Kelli the Sicko!

A post from Kelli–

If you’ve been reading my posts lately, you are well aware I’m pregnant!  While I’m so fortunate to be carrying a lovely bundle of super active joy, it was a bit of a struggle getting to this point–you can read about that here– https://www.joscountryjunction.com/baby-update-and-a-little-backstory-actually-quite-a-backstory/.  And while I’m fortunate to have been able to get pregnant, it has been hard.  I hate admitting that and I don’t want to complain because I know that there are so many out there that would love to be in my shoes, but it has been hard!

If you went to our retreat back in August, we let the news slip.  You might have remembered that I was kind of a Debbie Downer, didn’t really want to eat, was super tired, all those kinds of things.  Unfortunately it hasn’t improved much.  From almost the day I was exactly 6 weeks I’ve been sick.  I’ve been taking Unisom nightly with a little bit of relief, but not a whole lot.  I’ve also tried eating, not eating, timing when I eat, Seabands (Accupressure), ginger suckers, different drinks, altering my sleep/wake schedule, eating certain kinds of foods, eating anything I could keep down–pretty much anything and everything!  I wasn’t able to make any sense of it or figure out any rhyme or reason as to why I was sick.  The only thing I noticed was that if I worked an overnight and got off on my Unisom, I would end up sick for sure.

At a prenatal appointment, I was prescribed Phenergan which is an anti nausea med, but it made me super sleepy, so that wasn’t really the best idea when I needed to work or drive.  I had also been taking B6 in addition to my Unisom, but when the pills were cut, they had a horrible taste which often ended in puking too.  So I’ve just kept pushing through, eating lots of crackers, ice cream, and whatever else I could keep down….or thought I might be able to keep down.

I’m at the point right now where I end up having appointments every month.  For the last two months, I’ve ended up needing to schedule additional appointments.  TMI (Too Much Information) but I ended up with a horrible yeast infection one month that wouldn’t go away, and of course, I can’t take Diflucan which would have help immensely because it’s contraindicated in pregnancy.  And then this past week happened.

I started feeling a little off on the 9th.  I woke up with a sore throat, but didn’t really think too much of it.  I had a lot of stuff going on and it’s soon going to be winter.  It kind of goes with the territory in Iowa.  By Sunday, I just figured that I’d be getting a cold soon.  I tried drinking extra water because my throat was really dry too, but I had a day planned with Mom to go see the play that Kayla was the assistant director at and didn’t want to miss it.

By Monday the 12th, I knew something more was up.  I was scheduled at the nursing home, but would be working in the office and doing the December schedule, so I didn’t have to be in at a specific time.  Because I work at the hospital, I was able to call Occupational Health and get orders to have a throat culture done free of charge to see if I had strep throat.  When I went in, I was pretty sure that was the case because really, it was just my throat…and it hurt really bad!

I got swabbed–Which is always a ton of fun–but it was negative.  I was a little bummed because I knew that if it was positive, I could get some antibiotics and be on my way, out of commission for a day or two, but it was manageable.  Since it was negative, that likely meant it was some kind of virus….with an unexpected timeline.  But I was off to work at the nursing home.  I stayed in my little office and stayed away from the residents and as many employees as I could.

Tuesday when I woke up, I definitely didn’t feel better, but I was scheduled to work at the hospital, so off I went.  After a few hours and getting my first med pass done, I could tell that me being at the hospital was not a good idea–For me or my patients!  I ended up having these horrible coughing fits and would cough up some blood tinged spit.  Two of the girls looked at my throat and agreed that a raw bloody throat was less than ideal.  Luckily I was able to find another nurse (Thanks Jenny!) to come in and cover the rest of my shift.  I called over to the clinic and was able to get in relatively soon!

My new secondary OB provider (since I’ve been seeing her between all my OB appointments with my never ending issues) reviewed my strep results and ran some blood work.  She could tell I was definitely not feeling good at all.  Since I was continuing to have nausea issues and a hard time keeping up with fluids because of the puking and sore throat, she sent me over to get fluids and IV Zofran.

I got checked in, IV started, blood drawn, and was able to catch a little nap before it was time to head home with encouragement to rest and push fluids.  While pushing fluids while feeling like you are swallowing razor blades every time you swallow is less than ideal, so is getting admitted to the hospital, so I was determined to tough it out!  My blood work came back within reason, so there was no need for any further medications because my infection was not bacterial.

When I woke up Wednesday… I was well aware that things were getting worse.  Being a nurse, I know that a virus can’t really be treated with anythign but rest and fluids, I had just planned on hanging on the couch.  I knew going to work that night wasn’t going to be happening, so after calling in, I went back to sleep.  Mom messaged me and told me that I should go back in if I wan’t feeling better.  I hemmed and hawed and went back to sleep.  Kalissa then messaged me and asked how I was feeling.  I gave her the lousy report.  I told her of my resting and fluid drinking plans and she was less than happy.  She asked me if my kid was feeling that crappy, would I take them in to get them checked out?  I told her that I surely would.  She told me to pack my crap and get to the doctor.  Guess I couldn’t argue that one?!?!

Our hospital’s urgent care opens at 4 pm.  I got there right at that time and was number 4 in line to register.  Ugh!  I grabbed my mask and found the chair farthest away from everyone.  I also tried to contain my coughing and constant nose blowing, which pretty much had me standing in the hallway away from everyone else.

Apparently if you try to be seen in Urgent Care and tell them that you get out of breath with activity and when you start coughing, you feel dizzy like you are going to pass out, you get a pass straight to the ER instead.

I got switched over and was seen right away.  They kid a quick check on the baby and after getting the bedside ultrasound, confirmed that everything was okay with the baby.  After that, my blood pressure defintely dropped a bit.  I suppose 110/63 is a bit better than 148/90-something!  Kalissa stopped by on her break from clinicals and Mom and Dad stopped by on their way back from Rochester.  They drew some blood to check for Mono and swabbed me for Influenza.  Then it was back to fluids and Zofran!

All my tests came back negative, which again is good, but hard because there aren’t any real answers.  The Dr came to the conclusion that it was pretty much the adult version of Croup.  Because it was a virus and I am preggo, there really isn’t much that can be done except for Tylenol, Ibuprofen for a few days, fluids, a vaporizer and rest.  I am lucky enough to have some awesome co-workers that pulled together to cover my shifts and some awesome ER nurses that even took my Dr. note up to my department for me so I didn’t have to walk it over.

Thursday I could tell that I was on the upside.  By Friday, I was able to sit upright for the majority of the day.  Saturday, I realized that sitting up and being functional at home (staying awake for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time) was quite different that going out and doing things in public.  I hit up a local craft show and found some awesome things!  Then I headed up to Mom’s because KARL CAME HOME!  Sunday I was still a bit tired.

Monday I was lots better.  I still had a cough and sore throat. I also get a bit winded if I try to talk and walk at the same time.  For the most part though, I feel so much better!

Throughout all of this, I have continued to remind Jason it’s a good thing that he doesn’t want 10 kids, because after this pregnancy, 10 surely isn’t going to happen.  Mom also reminds me that each pregnancy can be different.   I just keep telling myself that as sick as I am, and as much as I complain, I’m so thankful that I was blessed with this lovely little active nugget.   I’ll take being sick any day–although my PTO bank is less accommodating, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world!