My Major MS Flare Up - The Full Version

OK for those of you the don't know I have Multiple sclerosis or MS. I sometimes whinge & rant about my symptoms & how I'm feeling in my Twitter feed, with the hashtag of #MSSucks

How I got it and what my major & minor symptoms are can be found here http://angtgaid.blogspot.com/ so if you want to read about the begin of the saga your quiet welcome.

So anyway since around the begining of October I noticed an increase in the intensity of some of my symptoms. Us MSers call then Attacks, Flare Ups or Exacerbation being male I shrugged it of as part of dealing with MS. As the month went the symptoms got a little worse slowly. I didn't rush to the Doctor/Neruo over them as I had a yearly review coming up in December.

So we cut to the 7am on the Friday (the 3rd of December) when I woke with the need to use the bathroom. I swung my feet to the floor used my stick to stablise my self amd pushed up. Then the fun started. My knees gave way not supporting my body weight and I sunk to the floor (think like a marionette puppet collapsing with no strings to support it)

Then I feel forward my face ending up is a bucket near the bed that I had thrown some clothes over. Smothering me. Thoughts racing thru my head of people finding smother to death in a pile of clothes. All I could think was Horatio Cane investigating my death and working out is was "accidental" and adding a witty one liner "Case Clothed" sliding on his sunglasses and The Who opening rift firing up ;)

So rolled out of the clothes and ended up on my back struggling a little like a landed fish, a little out of breath. Not really knowing what to do (as I live alone) So after attempting to pull myself up a couple of times with no success (yes I had a little cry as its very frustration) I laid back down to catch breath.

Not sure what to do I decided to call my mother (my parents are major support/help). So a little tear I called them and explained. I knew they would really be able to help much I'm around 120kg at them moment and my parents are on the smallish side (5'3") and my mother is still recovering from major surgery.

So they said they would come over anyway. So I laid there a little longer thinking what I should do. Never really discussed with my Neuro or the MS Society (I'm a member) about an Emergency Exacerbation Action Plan.

One thing was worrying me was I knew I would be going for a ride in an ambulance if I I had paid up my membership. I was positive I had paid it, but paid it late.

So that was going to be my first call. The next was a call to my Neuro, then the next a call to the MS Society. So my parents arrived (mother has a key) Dad came as well (was grumpy) and said I hope I did expect them to left me. I said I knew and that! So I went thru who I was going to call etc. I ask Mum to find my wallet to get Ambo card and land line phone & some water as I was parched.

OK people a little bit of advice. I don't have home insurance, health insurance etc BUT I do have Ambo cover and I high recommend you get it http://www.saambulance.com.au/publicweb/products-amb.html#rates As I'm a on a disability its a cheap yearly insurance for me. All you need to do is look at the "Transport Rates" for if you are not covered http://www.saambulance.com.au/publicweb/products-ambTransport.html :)

So I laid there for a bit, was able to sit myself up and move my legs around with my arms. Called my Neuro to find out if he started early but got voice mail saying business hours started at 9am.

So I settled in to wait, while my parents pottered around and did some cleaning up which was appreciated.So it hit 9am (at which point I had been on the floor for 2hours) and called the Ambo service. Found out yes I had paid up, so one hurdle down. Next was the Neuro. Explained to the receptionist what the issue was and if I could speak to Doctor, Sarah the head receptionist took over the call (she is better informed with the patients) explained to hear & she spoke to Dr Robinson who then came on the line, who said yes I should call Ambulance and see if they would bring me to the QEH (he consults at hospital which is across from his practice).

So called 000 (first time in life I have called 000) and explained my situation. They took details and said a crew was being dispatched. Phone call two down. So next I called MS Society and asked to speak to MS Nurse. Was put thru to Helen & explained the mornings events so far what was happening and  what I should do thru them once I was at hospital and the follow up from them. I wasn't long on the phone when the Ambo crew arrived and they did an easement of me to see if I was injured from the fall etc while I explained how it happened etc.

I was impressed by the crew Tim (I think he was the team leader) he was cool, funny and helpful. So we work out a plan of attack to get me up involving a firm chair for me to support myself on to push, the ambos "green chair" and a belt around me for Tim to use as leverage to pull on me.

