Last night I was having “one of those” nights… I am allowed those ever so often, so I am told… Anyways, whenever I feel that way, I like to think about the “good” that comes along with CF… and I was quickly reminded of a situation last year, that I would like to share with you…
I had been on a bout of antibiotics and just been released from “the pen”, with my PICC in, I decide that I am going to go for the night to celebrate my release!!! LOL!!! I am not a big partier and come the end of the night, I am over taken by guilt and decide I am going to drink enough water to “rinse myself clean”… BAD IDEA!!! What I didn’t know is that if you drink enough water, you can actually die from depletion of sodium in your body… I remember it so clearly, I was just not feeling right and then started hallucinating so I called 911… The ambulance showed up and gave me O2 and a warm blanket because I was heading into shock… I was coming in and out of and kept telling myself to stay awake so I don’t die… I knew I was dying and it was the scariest consciousness!!! I remember there being so many people and I was freaking out, I kept screaming at the top of my lungs that I didn’t want to die!!! The nurses kept telling me I needed relax, how could I??? The fear in everyone’s eyes just made me more afraid… I finally took a deep breath and turned it over to God, I told him I wasn’t ready to die, I still had so much life to live… Right as I turned it over, Dana walked in… I begged her not to let me die… She told me she was going to do everything in her power, but I needed to relax… It was so weird how afraid to relax I was… But I trusted in her… The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital connected to all these machines… The doctor came in and explained he could not explain why I had not died… Normal Sodium levels are around 137 and they consider 120 fatal… I was at 117!!! He said I should be a complete vegetable or dead… I had purpose and that is why I am still here… Breathe 4 Tomorrow Foundation is my purpose…
Over the next few days I thought about it and I am convinced that because of our sodium CF stuff, that I am here today… I am thankful once again for this disease I have… Not only has it made me the strong woman I am, but I do believe that CF saved my life…
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January 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Jenn McLean
wow, thanks for sharing, that’s a scary situation you had! I probably would have freaked out even more in your position if it were her where I live. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, and I don’t see the docs here unless I can’t help it. They just don’t know what they’re doing when It comes to treating CF or someone with it (lung infection wise). They start to see you improve and send you home with a pat on the butt or head, ya know, like a kid! I end up back so soon, it’s not worth it. I go to Anchorage where the CF doc is in Alaska and see him. I have a Port, and if not accessed no one knows unless Xrays are taken. I prefer to keep it that way. No telling what they may do to or with it, and I don’t need it compromised! With your Pic in (had it been me) I’d of been freaking out telling them to start a local and not touch the PIC unless they want me to come after them if I survive! But that’s still a scary situation you had! Glad to hear you’re okay, and we all can learn something from it!!
Keep on Keepin on!