Saturday was a wonderfully relaxing day. I travelled to Garland with a group of sisters from my Ward to soak in the healing waters of the hot springs. The air was frigid, but the pool was warm and the sun was shining. So why, on the trip home, did I feel discomfort and tightness in my neck and shoulders? As the night wore on the tightness moved to my chest and I felt a passing "sense of foreboding."
Sunday morning I awoke with a doozy of a migraine. It was bad enough that I knew I had to either forego my fast, eat, and take an Excederin or stay home. I chose the former and by the time our afternoon meetings began the pain was minimal.
In Relief Society our President was giving a lesson on Service and was asking for examples of service rendered by and in behalf of the sisters of our Ward. I was in the midst of offering some comments when an intense pain stopped me mid sentence. It felt like a demolition ball had smacked me in the back of the head and an explosion of pain was crushing my skull. I grabbed my neck with one hand and the chair next to me with the other to hold me up. I was in such agony that it was all I could do to ask that someone go find Clive. As a member of the presidency, I was seated in the front of the room, so I was in full vision of everyone. Suddenly, through my pain, I could detect a bustle of activity. I felt the loving hands of two sisters massaging my neck as another thrust some cold, wet paper towels into my hands to use as a compress. Another offered a beautiful prayer in my behalf. The magnitude of my pain was such that I couldn't move to another room, so my priesthood blessing was given in full view of the sisters. We had walked to church, so a sister whose car was parked just outside of the Relief Society room handed Clive her car keys and we were on our way to the Jordan Valley Medical Center.
Immediately upon arriving at the emergency room I was wheeled into an examination room, given an IV, hooked up to heart monitors, and given a dose of morphine for the pain and something for nausea. I was pretty sure that I was either in the midst of a stroke or a heart attack since I had symptoms of both. I passed a basic neurological test without difficulty, so began a grueling evening of tests to rule out stroke, aneurism, heart attack, and any other horrendous malady that may have taken over my sense of well-being. For SEVEN long hours I endured a CT scan, MRI, MRA, and lumbar puncture. In spite of three doses of morphine and anti-nausea medicine, the pain and vomiting never stopped or even decreased in intensity. Finally, I was sent home in the same condition that I had arrived with no relief in sight.
On Monday morning Clive took me to see our chiropractor to see if he could give me an adjustment that would relieve a little of the agony. It helped take the edge off, but we found that my C-1 was completely out of alignment ... seriously so. I HATE using drugs to cover up symptoms, but I was becoming desperate for relief, so Clive called our family doctor to see if he could prescribe something for me. It was Tuesday morning before the paperwork from the hospital finally arrived on my doctor's desk and I was able to be examined by him. He made an immediate diagnosis of Acute Occipital Neuralgia. Apparently the pressure and tension in my neck caused the nerves to become inflamed. Those nerves wrap all the way around the skull, thus causing the pain.
For the past week I have had daily adjustments and my C-1 is s-l-o-w-l-y moving back into place. I'm on steroids to reduce inflammation, Naproxen for pain, and a muscle relaxer to help me sleep. (I never did fill the prescription for Lortab.) The pain hasn't disappeared, but it has been reduced to a 4 or 5 on a scale of 10. The nausea is gone and my sensitivity to light and sound are much improved. On Tuesday evening I was engaged in a conversation with my Dad, siblings, and grandparents who have passed away, wishing that they would come for me. I was fairly certain that death would be a welcome relief. As of today, however, I'm thinking that just being pain-free might be enough.
I'm bored to tears from lying around, unable to do anything, but can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been served by my family and friends and am grateful for all the faith and prayers that have been offered in my behalf.
Next time, however, I think I'll choose NOT to be the object lesson!
Sunday morning I awoke with a doozy of a migraine. It was bad enough that I knew I had to either forego my fast, eat, and take an Excederin or stay home. I chose the former and by the time our afternoon meetings began the pain was minimal.
