My Story Part 3: "Strep"

continued from My Story Part 2...

This illness has flipped my life completely upside down over the past (about) 9 weeks. I am typically a very outgoing, energetic, driven person. In December 2009 i graduated with honors from Southern Adventist University, School of Nursing. On January 14, 2010 i took and passed my boards, earning me my Registered Nurse License. I returned home, anxious to start working and find a place of my own. I had an interview and possible housing lined up, and boy was i excited. Two weeks into this process my first symptom showed up. 24 hours later i was in the misdt of a serious illness.

From the onset of my symptom it took 6 1/2 weeks to diagnose me with what we would learn was Adult Still's Disease. Over the course of this time i went through a literal hell. My doctors thought it was just a strep infection at first, but after becoming severely dehydrated and not feeling any better, i was admitted to the hospital for fluids, antibiotics, and meds to control the now tremendous amount of muscle and joint pain i was in. I was treated and released at 36 hours, and went home in hopes that this was over. I felt great the next day and thought all was well until about 24 hours after my discharge when the anti-inflammatory medication began to wear off. The rash, pain, and fevers started to creep in and become more severe with each passing day. Desparate to find comfort i visited my doctor almost daily for two weeks, each time getting a coctail of new prescriptions and shots to get rid of the "strep".

Finally after two weeks of antibiotics of every kind and around-the-clock apin meds, i spiked a severe fever and was in so much pain that i was neraly unconcious. My doctor took one look at me and said i needed a specialist and a bigger hospital than Niles had to offer. He was out of ideas on what was wrong. I was rushed the emergency room by my mom and dad only to be told that it was indeed just a "really bad" strep infection. I recieved more fluids, antibiotics and pain medication before being released to home. Two days laster the excruciating pain that engulfed my entire body and a fever of 103.1 landed me back in the ER. The same physician that saw me two days before was on duty and immediately took over my case. He know there was something more serious than strep going on at this point. As i floated in and out of conciousness from the ravaging pain and fever, i began undergoing a serious of tests. I had a head CT, a chest x-ray, lumbar puncture, and an unmentionable amount of labs drawn from my bruised and blown veins, all before receiving any medication to help control my pain. (the doctor couldnt give me anything that would make me more "out of it" than i already was. He needed me to be able to follow directions and focus on the tests being done - especially the spinal tap) I screamed and cried throughout most of it because any touch of my skin, including my own, sent the pain over the edge. The only reason i made it was because i knew as soon as they were done i would get some kind of relief - as promised by my doctor.

I was admitted that night and spent the next 3 days being poked and proded by a slew of different medical team members. I was seen by my attending doctor, a residnt, a rheumatologist, an infectious disease specialist, a pharmacist and many others to try to connect the dots of my bizzare symptoms and why they werent responding to the antibiotics that should long ago put them to rest. All my labs and blood cultures came back negative and my blood was indicative of an infection, though one was not visibly present. Realizing that they are merely "babysitting" me in the hospital after 3 days, i was discharged with yet more antibiotics, antiinflammatories, and pain medications.

I survived about another week at home in so much pain that i stayed in bed all day to avoid any movement that would increase it. Someone would have to be on either side of me to get me to the bathroom, and if i could stomach any food or drink it would be hand fed to me by my mother. Although i was in bed all day and all night, i could probably count the hours of sleep i got the whole month of February on two hands. Pain and discomfort were my constant companion, and didnt allow my body any rest. Showers and personal hygiene were not high on my list of priorities. On days that i could stand to have anyone touch me, my mother would shower me and wash my hair as i sat helpless in the shower - unable to lift my arms to even wash my own hair or body...