EpiPen Malfunction

I guess this is what I get for murmuring about having a bad heart day! LOL What a *fabulous* (thick with sarcasm) day we had yesterday! I cant even begin to describe the terror, panic and adrenaline that was experienced for all involved... but I will try. LOL

It was a normal Saturday, unlike many other Saturdays. Jess was in Lehi helping an old friend pour concrete. I had delusions of grandeur of getting my house organized and the boys were watching their newest Netflix arrival - Veggie Tales. Emma was at a friends from a sleepover.

I began to clean out our medicine cabinet, like I always try to do when school starts again, to see what had expired and what needed replacing as we prepare for the swim through the various germs and viruses to follow the kids home. No biggie right? Well. Not really. Normally.

I was close to the end, and had been properly disposing of each medication that had expired. I came to Cam's EpiPen - expired, and knowing from Jestin's needles from his insulin, I knew you should not throw it away without breaking the needle *To prevent accidental/or intentional use by someone to whom it is not prescribed.* (ha ha) So I read the instructions on how it works, as a review, and read that I needed to remove the grey cap on the end. The instant I removed it, instead of it just being ready for use when you hit it into the victim's leg, it launched. It launched right into my thumb! It took a second for me to realize what happened! It was SUCH a surprise! When it launched it must have hit the bone in my thumb, as the end of the needle curled. I starred at it for a few seconds, feeling this pending - HOLY CRAP! WHAT SHOULD I DO?? All I could think was that I needed to call someone who know's my heart history and maybe what to do! I called my Medical Assistant Sister Jenny.

Jenny said she was not sure what it would do to my heart, as my cardiologist had told me that I should not even take any forms of caffeine into my body because of the increase in heart rate that they cause, increasing a possibility of A-fib etc. This could be a problem...? She recommended I go to the ER to be checked, just in case. I agreed & started trying to contact various neighbors to see if I could get a ride to the ER. No one was answering or was home!! I started to feel funny and my hands started to shake. My mind felt a little foggy! It had only been a couple of minutes, and Jenny broke through my attempts with a return phone call...

She asked if I had started to feel any effects from the EpiPen - hoping that maybe I had not gotten any in my system, it was only my thumb after all! I told her that I did not feel right, I was feeling a little confused and I was shaking uncontrollably. She asked me if I wanted her to come down. I got teary eyed I said yes! She asked me to call 911 - just in case. I agreed and hung up the phone.

I called 911 and within less than 2 minutes a good friend of Jess' (who is also an officer here in town) showed up on our doorstep. He chit chatted with me and tried to keep me focused on other things while we waited for the ambulance. I was shaking from head to toe now and could not control it. I also was struggling to breathe evenly and had started to go numb in all my extremities. (Probably from hyperventilating as I fought the suffocating feeling my constricting blood vessels were causing) The ambulance took forever it seemed! It was a good 8-10 minutes, that I know for sure!

As I sat on the porch, talking to the officer, Emma got dropped off from her sleepover. I tried to talk to her, but because of the shaking, my speech was broken and choppy and she looked scared. I tried to reassure her and look confident and brave. She stayed by my side.

The ambulance arrived finally (without lights and sirens thank goodness! Less spectators! LOL) and came and took my vitals. My heart rate was indeed elevated & my pressure was high, but not out of complete control. They asked me to call Jess, which until this point I had not had the chance. I had Emma call him. Jess said he could hear the EMT's asking me questions in the background and his heart fell. He could tell they were medical questions, and he said his heart filled with dread. The EMT had consulted with the hospital and they gave me the option to be transported by private car, if I went now. I took the phone and told Jess I was headed to the Provo ER (since my cardiologist was down there) and to meet me there, I would find a ride. (I had forgotten Jenny was coming - as when I said "yes come" I was thinking she would be able to comfort my kids) Just then "grandpa" from next door came to see if I was alright since he saw the ambulance. I asked for a ride and he said yes, and left to get his keys.

