Go back to the beginning…
…go there immediately. Do not pass go, do not draw 4000 Euro!
I filled up like this or something like that on 12.08 when I was lying in my bed on the periphery and could not even wash my face, let alone bring a spoon to my mouth.
How did this happen? Let’s go back a few more days. The great heat was hard on almost everyone, but neurologically ill patients a bit more.
I simply did not manage to drink as much as I should have. Especially since every trip to the toilet was exhausting and accompanied by a certain tendency to collapse, which I more or less lived out. You quickly reach the negative range with your fluid balance. The ventilators did what they could, but it wasn’t enough: Until Tuesday, my body temperature was at 40.7°C and I was unstable in everything I did. Even the Alaska Boys did not bring any cooling down but only stomach ache. I only lived on my tablets.
The question of all questions hovered over me and Marga asked them on Tuesday morning. How long would this go on? Because of the study, I wanted to delay a stay in hospital as long as possible. They don’t like Biohaven and I was afraid I would be thrown out. Since the study is something like therapy for me.
My family doctor then took up the reins and registered me in the outpatient clinic. Marga called the ambulance and one hour later I was lying in the ambulance with a liter of Jono1/1 and 1gr of paracetamol. Blood was taken. Blood cultures, a blood gas analysis was made, whereupon there was 3 l O2. And of course I was crossed off Covid-19 and MRSA. It is not nice, you get the feeling that they want to get through the nose to your brain. Vital signs were also measured.
I was grateful for the permanent catherter. I would never have thought it possible that I would write this. But it was.
Dr.H. tried with a lot of patience to take a medical history and to find out how I had maneuvered myself into this situation. I could not get two words out clearly. My mind was working fine, only the language thing didn’t work out. That was a bit desperate.
The DZNE in Bonn did a great job. They sent me a list via WhatsApp with the medications that I shouldn’t get if possible.
I should still be x-rayed. And I can only say that it’s really not nice when you get wishes for recovery, encouragement, etc. and can’t answer.
At some point I lay in my room with a temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, drank the “good” Renser without end and was afraid to sleep. Like other MSA patients I sleep loudly and was promptly woken up by the night watch because my fellow patients were afraid I would mutate into a vampire or werewolf. After that I could not sleep anymore.
In the morning I was at 38,7° and not able to wash or have breakfast. I was infinitely grateful every time I saw Alex and Jessi standing in the doorway. They helped me with positioning, mobilizing and serving me food. During the day and the following night I worked myself down to a temperature of 36,5°. I did not sleep as much because of the danger of mutation.
The next morning, after the intervention, the girls gave me an air-conditioned single room on StP. Fantastic 22°C! Sr.U pronounced the magic words: “I can help you take a shower too”! I did not have appetite yet but I did not care at all. I was able to eat alone again with knife and fork! It would not have been enough for a 5* restaurant but I would have dared to go to a fast food restaurant.
In the next days I got daily physiotherapy and 2 per week speech therapy. And I decided to get an SPK, an indwelling catheter, which is placed through the abdominal wall into the bladder. The procedure is done locally and is quite fast. Somehow I felt sick for the first time while the catheter was being inserted, I can’t tell you how sick and at the mercy of my body I felt. Especially since I also fell down afterwards and visited the surgical outpatient clinic – 2 stitches had to be done.
The rest of the time I was nursed. 2 years ago I could not have imagined being cared for by colleagues. I would have had massive problems to accept the donations. Starting with all the visits, fries with mayo, drinks and muesli to help with the showers. Or the morning bread roll express (ground pork roll with croissant). The children of the colleagues painted and made pictures. I received a lot of attention and support. The STP and my former station were just great and I was thankful that I could be there .