So, I'm home from a week long stay at the QE2.

Two weeks ago I had what seemed like a flu that originated somewhere deep in the Amazon jungle. I had a fever, sweats, aches and pains that took my breath away, and I was extremely weak.

I went to Cobequid emergency and they tested me for H1N1 (which was negative), told me I had a walking pneumonia and sent me home.

The next day I felt even worse and even shorter of breath so I went back to Cobequid emergency. My oxygen levels were extremely low, and my pulse was really weak, so they took me by ambulance to the QE2 where I spent the night in emergency, next to a public washroom where I could hear every detail of every person's washroom visit... not fun.

So, the next day the doctor said there were no beds for me, I could go home and rest. The doctor said, if it gets worse, come back. So I went home. I thought to myself, "This cot outside of the washroom will kill me before the pneumonia."

At home things got worse again quickly. My stomach distended and made me look 5 months pregnant, I could barely lift my head, and I felt like I was being smothered. At this point I had 15 pounds of fluid on my organs.

Back to the Cobequid emergency I went, only to be sent home again and told to come back in the morning. The doctor said that my kidneys and spleen were enlarged, my liver was over functioning and there was a small amount of fluid around my heart. But he didn't feel admitting me again was a good idea until they could do an ultrasound in the morning.


So, again I went back to Cobequid the next morning for my ultrasound and was rushed again by ambulance to the QE2 where I was put in IMCU, which is a step down from intensive care. I was freaking out!
Twenty four hour nursing care is no joke. You know you're sick when every breath you take has to be monitored. My pneumonia had worsened and my body was reacting by retaining fluids. The doctor said it looked like the pneumonia had punched holes in my lungs. It was quite impressive from a medical standpoint.
I stayed on I.V. antibiotics for the nest 6 days before they finally let me go home.
Things I did learn...

...no matter how well you take care of yourself you can still get sick.
...It pays to know your body. When the doctor asked me my weight, average blood pressure, resting heart rate etc., I had all of the answers.

...Listen to your body. When it tells you to sit still....sit still. And when it tells you to go seek out medical attention, listen to it. If it weren't for Devin harassing me to get up and go to the emergency room I'd be dead.

I knocked on the door of the hospital for a long time before they let me in. The doctors didn't really think I could be as sick as I was because of my age and health. They didn't really take me seriously until I was close to death.

Take charge of your medical health and demand to be taken seriously. You have one body, and no one else knows how you feel but YOU!

And a HUGE "Thank You!" to all of my friends who visited, helped out with the kids and said lots of prayers! Also a big thanks to the giant burrito that found its way to my hospital room!