Part Five: Admit One: Pneumonia

As I wait for the emergency department (ED) physician to return with a treatment plan, I login to my online patient portal account. I click on my lab results page. Some of my blood work has been resulted. I scroll down to my white blood cell count. It reads 20.8 (A normal white blood cell count is between 4 and 10.). I am surprised my white blood cell count is so high, but I am also grateful that the blood work shows I am quite ill.

A short while later, the ED physician returns. He bluntly says, “You are going to be admitted.” In a feigned shocked expression, I exclaim, “Why? What’s wrong with me?” The doctor says, “Your chest X-ray shows you have pneumonia.” (I silently congratulate myself on correclty reading my chest X-ray. I also am relieved I will soon be on the path to better health.) The physician orders some more blood work. He tells me he noticed I look dehydrated. He is going to order some fluids. He also asks about my mitochondrial disease. “Do fluids help with mitochondrial disease?” I answer, “Yes.” He then asks, “Does sugar in the IV fluids also help?” I nearly fall off my gurney. This is the first time anyone has ever asked about giving me fluids and fluids with dextrose while hospitalized! I again answer, “Yes.” He says after he gives me some IV fluids, he will then switch me over to IV fluids with sugar. He then leaves and disappears into the ED chaos.

(Side note: The mitochondrial disease protocol for being in the ED/hospital is IV fluids and preferably IV fluids with dextrose (either D5 or D10 normal saline). Due to the stress of illness/injury, folks with mito need the extra support of IV fluids. Moreover, the dextrose helps maintain a constant blood sugar and helps the mitochondria produce energy while under stress.

When I first became severely ill, if I was not automatically placed on IV fluids, I would always ask for them. Usually the request was granted. One time I was even able to get D5 normal saline. As time has progressed, hospitals no longer place all patients on IV fluids. If you can swallow and are conscious, IV fluids are usually not ordered. Since this new protocol has taken effect, it has been very hard to convince doctors of my need for IV fluids while hospitalized. This is the first doctor I have ever had ask if I needed IV fluids or IV fluids with dextrose. The joy and relief that I will not have to force myself to eat and drink to maintain hydration and blood sugar levels makes my heart swell with gratitude. It is just another sign that God is directing my care.)



(For the link to Part Six click here)