So we got everything into position I used the chair to get myself onto my knees they got the green chair behind me. SO with a push up from me and a backwards yank from time I was on the green chair. Took a little breather as it took a little bit out of me. Then they reassessed me. As they were an emergency crew they would take me to the RAH I advised that my Neuro consulted at the QEH so Tim suggested we call my Neuro and see what options were available.

After talking to my Neuro he said I was really an "emergency" (life threatening) case, and Dr Robinson organised wit the Neuro registrar for an admit to the Neuro ward at the QEH. Then Tim orgaised a "Transport" for me, the earliest available was 11:30am. Once this was done the organised to slide me across to my PC chair for me to sit in for the wait, finished off some paper work for the transport crew and departed.

With help from Mum orgainsed a bag of small bag of essentials (phone, medicare & concession card etc) then moved to be in front of the PC as well & discovered the base station from my phone was out, along with my Digital Set Top Box and more importantly my MODEM!!!!

So after my father exploring what the issue was I worked out it was where the power board was plug into the wall the switched was knocked off. Power restored modem rebooted INTERWEBZ BACK YEAH.!

As this happened I had not realised that as my butt was a little numb and the seat of my chair tilts a little bit back and forward. The chair had tilted forward and I had slide closer to the edge of chair with out realising it.

Then BANG!!! WTF I was on the floor again!!!

Few swear words flew, and a laugh at how I could be in the same problem I was in a less than 30-45 minutes before hand.

My parents looked at me. I said I was OK and they could leave (as they had a few things to do that day) and I would be OK for the 45-60 minutes I had to wait for the ambo transport crew to arrive.

Well this is around when I started to tweet and the mornings events and the #TweetsFromTheFloor hashtag was born :)
Some of my followers started to respond with support and best wishes which was really nice. So I gave a report (abbreviated for 140 characters) about the mornings events with my normal self deprecating sarcastic gallows humour :)

If you want to you can troll back thru my Twitter time line to read them http://twitter.com/BrentonHorsell

So I was going to hospital!!! The crappy thing would mean NO INTERWEBZ!!! I mentioned something about I really needed to a laptop & a MiFi for times like this! a couple @ me’s later @atriad posted to me did I know how to use an eeePC netbook & @internode WiFI USB dongle?

I responded that yeah I did, & he said he would arrange once I was in the ward to drop in and lend me his eeePC & Internode dongle.

I thanked him for his generosity & exchanged mobile numbers so I could text him location etc.
As the day wore on more people posted support which was nice. Then I realised that it was 12:30!!! So I recalled 000 to see what was happen and the nice operator found my details confirmed I was booked for transport but that they were a little busy and that transports were secondary to emergencies and I would be transport at the earliest available time.

I had informed her I was back on the floor but not injured. She said if there was a need to call back & also gave me the general non-emergency number as well. So I settle back on the floor, keyboard dangling over the edge of the table tweeting away.

So at around 2:00pm the transport guys arrive and explain they can’t bring stretcher in so going to have to “green chair” me out to it. So got my wire firm chair brought in so I move myself on to my knees got on to my little single seater red sofa with a little huffy and puffing. Had a rest then got my arse on the the green ambo chair.

So buckled me in, grabbed my bag of goodies and slowly wheeled me out. Did realise it so warm until I got outside in the sun. The ambos locked my house and I began my first ambulance trip in my life time.

It was a little boring they took some obs as we traveled ask some questions re my illness talked about them. So soon I arrived at the QEH the ambos wheeled me to admission processed the paper work and took me to the ED to wait for a little bit for an Orderly to take me to the Neuro ward.

Arrived at the Neuro ward and assigned my bed and was transferred in to it. Slowly staff come and assessed me. Thirty minutes after I arrived Dr Robinson showed up and did his consult re my episode and was a little pissed that I had stopped my meds (Betaferon - long story as to why). He prescribed a 3 day course of IV Methylprednisolone (a steroid) and booked an MRI for me (I hate those things).

So once along in the hospital bed I got to have a “Homer Simpson” moment “Bed goes up, bed goes down”

Then dinner arrived :) I ate and then not long after another Doctor came around to insert a IV Jelco (the little plug thing they push the IV needle into). He had issues with my right arm getting the Jelco plastic shaft into the vein (arm looks like a junkies at the moment). So he switched to the left arm and had issues for a little bit until he finally got it I!!!

