Hello, I'm back.

[brak666]

So, I had a little unscheduled time off. I was doing a 3-11 shift on wednesday night. My right eye was a little blurry, but I didn't think much of it, I just figured my contacts were dry and I hadn't brought my re-wetting drops. A little before seven I went to the bathroom and while I was washing my hands I noticed in the mirror that my right pupil was much larger than the left. So I had another nurse look at it, and it wasn't reacting to light. I was just going to call my eye doctor the next day but she insisted I go to the emergency room. So I went to the hospital and they did a CT scan of my head because they couldn't find anything wrong with my eye. The CT showed a spot, which is about all they ever show. It was late and they couldn't do an MRI. The ER doc wanted to admit me there, but the attending physician I picked was worried that it could be something really serious and wanted me to go to a bigger hospital in another town with an icu and neuro-surgeons 24 hours a day. So I spent the night in the icu (after a second CT) and then waited and waited and waited for my MRI. Around lunch time they decided I was stable enough to be put on a regular floor, but I didn't get moved until seven and didn't get the MRI done until 10. You do a lot of waiting in the hospital (thank goodness they had MSNBC). This morning I saw several doctors and they gave me my MRI results (I now have a picture of my brain). Turns out the spot was a cavernous hemangioma. Basically a tangle of blood vessels. I've probably had it my whole life. It's not bleeding. It's not really doing anything. They're not even sure that it caused my eye problem. They changed my blood pressure medicine and stressed the importance of keeping my bp down because it could start bleeding if my pressure is too high. The neurologist wants to see me in a month and they'll probably want me to have MRI's once a year just to keep an eye on it.

But long story short, I'm ok, and happy to be home. Work has been really nice about it. They sent me balloons and candy and when I called them today to tell them I could come back for the weekend they told me to stay home and rest. So yay!

Comments

[minotaurs.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that it wasn't your brain exploding. [grin]

[mofic.livejournal.com]

It sounds very scary! I'm glad it didn't turn out to be serious.

[sorka42.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness it turns out it wasn't anything life threatening. between what happened to my cat and hearing about you, I've been having a bit of a stressful week. Thinking positive thoughts for you. :)

[nolee.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! I'm glad you're ok! Here's to a nice relaxing weekend. :-)

[natlyn.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are okay. But you were seriously freaking me out for a bit. No word on what the eye thing was?

[brak666.livejournal.com]

No word on what the eye thing was?

Not really. They said it could've been cause by the hemangioma, but just as easily could've been something else. The ER called an opthalmologist. He didn't examine me, but he couldn't think of anything other than head trauma that would've caused it.

[sorka42.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you didn't come in contact with some kind of medication at work? A broken pill or something? Did you fall in the shower and hit your head? Were you mugged and have no memory of it?

[brak666.livejournal.com]

If I'd hit my head hard enough to lose my memory of it there would probably be some physical sign. I don't remember getting anything in my eye, but I suppose it's possible I got some minute trace of something in there. I do crush a lot of medications.

[starbuck3614.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're ok!

[kenkari.livejournal.com]

Take care of yourself! There's only one of you!

Eeep

[scythancyphur.livejournal.com]

Wow; I'm glad you're okay! Having a lack of internet access really sucks...I lose track of people too easily. At least it's nothing too bad and I'm glad your workplace is being so considerate too. That's pretty rare these days. None the less; we'll have to hang out sometime soon! Hope all is well and give Karen my regards please. :) ttyl!!!