What's the most dangerous situation you've ever been in?

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Anaphylaxis.

We were at a mall and I tried to tell my husband I wanted to go home to bed. Somehow it came out I want to go to the hospital, and I decided that might be better. Mistake number one....I should have taken an ambulance. Stopped in the bathroom onthe way out. Mistake number two...NEVER allow a person having a serious allergic reaction to go alone to the bathroom.

DH had dropped me at the hospital door, then left to take the kids to my sister. There was a line at triage and I was tired. (I think lack of oxygen is exhausting?) so I sat in a chair. Mistake number three...don't wait for treatment. Fortunately one of the nurses saw me and recognized it was serious. He came over and spoke to me, but I have a foggy memory...I remember I was waving my health card and he said we'd worry about that later. THAT was when I realized this was serious... He asked me if I needed a wheelchair, but the relief I felt knowing I was now in a hospital and they would "fix me up" made me feel like I was better all ready, so I said I could walk. Mistake number three.

While walking down the hospital hallway I was bouncing back and forth off the walls. I remember thinking, this is an awfully thin hallway for a hospital.....and why is everything gray?

I have no memory of getting on a bed. But I do remember the doctor and nurse giving me injections...epinephrine, something else, and steroid. The doctor was telling me something about risks or dangers with the steroid and kept asking me if I understood and did I want it. I must have said yes....but honestly, I understood nothing.

Then I left. I was kind of....looking down...on myself...but it's not really easy to explain. Then I was back. Then I left again and I heard the nurse say "WHAT DO WE DO? SHE'S GONE AGAIN....WHAT DO WE DO?" And the doctor replied "pray". At that point I decided I didn't like this conversation so I turned my back and walked away. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can explain it.

And there really was a light, so I went to it.

The following....I will not defend. If you don't believe it please just keep that to yourself.

I saw my mom. I kind of ran towards her but she held up her hand like STOP and said there was something I still had to do...I had to go back. I didn't want to. She reminded me of my husband and kids....I still didn't really want to. But she again said there was still something I had to do. I turned and started going back, then turned again but she was gone. Mistake number four. I didn't turn to salt for turning back....but I was in complete blackness.

So, in complete blackness...complete absence of light...and suddenly I heard my husband say "What the f...did you do to my wife?" And I followed his voice.

Next thing I heard was the nurse say "she's back, what do we do" and the doctor said "see if we can keep her this time"

The next part I don't remember, my husband told me. Apparently I turned to him and said "you were right, my mom really did have a strong accent" the doctor and nurse looked at him and he told then my mom had passed away. The nurse kind of fell into a chair and the doctor said to her "ya...you never really get used to that part of the job".

He said after I said that, he thought I had lost consciousness, but the doctor told him I was just sleeping this time.

Hours later the doctor came in to release me. I said "I guess the antihistamine I've been taking doesn't work any more" and she said " You're not leaving in a body bag....And I thought you were going to."

Walking out, I stood in the middle of the hallway with my arms extended. My fingers did not touch either wall....not even close. And while it was all painted that off white, it was not all gray.