So I got rested for a little while before another Doctor came to insert a catheter. That's a little like going thru a TSA check point and getting you junk felt up ;) Hahahaha!!! They use the wrong gauge to start with and had to redo it with a lager gauge. So then I moved to the chair next to my bed and my first IV was administered. I sat there for a while and dozed. Then a little later my parents visited for about 30 plus minutes got updated on the current situation and what was going to happen.

So after they left I was bored so played some Solitaire on my phone, sent a couple SMS when I could get a signal, and played some more Solitaire. Dozed a little bit more. Then asked to go to the day room to watch some TV. On the way got KitKat & bag on Snakes.

So watched late night Michael Caine movie the after it finished head back to my room and bed. Next I was woken up with morning obs & meds round at 8am and breakfast in bed. So ate breakfast read the paper which took up most of the morning. Net thing I knew was it was lunch time. So ate lunch had Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar levels done. Played a little Solitaire and had a little Nana Nap in the chair. Then my first surprise visit from @atriad and @ omegatron (aka Tim and Andrew) which was a nice visit and they brought gifts. The EeePC and @internode WiFi USB Dongle. So after a nice visit the did a quick run thru of how to connect etc. I am very grateful for the guys doing it for me just shows how good hearted people are. You get two thumbs up in my “Good Guys Book” Tim and Andrew :)

So grab my USB drive with some apps I use like KeePass (stores all my usernames/passwords) quick install of that. Then install of Trillian. So was able to log into Twitter, Facebook & my IM accounts :)

So took me a bit to catch up with all @ me’s with people wishing me well, support and speedy recovery which made me feel good guys and was appreciated greatly. So next was dinner and then a visit from parents again. More Tweeting, catching up with people via IM and then started to watch one of the movies that was on portable hard drive that the guys included in my “Tech Care Package”.

First for my viewing pleasure Iron Man 2 so in between IM messages and Twitter @ me’s I enjoyed the action romp. So I spent the night doing that. As it got later I still couldn’t sleep and my room mate was having an up and down night as well (plus has mild memory issues) so issues remembering the Nurse Call Button/TV Remote Functions. So he added to me nt wanting to sleep. So started to watch Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey) Once it hit around 4am I was a little tired so decide that I should sleep, but need potty as soon as I had laid down /facepalm.

Once in the bathroom also decide I wanted a shower as I had not had one for a week as I have a high walled bath at home and didn’t want to try and climb over the edge and risk a fall.

So had a nice long shower then hoped in to bed and feel asleep.

Next was Sunday morning obs and meds round and breakfast. Today's meals I actually got to choose the day before.

Not long after that got a visit from the duty doctor who did obs and Q and A about how I’m feeling etc. Also found out that my MRI doesn’t have a time scheduled yet so hopefully it will be in morning. But will advise as to what time it will be so those people who may want to visit will know if I will be awake (getting fully knocked out for MRI :) Yeah I’m a big wuss, but MRIs aren’t like on the medical dramas!!!) So also found out most likely will be in here until Wednesday at the best case worse case a little longer. Will depend on the MRI scan and how the steroids course is helping me as to the next  step.

So I started writing this at around 10am and before I knew it was midday an d lunch time so as you can see I’m getting three square meals a day :) (while they are ot the greatest meals I have had they are neither the worse, and its nice not have to cook for yourself :) )

Not long after I got my first visitor of the day the lovely @Nattersmuch (aka Nat) who popped to see how I was and brought me some mags :) After consulting with her hubby who advised computers and boobs ;) Good one David :)
Then a little while @Jaseoz (aka Jason) dropped by and said for a bit and shoot the breeze with me. About 60 seconds after Jase left my parents dropped by. They must have passed each other in the hall way :)

So guys thanks for dropping in and having a chat, much appreciated. Weird that my Tweeter friends have been more supportive than some of my long-term real life friends!!!

So anyway my parents left as my dinner arrived which I just finished a little bit ago which now leaves me a little time to finish this off, spell check it, proof it and post.

So if you have any questions etc feel ask on twitter, email or IM etc.

If you want to chat fire of a request for my IM usernames (MSN/YIM/G-Talk/Skype etc)

Once again I would like to thank Tim and Andy for the “Tech Support Care Package” really appreciate it guys. To those that have dropped by, and to all those people who have sent my @ support messages and well wishes


Cheers guys