05/31/2026
This was definitely not on my list of things to do this weekend - calling 911 on myself
Thursday late morning I broke out into extreme cold sweats over my entire body and felt dizzy and shaky. I lowered myself carefully onto the floor because otherwise I was going to fall and hit my head on the tile. I never lost consciousness, but I felt extremely weak - like moving my body took a lot of thought. I was also dizzy, lightheaded, had a horrible headache, felt nauseous, and was shivering because I was freezing.
As I lay there on the floor, I thought about my options and realized a big part of my problem was that my phone was downstairs and I was upstairs.
So I somehow managed to crawl down the stairs, get to my phone, call my husband, and tell him something was wrong - like really wrong. Then I called 911.
I had no idea what was happening, and I knew I was definitely starting to panic. My brain immediately went to the symptoms women are always told to watch for, including stroke and heart attack symptoms. I was certain I was probably have a stroke because I could barely move my body and my head was exploding.
911 stayed on the phone with me, talking me through everything calmly. The EMTs got there and found my blood pressure was crazy low - which has never been my problem!
I get to the hospital and I can't open my eyes because my head hurts so much, and all the moving around on the stretchers makes the dizziness worse, so I have no idea who they were and what they looked like but they were all wonderful - calm and patient with me.
CT scan because of the massive headache, bloodwork, ECG, blood oxygen, and questions - so many questions.
Bloodwork showed low sodium, but then the question became why — so we have to admit you and figure it out.
They said I was a puzzle because my kidney function was fine, and because I couldn't say I had been having symptoms. According to the NP, sodium levels don't usually just drop - they tend to decrease over time.
Have you been feeling unusually tired or weak recently?
No not that I could say.
Are you the type that just keeps going and doing - you know - pushing through?
Yes. Yes, I am.
After IV fluids I was still shaky, but I could move my body again and open my eyes a little bit.
Side story - if you are a fan of The Pitt - in season one, we met a patient in the hallway who kept asking the nurses and technicians for a sandwich. Well, in the hallway across from me, there was a patient in the hallway who kept asking for a sandwich. My brain thought - okay, so this is a thing that happens in EDs enough that that the writers and producers of that show thought to include it. I thought that was a little interesting. - End side story
Then I got moved upstairs with lots more questions to answer and met more nurses and technicians who were also wonderful.
By Friday morning the doctors decided it was severe dehydration, likely brought on by my blood pressure meds and perhaps needing to drink more water in the mix. I am really good about carrying a full water bottle wherever I go, but not so good at remembering to drink from it. 🧐
But I still had a terrible headache. That was finally addressed when they found my potassium numbers were also slightly low, which is apparently a thing too. So I got a potassium pill and more IV fluids and the headache went away!
By Saturday morning my numbers were high enough to be discharged.
"Are you ready to go home?"
Was I ever!!!
First thing on my list of things to do was a shower - probably the best shower I have ever had.
Ultimately, at the end of this experience, I think sometimes we talk ourselves out of paying attention to our bodies. We tell ourselves we are tired, stressed, busy, or that things will pass. And then sometimes your body screams, "I will not be ignored!"
This situation felt very different - my body was screaming I will not be ignored, and I knew I was not okay. Even my husband, who is 100 percent my emotional opposite and balance, understood from the message I left that I wasn't exaggerating.
Thank you to 911, the EMTs, nurses, technicians, nurse practitioners, and doctors who helped take care of me over the last few days. I saw and felt your compassion and care for what you do every day. I am truly grateful for all of you.
And now I am resting, hydrating, and looking forward to getting back to my normal routine with a change in BP meds and a renewed commitment to actually drinking the water I carry around with me.
Plus I have a whole new appreciation for electrolytes.
