Last Tuesday (May 5th, 2020), I started running a high fever (103°F) and severe vomiting. I was first admitted to Kaiser-Permanente in Tysons Corner, VA, then took an ambulance to Reston Hospital Center when they couldn’t get my blood pressure elevated higher than 70/38. Virginia Hospital Center denied my admittance due to a high number of COVID-9 (Coronavirus) patients, and they couldn’t ensure my safety.
For the past week, I was pumped heavily full of IV antibiotics, antifungals, magnesium, potassium, and fluids. I quickly gained 20 lbs of fluid retention and my lymphedema worsened in my legs and arms. When I was discharged yesterday, I was shocked to see the scale. I’ll need to walk more, ride the Peloton cycle more, and stretch more over the coming weeks and months to expel, reduce, or reabsorb this fluid weight.
I was very cautious and kept separated from all the Coronavirus patients at Reston Hospital Center, but it was made abundantly clear how very dangerous a respiratory infection and ventilator would be to my severely immunocompromised health. The medical team made the implications of a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and what a respiratory infection would do to me while being so heavily compromised with neutropenia and lymphopenia.
So I need to be VERY careful when outside of the house and in social settings… now more than ever. I’m thankful to be home again, but I need to be even more mindful and careful.