The ICU

The first thing I remember about the ICU was Jared my new nurse using some kind of board to roll me onto this incredibly comfortable bed. I was still being hit with a flurry of questions from every new person. Mostly I could not speak and Anita was appointed to answer the queries. They kept hanging more bags of saline. I felt terrible still. I was hooked up to a monitor that kept my heart rate blood pressure, but I could not see it well as I had not brought my glasses from home. I do remember my heart rate was at 130 when I arrived and I was watching it now at about 5:00pm at about 110. Blood pressure was stabile at about 110/65. They kept hanging bags. I think at about 6 litres, I could feel a little saliva.
My parents arrived soon after I was in the ICU. My mom came in first and was very distraught. She could see I had a big fight about me tonight and was praying hard that I would win that bout. Next my dad came in. He took a look at me and had to turn to the window. "I'd ask you how you are doing, but I can see it." he said. He placed his hand on my chest and slowly walked out. I could tell my look was more than he could handle.
Tony came back in and stayed for awhile with Anita. She never left. They kept hanging bags.
At 7:30, I met the infectious medicine doctor. She came in with my new nurse Nancy. The doc asked many good questions and really was a comfort when she thought it was still an allergic reaction from the Augmentin. That would be much better than bacterial infection. She ordered every hard hitting ab into my IV's. Vancomycin, doxycycline, gentamycin. And more bags of saline.... when she left, I felt a little better about my chances although my fever was not agreeing. Nancy checked it at 104.9 and climbing. I knew full well that the brain and organs start to cook at about 106. I had about 1 degree and was closing. Now came the fight. They hung more bags and shot me with steroids. Nancy placed a bag that blew 50 degree air on me that I would wear until my temp would fall below 102.
Everyone except Anita had gone now. My parents went to take care of Byron, and Tony went home. I lay there shivering watching the clock and what I could see of my monitor. I was hoping for some Tylenol at 9:30, but none came. I just shook uncontrollably. I had the extreme shivers from the fever and the blanket poured cold air on me relentlessly. Anita struggle to get comfortable with two chairs together. I knew I would not sleep this night. I remember watching every minute tick by hoping I would quit shivering. I hated the blanket although I knew it was saving me. It still was bitter. I fantasized about drinking a glass of coke with ice right to the top. I promised I would have one when I was out. It was 1:10 am I would look at anita. she was asleep. I would wink at her. She slept. 1:15 same/and so on for a long time. About 2:20, Nancy checked my temp. It had dropped to 102.4.
"Next time i come back it could be below 102 and you can have the blanket off." She said.
It was not to be...I started shivering hard for an hour straight. I knew that was my fever spiking again. she came back in an hour.
"I know it went up," I said.
"103.5?" I asked..
"Close. 103.3....shoot, she said. I was hoping we would be below as we were steadily dropping.
Yeah, shoot. more time with this infernal blanket and a fever setback. Will I ever even out.
A miracle happened about 5:00am. my fever went to 101.8. The blanked was off and I slept instantly for about 3 hours. I had made it through the night.