Krysten: Another Journey

I think I am just going to do what Patrick does and update on my blog.  I can write more and it's easy to do. 

This is strictly through my eyes. 

On Thursday around 11:30, Krysten called me asked if I could take her to get a CT of her abdomen.
She has been having major stomach pains and vomiting/nausea since Monday or so.  CF patients are prone to digestion issues so we all just thought it was that. So anyways, I said sure, she said she'd text me when Hopkins sent over a script to the local lab.

I went out and ran a few errands and hadn't heard from her so I sent a text. No answer. I then went to another store and called when I got out. No answer. I figured she probably went to sleep, but also had a bad feeling at the same time.   I went right over there, it was around 2:15.

She had been sleeping, but I could tell something was wrong. She said her head hurt so bad, and she started crying. I asked her if she had eaten anything but she hadn't and she couldn't hold anything down. I got her some pain meds for the head, and made her drink a little Gatorade. I told her I was going to get her something to eat, so I went downstairs to see what there was.  Her sugar drops sometimes so I thought since she hadn't been able to hold anything down, that she was sick and had a headache from that. 

I came back up less than 5 minutes later and she was having a seizure.   I immediately called Patrick and 911. She started to come back out of the seizure before they all got there but she wasn't speaking.  Then she had another as the paramedics were taking her out to the ambulance. 

We finally got an abdominal and head CT around 3.5 hours later and the Dr. came in with the radiologist on the phone while she was still in having the scans and was asking us if she had fallen because the head CT showed a brain bleed as bad as a person in a major car accident.  He went back out to talk to the Radiologist and then came back in to talk to us.  My mom, Patrick, and I literally looked at this Dr. with our mouths wide open.  No, she hadn't fallen, she hadn't had a traumatic injury. 

They vented her there, did a lumbar tap, and transferred us to Hopkins right away which Patrick requested but they were going to do anyway.  

Since Thursday when she got to Hopkins, they have done a lot of tests.  MRI's, CT's, an angiogram, EEG's, lumbar taps, etc. 

The Dr.'s did finally tell us yesterday that they think she has RCVS (Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome) and should make a full recovery. 

However, on Friday morning Krysten was able to talk and could understand what we were saying.  Throughout that day, she deteriorated to the point today where she is only opening her eyes slightly and moving her limbs if we annoy her.  She will not squeeze hands or do anything the Dr.'s request of her.  This concerns us.  Today they took her for another MRI, which we are still waiting on the results of.  They also started a 24 hour EEG to look at brain wave activity for 24 hours. 

I have also received many questions regarding her Cystic Fibrosis.  This has nothing to do with that.  In fact, her CF Dr. at Hopkins said that this was a first for him.  He has never visited a patient of his in the NCCU.   She has had borderline high blood pressure since she was in the hospital the last time, which they think may have caused this.  As of now, her lungs are looking good. 

Everyone, please keep Krysten and Patrick in your thoughts and prayers.  Krysten has already showed that she is a fighter with her last hospital stay.  She can do this but it is an extremely difficult time.  We just want them to come home and be the happy in love newlyweds that they are. 

Love you guys!  Here are a few pictures from their wedding on June 1st.