ALS  with Anna Vol. 12

Well today I took the fanciest Uber there is. They even came into the house and carried me out like a queen. I didn’t want to come off snobbish, I was demure and told them no need for the lights and siren. Have you figured it out yet? Well, for those who haven’t… I took a ride in an ambulance today. Yes, I’m okay. As a matter of fact I am home in bed now. Now, I know you are asking: well, Anna, how did you qualify for such a grand experience? Okay, okay I will tell you. Hold your horses.

It all started last night at 2:00 am. Well, I guess technical it started yesterday. The area under my bumper had become very raw. It was hurting and the muscles around my feeding tube were spasming. Thus making my tube and bumper move and rub. You see the problem? Due to the increased pain I woke up at 2 am needing pain relief. I had already taken tramadol. I was not hurting that bad so I decided to just take some ibuprofen. Would you believe it, but we were never told not to use coated medication? We now know not to, because my feeding tube got clogged. Mind you we have been using coated ibuprofen since the beginning. However, early this morning she was stuck like chuck. We tried warm water, but you literally could not get anything in or out of the tube. After about an hour we decided to go to bed and pray it would soften and we would be able to clear it in the morning. Jason is stressed and feeling guilty, even though I told him it’s not his fault. It was a mishap. No need for blame. So we didn’t get much sleep worrying what the morning would bring.

Fast forward to 7 o’clock still stuck. We tried some soda, but still couldn’t get anything in or out. So, in comes the fire department and EMS to take me on my chariot ride. Brody was very impressed that everyone had come out “ just to take me to the doctor”. Off to the hospital we go, follow the yellow brick road. Now, I have had my tube replaced twice. I have never had it done in Statesboro. I was very nervous. I don’t do change that well, and with ALS I am really apprehensive with new doctors. You would be surprised at the amount of medical professionals that don’t know much about ALS and do’s and don’ts of ALS. 

We got a great EMS group. We even had the same nurse that was there when Jason had his emergency appendectomy. He spoke very highly of her. So he was very pleased to see her and I think it made him feel better. She also got to meet me. That night Jason wasn’t very happy about having to have surgery. He almost walked out. That nurse and the anesthesiologist talked him into staying, thank God. I felt ridiculous having to call EMS but it is what it is at this point. It was so much easier on me. 

The exchange at the hospital went fine. They didn’t give me lidocaine shots, likeMayo did. That was an experience. It hurt but not too bad. I could just feel everything and it was weird and highly uncomfortable. It was like someone was poking around in my stomach. Oh wait, they were. After they were done I got an x-ray to double check placement. Then once we got the all clear I could have medicine and food. Here is where the problem occurs. I had not had food since 9 o’clock the night before and it was 1:30. I already felt queasy from going that long without eating and at the stress and adrenaline rush from the day’s activities. I started to get hot and I could feel myself panicking. I didn’t know why I was about to have a panic attack. I could just feel it coming and I hate that feeling. You lose control of your own body and thoughts. I had to stop Gidget from feeding me. Then I started to gag. I ended up throwing up twice, but then I felt better. 

A little after 2 o’clock transport arrived to Uber us back home. It has been a wild 24 hours. I could NOT Have done it without Jason by my side. Thank goodness Gidget was here even though it was not her regular day. She kept us straight. She stayed at home with boys until Aunt Cheryl could get here. Then came to the hospital, brought Jason food because he had not eaten all day. Thank goodness for Gidget and Aunt Cheryl. 

I had intended to finish this blog all in one go,but I just couldn’t hold out yesterday. I don’t know if it was from all the tugging and pulling beforehand trying to get it unclogged, or from the tube exchanged but I felt like I had been punched in the chest yesterday. Because my tube is right below my chest plate/bone. When Jason changed my gauze around my tube last night I was so sore around the tube I liked to come off the bed. Having to do that to me liked to have killed him. I hope this soreness is gone soon. When my pain meds wear off it almost I feel like I had my tube placed all over again. I’m sure I will be back to normal in a couple of days. Just need rest. 

And that my friends is how you get a fancy Uber. I 10/10 don’t recommend idon’t recommend it. It’s not worth the hype. Lol.

ALS with Anna

* He has a plan and I have a purpose *