[NPInfo] My neuro update and new diagnosis

[Shelby Havens]

Dena! 
 
You are such a bad girl! I'm sure Linda was absolutely mortified when she saw the shocked look on the faces of the Lamaze ladies. 
 
I have taken Ativan almost at bedtime routinely for the past couple of years - try taking care of Death Row inmates all day and then being too freaked out to rest at night (I just had a psychotic patient cut off his penis last week, and as if that wasn't bad enough, he cut his right carotid artery, too). Anyhow, I would have difficulty being taken off the Ativan abruptly. It can take a couple of months to slowly taper off a benzo, unless you want the patient to have withdrawal problems. And Linda was status post craniotomy as well. 
 
Anyhow, Linda, I am glad to hear your ordeal is over and that you are feeling better now!!! 
 
 
Peace to all,
 
Shelby Havens, ARNP    > Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:20:21 -0400> Subject: RE: [NPInfo] My neuro update and new diagnosis> From: galdena at sbcglobal.net> To: pattinp at verizon.net; npinfo at nurse.net> > I see a movie in that story!!! Funny story, Linda...> > -----Original Message-----> From: pattinp at verizon.net> To: "NP Info" <npinfo at nurse.net>> Sent: 4/10/2008 11:26 AM> Subject: Re: [NPInfo] My neuro update and new diagnosis> > Linda,> I am so sorry to hear that your battle to get well continues...you have inspired us all with your courage, strength, resolve and HUMOR!> If your career as a NP doesn't pan out, I think you should consider writing as a second career. Your desciption of this experience was wonderful - I felt like I was right there beside you watching. I hope you won't be offended but the image of you with 32 electrodes on your head in a bathroom full of pregnant women created quite a picture in my head!> Cyper hugs, friendship, prayers and love are here for you always!> > Patti Robertson> > >From: Linda Marie De Zago <lindamarie76 at msn.com>> >Date: 2008/04/09 Wed PM 07:09:41 CDT> >To: 'NP Info' <npinfo at nurse.net>, acc-circle at listserve.com> >Subject: [NPInfo] My neuro update and new diagnosis> > >Dear Colleagues, > >> > > >> >My neurological journey continues. > >> >To refresh your collective memories, I was a new NP (8 months) when a> >cavernous angioma in my left frontal lobe hemorrhaged (Aug 2007). I> >underwent a craniotomy in October 2007 at Barrows Neurosurgical Institute. > >> >I was cleared to return to work part-time in Jan 2008, had four seizures in> >13 business days, and was subsequently fired. > >> > > >> >My seizures persisted and my neurologist kept increasing and adding> >anti-epileptics. I disagreed with this practice and researched epilepsy> >centers in my state. I had a consultation with Dr. Passaro at Bayfront> >Medical Center near Tampa in March 2008. Bayfront is a Level 4 Epilepsy> >Center. I was admitted on Monday, March 31 at noon. 32 leads were attached> >to my head and I was placed in a padded hospital bed. My brother-in-law> >stayed the first night with me. The only medication discontinued was my> >Xanax. I was sleep deprived the entire night. The following morning at 8 AM> >I had my first generalized seizure complete with SOB and CP. I thought I was> >going to be intubated. > >> > > >> >In the afternoon the EEG tech guided me through 3 minutes of> >hyperventilation and then started the strobe light test. I had a full> >generalized seizure but was cognizant throughout. The seizure lasted about 7> >minutes and my body took another 20 minutes to calm down. I was given Reglan> >for nausea and then developed heart palpitations and diarrhea (this is> >pertinent). > >> > > >> >Once Dave (my brother-in-law) left to get his much-needed rest, I was no> >longer allowed out of my bed without an escort - not even to go to the> >bathroom (ugggghhhh). I tried not to pester the RNs about my building> >anxiety; however, every hour I kept pleading, "I'm very anxious. Please call> >the doctor. I need something to take the edge off." The doctor was never> >notified of this. > >> > > >> >By 8 PM I was in a state of panic. I climbed out of bed and walked to the> >door. My RN told me to get back in bed and I refused. I told her I needed to> >get out and walk or else I needed medication. She told me that she had to> >check on another patient and would then call the doctor. She pleaded with me> >to return to bed because she wa> [truncated by sender]> > _______________________________________________> NPInfo mailing list> NPInfo at nurse.net> http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo> *****************************
_________________________________________________________________
More immediate than e-mail? Get instant access with Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_instantaccess_042008