ER Visit

With my new radiation treatment, comes a drug to strengthen my bones. “Zometa” I was asked to do a clinical trial with this drug, which I agreed to. The biggest side effect is with the jaw in people who receives it. In about 5% of cases, there is a part of the jaw that can just die off. The drug was given to me on Wednesday 9/14, no real problem….. well , yet anyway. Terry and I left the oncologists office about 10:00am. We were on our way to Jenni and Jared’s house so Terry could go back to work and Jenni could take me back to get radiation that afternoon. Terry was driving me to Jenni’s and I started slurring my words. I became very tired and lethargic. I couldn’t focus. My eyes kept opening and shutting. Everything was in a blur. I felt like I had been “Drugged”. Terry said I acted like I was drunk. I HATED the feeling of not being in control of my own body. It really scared me, not being in control.
After arriving at Jenni’s house, I asked Terry for a priesthood blessing. I believed this would help. I am so grateful for the priesthood in my life. Terry gave me the blessing and within a few minutes I could felt better. I then was talking to Jenni about the influence of God in our lives. I told her how the Priesthood is such a wonderful way to receive the gifts from God. In mid-sentence I fell asleep. I slept for about an hour and a half. I then woke up and we headed off to radiation.
I received my radiation, visited with Dr. Clark. I told him of the reaction to the medicine I had that morning. I also told “the woman in charge of the study” of the reaction I had with the medicine as well. About that time I kind of stumbled. She insisted that I get wheeled (in a wheelchair) to my oncologist, Dr. Rich’s office. I didn’t think it was necessary. In fact, I felt kind of dumb, crusin’ off in the double wide wheelchair. I was kind of dizzy, but I felt like I was okay. One of my radiation tech’s, Brooke, gave me a ride Dr. Rich’s. We did take a side road to show Jenni the radiation machine. I was sure we told “the woman in charge of the study.” Obviously, she didn’t hear that we were taking a side road and she took off to the office. Brooke, just went ahead and took me to the other side of the hospital. One thing I really like about Brooke, is she is so BLUNT. She is REAL! We found “the woman in charge of the study” in a panic looking for me at Dr. Rich’s office.
Jenni and I waited for Dr. Rich for about 15 minutes (our wait is much longer on other occasions) —he sent us right to ER. I wasn’t exactly sure why. When Nancy (PA for Dr. Rich) wheeled me to the ER, I asked her, “Why the ER, what is the big rush?” She said, there could be two things that could happen. #1 Slight Stroke, #2 The cancer could have gone to the Brain. My blood-pressure skyrocketed. 159/92. Having it on my ankle is a new experience in itself. Average blood pressure is 130’s/80’s. I was worried to say the least. I think more than anything I was not sure of what was going to be the outcome. THE UNEXPECTED.
Terry had called our bishop to see if there was someone in the ward that could help give a blessing to me. Brother Palmer, who works in the Provo area came over to give me a blessing. Only in Utah would you tell nurses you were going to give your wife a blessing and they asked if we had consecrated oil. I thought it was funny.
They took me to get an emergency CT scan to check if “indeed” I did have a stroke or the cancer had moved. So off I went … It took about an hour to complete the scans. The results: Vertigo…. Really??…. They gave me a bunch of prescriptions that I was “supposed “ to fill. I guess I am a little like my dad. If I don’t need it… I’m not going go take it. I really don’t believe I have Vertigo. Off to home we went.