James woke up yelling from pain in his right elbow and upper arm during the last two nights. They were slightly ameliorated by heat and ice, but it took a while for him to be able to go back to sleep.

In the morning his right side became weak and he was unable to use his phone or write. He needed help walking and listed to the right. I called the oncologist’s office in the early afternoon and they transferred me to him. I described the situation with the pain and weakness and he told us to go to the emergency room.

Schedule

  • 3:45 Arrival (wanted to make sure James at something before leaving)
  • 4:00 Spoke with nurse then back to waiting room
  • 4:30 Moved into ER
  • 4:50 Talked with a doctor who said she was ordering a brain and neck CT scan
  • 6:25 Taken for CT scan, returned at 7
  • 8:00 CT scan results: no brain bleed or metasteses. A lesion in the C7 vertebra is causing a lot of problems, probably the pain in the right arm and weakness. The attending doctor tells us that she put in an order for admission. Pain management is the priority.
  • 10:00 Told by nurse that even though less than 15 people in ER were waiting to be admitted, it’s likely that we will have to wait until morning because people aren’t normally discharged overnight.
  • 10:30 Talked James into lying in a bed propped up instead of remaining in a wheelchair. He has been very groggy and a little disoriented for hours.
  • 10:40 A friend arrives to relieve me for a few hours so I can take a nap and eat some dinner.