For the most part I have begun to write for arsgeek.com. Great site, great people, and great 411 on all things geeky. Obviously my pen name is Ghic Chic, and you can isolate my ramblings by looking at the right side menu under the category “Ghic Chic”. I suggest exploring the site though as there’s a lot of good stuff there.
I would have written more than the 4 I have posted, however, this past weekend found me in a very scary, surreal feeling situation.
Due to the heat/humidity last week Jonathon’s liquid anti-seizure medication became tainted. Being as I kept it in the kitchen away from direct sunlight etc., I didn’t even think of the molecular structure changing.
Friday evening Jonathon had a massive seizure which prompted me to watch him like a hawk all that night and Saturday to ensure he didn’t have any more. I figured perhaps heat exhausted prompted it. Sunday he became lethargic, his speech was more slurred than usual and he began to act detached. As I was holding him he began to choke a little and then fell asleep in my arms. When he awoke he began to convulse and was non-responsive. At this point I have him lifted up and faced forward, but it’s continuing and I felt helpless. Quickly I placed him on the floor on his side and grabbed the phone. 911. I couldn’t remember my address when the woman asked me! Apparently I gave her one I had 10 years ago and she confirmed my current one, “YES! THAT’S IT!” Not even five minutes later my apartment was filled with about 20 people from the fire department, paramedics and who knows who else.
He was screaming/breathing (whew). I jumped into the ambulance with him and off we went to the ER- leaving my car and his wheelchair behind.
Jonathon didn’t have any more episodes and I felt the panic slip away as we were in a safe environment. I was unable to deal with what was happening on my own, I needed professionals.
Still doing well, they drew his blood after multiple failed attempts. The test revealed a high dose of the anti-seizure medication. The ER doctor said a high trace could cause break through seizures. He said there wasn’t much they could do there- if I was uncomfortable we could admit him so they could keep an eye on him, or I can take him home and call 911 if he has another one as they’re trained to deal with his type in which he needs oxygen and they can assess whether or to take him in.
Thankfully my neighbor witnessed the whole ordeal and followed us to the hospital, grabbed my keys from me and brought me my car.
Once home, Jonathon went to bed and I put my apartment back together (a lot of people cramped into that tiny place caused everything to be out of place). Then there was that odd feeling of life resuming. No phone calls, no e-mails, it was just a normal evening as if those 6 hours didn’t happen. I watched Jonathon and didn’t give him his nightly meds- and went to bed.
The next day we went to an on call doctor and after reviewing the symptoms, going through the events that led up to the incident, and the high level of medication in his blood, the doctor and I both looked at each other and BINGO. The medicine due to the little amount left in the bottle mixed with the atmospheric changes that week caused it to become more concentrated. The batch turned bad and his symtoms weren’t seizures, they fell in line with the over-dosing symptoms.
SO… a new batch of medication with adjusted doses and daily call in’s to the doctor followed by lab work every other day, Jonathon is recovering and I feel confident he’s out of danger.
Last night was the first night I had to breathe. I didn’t work Monday and I only worked half a day yesterday in order to make sure nothing went wrong with the boy. I spray painted my weathered lawn chairs, set up my back porch to be a quiet little oasis and churned out three articles before collapsing on the floor next to Jonathon early in the evening. I was exhausted.
Once I awoke from my cat nap, I was up pretty late and now I’m feeling the sting of a morning that came too quickly.
