Giving my all, trying to find peace and grace within myself, searching for a better sense of my identity, striving to portray myself authentically while being true to my desires for life. Giving my all, discovering ways to feel useful, pursuing ways to grow spiritually, using experiences to strengthen relationships, while hopefully providing comfort and support to others. Giving my all, seeking ways to physically feel better, scrutinizing possible reasons for recent deterioration, reaching out for medical help despite reservations, while attempting to trust all medical advice given. Giving my all, writhing from unexplanable relentless pain, shivering and shaking from unyielding chills, crying out for something, anything, to make it stop, while praying that answers and relief would soon come. Giving my all, soliciting answers for the cause of my symptoms, patiently suffering in agonizing pain, heaving and vomiting with head pounding, while no one seemed to have a solution. Giving my all, confiding health concerns with my primary, wishing he could offer much needed assistance, graciously accepting his opinions and suggestions, while struggling to keep myself together without complaining. Giving my all, requesting records and cultures from an ED visit, making every effort possible to get copies to my primary, venturing out to get my hand on the actual results, while frustrated over the ED's lack of concern. Giving my all, secretly hiding my fears from family, relying on my primary to finally find some relief, following his orders to visit yet another ED, while completely feeling drained and depleted. Giving my all, preparing best as possible for a hospital admission, talking with my respected and reliable confidant, gaining control of my emotions and angst, while knowing I was about to be under the care of unfamiliar doctors. Giving my all, surrendering myself to their needles and tactics, relinquishing control to them and their treatments, repeating my health story again and again, while gaining confidence that the worst was finally going to be over. Giving my all, appreciating the doctors and nurses willing to help, acknowledging the blessing my primary has been, recognizing the importance of reaching out for his support, while gladly welcoming an end to my bacteremia chaos. --------------------------- Not sure what I would have done if it had not been for my primary stepping in and guiding me in the right direction. I knew something was not right with my body, feared that it could be an infection in my PORT or bloodstream, but couldn't get any answers or relief. After three separate ED visits, all within a couple of days span, I felt like I must be going crazy. I started doubting how much longer I could handle or deal with these horrifying symptoms. However, my primary communicated with me, believed my agony, knew that I typically avoid emergency departments at all costs, agreed something was definitely going on, predicted it could possibly be a bacteremia infection, remained persistent on seeing actual culture results himself, discovered I had klebsiella pneumonea infection in my PORT and bloodstream from the most recent ED visit's cultures, informed and prepared his ED team of doctors for my arrival, and ultimately ended this tormenting experience. My PORT had to be removed, a PICC line placed, and IV antibiotics for days during my hospitalization, but, I was so thankful! The medical team that took care of me was great and a new sense of comfort was discovered. Now I am aware that I do indeed have a primary that I can depend on. Moral of this experience: Trust your body! You know yourself better than anyone else. You shouldn't be afraid to reach out to your doctors in times of need. If you are not improving, don't try to sit back and ignore. Listen to what your body is saying and take action. It can literally be the difference between life and death sometimes. Luckily, the infection I had was treatable and not resistant to antibiotics. If it had continued to go untreated, it would have likely increased in severity, leading to possible sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and even death. A reminder of just how important and essential it is to have a doctor that you can trust and communicate with. Having a doctor that's invested in what's in your best interests is a valuable asset never to be taken for granted.
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Trisha BundyA proud mother, educator, Gastroparesis & GI Motility Disorder Advocate, Like my content? Want to thank me with a small token of appreciation? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1LH7R639ORBML?ref_=wl_share
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