Second day of school and a trip in an ambulance

[Odonata]

Thank god kids don't come back until next week!

I had an optical migraine today.  I all of a sudden could not see anything on my right side - it was all bright flashes of light.  I figured it was a migraine but the nurse came and took my BP - 141/95!  

So that meant a trip to the hospital. H works an hour away and I didn't even have my cell on me (what a great day to forget it at home) so they called an ambulance to take me.  So while everyone was walking past the office to the next faculty meeting here I was with all these paramedics with a stretcher and cops.  Of course a frantic crowd formed and I tried my best to convince everyone I was OK.  I was already spending the past day or so convincing people that I'm OK to be at work and that I refuse to sit home with no pay for 7 weeks.  

At any rate, all tests from the hospital came back just fine. BP dropped finally, vision came back, and all blood/urine tests were normal (no signs of pre e).

My poor H.  Someone from work called him but instead of telling him I was fine and just going in for testing she left this convoluted message. So he freaked and just up and left work but had an hour train ride back to NJ and to the hospital from Philly.  

It does make me feel good to know that if there was an emergency in the next few weeks I have a really good support team at work. Plus, the events today let them realize that there were a few glitches in their emergency system. If they call 911 certain head people get a signal on their phone and some of the phones did not signal.  I joked it was just my way of helping them get ready for the school year.  

[Deleted]

I'm glad you're OK and there are no signs of pre-e! Very scary!

[Odonata]

Thanks, I was OK at first b/c I've had optical migraines before when I was going through puberty, but as soon as she said my BP I started to get nervous!

[Blue Moon]

Oh wow! So glad that you are ok.

[thatgirl2478]

oh man, i hate optical migraines i've had optical ones and regular ones with auras. Neither is fun.

glad you're ok!

[Odonata]

Uggg, and so it begins. I just got a call from a CW checking to see if I was OK. I explained it was nothing of concern and told her the story. The only reason for the ambulance call was b/c I could not drive myself, no one could take me, and my BP was of concern - yet I hear:

"well, I guess this is a sign you need to take it easy then."
"meaning what?"
"you shouldn't come it! Stay home! Everyone has been saying you should not be starting the school year"

Guys, I cannot afford 7 weeks of no pay. I just can't. I get 12 weeks ML, which is great, but I refuse to spend 7 of those 12 weeks home and healthy and not with my child, ESPECIALLY when my Dr. tells me I'm fine with no work restrictions. I can't stand people who think they know more than your Dr.

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 15:01:34 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

oh man, i hate optical migraines i've had optical ones and regular ones with auras. Neither is fun.

glad you're ok!

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

[thatgirl2478]

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:01:34 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

oh man, i hate optical migraines i've had optical ones and regular ones with auras. Neither is fun.

glad you're ok!

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

I would call - but then I also don't get them regularly (maybe 1 a year) and they are usually due to me being overly stressed & tired. 

If you have someone in house that can take your bp, I would maybe just do that to check and see what your DR says.

[jennistarr1]

OMG please take this opportunity to educate everyone what an optical migraine is...I had 2 (within a week of each other) but when the 1st one happened, I freaked the fuck out.  My dad actually lost vision in his one eye after having a blood clot on his optic nerve so I was SURE that was what was happening to me. I work at hospital with an eye clinic who saw me immediately and my symptoms were text book optic migraine...I just never heard of them before.  Everyone I have talked to who has had one, had a similar experience of never hearing of it before and being very scared. So everyone, look it up, and if it happens to you, you'll be okay and not freak like I did.

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 15:34:20 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

I would call - but then I also don't get them regularly (maybe 1 a year) and they are usually due to me being overly stressed & tired. 

If you have someone in house that can take your bp, I would maybe just do that to check and see what your DR says.

Yep, they have a nurse station where I can have my BP checked.  She called 911 today but I guess if it happens again (which I guess might be unlikely) and since there wasn't any concern with this one, I might be able to just call my OB from work and see what he says and wait to see if the BP drops like it did today.  

