On the third day I was at the hospital, they told me that in addition to the three carotid artery dissections, there’s a hole in between two chambers in my heart. Despite how terrifying that sounds, apparently, it’s fairly common. The cardiologists informed me that’s probably not what caused the cardiac event. However, given the increased stroke risk, it meant that I would need more tests and more specialists.
In the hospital, the incredibly splitting headaches were managed by medication and laying in a dark, quiet room. It was so boring that I Instagrammed a photo of my hospital gown with the hashtag ‘fall fashion’ and the note, “Dear Northwestern Hospital, What your gowns lack in originality you make up for in consistency. Yours truly, R.”
At the end of day three, I asked my nurse when I could leave. She said I needed a test result read and to see two more specialists. She said she didn’t want to give me “any hope” that I would leave before day four.
I am sure you can imagine how hard it was for me to return to a hospital after Constance died.
The doctor let me leave with a list of prescriptions and follow ups with various specialists. I was scared to go home. I was scared to stay. I felt like Atlantis; missing and lost for all time.
From https://www.instagram/rachellejervis:
From https://www.twitter.com/rachellejervis:
You’re the strongest person I have ever met.
Day 194 is at https://www.wantmybabyback.com/blog/day-194.