So.....took my kids to visit my family and friends.
I should have known it wasn't going to go well when my youngest woke me up the day we were leaving complaining of pain. The kid has a history of kidney stones (had the first @ 7 y/o---it's a herediatary thing). He stopped hurting and we managed to fly and get to our destination. The next day, he woke me up at 4 AM complaining of pain. Gave him some medication for pain and nausaeu (sp). He slept most of the morning, and then woke up and when he woke up wanted to go to the Dr. So, off to the ER we go. After 5 hours---he has a kidney stone. Was given more pain meds, told to drink lots of water and come back if pain gets worse. Back to my parents' house we go. The next 4 days are uneventful and filled w/ lots of enjoyment. THEN--Tuesday of last week, me and the kids load up and meet my best friend at a water park. We stay there for about 4-5 hours, then drive to her house. I noticed that my right arm was sore and hurting. I thought it was just from all the driving I had been doing (overuse).
My best friend looked at the arm and commented that it was swollen. She gave me an anti-inflammatory and put ice on it (lucky me! She's a nurse!). As the evening progressed, the arm swelled more and became more painful. By 130 AM the pain was unbearable. I went and woke my friend up--she took one look at my hand and said "we're going to the ER". I spent the last 3 days of vacation in the hospital undergoing numerous tests, multiple blood draws (I look beat up from all the bruises!). On about day 2 the swelling was noticably better and the pain was gone. The MD didn't want to release me, but I begged. He relented and I went to my mom's the afternoon before our flight home.
Never did find out what caused the arm to swell! I did see my regular doctor today. He's at a loss as well--but is going to get all the treatment records, and he did draw some more labs today (I'm so tired of being stuck!!
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Of our 10 days of vacation; 4 were spent in or around a hospital! And I'm pretty sure that this vacation is going to be one of the most expensive I will have incurred to date.
