After being in the ICU for close to a week I was beginning to lose my patience. Being woken up throughout all hours of the night, being poked for labs, and taking a multitude of pills with a horrible aftertaste, though all for good reasons, was very tiring. I felt like I would be better off at home, in my own pj’s, own bed and I would be able to take a proper shower! I didn’t think to much when I was being discharged from the hospital, other than I can’t wait to be home. Before I was discharged I had to walk the ICU department as one of the criteria that is needed for discharge. Mind you, I had been in bed for practically my entire hospital stay, sure I would rotate from the chair in my room and my bed, but mainly just my bed. I never expected that when I got up for the first time I would be as weak as I felt. I was told I wouldn’t feel the aftermath of a long hospital stay until discharge and they were right. Regardless of how I felt I did what I needed and was quickly told I could be discharged. Once I was told I would be discharged as soon as I got dressed, my mom helped me change out of my gown and into some clean clothes. I was given my discharge instructions where I was informed I might or might not have continued headaches that can either last a few days, weeks or even months until my AVM was treated. There was just no way of knowing. I was also told not to be left alone, start a high sodium diet to help relax my blood vessels, I was restricted to take any NSAID. For pain I was only allowed to take Tylenol.  I was also unable to fly, ride roller coasters, and was instructed to avoid any injury to my head. These instruction were simple enough and I felt like myself again. I was finally wheeled out of the hospital and I had never been so appreciative for outdoors as I was in that moment. I felt the warmth of the sun hit my body, the fresh wind blowing, and heard the sound of cars driving. I felt alive.

On the way home I was taken on a detour to church. My mom had promised San Martin de Porres that if/ when I was sent home she would take me to visit him. I lit him a candle as a thank you for keeping me safe throughout my hospital stay. After my visit, I was finally on my way home! Once I arrived home, my brothers had been there waiting for my arrival. I was so happy to be back in my comfort zone, I had missed it! The first thing I wanted to do was finally shower and feel clean. I was very weak when I got home, that it was a hard task to even shower.

When I finished I began settling in. That day was filled with family that went to visit me at home. Visits at home are always better than hospital visits. I saw my cousins and goddaughter I was unable to see in the hospital due to them not being allowed in ICU. Sure I was able to see them through FaceTime but it’s never the same. As the night began to end I was exhausted. I didn’t understand why I hadn’t really done anything but sit. At that point I started to feel a minor headache begin. My mom told me I was just exhausted, that I had probably over exerted myself to go and rest. Unfortunately, the pain of my headache increased and rapidly. I took the only medication I was allowed to take, Tylenol. Let me just say with that type of headache, it didn’t really help at all. I hadn’t felt like this my entire stay at the hospital and quickly remembered I was being medicated for this type of pain. That first night home was not what I thought, it was tough. The pain of the headache kept me awake throughout the night, until I became so exhausted I fell asleep. My headaches continued for the next few days. I couldn’t sustain the pain any longer. I went to see my PCP (Primary Care Physician) who I’d hope can help in some way with my pain. He told me that I was unable to take any other medication other than Tylenol. He told me that it may be a sore muscle that’s contributing to my headache. He recommended me to try a topical pain relieving gel, Salonpas. I was willing to try anything to relieve me of pain. As soon as we left my appointment we went to the store to grab it. The gel did help relieve pain, but only for a short period of time. With all that had happened I was beginning to not feel like myself, and I think my family noticed. That weekend was October 1st,  and my mom thought I needed what she called a little makeover. That day my pain was tolerable, so me, my mom, sister and boyfriend went to do just that. I kept it simple I cut my hair short and finally had two eyebrows. But a day of pampering did help, I finally focused on something other than my current situation.

 

My headaches were consistent for a long 2 weeks. I did what I could to ease the pain. I tied a bandana around my head for pressure, I used a heating pad, an ice pack and took Tylenol. Finally I had a day then two and before I realized I had gone a week without any headaches. Without any headaches, I didn’t feel any different than before my injury. I was myself again.