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Some of you will remember a TV show called “That Was the Week That Was.” Well, this was that week, only without the laughs. My husband has a chronic condition, myasthenia gravis. He has always been a very strong, very active person and not thrilled with the limitations the myasthenia has caused. So he pushes himself. Last week, while out on the land moving some boards around, he felt bad–had not felt well for several days–and he suddenly passed out. He figured hot day, dehydration, maybe salt depletion, and came in and ate some salty stuff and drank a lot of water.
To make the long story short, things got worse, not better, with some very clear cardiac symptoms, and yet I could not drag him to the hospital (he’s heavier than I am and he was still conscious.) He did make an appointment with his doctor. So to this week: Tuesday I drove him to the doctor, and a good thing too, because the doctor sent him to the ER. Where they found he was severely anemic (that passing out was, um, due to bleeding out about half his blood over the previous several days. The cardiac symptoms were related to the severe anemia.) It’s been a busy few days, which he spent in the hospital and I spent on the road to and from, or at home feeding and mucking out horses and dealing with the big storms that appeared for this occasion. (Thunder! Lightning! High winds! Hail! Rain…wonderful rain!)
Upshot: He had transfusions (it took four doctors and his wife to convince him.) He had tests. He had endoscopy. When the biopsy comes back, the surgeon will figure out a plan. Depending on the biopsy results and the surgeon’s plan and so on, I may or may not make any of the conventions I planned to attend.
He’s back home for the time being, sprung from the hospital this afternoon. The transfusions made him slightly pinker (they didn’t try to replace everything he’d lost, just enough.) My copy edits arrived in the meantime. Instead of starting work on them immediately, I went for a walk with him (he was very eager to get outside again–and it was a gorgeous post-storm day.) We have a lot to be thankful for and we are.
Comment by arthur Piantadosi — May 14, 2011 @ 12:52 am
This is Arthur. I am TERRRIBLY sorry. . . God bless you!
Comment by Martin LaBar — May 14, 2011 @ 4:19 am
Thank God that this was no worse. May He help you with your work, and your life.
Comment by Linda — May 14, 2011 @ 5:04 am
So glad he’s home.
Dealing with folks who are resistant to going to the hospital when it’s called for is so scary. I had to over-rule my Dad a few times and called the EMTs even when he was shouting that I shouldn’t. Turned out they were much better at talking him into cooperating than I was.
Hope you’ll be blessed with a peaceful time and your husband with improving health.
Comment by Ann — May 14, 2011 @ 6:22 am
Adults are so darned hard to take care of! I’m glad you finally were able to get him where he needed to be. Will keep you all in my prayers.
Thank you for sharing with us. I’d been wondering, and didn’t want to pry.
Comment by Daniel Glover — May 14, 2011 @ 6:55 am
Elizabeth,
Ummm, he kind of sounds like Aliam during that episode in Kings in some ways.
My prayers both of you and your son continue.
Dan
Comment by elizabeth — May 14, 2011 @ 8:13 am
Thanks to all for your support.
Comment by Kathleen — May 14, 2011 @ 8:23 am
Glad to hear he is doing better. May he continue to improve.
Comment by Naomi — May 14, 2011 @ 8:58 am
Dear Elizabeth, my best to you both, know how he feels, I hate doctors fiddling with my ‘glorious’ body, but unfortunately it’s necessary! Courage!
Naomi
Comment by Kerry (aka Trouble) — May 14, 2011 @ 10:59 am
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for R. Hope the biopsy doesn’t bring any bad news and he can just continue getting better.
Comment by Rolv — May 14, 2011 @ 11:01 am
We are with you in our prayers.
Comment by tuppenny — May 14, 2011 @ 11:30 am
Sounds like my father -didn’t feel well, on a Saturday, didn’t want to disturb the Dr’s weekend. The lesson Monday was that coumadin + an ulcer + 2 days means that over half on his blood was gone.
Men=mule brains.
My thoughts are with you both.
Comment by Dave Ring — May 14, 2011 @ 11:48 am
You husband, you and a certain copy editor (with different emphases) will all be in my prayers.
Comment by APJ — May 14, 2011 @ 11:52 am
Prayers being lifted for you and your family!!!
Comment by june — May 14, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
Take care of yourself as well as Richard. Break out the spinach and liver for the iron. Then make him knuckle under to keep going to the doc. Thinking and praying for you.
Comment by MaryW — May 15, 2011 @ 3:04 pm
As you know, family is the most important. I do know how you husband feels, some of us are allergic to doctors and hospitals. I will keep you and for family in my prayers.
Comment by elizabeth — May 15, 2011 @ 5:10 pm
Thank you all for your support…it helps.
He’s clearly better, for now at least, and there’s a picture of him “being careful” yesterday up at
http://e-moon60.livejournal.com/417133.html
Comment by Joan Hardy — May 15, 2011 @ 5:14 pm
I know, first-hand, how difficult it is to have a significant other who is both patient and doctor. Here’s hoping for happy test results, soonest.
Comment by Jonathan Schor — May 17, 2011 @ 3:59 pm
Sit on him – or else make him take out a massive insurance policy. Having reached the medicare age myself, it is time to slow down or the grim reaper will do it for you.
If for no other reason, he should not leave an up and coming author by herself.
Comment by Sam Barnett-Cormack — May 21, 2011 @ 10:26 am
That must have been terrifying. My sympathies to you both.
Comment by Moira — May 23, 2011 @ 11:55 am
Oh wow, I’ve not been checking posts for a couple of weeks now, and come back to find this. You must have been going daft with worry!
My very best wishes to you both, and a huge sigh of relief that he’s doing better. Long may that continue.
Please remember to take care of yourself, too, Elizabeth. None of us ever want to consider it, but you have to be hale & healthy in order to ride herd on himself! I hope you use the upcoming trip as a means to get some rest…! (Wishful thinking, perhaps, but you never know.)
Take care, and virtual hugs all around.