I'm wondering if I'm just over tired and that is what caused it.  I haven't been sleeping at night but since I was on summer break I was going to sleep around 2, waking up around 9:30, then napping.  Now I'm still awake until 2 or so but up by 6 and out the door by 7 with no nap!  

[jennistarr1]

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:01:34 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

oh man, i hate optical migraines i've had optical ones and regular ones with auras. Neither is fun.

glad you're ok!

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

well since you know what it is, why would you call 911.

Can you buy a blood pressure cuff

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 15:37:25 GMT -5 jennistarr1 said:

OMG please take this opportunity to educate everyone what an optical migraine is...I had 2 (within a week of each other) but when the 1st one happened, I freaked the fuck out.  My dad actually lost vision in his one eye after having a blood clot on his optic nerve so I was SURE that was what was happening to me. I work at hospital with an eye clinic who saw me immediately and my symptoms were text book optic migraine...I just never heard of them before.  Everyone I have talked to who has had one, had a similar experience of never hearing of it before and being very scared. So everyone, look it up, and if it happens to you, you'll be okay and not freak like I did.

I feel like I need to go in tomorrow with educational pamphlets.  haha.  Like I said before, I use to get them as a pre-teen so I figured I was just having one today.  BUT, you know people at work and a pregnant lady - I cough and that means I'm going into labor and must be home and nowhere around anyone lest my water break and I plop a baby out onto the floor.  

The high BP was concerning, and I'm really glad I got checked  out, but I also know the migraine can cause high BP. 

[mrspost08]

I'm glad you are ok. I agree I wouldn't want to stay home for 7 weeks without a baby. You're poor DH getting that convoluted call.

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 15:39:44 GMT -5 jennistarr1 said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

well since you know what it is, why would you call 911.

Can you buy a blood pressure cuff

I wouldn't but the nurse took my BP and called.  I don't want her to do that again!  

Though being in my third tri with high BP and vision problems, it was a good idea to get checked out.  I bet if I had someone to come and take me to the hospital she would not have called for an ambulance. I think it was over the top and everyone at worked got freaked out.

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 15:42:14 GMT -5 mrspost08 said:

I'm glad you are ok. I agree I wouldn't want to stay home for 7 weeks without a baby. You're poor DH getting that convoluted call.

LOL, I know.  I told the secretary to leave him a message that 1) I was OK 2) I'm only going to the hospital to get checked to verify it's an optical migraine and nothing else, so no emergency.  

He told me her message was "her BP was high, but now it's low, and we called 911 and she's in the ambulance on her way now..."

So he's like "I know high is bad, but when she said low I don't know if that's bad or good, and isn't 911 only for emergencies!?'  

What had happened was that by the time the ambulance crew arrived and took my BP again it was LOWER, which was a good sign.  

[Deleted]

Glad you're okay! I've had coworkers need paramedics due to migraines too.

[thatgirl2478]

So I would tell the school nurse that you get optical migraines and that she should let YOU decide if you need to have an ambulance called. If it happens again, I would have her check your bp, then call your OB's office to see if they want to see you given your history. Is there a place you can go lay down until you can get a ride home or the migraine passes?

Just don't forget your cell phone again .

[Odonata]

thatgirl2478 - seriously, the ONE DAY I forget the phone shit goes down. I was already on the highway and had to be in at 7:30 today for a faculty breakfast meeting so when I remembered and thought about turning around I decided not to. I even thought "eh, I'll be fine."

I'll talk with my OB tomorrow and ask him what I should do if this happens again.

My Dept. chair just called and I gave him the rundown and he said "yeah, (the nurse) does tend to overreact sometimes". Then he was all like "so let's plan to meet tomorrow to go over lessons" (we co-teach a class) so I guess he's one that is not freaked out about me being at work.

