Eye Exams and an ER Experience

This past weekend was...eventful.  On Friday after work/school, Maggie and I had eye appointments.  I am the only one in the family who wears glasses/contacts but Maggie said she was having some trouble seeing while driving at night.  The nice and very talkative doctor listened to her and assured her that everyone has trouble seeing at night (unless they are an owl) and pity-prescribed her a very low prescription for glasses.  We ordered a pair from Firmoo.com (use code Colleen447) for less than $30 total and we will see if they help her while driving.

Maggie snuck this picture of my eye exam, all was good.

On Saturday morning, Phil, Maggie, and I went to a workout class at the gym.  It's the hardest class they offer, and is set up in stations around a track where you do a different move for 45 seconds before moving to the next station (think flipping a huge tire, battle ropes, mini hurdles, etc.)  The instructor is a beast and pushes us to our limits with lots of running and weight moves of arms, legs, and abs in-between the track circuits.  

Anyhoo, when we got home, Phil was feeling like he couldn't quite catch his breath still, even though Maggie and I were fine (exhausted but breathing fine).  I had him test his oxygen (thanks Mom for insisting we get one for home during the pandemic) but his fingers were so cold that it wouldn't register (also weird for him).  Everyone else tested their levels and we were all in the high 90s, but after Phil warmed up in the shower, he was testing at only 86.  

If you remember from three years ago, Phil had three blood clots in his right calf.  Last Monday, he had said he felt similar pain in his left calf that he had felt three years ago, but it went away after a few hours.  Putting everything together in my brain, I told him we needed to go to the hospital to get a scan for clots.  I was wishing that JP (an ER Tech) was home to ask his opinion, but he was in Ohio visiting friends.  Andrew was home for Spring Break and even being the barely-nursing-student that he is, he seconded the motion and off we went.

We drove a little farther to the hospital where JP works, as it is a quieter hospital than the one near our house, and it was worth it as we were the only ones in the waiting room.

* Funny Story Time *

The woman who was checking Phil in and getting his vitals saw that he was wearing an Ice Cream Cottage sweatshirt.  

Lady: "The Ice Cream Cottage?  Oh I hate you guys!  You are taking away my JP from working here when you open!"

Phil: "Oh yes, sorry, but we need him to work while our other workers are still in school."

Lady: "We just love JP so much, he is the best and such a hard worker.  He told me he makes more money working for you and I understand, but we don't want him to go!"  

A few minutes later, she asks "So how did you get to know JP?"

Phil (confused, as he thought it was clear):  "I'm his dad.  We are his parents."

Lady: "WHAT?!?!?!  How old are you??  You are too young to have a son JP's age!!"

She just thought Phil worked with him at The Cottage, oh man it was so funny.

They moved Phil to the next room to get an EKG (totally normal) and the guy doing that also said how he loved working with JP.  Then we were put in a room, and the nurse, upon finding out that we were JP's parents, sang his praises as well.  "He's the absolute best Tech we have here.  We never have to ask him to do something, he just knows what needs to be done and he never stops.  Such a hard worker!"

To be honest, Phil and I kept staring at each other with befuddled looks because as much as we love JP, we do not see this hard-working side of him at home.  It's like pulling teeth to get him to help out with dishes or laundry typically, he loves to sleep in to noon if he has a day off, and all through school I had to be on his case to study.  

Even JP agrees :)

So what I'm saying is there's hope, parents!  I guess once they find their passion and/or work for others, they are impressive!

Back to the hospital stay, we settled in and they did blood work and a chest Xray on Phil.  Phil's oxygen level was fine the whole time we were there, and he felt stupid for coming, but I reminded him that it would be good news if nothing was found.  

Then they did a chest CT scan with dye and four hours after arriving, we got the diagnosis of... a small clot in his lungs.  He also had a couple blood tests with elevated levels, and the PA wanted to admit him for observation overnight.  We talked about it and decided with the prescription of Eliquis and a promise to follow up on Monday, we would go home.

We missed our king sized bed

Phil went to his primary doctor yesterday, and is getting repeat blood work and an ultrasound of his leg done on Thursday.  Phil is only 44, works out regularly, eats pretty healthy, doesn't smoke, and doesn't have any reason for the clots (they tested him to see if it was genetic after the first clots).  Prayers appreciated that we can figure everything out and that his blood decides never to clot again, m'kay blood?  

P.S. Happy St. Joseph's Day!