So, I’ve had a very dramatic couple of weeks.
Last week, I woke up in the middle of the night with an incredible pain near my collar bone. I thought maybe I had slept on my necklace or something, but when I felt the spot there was a very tender lump. Talked to my Dr. Neighbor, who said it was a “supraclavicular lymph node” and that it probably indicated some sort of impending infection and that we should keep an eye on it.
So, then of course I had to come home and Google it. Never a good idea, right? Because of course, the left supraclavicular lymph node in particluar indicates either INFECTION or CANCER. Of course, I ignored the part that said it usually indicates an infection – which is what you do after you’ve seen the word CANCER!! (also, i think i’m reasonably paraniod – see previous post).
I was due for an adjustment of my blood pressure meds, so I made an appointment for later that day. The first thing the Dr. asked me was if I was a smoker. And I’m thinking “I know why you’re asking me this! Because an enlarged left supraclavicular lymph node can indicate a metastasis of lung cancer!!”. But I didn’t actually say that because, well, I didn’t want to appear crazy.
He then told me what the lymph node was called and I said, “yeah, I looked it up”. And he said, “oh! don’t do that! then I’ll have to prescribe anti-anxiety meds for you!”
Yeah, no kidding.
So, long story short, I started some antibiotics, got a (negative) chest x-ray, and waited to see if the lymph node got better. Which it did! Yay!
But then Wednesday, I was cleaning up around the house when I suddenly got SLAMMED with horrible nausea and intestinal cramping. Tate was at my parents’ house and I was due to pick Fisher up at school in 5 minutes. About 2 minutes later I realized that was not going to happen, so I called my mom to pick him up…
I headed up to the bathroom, as it became evident that I was going to make use of it one way or another. But as I got there I became incredibly lightheaded and thought I might pass out. I went back downstairs to retrieve the phone just in case, and suddenly I thought “I’m going down!”. I was fighting so hard to get the phone before I passed out. I briefly considered calling Michelle next door, but I wasn’t entirely sure she was home and I felt I didn’t have time to risk, so I called 911.
I was trying to focus on breathing, but was breathing really heavily and could barely speak to the dispatcher on the phone. My hands began to tingle, and then the tingling began to move up my arms. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was hyperventilating, and this is what happens when you get too much oxygen.
The paramedics arrived in less than 2 minutes (it’s handy living down the street from the fire station – I heard the sirens start up), but by the time they arrived the tingling had moved halfway up my arms and my fingers were stuck in a clawlike position…
And see, this is what happens when you hyperventilate. You start getting these crazy symptoms which freak you out and make you breath even harder, and the whole situation snowballs.
Thankfully, the paramedics immediately told me to slow down my breathing and the tingling began to subside. I felt better within just a few minutes and they left.
Apparently, the antibiotics caused a bacterial imbalance in my system. Since this all happened, I’ve stopped the antibiotics and am now taking acidophilus to try and regain some intestinal harmony.
And I’ll try to cut out the theatrics, y’all. 
