The Bratprince Goes to the Hospital

Well...I must say it has been an interesting end of the year for me.  I suffer from an autoimmune disease called Lupus.  Oddly, only about ten percent of the people with the disease are men.  However, the newsman Charles Kuralt died of Lupus.

I have had an earlier flair-up this year that put me in the hospital for a few days, but this one was a bit worse.

In the early morning hours of the 27th I began to have a bit of trouble breathing.  I called Gary and asked what to do.  Because we know how quickly these episodes come on, he told me to call an ambulance which I did.  By the time the ambulance got here, my breathing was so shallow that I don't remember anything else. 

I was taken to the critical care unit of Methodist Hospital where I had to be intubated (breathing tube) and they placed me in a medically induced coma for a day and a half thus I would not try to remove the tube.  If you have never been intubated, I don't recommend it.  However, it was that or die.  I could no longer breathe because much like pneumonia my lungs had filled with fluid.  The machine breathed for me for a day and a half...and then finally they were able to unhook me.  Going from an intubation to breathing on your own is a very scary process and it feels like you are suffocating for a few minutes.  However...fortunately I was able to breathe on my own (I still have a sore throat from the tube).  We were very lucky that the lack of oxygen did not affect my brain function or heart (although some would argue that I have never had either).

2 days in Critical Care was enough and they moved me into a very nice private room in the main hospital ward.  I must say I have never had so many needles sticking into me.  I had four different I.V. tubes and visitors were restricted.  Flowers were not allowed because of the pollen...although a few nice friends did send them and they were given to deserving patients on the ward.  I had a great nurse each day named Mark that kept me cheered up (he was sort of Jack from Will and Grace).  I have never watched so much bad t.v. in my life.

I wanted out days ago, but was just released this morning.  They thought I might have been able to go home last night, but wanted to make sure that I was fine, rested and recovered.  I feel great now and am thrilled to be home.

My lungs are clear and I have a new medication that should help prevent this from happening again.

So there you have it.  Even a Bratprince is vulnerable.  Thanks to all that sent me well wishes through FACEBOOK, etc.  My Blackberry didn't work in the hospital, but Gary would read the messages to me from home off the computer. 

Glad to see 2010!!!  Makes you think.  Life can be taken in an instant....but...I suppose I'm supposed to be here awhile longer because here I sit.  Happy New Year to all of my blog visitors and friends.  I'm most pleased to be here with you.

Yours, Bratprince