ETA: I did tell the nurse I've had them before, but the last time was in 7th grade so I guess since it was so long ago and now I'm pregnant with high BP she didn't want to take chances?  Plus, I did want to get checked anyway but had no way to get anywhere.  

[gretchenindisguise]

I would probably take this as a moment to educate people on the lack of adequate maternity leave in our country.

"I would love to take the next 7 weeks off, unfortunately we can't afford for me to do that and with the way maternity leave is in this country, I assume there are many others in a similar situation."

[Odonata]

Aug 28, 2014 16:44:44 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I would probably take this as a moment to educate people on the lack of adequate maternity leave in our country.

"I would love to take the next 7 weeks off, unfortunately we can't afford for me to do that and with the way maternity leave is in this country, I assume there are many others in a similar situation."

Ohhh, man.  I've been spouting this off just about every 10 minutes - which is about how frequently I am asked why I don't just "stay home".  

I am also pretty shocked at the number of coworkers who really assume that that taking 7 weeks unpaid is just fine.  When I respond with "We cant afford that" the response is not one of understanding but "really?"  Am I seriously the only one at this school who's husband is not the major breadwinner?  I mean, he makes a bit more than me, but it's not enough to cover all the bills!

I also got this today at breakfast:  I was introducing myself to a new teacher and this one guy I work with was sitting down and said (jokingly) "Oh, you don't need to introduce yourself to her, she's leaving soon anyway" and I said "yeah, but I'll be back in January" and he shockingly said "you will?"  It's the second most common comment I've had so far - people shocked I'm not going to be a SAHM, as if that is the default option.

[gretchenindisguise]

Aug 28, 2014 16:50:00 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Aug 28, 2014 16:44:44 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I would probably take this as a moment to educate people on the lack of adequate maternity leave in our country.

"I would love to take the next 7 weeks off, unfortunately we can't afford for me to do that and with the way maternity leave is in this country, I assume there are many others in a similar situation."

Ohhh, man.  I've been spouting this off just about every 10 minutes - which is about how frequently I am asked why I don't just "stay home".  

I am also pretty shocked at the number of coworkers who really assume that that taking 7 weeks unpaid is just fine.  When I respond with "We cant afford that" the response is not one of understanding but "really?"  Am I seriously the only one at this school who's husband is not the major breadwinner?  I mean, he makes a bit more than me, but it's not enough to cover all the bills!

I also got this today at breakfast:  I was introducing myself to a new teacher and this one guy I work with was sitting down and said (jokingly) "Oh, you don't need to introduce yourself to her, she's leaving soon anyway" and I said "yeah, but I'll be back in January" and he shockingly said "you will?"  It's the second most common comment I've had so far - people shocked I'm not going to be a SAHM, as if that is the default option.

Yeah, I get around that beacuse I am the breadwinner, but if I weren't I would just continue to emphasize, "yeah really, most people in the US have dual income families and mine is one of those. 7 weeks unpaid would not be good for our finances, unless I hear you willing to make up the difference?"

[obladi]

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:01:34 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

oh man, i hate optical migraines i've had optical ones and regular ones with auras. Neither is fun.

glad you're ok!

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

I get optical migraines (always with vision disturbances- I thought that is what made them an optical migraine?) very frequently. I have never called the doctor or gone to the doctor for them before except when I got my very first one like 15 years ago.  I just wait it out, they are always gone within 15-20 minutes.

[obladi]

Oh I also don't tell people at work when I have them lol. For people that do not experience them it can seem very scary to have the sudden vision changes, I just know since I have gotten them for so long that they are nothing to worry about.

[busterpup]

I'm glad you're ok! That's really scary.

[Odonata]

Aug 29, 2014 7:39:15 GMT -5 obladi said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:18:23 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Question:  let's say I have another one while at work. I don't want another repeat of a 911 call.  Do you ever call the Dr. when you get one or just ride it out?  Obviously if I have auras (and I use to always have auras with mine as a kid) I will have to lay down but I don't want to make some big scene at work if they are going to happen again.  