In Relief Society our President was giving a lesson on Service and was asking for examples of service rendered by and in behalf of the sisters of our Ward. I was in the midst of offering some comments when an intense pain stopped me mid sentence. It felt like a demolition ball had smacked me in the back of the head and an explosion of pain was crushing my skull. I grabbed my neck with one hand and the chair next to me with the other to hold me up. I was in such agony that it was all I could do to ask that someone go find Clive. As a member of the presidency, I was seated in the front of the room, so I was in full vision of everyone. Suddenly, through my pain, I could detect a bustle of activity. I felt the loving hands of two sisters massaging my neck as another thrust some cold, wet paper towels into my hands to use as a compress. Another offered a beautiful prayer in my behalf. The magnitude of my pain was such that I couldn't move to another room, so my priesthood blessing was given in full view of the sisters. We had walked to church, so a sister whose car was parked just outside of the Relief Society room handed Clive her car keys and we were on our way to the Jordan Valley Medical Center.
Immediately upon arriving at the emergency room I was wheeled into an examination room, given an IV, hooked up to heart monitors, and given a dose of morphine for the pain and something for nausea. I was pretty sure that I was either in the midst of a stroke or a heart attack since I had symptoms of both. I passed a basic neurological test without difficulty, so began a grueling evening of tests to rule out stroke, aneurism, heart attack, and any other horrendous malady that may have taken over my sense of well-being. For SEVEN long hours I endured a CT scan, MRI, MRA, and lumbar puncture. In spite of three doses of morphine and anti-nausea medicine, the pain and vomiting never stopped or even decreased in intensity. Finally, I was sent home in the same condition that I had arrived with no relief in sight.
On Monday morning Clive took me to see our chiropractor to see if he could give me an adjustment that would relieve a little of the agony. It helped take the edge off, but we found that my C-1 was completely out of alignment ... seriously so. I HATE using drugs to cover up symptoms, but I was becoming desperate for relief, so Clive called our family doctor to see if he could prescribe something for me. It was Tuesday morning before the paperwork from the hospital finally arrived on my doctor's desk and I was able to be examined by him. He made an immediate diagnosis of Acute Occipital Neuralgia. Apparently the pressure and tension in my neck caused the nerves to become inflamed. Those nerves wrap all the way around the skull, thus causing the pain.
For the past week I have had daily adjustments and my C-1 is s-l-o-w-l-y moving back into place. I'm on steroids to reduce inflammation, Naproxen for pain, and a muscle relaxer to help me sleep. (I never did fill the prescription for Lortab.) The pain hasn't disappeared, but it has been reduced to a 4 or 5 on a scale of 10. The nausea is gone and my sensitivity to light and sound are much improved. On Tuesday evening I was engaged in a conversation with my Dad, siblings, and grandparents who have passed away, wishing that they would come for me. I was fairly certain that death would be a welcome relief. As of today, however, I'm thinking that just being pain-free might be enough.
I'm bored to tears from lying around, unable to do anything, but can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been served by my family and friends and am grateful for all the faith and prayers that have been offered in my behalf.
Next time, however, I think I'll choose NOT to be the object lesson!
8 comments:
NO MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR FATHER. Do you hear me? NONE!
I'm so glad that you're starting to feel a little bit better, and that you're getting the healing rest that you need. We sure love you and pray for you often! I'm so glad you had a room full of sisters to care for you in your time of need.
My prayers are with you! I'm so sorry you've had this trial and hope you are doing much better.
Glad you figured out what was wrong and are feeling better.
Wendy, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.... You really had me worried when Clive walked you out of meeting last week. I knew that the Lord would take care of you after the wonderful blessing Clive gave you, but that "human" side of me still worried just a little. I am so glad to hear you are feeling a little better. I know you will be back on your feet soon! huge hugs
In addition to the object lesson on service I think we are all having a lesson on prayers. You are in our thought and prayers constantly. We are glad you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you journey to that light (wellness) soon.
Wendy, we are so glad you are ok! We will keep you in our prayers and hope that you will recover completely quickly! We love you. I know the sisters in the 6th ward are wonderful.
We are soooo glad that you are feeling better!!! We Love You So Much!!!
I often copy your Blogs for Mom to read. She loves the updates.
We are so happy that you are doing better. You can't imagine the panic that we had as a family especially being so far away. We love you so much and hope you get well soon!
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