Stiff Kayla Syndrome: Pleural Effusion

Soooo... mama came home from work and I was awakened from my nap by her and my dad was in the room too.

I had a package! I thought it was easy to open but I just gave up. Mama told me she had news. I asked what it was. "Open the box first". So SHE opened my box (lol) and I had a thinking of you card/birthday card and a gift card inside from one of my grandma's friends. So nice of her :)

Of course then, I had to ask what the news was and I didn't even read the card and note inside (I was curious, can you blame me!)

"They know what it is!".. "What?!".. You DO have some something in you!".. "What??!!!".. "The doctor called me to say the x-ray showed a pleural effusion [around the right lung]".. "So what now?".. "You have to go to the hospital and get it drained with a needle".. "When?".. "Now".

A pleural effusion is extra fluid around the lung. If not treated, it'd collapse my lung. And to think I would have had my doctor's appointment on Monday. It would have collapsed by then. I was just shocked about this news and that West Chester hospital had the results a day before expected and warned my doctor. I thought what's been going on was my SPS progressing for sure.

Baby called me once I told him that it was hospital time. I wanted him to come see me down here but these are caused by a virus and babe's been sick and as we were talking, he was coughing. I kept saying "My poor sick baby" even though he's better. My dad said if he's sick it's not a good idea for him to be coming down. My mom agreed. So that bummed me. I told him I wanted to get a selfie of him next to my hospital bed and kissing my forehead. He's not into PDA but I was going to insist for memories and because he has been THE most worried about me this whole four day journey. It also made me upset because my birthday is in 2 days and I can't have my baby with me for my birthday?! He was going to take me out for a birthday with him and I tomorrow night and then be with me again for a group gathering for my birthday on Saturday. So I am upset. Not only have I not seen him for two weeks but I'm going to have a sucky 22nd birthday just like my 21st. I was supposed to speak about Stiff Person Syndrome to two classes at Miami University tomorrow but I'm not sure if that can happen due to this all now.

Anyway, we drove down to University Hospital and the wait was forever and the triage/checking in was way too slow paced. I actually got directed into the emergency-sorta room to get my vitals. I got dibs before everybody else waiting but then the triage nurse said they actually didn't have any rooms open but when one opened up, I'd get it. So we got directed back to the waiting room where I decided I wanted my mom to wheel me into this tight hallway but with waiting chairs and literally a zig zag maze with the building obstructing the hallway because I don't want all those emergency waiters' germs oh-no-no!

We waited an hour and thirty minutes I'd say until I heard my last name called.

So yadeedah the normal doctors come in to ask when my symptoms started and where the pain was. The run down of how long this has been affecting me. Mama had told me in the car that I've dealt with this longer than others were. SPS makes me a champ when it comes to pain and procedures.

The first doctor that came in went to find the x-ray and came back a bit later saying my pleural effusion is not like most pleural effusions. It was more on the lower end of my lung? Me being in good health other than my SPS, but being immobile, could have caused it to be this way. Also, that it may be a pulmonary embolism. I just got a CAT scan to see from a different view what's going on. It was different than the one I had a year ago or two. The warm IV contrast went all through my neck and up my arms that were up behind my head and down to my low low abdomen which was familiar. But burning from the inside out more than last time but COMPLETELY tolerable. I also felt like I was in a washing machine.. didn't recall that nor having to hold my breath nor be moved back and forth on the moveable table nor the salty taste afterwards. We have to wait an hour for the results (which now should be very soon). We left at 6 something and it's 11 now so with waiting to get in and waiting for blood work, the scan, results, etc. it's been awhile. It's going to be a longgg night.

Baby's twin sis is just as worried and sending loving thoughts and asking for updates--just like all of you on facebook <3 I told bestie Kimmie what was going on, on the way down here and she told me what they'd have to do. I replied "Well you can tell that you are a nurse bahaha". She was dead on what my primary had told my mom when she called her.

But yea, the wifi here sucks and I can't get back to you lovely people but thank you for the prayers. All should be fine, but that's all I know so far.

Also, I've had two pregnant nurses with their adorable belly bumps. One is having a girl, the other a boy.

Also ALSO, I left my mark here.