So last month, I got my super flyer miles for staying in the hospital. I told Katie one day if I stay one more time, I get a free stay for a week. Like she said it’s kinda sad and funny at the same time. I swear I’ve been there enough times to recognize most of the nurses, doctors, IV team members, and mostly the lab people. The lab people stuck me enough times this last time.

Because my left arm has a fistula, they can’t do anything with it. They cannot put an IV in that arm or draw blood or anything. The left arm is untouchable. Therefore, they had to attack my right arm for labs and IV’s. You should have seen it, it was Totally black and blue. I was in the hospital for four days, so that’s at least four sticks for lab tests, and one time, the IV team tried to insert a new IV and failed three times. I was severely dehydrated so it was very hard to get any needles in me. They also had to do an arterial blood gas, so that was pretty painful.

If you’re wondering, I had two things wrong with me to land in the hospital. I had Pancreatitis and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Tons of fun! NOT.

At first, I was in moderate pain. I told Meesh to come home, I Totally needed her and she came home. On her way home, the pain escalated to the point of agony. I was having a hard time even breathing. So I had Meesh call 911, and an ambulance was dispatched. I was going to have her take me to Urgent Care, but there was no way I could wait. The pain was on the verge of 10 out of 10. I mean this was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. I thought I was going to die, that’s how painful it was.

The EMT’s took good care of me and my blood sugar was 400+. I don’t remember what it was exactly, but it was 400 something. So for the first time in my life, I took a ride in an ambulance as a patient. (I’ve drove and ridden in ambulances many times as an EMT myself.)

I started to feel better. At first, we didn’t know what it was. Throughout the stay in the hospital it was determined (after an x-ray) I had pancreatitis. At first, they were baffled on the cause. They asked me repeatedly if I drank alcohol, since that’s the main factor of pancreatitis. But I haven’t drank a lick of alcohol for years. It’s not Really a good thing as a kidney patient and diabetic to Really drink. Especially in excess.

But after more labs, they determined the cause of my pancreas being so inflamed was DKA. I Really needed to manage my insulin better.

The treatment for this was surprisingly simple. I was on PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesic – Heaven!) and npo or nothing by mouth. (Don’t ask me why po stands for by mouth…I forgot why) So I had ice chips for two days. After those two days, I was able to go on a clear liquid diet, which basically meant broth and jello. I must tell you, I never thought beef broth could taste so good. Sugar free jello was incredible.

I’m doing much better now and not planning on another stay in the hospital. Any more hospital stays from now on will definitely be planned. I hope.