Telling You More About My Own Life

This story is one that you may or may not want to read. It was a difficult story for me to write but I had to do so because of what I discovered.

This is not the typical kind of story that I write and then post to my website. Generally, I don't want people knowing all that much about me personally. However, that has changed at least with respect to the illness I experienced a year ago that came very close to ending my life. I want people to know about as much as possible in case they are faced with a similar situation.

Facebook has a new offering in their system structure that allows users to see previous posts called "On This Day" that shows past memories.  Here is what they provided to me a few days ago on December 25, 2015 about one of the notes that I had written on December 25, 2014. It opened up what was virtually unknown these days and which clearly I had forgotten a year later:



 

 

 

 

I was completely stunned when I received it. I did not remember writing that.  Nor did I  remember being that ill on that date. I knew I was not feeling all that well in December, 2014 but I didn't remember that it was so bad, not until I read that Facebook printed memory!

I know a little bit more now talking with my family about a number of odd things that I said the following 7 days after I first felt so ill, but none of it was all that serious to suggest that I was falling apart both physically and mentally. It was not until December 31 that there was a need to see a doctor.

In any event, after about 7 hours of testing and waiting for the results at the hospital at year-end on December 31, 2014 I decided to go back home because I was feeling slightly better and just could not stand staying in the hospital any longer.

It was on January 1, 2015, the next day, when I completely fell apart. My wife was required to take me back to the hospital immediately. Fortunately, I was seen by a doctor who had a bit of information about my illness but not a lot. When I literally fell apart medically not being able to speak properly, I understand that he was the one who had me admitted into hospital within hours after my arrival. He must have known that I was in a very difficult medical position.

It was important to rule out other diseases too. Fortunately, when my results came back from Toronto several days later, his initial concern was confirmed that I had this rare encephalitis virus, and so it was important to start the medication right away, in order to stop the inflammation in my brain from continuing. I had lost already almost all of my brain ability when I first entered hospital.  The disease acted that quickly.

Let me give you a couple of examples of the strange things that happened during the initial time-period.

Due to the potency of the medication that I was put on, kidney problems are a possible concern. I was told that they suspected that I now had a major kidney problem for which I was required to go on dialysis. That was planned for the next day. When the next day arrived though, my levels were back to normal and thankfully there was no need for dialysis.

On another day, my blood sugar levels spiked, but then shortly after, went back down to a normal level. I was on medication for “borderline” diabetics before this incident and being monitored by my family doctor on a regular basis. However, I am no longer on any medication for this issue and my blood sugar levels have dropped significantly.  I still do get checked, just so I have the peace of mind and can adjust my lifestyle choices, if levels happen to rise again.

Apparently, I was in the hospital for another week having tests taken to rule out many other very serious diseases that could also be life-threatening.  I was able to go home after being in hospital for 2 weeks and a team of medical professionals administered appropriate medications to me there, which caused a number of side effects, but they went away eventually. If you will recall, I was under extreme medical care for at least another month until the middle of February.

I think I will stop there. I'll be talking more about my medical condition and actions taken in subsequent articles. I have demonstrated to you what happens to a person like me who is suffering from an illness that is not well known by the medical people in the town where he lives. It demonstrates how serious one's life is in medical matters these days and how it can be saved if the right person just happens to be there and is involved.

It also goes to show just how something very small, like the Facebook memory throwback, can trigger information that one might have forgotten.