The summer of camps has come to an end. My first camp was JMU and would have been much better for me if I wasn’t on topamax for migraine prevention. It made me feel awful but I powered through with the other nurse.
By the time Wash U came around, I was weaning off the medicine. I’d rather have a headache every day of my life. It completely changed my personality and I had zero energy. It was so hot at camp, I spent a lot of time indoors.
My favorite camp was last. Every time I land in Maine and walk into the airport I feel like I’m back home. One of the best things I did in 2019 was throw caution to the wind, jump way out of my comfort zone and fly to Maine not knowing a single person.
Camp was small this year. After last minute cancellations we had sixteen campers. I enjoy small camps so I actually had almost everyone’s name down. The other nurse was from Canada but also works in Maine. She was super nice. It was a great week until the last night. I woke up at two in the morning and did not feel right. I puked, took zofran and thought I don’t have time for this and went back to sleep. I did not feel any better when I woke up but in true nurse form I pushed through and ignored it. After the last camper left I sat down and my chest pain was out of control. A counselor had me attempt box breathing but that made me super dizzy. After some discussion and involving the camp site director we called 911. Tink the MHP (mental health professional) had low dose aspirin on her so 911 had her give me 4 to chew. Ok gross but it did cause a flashback to when I was a kid and I chewed regular aspirin for headaches. Although tylenol was around we didn’t have any in our house. It seems like aspirin plus chicken pox causing rye syndrome in children under 18 started when I was in nursing school. Or perhaps first time I heard about it. Anyway, shortly after I sat straight up and said I’m going to puke. I then proceeded to puke on the ground right in front of three counselors from another Kesem chapter, Melody and the camp advisor twirl. They all were awesome. Bubby was pre med and did an excellent primary survey on me. The fire department showed up first. In true firefighter fashion they were cute. When they went to do the 12 lead EKG I said make sure you put the sticker in the right place and don’t miss a STEMI (a type of heart attack and the most serious). The look on their faces cracked me up. Shortly after the ambulance arrived. My heart rate was 120 but no arrhythmias and my blood pressure was elevated so they loaded me up in the ambulance. Melody planned to drop some of the counselors off at the airport and then come hang with me in the ER.

There was an EMT in training who asked me how long I have been a nurse. I immediately answered since Jesus was a small boy. This is how Theresa Sextro use to introduce me to patients. He and the paramedic cracked up. They ended up giving me zofran IV to which I said “I may never poop again.” After I arrived I was in the waiting room. They did an EKG and drew labs while I was waiting for a room.

The doc came in to tell me my troponin level was normal but I was still having chest pain. When he realized I had flown recently he ordered a d-dimer. Of course that came back elevated so I bought myself a CT scan with contrast. The results took like an hour and a half so I missed my flight home. The results were negative for a PE (blood clot in the lung) but showed something near my mediastinum in my lung that needs follow up. It was recommended a repeat CT or MRI of the chest.

I was discharged and told to follow up with primary. So I booked a hotel room and bought a flight out the next day. About half the counselors flights were cancelled and they couldn’t leave until Friday. Of course I was not one of them. Melody had the day off so she picked me, tomato, and firefly up and gave us a tour of Maine. Of course we drove by Steven Kings house and went to the same lobster place we’ve went every year. I always get the lobster grilled cheese which is so good.

The flight home was uneventful. I saw my primary and have a stress test tomorrow. Of course they chose MRI which I was told will take eighty minutes. As if I can sit still. Ha

Mole moral ~ It is way less stressful to send campers or counselors out for treatment than myself!