So most of you know Dave's been pretty sick. In fact, more sick then I think we ever imagined. I will give a time-line about how it all started not only to explain things better for also for my own recollection. I'll give you the shortest version I can.
4/19/11- We had gone to the Poppy Festival in Lancaster Ca with family and friends the weekend of the 17th. But on this day, April 19th, Dave was complaining about having some pressure behind eyes.
4/21/11- Dave made a visit to the Dr. to see the Ophthalmologist to get his eyes checked out. Everything came back fine.
4/25/11- Dave woke up still complaining of the eye pressure and also of headaches (mind you this is Dave and he rarely complains). He was also irritable and kind of cranky.
4/26/11- Dave woke up showered and started to tell me he felt dizzy and lightheaded. Next thing I know he is having a severe case of more light headedness and vomiting. I decided it was time to go to the ER. Basically they chalked it up to a flu virus, give him and anti-nausea pill and sent him on his way. No blood workups and no tests ran. He took the rest of the week off work to rest.
4/27/11- Follow up with urgent care Dr. about symptoms. This Dr. suggested it was sinus and again sent him on his way home.
4/29/11- Saw another Dr. who said the same thing, sinus infection and she gave him some meds for it and I asked about a CT, but she disregarded everything I asked for assuring me it was sinus and with the medication it should clear. Home we went AGAIN.
A couple days pass and he is still cranky and having a stiff neck and headaches, along with the pressure in his eyes (but this is starting to diminish)
4/30/11- Dave wakes up still irritable, headaches and neck stiffness. He ops to go help a friend with some tress issues due to the high winds we'd been having. He did look pale, but he insisted so he went. He again started having the lighted headedness followed by severe vomiting and again we went to the ER. This time he went alone because I didn't want to drag 3 kids to the ER. They did some blood-work and a CT and everything came back clear. His CBC's were high normal, but just barely elevated so I am assuming it was no cause for concern.
A few more days pass... again he is still having headaches, neck stiffness and is irritable. I know something is now right, but he is telling me he is fine. Again, those of you who know Dave, know he is rarely cranky, so I knew this was not normal, but we just went about our normal routines and dealt with is. After all, it was just a sinus infection that needed to run it's course, right? WRONG
5/10/11- We were going to Halle's choir performance with Dave's parents and my aunt and uncle. We went to dinner at a local restaurant afterwards. We hadn't even eaten, but Dave's parents weren't staying for dinner so Dave walked them out of the restaurant to give my mother in law her Mother's Day Gift since we didn't see her over the weekend. Next thing I know, my father in law is calling me to come outside immediately alone and is telling me something was wrong with Dave. I get out there and he is on the ground between cars and I hear people saying seizure. He is non-responsive, but breathing. Called the ambulance and we were headed to the hos. In the ambulance he was able to tell the medics answers to some basic questions asked, but had no recollection of what had happend from the time he left our van with the present and was walking toward my mother in law to give it to her to the time he was stabilized in the ambulance. Since this was his first seizure, they admitted him to the hospital. They ran a CT, MRI, blood-work, urinalysis, and a lumbar puncture. Everything was coming back normal, but they suspected meningitis and without knowing whether it was bacterial or viral, they started him on anti-viral antibiotics and anti-seizure medication. He did start to get better (so we thought). He really didn't want to miss the twins birthday which was Sunday May 15th, so they allowed him to go home since all his vitals were good (and had been really pretty good throughout this whole ordeal). So he called me after 4 days in the hospital and said he was discharging. He was really ready to come home because when I got there, he was already outside the hospital waiting for me. I was a nervous wreck most of the night, but he did well Sat night at home and seemed in good spirits just being tired on Sunday. He was still having neck stiffness and headaches, but most of his other symptoms seemed to have diminished.
5/15/11- Today was the twin's 4th birthday and scheduled party. However, with the rain, and with Dave still not being in the best shape I decided it was best to call off the party. I was a little overwhelmed with him, the party planning and just everyday in general. We did notice that Dave was starting to have some jaw tremors causing him to jumble his words (almost like he was having a stroke in his face) Sunday morning after taking the anti-seizure medication. So he and my brother looked up the side affects and one of them was this. so I told Dave he should call the advice nurse just in case and explain what was happening. I didn't actually see this happen, but he and Shane had explained it to me. The advice nurse said he should stop the anti-seizure medication and if it persists go to urgent care. Well, it didn't persist. At least I never noticed it. we spent the rest of the day relaxing with some friends dropping by to see the twins and some family visiting. Night went pretty good. I could tell Dave was tired and not feeling the best, so I suggested he get to bed and get some sleep because he hadn't been doing that much in a while.
5/16/11- Dave and I got the kids up and ready for school and took all 3 kids to school and decided to go have a quick bite to eat before his follow up Dr. appt at 11am. While at the restaurant we were sitting across from each other just making conversation and I noticed he was starting to have the jaw trembling. It was scary just to see. It would happen, then stop and then start again. He would have to stop talking and he looked really scared. So were were just starting to eat and next thing I know he grabs a napkins ( his jaw trembling) and spits out his food. Immediately, I knew he was going into a seizure. His eyes went into a blank stir and he started to get rigged and loss responsiveness. I grab him and moved him to the floor on his side. He was shaking some and wasn't breathing at first. Finally, he started breathing really long deep breaths, but was still unresponsive. I yelled for someone to call 911. He did come to, a little faster this time. Again, another trip back to the ER. All vitals and reflexes seemed good. They did ANOTHER CT scan and some more blood work, urine tests.
He was still having the jaw tremors, but the ER Dr. had yet to see it. In fact, they were not going to admit him. Well, finally the dr. saw the tremors and said it could possibly be partial seizures and they agreed to admit him.
They stopped the previous anti-seizure medication and started him on a new one that day. They said they think the jaw tremors were a side affect to the other medication which he'd taken for a few days and needed a few days to leave his system.
Drs have since diagnosed him with aspetic meningitis which have cause onset seizures. They said they do not treat viral infections but that they have to run their course. Turns out Dave must have a really bad case of it.
5/18/11- They discharged Dave from the hospital again. He is still having some slight tremors and minimal sides affects like the headaches, neck stiffness and shaky hands, but he seems to be doing better.
I have been a mess. A complete mess. I don't think it really hit me until I witness him having the second seizure myself. It's been mentally and emotionally exhausting for everyone. We still aren't sure the Drs are right. We're praying his outcome is good, and the viral infection leaves his body soon. I have been terrified to let him leave my sight. He can not drive due to the seizures until cleared by a Dr. and the DMV and must remain on anti-seizure medication for at least a year. This is not to say he won't have anymore seizures, but we're hoping he doesn't and just gets better. It's hard to get him to rest and just go easy. He is ready to get up and go and I can clearly tell he is not ready so I am having to beg him to just take it easy. He's on vacation for the next couple weeks and is scheduled to go back to work light administrative duties June 4th. Everyone has been great with support and help. Thank you to everyone for all the offers to help us during all this.
Please continue to send good wishes to Dave to get better and I will continue to keep you posted.
