Student Nurse to Patient

Yesterday was an interesting day for the Landreth family. I started out a student nurse and ended up being a patient. This week was a really long week for me because it was my week of clinicals and of working on the same two days. I dread these weeks but they happen every other week during the term, thankfully only four times each term. Clinicals start at 7AM and get out at 12:15PM then I have a break until I work at 3PM until 11:30PM. The first day isn't so bad, its the second day that I dread, of getting up at 5AM after going to bed at 12:30 or 1AM after work. But the bills must be paid and insurance is a necessity right now so that's just the way it has worked out. So I went to clinicals at the hospital Friday morning and found that the patient that I'd been assigned that week had been discharged the night before. Another student, Amy was also in the same situation so we were assigned a research project on a particularly interesting patient that was admitted that day. We were to interview him and look into his medical history. So Amy and I were going through his medical chart when I suddenly felt nauseous followed by feeling as though I was going to pass out.....which I apparently did....pass out that is. I came to to about three nurses rushing in the room and talking about calling the ER. I passed out a second time and then came to again. Apparently it looked as though I was having a seizure so the next thing I know I'm in a wheel chair and Amy and my instructor are wheeling me down to the ER. I called Dustin on my way down and told him they were taking me to the ER and he should probably come in.....poor guy I completely freaked him out.....I didn't even mention that I was ok......but I can't say that I was completely coherent at that point. I was a little freaked out myself and a little embarrassed at the same time.

It was an interesting experience being the patient and not the one giving the care. I got the whole works.....IV, seizure pads on the bed, hospital gown (which they kindly stripped me in front of my instructor and classmate....nothing like getting to know them well). So after a few hours in the ER, some lab work and making sure little Lily was ok, they concluded that it was most likely just fainting but made an appointment for an EEG anyway just to be sure it wasn't seizure activity. It has to be a sleep deprived test.....I told them I could qualify that day but it had to be done another day. The ER doctor sent me home with orders to lay low....so no going to work that night....to follow up with my PCP and Obstetrician as well as the EEG appointment....oh and no driving. I was grateful for the day off and went home and crashed for most of the day. I'm feeling alright today, just a little run down but I'm taking naps and trying to relax.

Here's my latest belly pic (27 weeks):