The EMT's unhooked me from all the monitors and I stood up to walk to his car. I was a little lightheaded, but seemed to be ok. We made it into the car, and "grandma" said she would stay with the kids for me. So "grandpa" and I drove off behind the ambulance, with me shaking horribly and feeling like I was suffocating as we went. We had gone less than half a block and in my heart I felt this horrible dread. *Something* was WRONG! I couldn't quite put my finger on it!! I could sense that I was in TROUBLE! We got a few hundred yards further and I saw my sister pull into the subdivision. She passed us going super fast with her lights flashing. My heart leapt! Something was SO wrong... but now Jenny was there! SHE could transport me and feel confident in doing so! *I* needed her! I asked "grandpa" to turn around, and told him that it was my sister and she was a nurse! He seemed highly relieved! (LOL poor thing!)

We returned to my house, and as we pulled up Jenny came running out of the house. She had wanted to follow us down since she knew the kids were ok being with "grandma". I got out of "grandpa"s car and only made it to the end of the driveway and sidewalk before I collapsed. The rest is a blur -so I am telling it from Jenny's point of view as well...

I felt myself falling, and I actually was able to go down somewhat carefully. I twisted my knee, and scrapped my hands, but I was down ;). Jenny said as soon as I was down she ran to my feet to elevate them. Immediately I then went into a complete seizure. She said it was only 3-5 seconds long, but she had run around to my head and tried to stop me from banging my head against the concrete. (The back of her hand was all scrapped up - I felt so bad!) She called 911 and asked the ambulance to come back ASAP!! I came out of it a bit, and was breathing shallow and super fast. Intermittently I went into convulsions. Jenny said they lasted 10 seconds or so each time and it happened quite a few times. She rolled me back and forth, as per the dispatch instructions, but nothing seemed to keep them gone for too long.

Meanwhile, I remember bits and pieces. I heard Jenny screaming at me to stay with her and to answer her and I remember feeling very annoid, as I was concentrating on my breathing with every fiber of my being and trying to not "go away" again. I answered her. As I did I had a deep heavy sensation/pain in my chest over my heart. I only nodded after that as I tried to not to get unfocused again. I heard the ambulance pull up. Then I heard them ask if I was ready to get on the stretcher. I remember thinking Yes, and trying to move. It didn't work. An EMT on either side pulled me to a sitting position and I passed out again for a moment. When I came to I had no use of my arms or legs. My shaking seemed to almost be gone, but I could not help them move me. The EMT's were three 3 ladies (one of which was teenagerish) and between them and Jenny and "grandpa", they were struggling to get me onto the stretcher. I remember struggling to open my eyes, even they were not responding really well! All of a sudden I felt someone grab ahold of my leg and behind my back and with everyone else lifting as well, I seemed to float onto the stretcher. I later learned my sweet neighbor Andrew had come down to check on things and he had lifted my limp body. (THANK YOU ANDREW!!!) (I feel so grateful to have such great neighbors!)

They strapped me up and loaded me in. They allowed Jenny to climb in front and off we went. It was AWFUL once again! (I distinctly remember having said that I NEVER wanted to do that again!??! Sheesh! I never listen to myself!) It was a rattle trap, all I could do is listen, as my eyes still wouldn't open well. The EMT tried 3 times to get an IV in me - and blew the veins every time. As the ambulance left the neighborhood they turned on their lights and sirens, and we were flyin'! I heard the EMT say they were coming to Payson (closest hospital) Code 3. I had oxygen mask, heart monitors, and all sorts of wires, bloody towels (from the failed IVs) & dirty looking grey blankets all over me. Ugh. It was so much fun! *shudder*

My shaking had stopped. I started to chill, but felt like I was not suffocating anymore. I just was too weak to move. They didn't ask me too many questions, for which I was grateful, but they just concentrated on all the tests etc they were doing. So I just listened to it all & tried not to cry. I knew Emma was completely shaken up. I didn't know if they saw what happened on the driveway, I didn't know where Jess would be, as he thought I was headed to Provo, and I just wanted it all to go away!

