We are at the point in my journey, when it begins to get harder for me to start writing about what happened. I will start with this particular day, because maybe if I got better or actual care I wouldn't of had another issue in January which ultimately changed my life possibly forever.
It started back on November 2018, at work following a great school assembly. I was helping to prepare lunch and began to feel lightheaded and had some double vision. I was thinking to myself, when I'm done with lunch I'll go get myself checked out by the nurse. As soon as this was happening, my co-worker who was also helping me stated feeling off as well. So, I immediately assumed we both were overheated from the assembly and dismissed my own feelings as being something serious. But, seconds later I passed out falling sideways. As I laid there, I kept telling them that I'm okay, it was just from the heat and don't send me home. In a bit, they tried to sit me up, but I passed out for a second time. This time, I had paralysis afterwards (which wasn't abnormal to have the paralysis) in my limbs but luckily I was able to talk. I told them, that I never pass out twice and then I started feeling tightness in my legs (which was new for me). 911 was called! The tightness felt like my legs were being straightened as straight as they could be and every muscle was being used to do so. However, my legs were not straight. I kept saying what was happening was different. The feeling then started happening in my arms as the EMT's starting walking into my class. They examined me and again I said this is different for me and I was concerned. They brought me to a local hospital that I would be seen quicker at. Of all days, my husband was a good 2 hours away, so a co-worker from the office came with me to the hospital until my parents could get there. In the ambulance, I complained that the sensation seemed stronger, but they reassured me that we were getting close. I couldn't even hold my head up straight during the ride due to the paralysis. They had to use blankets around my head since it was moving around with each turn.
We got to the hospital and I was quickly seen by nursing and given an IV. The Doctor also came in right away which was shocking. He asked me to squeeze his hands, I couldn't. He asked me to lift my legs and arms, I couldn't. He said they were going to run some blood work and be back. Shortly after he left, the sensation of the tightness started feeling even stronger in my legs. I mentioned it to my co-worker who tried to ease my nerves. Then my still paralyzed leg began bending and coming inwards towards my chest and then my other leg did the same, which I called for the nurse. As that was happening the strong tightness started rising up over my chest making it hard to breath. My arms were also now bending inwards towards my chest. It didn’t take long for the nurse to come in, but by then the tightness now was up my neck, past my mouth (could no longer talk) and up to my nose. I was gasping for air! I remember the nurse yelling for help but also yelling at me to “just breath” “just breath” “calm down”. The doctor rushed in and literally felt my leg and said “you will be alright” and then he left (my co-worker told me afterwards). I was given Ativan and the episode quickly stopped. My body relaxed.
The medical team left and I just cried. What just happened to me? My poor co-worker came to wait for my parents and witnessed this horrific incident. She just hugged me and we cried. I really thought I was going to die during that episode. I was extremely tired at this point, but luckily I did have some movement and speech back which was positive. I guess I have to try to find something positive at this point. My parents finally came, and my co-worker filled them in with what just happened. I told my parents I’m sure I’ll get a CT scan, MRI and definitely a EEG to rule out a seizure or mini stroke. They agreed! We waited, but didn’t wait long. The doctor came in with a diagnosis already. He said I was having a Charley Horse and told me I should ice the muscles on/off. I said “WHAT? what just happened was not that, my entire body was involved! Why aren’t you running any tests, CT, MRI, EEG? I feel like I was having a seizure or a mini stroke. You hardly even looked at me. I couldn’t move when I came in and then you touched me for a second during the episode. I need more tests!!!” He said that he didn’t need to run more test and he was confident in his diagnosis. He handed me paperwork on how to treat muscle spasms......seriously!!!!!! I was at the ER for a total of 3 hours. For those of you that have gone to the ER, you know that is a world record.
It took me over a week to recover from a “Charley Horse”. Once I did return back to work, it was definitely on my mind of happening again since I never got any answers the first time. What really was happening to me? Can it happen again? When will it happen? Of course, I had immediately reached out to my neurologist and made an appointment but, it wasn’t until December. My Neurologist said, it did sound like a seizure and scheduled an EEG to see if there was any seizure activity going on. The day I got the test I was feeling good and I was pretty sure the test would be negative. I had a Jan. 18th appointment to go over the results. That date will forever be grained into my head. January 18th is when I will return! You may be thinking it’s because I got my results that day, but your wrong. I actually didn't get my results until a week or two later (which were negative of seizure activity by the way). Until next time world, when I go from sane to crazy.....literally.
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