It has been a long while since I've posted... and there's a bit to catch up on. I will try my best to sum it up in a shorter amount of details but if you want to know more, I'm very open and willing to answer any questions.
Well I was having a rough day, thankfully we were off to see Cara, my Dr. that handles my meds. After talking with her, we decided that the best idea for me, would be to head down to the University District ER to be mentally evaluated. They decided to admit me back into the Johnson Unit, I believe is was December 18th, 2012. I was in the JU this time around until January 8, 2013.
While being in the hospital, I was undergoing ECT treatments on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays each week. I was being transferred by ambulance from the UD to the RiverBend SPA. I would get to my room and the nurse would come to set up my IV. Then Dr. Velez would come in and ask us a series of questions and then take me back to the Endo Room where they do the ECT.
Once I'm back there I get this spiffy headband put on, that has some lube on the plates, where they touch my head... kind of by my temples. The Anesthiologist sets a mask over my face and has me take deep breaths of oxygen, in and out. Then they put something through the IV, the first one burns a bit. The second one they put in is the good stuff that will knock me out. I like this feeling. It sounds like a tunnel, like all the sounds from our room are just zoning in towards my ears, then I'm out cold.
I wake up in recovery and it isn't too much longer until they take me back out in to a room. I get a room that has a recliner chair in it. they bring a few warm blankets and also something to drink and snack on. Once all that is good to go, time for me to leave! The paramedics would show back up and I would climb over onto the stretcher and we were off. Loaded me up in the ambulance, headed back to UD.
That would happen M,W,F each week... it was a lot and it was exhausting. I did manage to lose a bit of memory which always kind of stinks.
Once I returned home it was some relief and some nervousness. I don't want to add pressure to my parents by making them feel like they have to be my nurses. It's really hard knowing that you're the one causing all this extra stress and anxiety to your family, but then there isn't really anything I can do to make it better that quickly.
Now I have finished my first Maintenance ECT, the next will be three weeks out, so Feb 18th. I am really afraid that these are being spread too thin for me right now. I just don't feel like I'm were I should be or could be. I know everyone has down days, but right now my down days are almost 50% of my days. I just want to feel happy.
I am going to give Jen a call tomorrow. Jen is Dr. Velez's assistant. See what they suggest doing, whether it involves adjusting my meds or our ECT schedule.