Anyway....in all that, the scariest part was the complete and utter blackness that I got lost in. I am not afraid of the dark, but never in this world have I ever been in such an absence of any light.

~~~

The reason I was not carrying an epi-pen.....the allergist I had seen said that I did not have REAL allergies. I don't remember what I was diagnosed with but it had the word urticaria and basically meant hives from no specific cause. And apparently that NEVER causes anaphylaxis. So they would not prescribe an epi for me.

The allergist was wrong. I am one of those people that skin prick tests do not work on. One time I will test negative to everything even the histamine test. Another I will test positive to everything they test. I guess you could say, I'm the exception that makes the rule.
Wow - amazing incredible story - AND I believe every single part of it - even the spooky part about seeing your Mom - glad you made it!
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
While vacationing in Hawaii I ignored safety instructions and went beyond the coral reef on a windsurfer. Found myself being circled by white tipped sharks. Luckily I was an experienced windsurfer (owning my own board), and got back to safety without falling off.
Hey - nice to see you come back on board!
:):thumbs_up::howdy:

that turned out to be a pun and I didn't even plan it!
 

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2014
9,724
53,642
Colorado
Anaphylaxis.

We were at a mall and I tried to tell my husband I wanted to go home to bed. Somehow it came out I want to go to the hospital, and I decided that might be better. Mistake number one....I should have taken an ambulance. Stopped in the bathroom onthe way out. Mistake number two...NEVER allow a person having a serious allergic reaction to go alone to the bathroom.

DH had dropped me at the hospital door, then left to take the kids to my sister. There was a line at triage and I was tired. (I think lack of oxygen is exhausting?) so I sat in a chair. Mistake number three...don't wait for treatment. Fortunately one of the nurses saw me and recognized it was serious. He came over and spoke to me, but I have a foggy memory...I remember I was waving my health card and he said we'd worry about that later. THAT was when I realized this was serious... He asked me if I needed a wheelchair, but the relief I felt knowing I was now in a hospital and they would "fix me up" made me feel like I was better all ready, so I said I could walk. Mistake number three.

While walking down the hospital hallway I was bouncing back and forth off the walls. I remember thinking, this is an awfully thin hallway for a hospital.....and why is everything gray?

I have no memory of getting on a bed. But I do remember the doctor and nurse giving me injections...epinephrine, something else, and steroid. The doctor was telling me something about risks or dangers with the steroid and kept asking me if I understood and did I want it. I must have said yes....but honestly, I understood nothing.

Then I left. I was kind of....looking down...on myself...but it's not really easy to explain. Then I was back. Then I left again and I heard the nurse say "WHAT DO WE DO? SHE'S GONE AGAIN....WHAT DO WE DO?" And the doctor replied "pray". At that point I decided I didn't like this conversation so I turned my back and walked away. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can explain it.

And there really was a light, so I went to it.

The following....I will not defend. If you don't believe it please just keep that to yourself.

I saw my mom. I kind of ran towards her but she held up her hand like STOP and said there was something I still had to do...I had to go back. I didn't want to. She reminded me of my husband and kids....I still didn't really want to. But she again said there was still something I had to do. I turned and started going back, then turned again but she was gone. Mistake number four. I didn't turn to salt for turning back....but I was in complete blackness.

So, in complete blackness...complete absence of light...and suddenly I heard my husband say "What the f...did you do to my wife?" And I followed his voice.

Next thing I heard was the nurse say "she's back, what do we do" and the doctor said "see if we can keep her this time"

The next part I don't remember, my husband told me. Apparently I turned to him and said "you were right, my mom really did have a strong accent" the doctor and nurse looked at him and he told then my mom had passed away. The nurse kind of fell into a chair and the doctor said to her "ya...you never really get used to that part of the job".

He said after I said that, he thought I had lost consciousness, but the doctor told him I was just sleeping this time.

Hours later the doctor came in to release me. I said "I guess the antihistamine I've been taking doesn't work any more" and she said " You're not leaving in a body bag....And I thought you were going to."

Walking out, I stood in the middle of the hallway with my arms extended. My fingers did not touch either wall....not even close. And while it was all painted that off white, it was not all gray.

Anyway....in all that, the scariest part was the complete and utter blackness that I got lost in. I am not afraid of the dark, but never in this world have I ever been in such an absence of any light.

~~~

The reason I was not carrying an epi-pen.....the allergist I had seen said that I did not have REAL allergies. I don't remember what I was diagnosed with but it had the word urticaria and basically meant hives from no specific cause. And apparently that NEVER causes anaphylaxis. So they would not prescribe an epi for me.

The allergist was wrong. I am one of those people that skin prick tests do not work on. One time I will test negative to everything even the histamine test. Another I will test positive to everything they test. I guess you could say, I'm the exception that makes the rule.

Well, that was compelling.

I know it's not a competition, AnnaMarie, but you win. When I got the shocks, I didn't see anyone or anything or a light. I just came out in good shape. So good for you.
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
29,564
Other
Well, that was compelling.

I know it's not a competition, AnnaMarie, but you win. When I got the shocks, I didn't see anyone or anything or a light. I just came out in good shape. So good for you.

There is something I would like people to take from my experience.

Food allergies are real and real dangerous. If someone you know has them, don't roll your eyes. Don't make them feel ashamed and hide that they have allergies. Don't tell them about your sister's neighbour's cousin's dog walker who was cured of allergies by something they read on Facebook.

I want to say "obviously" don't hide their allergen in food to "test" if they really are allergic....but I've had that happen twice, so maybe it's not obvious.

