A little more than a month ago my husband suggested we take a trip out of town. Since I had instructed him to take off the weekend after my birthday I suggested that we go somewhere that weekend. After many decision changes we decided to go to Chicago. I found a hotel near Michigan Ave that was reasonable and close to things so that we could walk or take a cab wherever we wanted to go.
Friday morning we get up and out of the house by 9 so that we can make it to The Windy City around noon. After a short stop to catch a bite to eat we arrive at The Museum of Science and Industry. Since it is the off season we had until 4 to look around and take it all in. After our very interesting walk through the museum we headed out to our hotel. With relatively no problems we arrive in the parking ramp and haul our stuff into the hotel. I was absolutely exhausted, that walk through the museum was a real test of my strength as it was the longest walk that I have taken since my surgery. We decided to rest a little while before heading out to eat. Josh had his heart set on going to Giordono's for pizza, he looked up the nearest establishment while I rested. After resting for a little while I got up to go to the bathroom and the world started to spin. Not long after that I started to vomit and have bouts of diarrhea. My insurance company like so many others have a Nurse On Call Line. I called them and there advice was "you are in shock. Hang up the phone and dial 911." I explained to the woman that I was not taking an ambulance but I would take a cab to the nearest hospital. Josh and I spent 6 hours at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I wasn't nauseated or dizzy by the time I was seen. I was pumped full of liquids given anti-nausea medications and sent back to the hotel saying that a virus was causing my illness.
Having felt fine I expected our to be tired the next day but head out to some museums. I was sadly mistaken. I awoke to a spinning room. I have never had Vertigo before. I wish to never have it again. Needless to say I told Josh to pack up we were going home. I was feeling worse and the dizziness was getting really out of hand. I couldn't handle it any longer so I again called a nurse hotline (this time my Dr's) and was told to go to an emergency room as they had the neurological capabilities that a Urgent Care Facility didn't. This time I spent my evening at Meriter Hospital in Madison. Now anyone who lives near Madison knows that this past weekend was the big Mifflin Street Block Party. We waited patiently while belligerent drunks were hauled in. We heard them yell and curse, treating the staff that was there to help them very poorly. I waited only 90 minutes to be seen. The doctor gave me something to ease the nausea and the dizziness citing a virus was to blame. I was sent home to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Now I stopped vomiting on Saturday and the diarrhea went away by Sunday night or Monday AM. The dizziness has stayed. Monday and Tuesday were spent on the couch. On Tuesday I could watch the TV without feeling nauseated. I have been unable to concentrate on things, read or type. Today I said I am the best I have been in days I am going to work. Work proved to be a difficult task. I was frustrated and called my clinic and said "I HAVE TO SEE SOMEONE!" I feel high, spaced out not good conditions to drive with. I finally saw someone who eased my mind. No one at either Hospital explained things to me, no one told me that the dizziness could and would stick around longer than other symptoms. I was told I have labrynthitis. I should be back to normal by the end of the week. If not I was told to come back. For the first time in almost a week I relaxed. I knew that the end was near. If it wasn't I knew what to do next.
I don't expect to return to Chicago any time soon. I expect someday we will look back and laugh, but now we are disappointed and sad that we lost our time together. We instead strengthened our relationship in another way. Josh's visits to the hospital were rare before we met. Now he is learning not to be so scared and learning that it is ok to be scared for the one that you love.
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