We arrived at the ER and they blew one more vein before getting one successfully into my hand. I was given 2 shots of atropine (sp?). Within a few minutes my legs and arms felt rigid and I could not make them move at all. It was a really creepy sensation, but I could tell my confusion was not as severe and now I just felt a little tipsy, warm and happy. LOL

My parents arrived. Jenny had called them as she left her house. A few minutes later Jestin showed up. He said he had driven 85-90 with his flashers going all the way from Lehi. Jenny laughed and said she had driven 90-95 the entire time with her flashers going as well! They both commented on how few people actually would get out of their way when you are flashing and honking, and at how many people just sped up rather than got over! Jenny said it was just as bad in the ambulance too...even with lights and sirens! (crazy!) Then she turned to me and thanked me for letting her have the ride she has always wanted to take - in an ambulance! *insert rolling eyes* No Problem Sis! Bwahahahaha! You are SOOO welcome! That will be $900, thank you! *wink*

She was also wearing this shirt, just by chance. Yeah. Thanks a lot Jenny! (bwahahahaha)

Because of the seizure they ran a CT of my head and an x-ray of my chest because of the chest pain, just to be sure everything was ok. A seizure is not a normal a reaction to ephedrine. But after some thought and puzzle piecing, we realized I have a Sudaphedrine allergy, and this was Ephedrine, same drug family, so between my heart and that allergy, they guesstimate that could be the cause?? Either way... I never want to do that again!

I was better within a couple of hours and could have headed home, but my thumb was a problem.
Right after it happened it turned a deathly greyish white color, I had NO movement in it... and it was completely numb. They had been keeping hot towels on it, but even after 4 hours in the hospital it was still not changing much in color and there was the chance I could loose the tip of my thumb if the blood did not come back soon. (*fabulous* ((insert rolling eyes)) ) They spread a medication on it used to dilate blood vessels to see if it would stimulate blood flow on the inside from the outside. An hour later it did gain a tiny bit of color so they let me come home since everything else was stabilized...as long as we swore we would come back if it didn't improve.

I called and talked to Cody while in the hospital - he wanted to know if that was normal to have my heart have to take a break on the driveway! LOL "Grandpa" had told them I had passed out on the driveway and the ambulance decided to take me instead of him. I tried to comfort Cody and let him know it was not something that will likely happen again and it was just a freak accident. Emmalee was not as convinced until I walked in the door - she would not let me go - at least until I told her I was going to fall over if she did not let me go and let me go sit down! LOL! She asked me over and over if I was ok. Every sigh or movement illicited the question. She is such a sweetheart!

I am doing much better today. Our awesome Elder's Quorum Pres stopped by last night and he and Jess gave me a blessing. I was hurting e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e before that... but my body relaxed and I was able to fall asleep well and sleep well after that. Jestin went and got me a Cold Stone - since it was DEFINATELY a Cold Stone Day (Crappy day + Cold Stone = Feeling much better). I am stiff and sore and my chest aches and my thumb aches something fierce...but this too shall pass :)

Our ward and neighbors have been so amazing! There has been many who have called, offered to help and I honestly can feel their prayers. Such a crazy out of control day! I am so very thankful that Jenny came and knew what to do. I am so thankful for "grandpa & grandma" stepping in and watching kids and offering rides until family could get here! I am so thankful for family close by and so willing to drop everything and help us. I am so thankful for a ward family who jumps in and is so willing to share/help & love. I am so VERY thankful to be here, for the power of prayer in watching over us all in the events of this day, and for the power of the Priesthood of God to calm the soul and ease the pain and lift the soul. I am truly sorry for all those I scared the tar out of... especially those that witnessed the seizures and such... and had to drive that horrific drive of "what if"... I am just so glad it is over!!

I shall be slower to murmur from now on. It can ALWAYS be much worse! LOL

Anyone want to come use the EpiPen for me when/if my son ever needs his? I am not so sure I could even open it again... let alone give it to him! *shudder* Stupid Pen!