h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

First off, I really need to get my modem fixed, because this is the first chance I've had to write a journal, after backlog (still haven't even looked at No no no yet)

But, anyway...

Yesterday, at church, we were singing (we'd done about 1.5 songs... 5 minutes?). We were already standing, so I didn't stand up too fast. Anyway, I decided I needed to head to the ladies' room, for the usual preggie-woman reason. I also thought I was going to be sick (mistaken, there). So I went. About halfway there, my vision hazed over, like it does when you get up too fast (but like I said, I'd *been* standing) and I got very dizzy. The haze got thick enough that I was totally blind. I found the wall, and followed it to the corner, then decided that I'd better sit down until I could see again, so I did, right there on the floor. It took a couple minutes. When I could, I continued on my way to the bathroom, where I proceeded to break out in a sweat all over. (Can you tell I've told this story just a *few* times?)

Anyway, told Tom when I got back, but decided I could make it through the service. I did have to put my head between my knees a couple times... I had to hold onto him to get to the car though (still dizzy). We were expecting company, so I decided that I should lay down for a bit before starting the stew, and that Tom could do all the cleanup, as it was just touching-up type stuff anyway. I was still dizzy after lying down (and while I was horizontal!) Now, I don't *like* dizzy (unless I know why, like I've just gotten off a carnival ride, or was spinning a niece or nephew 'round). OK, so no one like unexplained-dizzy, but it scares me because I *did* have epilepsy for awhile, and while I've been off medication for 5 years now and not had a seizure (nor did I have any seizures the 4 years I was on dilantin)... Anyway, I called the advice nurse at Kaiser, and after telling her everything, and that I didn't have any of the symptoms she asked about, she said I should come in, so Tom called everyone that was supposed to come over, and the person that was going to have to set up for the evening service since Tom wasn't going to be able to, and left for the hospital, after I had a nice big peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and some (Tom's theory was that I'd not eaten enough, but his theory was wrong, as eating made no difference in how I felt). Being too-well-read, I kept reassuring myself that I'm too young for it to be *gulp* preeclampsia (and not far enough in my pregnancy, as was pointed out later)...

I repeated my story for the nurse in the ER (casualty, to you brits) and she sent me to the regular part of the hospital. I repeated my story to the nurse that took my stats before the got there. She took my blood pressure sitting and standing (as has the ER nurse). My blood pressure was nice and low, as usual, but my sitting pulse was 78, while my standing pulse was 118! I repeated my story to the , who did some tests to see if it was my inner ear--nope, not classical vertigo. He did other tests too... His diagnosis, based on the fact that it wasn't anything else, and the *huge* difference in my pulse rate, was dehydration. So he had me hooked up to an IV, and had 1 liter of saline dumped into me. He also had the nurse draw some blood for a test, just in case. I ended up telling both nurses in the IV room my story... While the first one was trying my hand vein (didn't work, but didn't bruise like he said it was going to) I kidded around with Tom that this was a test--if he had trouble watching them put an IV in me, then we'd better rethink him being in the delivery room (I'd already pointed out that now we knew how to get to the hospital where I'll be delivering.) Luckily, I'd had the foresight to bring my book, and tell Tom to bring his... I just wish we'd thought to bring Tom's lab slip, since we'd gotten it the day before, but we were a bit distracted by my dizziness...

Anyway, before the bag was emptied, I was feeling normal. (No snickering--you know what I mean) So I was just dehydrated (and the <doctor did a reassesment after I was disconnected from the IV) I was given a 3 day diet that they give to people to rehydrate them after vomiting too much (though I've not been, nor have I been having the other problems that indicate that diet). Nothing but clear liquids for the first 12 hours, nothing but clear liquids, saltines, toast, butterless but with jelly or honey, and pretzels for the next 12 (this morning to dinnertime), not much more allowed the next 24 hours, and a few more things the next day. And I'm supposed to take in 1/2 cup of liquid every half hour (I've come close, and I'm sloshing...) So the only solid food I've had since that sandwich yesterday around 1 pm is toast this morning and pretzels for lunch (and those have to be the best pretzels I've ever had)

*sigh*

So if I'd been drinking more water, I wouldn't have had to go to the hospital, and I could eat food...

*phew* your OK though...

Amy, Amy, Amy... 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, remember?

I fill a 24 oz bottle at least twice a day - sometimes 3 times a day.

But I'm glad you're and it wasn't anything real serious.

Why the lowered amounts of food? I can understand the fluid intake, but it seems odd for you to be eating less.

(In homage of your liquid state)











Once nearly passed out at the Taco Bell - only just managed to hold onto the counter until the spell passed. I never could figure out what happened, but dehydration is as good a guess as anything else.

Take care of yourself, girl!

I've been dehydrated, I know the mind it kind of goes . I drink lots of water now tho'. Glad your OK amy, good to know your Doc's are looking after you.

s

-- DoctorMO --

** Silly girl...

QWell, at least* it was only* dehydration - girl : I've a (male) friend who suffered from something simular, quite a few years back, and since which time, he, like me, drinks a lot of water; coffee and tea are dehydrating theoretically, as is alcohol, but I guess your unlikely to be having alcohol anyway : I get through about two litres of water a day, plus five or so cups of coffee, and the "ocasional" and botle of : just force yourself to always* have a cup of water about, I tend to use a mineral water bottle, and just refill it three or four times a day

I would be glad to send you some of our lovely farm water, Amy It has remarkable restorative properties from the trace minerals in it. (We just had it tested for purity, etc.)
It doesn't taste like citified water, because there is no chlorine in it, etc.

I'm really glad you're o.k.
lady Karen

Ooooh!


Is your water from a well or a spring?



I've settled for a filter on our faucet and a couple of filter pitchers, just to get the chlorine taste and odor out of the water. We do have lots of lime in our water though, so I doubt I'll be having a calcium deficiency any time soon.

Our water is from a well. It's REALLY COLD WATER, too
I have to let the water sit in a glass on the counter before I drink it, as it makes my teeth hurt otherwise
lady Karen

The reason I can't eat much right now is they've got me on a 3-day diet for nausea/vomiting/diarrhea () and, although I've none of the three (since morning sickness *does* seem to have disappeared as if by once this second trimester started) I'm being good and following it.

And 1/2 cup every half hour is 16 cups, which is why I was sloshing... At least I know my kidneys are working just fine, and I'm getting plenty of exercise, as the nearest bathroom here at work is actually just up the stairs...

That little pun'kin in your tummy giving you trouble? I had to have an IV with my first pregnancy for more or less the same reasons.. The nurse doing it didn't know what she was doing and spilled my blood all over the floor and actually had to ask my husband for help . How are you otherwise? Any baby kicks yet?

No kicks that I can feel yet--I'm only 13 weeks...

And it's not PaperBaby's fault I wasn't drinking enough...

Your dehydration wasn't nausea related then?

Nope--just didn't take into consideration that my blood volume has increased by 50%, and I've more, um, output (Translation--I forgot that since I'm peeing more...)

Poor thing

At least it was something easily fixed, and it's definately not going to happen again!

*leaves a glass of mineral water