Not handling endocarditis scare well

[Kate]

I spent Wednesday night in the hospital because my Dr. called me at 9pm with the message that my blood tests came back positive for an aggressive form of staph endocarditis and that I needed to get to the emergency room immediately. To make a long story short, the test results were the result of a lab error, and I don't have staph-based endocarditis - or any kind of endocarditis at all.

Of course, this is fabulous news. However, I'm having a hard time dealing with the whole experience. Because I'd done some reading on endocarditis, I knew that the survival rates for the staph kind aren't great, and I spent about 12 hours convinced that I was either going to die or at the very least, come mighty close. I was so scared, I couldn't stop shaking.

It has really only been a little over a day since I got the good news, and maybe I just need to give myself a little time, but I'm feeling really strange - sort of emotionally flat and unable to connect to my normal life. Has anyone else experienced this after a big health scare? Has anyone else had a similar misdiagnosis? Thanks, Kate

 

[Nancy]

Oh Kate- Gosh (((((Kate)))))

You've had a terrible scare, of course you'll be upset for a few days. Allow yourself to feel this way. But give yourself a time limit too.

You need some distance and time to recover. But you will recover from the shock.

The good thing I see out of all this is that your doctor acted very quickly and wanted you in treatment right away and he was aggressive about it. Usually we see and hear just the opposite, with doctors lollygagging around when they should be acting and doing the right thing. I think you have a gem of a doctor who really cares about what happens to you.

It was the lab's error not his.

So now you know you have someone who will help you in a difficult situation. And that is a wonderful thing to find out.

 

[Bina]

Holy smokes! It must be like having the rug ripped out from under you and now you are supposed to try to stuff that rug back where it was. Not always so easy. Best wishes with this.

 

[Mary]

Sorry you went through this, Kate.
As Nancy said, give yourself a little time to recover.
You were given a whopper of a shock, so I would guess that the detatchment is the way your brain is dealing with it.
Take care.

 

[Phyllis]

Oh, Kate. This kind of reminds me of a post by Tobagotwo about how he received someone elses dire test results by mistake once. Be thankful that it was a lab error and also for your doctor's quick reaction as Nancy stated. Try to concentrate on the thrill of finding out it was all in error and your new lease on life!

 

[Kate]

Nancy, Bina, Mary and Phyllis,
Thanks for your kind words. I guess I just need to give it a little time and remember that I'm so blessed - to have a doctor who cared enough to call me repeatedly after hours to make sure I had the best possible chance and that this effort was ultimately not necessary because actually I'm as healthy as a horse. I think my poor brain is just suffering from whiplash - too many sudden changes of direction - but hopefully a relaxing weekend will get me back on track. Thanks again, Kate

 

[Mike]

Exhilaration?

Exhilaration?

I have been told there is nothing quite so exhilarating as being shot at--- and missed.

When the adrenaline clears your system, I am sure you will regain your footing.

Hugs from Diana

 

[Ross]

I survived my hospital IV line induced staph infection by the skin of something with really light skin. Thank God you didn't have it.

 

[hensylee]

this will cause you to appreciate everything in your life from here on out. You walked to the edge and were saved - albeit from an error. Kinda like a miracle all your very own. Blessins.............

 

[Karlynn]

I have been told there is nothing quite so exhilarating as being shot at--- and missed.

I'm wondering if part of your "flatness" doesn't have to do with the crash after a big, sustained adrenaline surge.

I'm also sure that part of it is from feeling like you teetered on the jaws of the abyss for a time and were pulled back.

You probably haven't even begun to realize all the things that went through you mind in that short (thankfully!) period of time.

Be kind to yourself this weekend and enjoy your renewed lease on life!

 

[Bonzo Dog]

Pleased for you Kate. It must be a relief.

Spare a thought for those of us who also had lab errors on their endocarditis blood cultures, only the other way around. My negative was in fact a positive. Still here to tell the tale another valve later though.

 

[Curtsmum]

Kate, sorry you had to go threw that but glad that you are in the clear, you will be ok when you get other the nasty shock, take care of yourself.

 

[Kate]

Thanks everyone!
I'm already feeling a little more myself - still tired, but not so out of it. Guess it was just a big shock. Thanks especially to Bonzo Dog for reminding me that people on this site have had much worse misdiagnoses in the opposite direction. When push comes to shove, I've been very lucky and just need to thank the universe for that. Kate