Our First Ketoacidosis Hospital Trip
This year has been especially rough for our family in the sickness category. We seem to catch every bug that is going around. One of the sicknesses was a flu. An achy, fevery, miserable flu. I had it, Hadley, Kennedy, & Avery got it. It was no fun. We did a lot of this....
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As if sickness is not bad enough, sickness and Diabetes downright miserable. It is a constant battle trying to keep blood sugars level and ketones down. The day after KK got the flu, her ketones started climbing. Despite our best efforts, we could not get them down. They were so high she was starting to vomit every few minutes and she was not keeping even the smallest bit of liquids down. I called her doctor and let them know her ketones were in the 7 range, at which point they advised me to take her to the emergency room immediately.
We went to the emergency room once before in California where they gave her an IV, hydrated her and sent us home. I figured this would be the same process, so I simply packed my purse, and KK and drove to Provo to the emergency room.
We were taken into the ER and she was immediately hooked up to an IV where they gave her anti-nausea medication and fluids to hydrate her. They also took a lot of blood work and told us they would get back to us. About an hour later, the ER doctor came in and told us that she was going to have to be admitted for the night because she was in a state of ketoacidosis and until they could clear the ketones out of her system, we were going to be under the hospital's care. :(
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We were wheeled to the Pediatric wing of the hospital and set up in a room. KK was checked and monitored every two hours by the nurse and doctors. The doctor explained to me that we needed to get her blood sugars UP so that we could administer more insulin into her system to flush out the ketones. This is the complete opposite of every instinct in a Type 1 parent's body. It was so weird to be told not to worry that her numbers were in the 300-400 range. And that is where the doctor wanted them for now. Crazy! Much to Kennedy's delight she was finally allowed to have copious amounts of regular Sprite - something we do not have EVER at our house. She was in heaven (well, as much as she could be strapped to IVs in a hospital bed). ;)
We stayed about 24 hours. The hospital staff was amazing. They were all super friendly and helpful. They were amazed that this was our first hospital stay in the five years since she's been diagnosed. There was even a child specialist who brought in a huge stocking full of fun things for KK and a lot of crafts to keep her occupied while we were there.
We were discharged around 7:00 the following night because her levels were all normal once again. Although it was scary and I definitely hope we don't have to go back for another five years, I am glad to have such a great hospital to take her to if we need that kind of emergency care in the future! :)
We went to the emergency room once before in California where they gave her an IV, hydrated her and sent us home. I figured this would be the same process, so I simply packed my purse, and KK and drove to Provo to the emergency room.
We were taken into the ER and she was immediately hooked up to an IV where they gave her anti-nausea medication and fluids to hydrate her. They also took a lot of blood work and told us they would get back to us. About an hour later, the ER doctor came in and told us that she was going to have to be admitted for the night because she was in a state of ketoacidosis and until they could clear the ketones out of her system, we were going to be under the hospital's care. :(
Here she is chilling in the ER.
Hanging out in her room. Isn't that a cute pillow case?
We stayed about 24 hours. The hospital staff was amazing. They were all super friendly and helpful. They were amazed that this was our first hospital stay in the five years since she's been diagnosed. There was even a child specialist who brought in a huge stocking full of fun things for KK and a lot of crafts to keep her occupied while we were there.
Killing Time......
We were discharged around 7:00 the following night because her levels were all normal once again. Although it was scary and I definitely hope we don't have to go back for another five years, I am glad to have such a great hospital to take her to if we need that kind of emergency care in the future! :)
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