Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
Day 12 March 24
I made it through the night. I awoke feeling better than I did just hours prior. Just like the morning before I felt icky, my sheets, t-shirt, and bed felt damp. My fever must’ve finally broken.
I needed to take a shower.
After my shower, I was exhausted. My whole body felt weak and I was breathing heavily after a quick shower. It wasn’t like I was in there forever. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my body then headed to the bedroom. I climbed into bed still wrapped in my towel to catch my breath.
My family chat on Facebook came across my phone as I picked it up. My family was curious about how I was feeling this morning.
After finding out how my night went, one of my daughters said she was on her way to take me to the hospital so I didn’t have to drive.
When she arrived I was still in bed wrapped in a towel. She helped pull out clean clothes as I got dressed to leave for the ER. When we pulled up to the ER she dropped me off and told me to keep in touch.
I walked into the ER and explained to them how I felt. They signed me in and took me back to a room.
They started running blood tests and a CT of my abdomen because of diarrhea.
They brought me a large cup filled with water. I drank the bottle at record speed. They couldn’t believe how much water I was drinking. I couldn’t get enough. I was so thirsty but my stomach couldn’t hold it.
After a while, the doctor came in. She said my bloodwork is all over the place. She said to the point I almost needed blood. She was worried I was bleeding inside or there was something else going on.
She ordered more bloodwork to send to the lab to Mansfield because they can test for more things than the lab on site.
After blood work and an x-ray, she came back in to talk to me. By then I had drunk another two glasses of water. They said I was the most hydrated person in the place.
The doctor looked at me and informed me she didn’t want me to go home. She wanted to send me to Mansfield for more tests including a visit to the oncologist.
She informed me she thought I had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. That was the first time I had heard of AML.
I was blown away!
I needed to see an oncologist. I have cancer. What?
I didn’t see that coming. I was alone in the ER and just found out she felt I had cancer.
That wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted an antibiotic and send me home to get better. I felt terrible but cancer?
Really?
I told the doctor I wanted answers and tests that’s why I came to the ER. She contacted Mansfield and ordered for me to be transferred to Mansfield by transport.
When I finally made it to Mansfield I spoke with the oncologist and she felt I need to either go to the James Cancer Clinic or Cleveland Clinic. I needed more than they could provide.
I requested the James Cancer Clinic because of its reputation.
Sadly, it took all night and into the next day to find transportation to The James. But when I got there they were waiting on me.
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