Now you know why allergies are ALWAYS on my mind and come out in posts so often. It's not paranoia when the food really is out to kill you. :doc:
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
My first fatal asthma attack
It was one of those attacks that progressively worsened over the day. When you have asthma, you use an albuterol inhaler or to provide immediate relief for constricted alveoli. What happens when you use it too often is called a "rebound", which means then more often you take it, the periods of relief are minimal, and the symptoms return quickly, cycling back and forth until there is no more albuterol left and you still can't breathe. Once you realize you are doing this, it's time to go to the hospital. Do not pass go, no waiting with a real asthma attack, surpass the waiting room, triage consists of one glance.
That day I had made it clear while I could still speak in complete sentences by saying "I need to go to the hospital, I'm having an asthma attack, please take me." I remember Chastine yelling "you need to calm down" the funny thing was, I can't speak too much or move when I can't breathe so obviously her remark served to confuse and upset me. She didn't understand the difference between asthma and anxiety, I'd like to think.
Then there was Robert who's claim to infamy was killing a baby while trying to save his life as a firefighter.
He tried rubbing my upper back, :grr: I focused on a small place on the wall can't speak, every ounce of energy spent pulling oxygen in and releasing carbon dioxide. I heard him say he was calling an ambulance and making an absurd remark about sirens, mimicking sirens as though that would scare me into changing my mind. He was almost asking "Which way would you like to die?":nightmare::love_heart:
And I looked at the floor as he called 911, knowing that there was no that I was going to die. The floor was white ceramic tile, not quite like the image I see when I close my eyes sometimes: little tile ovals with black grout from grandmother Rita's bathroom floor. I remember thinking. "this is it. this is the last attack, I'm going to die now."
He opened the door and placed me on the sidewalk, put my wallet with my identification next to me and my necklace and shoes behind me. He had no vested interest in helping me anymore. The ambulance finally arrived and I couldn't lie down; I wasn't dead or unconscious yet. I couldn't speak but I may have been able to communicate because the Paramedic (I assume he was more than an EMT) looked at me once he picked me up off the ground and placed me on the stretcher. At that point I was on my knees, gripping the rail. Your body fights death till the bitter end. Breathing is one of those reflexive response for survival. You cannot lie down when you are in the throw of an asthma attack. The last thing I remember was the paramedic looking at me and saying "hold on".
I woke up in the trauma room, ripped the intubation tube out and saw the shirt I had been wearing, a tank top with a heart shaped American flag, had been cut down the middle, same with my jeans. :ghostface:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neesy and GNTLGNT

hipmamajen

Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess.
Apr 4, 2008
4,650
6,090
Colorado
These stories are amazing, but so frightening too. How many of us have been within a whisper of not being here today.

How many have been that close and never known they missed it? Someone left work two minutes early and weren't there to get squashed by a semitruck and start a 10 car pile up, so the day goes uneventfully for all who would have been involved, including you... Doc has crazy-bad handwriting, but pharmacist can decipher it so you get what you're supposed to and not what it really seems to say...

That sort of thing probably happens all the time.
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
These stories are amazing, but so frightening too. How many of us have been within a whisper of not being here today.

How many have been that close and never known they missed it? Someone left work two minutes early and weren't there to get squashed by a semitruck and start a 10 car pile up, so the day goes uneventfully for all who would have been involved, including you... Doc has crazy-bad handwriting, but pharmacist can decipher it so you get what you're supposed to and not what it really seems to say...

That sort of thing probably happens all the time.
None that I know of.
Just the two times: I stopped breathing and the second time I had no detectable pulse. Same guy from the first story used RIB CRACKING cpr till the ambulance arrived. They took over with the defribulator. I do not remember this part
because my eyes were wide open, dead eyes. (This is!;$ multiple witnesses have told me confirmed
my medical records confirm all of it. The weird thing about that is the second time it took then twenty minutes with CPR and the defibrillator and do you know what I saw?
Nothing.
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
While vacationing in Hawaii I ignored safety instructions and went beyond the coral reef on a windsurfer. Found myself being circled by white tipped sharks. Luckily I was an experienced windsurfer (owning my own board), and got back to safety without falling off.

Hey! Good to see you!

Hubby often goes out beyond the menehune wall at our favorite snorkel spot. I have to keep telling him not to do it. I worry about something like this. Glad you got away safely. I came face-to-face with a barracuda once. But he swam away faster than I did!