The Many Frustrations of Having My Blood Tested

This is a short version of a long story. I got very sick in July of 2008 and almost died. Everything happened so quickly it was a total NIGHTMARE. My neighbor was so concerned about me she simply told me she was taking me to the ER. By the time she got me there my body had started to shut down. I couldn't even remember my social security number for the nurse asking my information.

By the time I had given what information and waiting to be seen I looked like I was sleeping, but could hear everything going on around me but wasn't able to respond. It took hours to get into a exam room. They started me on IV fluids because I was so dehydrated and before 48 hours my kidneys shut down, my blood went wacky and the fluids had put over 30 pounds onto me. Within days I was many pounds over my normal size into the over the 200 pound range from retained fluid. I became the mystery woman because no one knew what was wrong.

After the first week with every antibiotic on the market used, the nephrology doctor told a surgeon that she needed to operate to try and find the problem. When she opened me, I had a huge hole in my large colon where it had ruptured. She took 14 inches from the large colon. I ended with a colostomy bag.They were scared to death that I would get an infection even after surgery from the ruptured colon. I was allergic to one antibiotic.

Between the hematology/oncology doctor and the nephrology doctor, I was in the hospital almost a month (4 days lacking). My primary doctor told me, she would have me out before a month. I went home to GET well. My husband and neighbor nursed me to health.

In November of 2008, I returned to the hospital to have the colostomy reversed. My blood and kidneys went wacky again spending another two weeks in the hospital. Great Thanksgiving! Went home to recover once more.

I had many tubes of blood taken two and three times a day. Went through many IV's and two pick lines( where they can draw blood without sticking you with a needle).

Well, yesterday I went for blood testing which went okay. This morning just as I was finishing making my coffee and getting ready to have breakfast my phone rang. When I answered, the first thing I was asked "have you eaten yet?" I said "no", she said "good" we need you to come back as the blood testing lab threw out your blood yesterday and we need more. I said "WHAT"! She apologized again and again. I just couldn't believe it. Told her I would be there in awhile. When I got there she kept apologizing. Whoever threw everyone's blood out will be in big trouble when they find the person.