Doug was sick today. So sick that we had to make a trip to the ER...he was there all day. His symptoms? He couldn't walk. Very scary, I know. This happened to him a couple years ago while we were on vacation in Florida. It was very hot that year and we (the doctor's included) thought it was dehydration. While in the ER in Florida they did some additional tests and determined his potassium levels were very low. At that time he spent the day in the ER getting fluids and potassium. Went back to the hotel that night and seemed fine and our vacation picked up where it left off.
today he got up and felt very weak in the legs...almost as if his legs were going to give out on him. He seemed fine other than feeling weak...so I headed to work and he continued to drink some Gatorade. About 30 minutes after I'd gotten into work I got a call from him. He needed to go to the ER...his legs had completely given out under him and he couldn't' walk. Being that this had happened before I felt confident that we'd get him to the ER, get him the fluids and potassium, and he'd be fine. And he was...the ambulance came and they whisked him off to the hospital with me following behind. The kids had already left for school so we knew they would be fine for the day.
After getting in and having some tests run it was determined that it was indeed his potassium levels that were low. He was with the day shift doctors and nurses for some time and then the staff changed. It was his new doctor that actually came up with an actual "diagnosis". The doctor feels that Doug has a rare genetic condition called "familiar partial paralysis"...the paperwork they gave us on the subject called it "Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis". Apparently under certain conditions his body decides that it needs to push all the potassium in his blood into his cells. While this condition is rare (the ER doc has only seen it 1 other time in his 30 years in ERs) it is thought to occur during times of stress or after consuming carbs and salt. He couldn't' really tell us specific guidelines to follow other than to know this can happen, try to watch what he eats and his stress level, and to supplement his diet with potassium. I am thankful that in Doug's situation it seems to affect only his hips and legs. In the doctor's other experience with this condition it affected the patient from the neck down.
Doug spent the entire day in the ER and they eventually brought his potassium levels back up to where they should be. The boys had their team baseball pictures this evening so we headed up to the hospital after those were done. Doug was released at about 8:45 pm.
I just love this time of year...unfortunately it hasn't been quite as warm as I'd like it to be. On the positive side, I love the trees the builder planted all along the streets in out neighborhood. They are all covered in white flowers and it makes me smile every time I enter the neighborhood. I almost wish they wouldn't get their green leaves but instead keep these beautiful white flowers all summer.
The boys had a practice game today...Opening day is just one week away. They both did great and really have been improving on their hitting. Kaleb once smacked the ball and made it to 3rd base. He hit another one that was a great pop-fly...only issue is that the outfielder caught it. Kaden also hit the ball popping it out into right center field. Unfortunately they caught it and he was out. The point is that they've both been making really good contact.
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