Today I am thankful that I work with nurses.
I responded by saying that stalking is time intensive. Between my job, trying to reboot my small business and going back and retaking my post-graduate classes, I don't even have time to pee let alone harass anyone.
I'm trying to make time to share videos of lawbreaking police officers with their department heads.
There are more important people to harass.
Well...
here is my lesson of the week:
Always take time to pee.
Oh, and lay off of the soda.
So.....
Over the past week, I thought I'd hit menopause early because I really wasn't feeling well.
I started feeling feverish and I'd break out into a cold sweat. I thought they were hot flashes.
My lower back hurt. That comes with being old, right?
My girl stuff hurt and I figured that it was falling out from lack of use (laugh it up.....I read it could happen....somewhere....probably on a website written by a perverted guy using any excuse he could to get laid).
I paid out of pocket to visit a doctor to help me find a diet I can cope with (I'm allergic to just about everything). I was told that my blood pressure was 150/100. It was 123/80 during my last visit two weeks ago.
She chalked it up to a defective blood pressure cuff.
I thought I was okay.....just old.
I didn't mention the pain I was in because I thought it was....well...old age.
I proceeded to go about my day.
The kiddos needed socks. I wanted to visit my favorite instrument repair shop because my daughter tried to play her father's abandoned trumpet and it fell apart in her hands.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The other kids borrow my art supplies. She borrows the musical instruments. I love it when the bass comes back perfectly tuned.
After my doctor's visit, I grabbed the kiddos and headed out towards my favorite shopping center in my home town.
I had to pull over because I was feeling a little bit weird.
Must be menopause, I thought.
I had to stop at Walmart. I had the thought that I could be dehydrated. Maybe if I bought some water, I'd be just fine.
The water made it worse. The kids thought I was hungry.
There was tiny sub shop there. Someone expressed concern about my appearance and suggested I sit down. The lady working there made me a spinach salad. I bought an early dinner for the kids.
I still felt like crap.
Then.... I found myself with the urge to dispel the spinach salad from my gastro-intestinal tract.
Menopause must suck!
There was no way I was sick.
I am just old!
Prior to this I thought that menopause was a process that took years -but- in my case it seemed to hit in a matter of days.
I went to work the next day.
I work for my absolute favorite health care company. I visit with the nurses in the hallway, in the parking lot and in the bathroom. We talk about dresses and addiction counseling and trying to cheer up people who are down.
The nurses are awesome. Two weeks ago, I was told I saved someone's life. Someone called and just said things that made no sense. I grabbed a nurse who sent her to the ER.
I didn't save anyone's life. The nurse and the ER staff did. I just answered the phone, sensed something was wrong and grabbed a nurse. The nurse wanted to tell everyone that I did a great job.
It wasn't me. I didn't do anything except trust my gut.
The nurses I work with do so much and don't take credit.
It would be nice if they could only see themselves through the eyes of others.
I didn't think their kindness would turn towards me again.
Last week, I found myself walking down the hall way pounding on my back to try to ease the pain.
One of the nurses followed me out of the ladies room and suggested that I visit my doctor.
I hesitated. She insisted and told me to tell her if I was okay after I saw the doctor.
I mentioned this to my boss and she told me to take the day off (unpaid) and come back with a note from the doctor saying I can work.
I did as I was instructed.
Guess what.....
it is not menopause.
I have my very first ever kidney infection! Thankfully, it was mild so I could treat it at home.
I'd been saving that kidney, too. I thought that someday I'd probably wind up donating it because it's probably the only thing I had that could actually help someone!
Maybe not.....no one is going to want my stale old kidney now!
It hurt like hell!
I still went to work. I went to class. I haven't missed a beat. I should have followed the doctor's orders and stayed in bed. There is just far too much to do!
The worst bit is that the medication gives me horrible headaches and muscular cramps, everything hurts, my neck, my arms, my legs and my feet. Ugh...... It also gives me restless legs.
The medication is almost as bad as the disease!
Ugh....how do people put up with that?
Only five more days to go...…
I learned something.
Listen to nurses.
Don't discount your symptoms.
Here is a word to the wise:
never assume that your symptoms are related to aging, especially if they come on suddenly.
Nurses can smell trouble.
Seriously...…
I was told that they could smell blood in urine. Yeah....I'm pretty dumb. I didn't think that was blood. I thought it was dehydration.
Pee isn't supposed to be dark orange.
Sigh.....
I'm stupid.
I'm also incredibly thankful that I avoided a hospital stay!
So, now I'm off to ponder how to thank a nurse I barely know.
She may have saved my kidney.
I wonder if I can bring the nurse some flowers or something?
I'll ask.
With my luck, someone in the office will be allergic to flowers.
Maybe a simple "thank you" will suffice.
If your health changes quickly seek medication attention, don't make dumb excuses like I did!
Geesh!
Love ya,
S.
P.S. And trade in your soda for water. I'd been so busy my diet has mostly consisted of Diet Dr. Pepper. I credit that for the issue.
I'm actually happier now that I'm not wincing in pain. I have to stop myself from flirting too much now. I have a tendency to get complete strangers to talk to me. I don't realize what is happening until they start asking me out on dates.
I'd consider dating if only I could find the time.