I get optical migraines (always with vision disturbances- I thought that is what made them an optical migraine?) very frequently. I have never called the doctor or gone to the doctor for them before except when I got my very first one like 15 years ago.  I just wait it out, they are always gone within 15-20 minutes.

When I was younger my migraines would start with the light and be painless but then they would become excruciating very quickly.  I would also often vomit.  So I did let people know because I knew I would be unable to work or do anything until it went away.

I am really happy that the one yesterday did not present like that.  It was gone in 15 minutes!  

But my Dr. did tell me that if I ever saw flashes of light and have a headache to get my BP checked, so that's what I did.  I guess Pre e can have the same symptoms. I guess always better to be safe?

[Odonata]

Aug 29, 2014 8:18:43 GMT -5 oceanspray said:

Aug 28, 2014 15:16:36 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Uggg, and so it begins. I just got a call from a CW checking to see if I was OK. I explained it was nothing of concern and told her the story. The only reason for the ambulance call was b/c I could not drive myself, no one could take me, and my BP was of concern - yet I hear:

"well, I guess this is a sign you need to take it easy then."
"meaning what?"
"you shouldn't come it! Stay home! Everyone has been saying you should not be starting the school year"

Guys, I cannot afford 7 weeks of no pay. I just can't. I get 12 weeks ML, which is great, but I refuse to spend 7 of those 12 weeks home and healthy and not with my child, ESPECIALLY when my Dr. tells me I'm fine with no work restrictions. I can't stand people who think they know more than your Dr.

"I guess this is a sign you need to fuck off."

LOL.  I wish I could say this to that particular CW on a daily basis.  She's the one who from the START of my pregnancy has said only negative things about parenthood "Oh, you're in pain now, just wait until they get here!  You'll see! Raising kids is more painful than labor!"  And these have always been unsolicited comments, too.  

The other day I was talking to someone who asked about my ML sub and I said it as great she was going to start in sept and shadow me until I go and that the sub said "if you're ever really tired one day, I can take over and you can back off and relax" and this jackass butts in with "Oh, you think you're tired now!  Just wait!  You don't even know tired until the baby comes!"

Maybe that is why my BP was high......

[Odonata]

oceanspray could I hire you to pop in and tell her to fuck off? Like, just hang out in my back pocket? We co-teach a chemistry class, share a room, and interact on a daily (if not almost hourly) basis. I try not to talk to her much outside of work things but she always manages to squeeze in a comment.

My subtle "PC for work" responses aren't getting through.

[imimahoney]

Oh man, how scary! Glad you are OK.

[Odonata]

So I talked to my Dr. today. The diastolic number was a little high (89) but he said he is going to count that as normal. All labs come back perfectly fine.

His take on the events of yesterday:

1) I can't use a history of optical migraines to ignore symptoms that may also point to pre e. The only way to verify it is not pre e is blood/urine analysis so I have to tell someone and get checked.  I agree, why chance it.

2) Given #1, I should not ignore it if I have another one. No matter what, he wants me to get checked if I start seeing spots again, and unfortunately, if that means I need to take an ambulance to get to him to run tests, that's what is has to be. But he said if I can drive myself he is OK with that, too.

2) The nurse had her hands tied when I asked for my BP to be checked - she has a pregnant woman with high BP and loss of vision. No one wants to have the liability of driving me in case it is serious and I start to have seizures so the ambulance was the right call. She could not ignore and not call 911 in that case.

So he said we will "roll the dice" and assume the migraine won't happen again, but if they do come back frequently he may have to look into keeping me home. Boo to that.

[centralsquare]

First off, I'm sorry this happened -- and I'm glad everything is ok!

That said, any sane person is going to be extra cautious and call 911. There's just no room to mess around -- especially in a litigious society. Say the nurse didn't call 911, missed a pre-e sign, and something fatal occurs. That's a major liability for her personally and for the school. I know it feels like overkill, but it's the right thing for them to do to cover their asses -- and protect yours.