember). I don't remember anything until 5:00pm that night. Even then I opened my eyes and had no idea where I was or what had happened. They are still unsure what caused this scary episode, the thought is that I had an allergic reaction to the Demerol they use to make you sleeping for the exam. The doctor who performed the endoscope came right to the hospital to talk to me and my family. It was obvious he was very shaken up. He said he does a 1.000 of these a year and he's never seen anything like this happen. The reality check came when he looked and me and my family and said "we almost lost you" and I realized that what had happened was serious. We had a long talk with him. I was stable so they released me, but he personally has called me 3 times since to make sure I am doing okay. I have another appointment with him in the morning to see where we go from here. Unfortunately, they were unable to finish the procedure and it has to be done to see what is going on and why the problems are occurring. Dr. Martin, however, says he will do it in a OR at the hospital with a Cardiothoracic surgeon by his side in case of another complication. Dr. Martin was almost beside himself with worry. His compassion was very much appreciated. He took the time to come down to the hospital when he didn't have to, he calmed my family down, and he was honest in his own feelings that he was terribly frightened as well.

Today, I feel quite crummy, but am elated that things turned out the way they did. As Dr. Martin pointed out to us, it was very close to having a very unexpected ending. Though I don't remember any of it (thankfully) everyone who was with me have told me their stories. It is a pretty realization that we never know what tomorrow will bring. Who would have ever thought a routine procedure could turn so badly, not me, not my family, and certainly not the doctors. I sit here today with a sore throat and horrible headache, grateful that I have the opportunity to feel so rotten! (SMILE) The nurses (one of whom was my cousin), the doctor, the paramedics who acted quickly enough to save me, and for all the trauma team who took such good care of me. I am eternally eternally grateful. Tomorrow I go back to see Dr. Martin and I cannot wait to tell him "thank you" again. Here's to another day...