Lost my calm in an emergency...

[tbanurse]

Ok, I am usually a very calm person, even in an emergency, but this morning I found out what it's like to be on the other side of the fence. My 13-year-old son, 3-days post-op from knee surgery (no complications, now weight bearing, normal PO intake), got up and all seemed well. A few minutes later, he asked if he "should feel this nauseated," so I told him to sit down. He sat down, then layed down. Next thing I know, every bit of color has left his body, turned gray, and his eyes rolled back in his head. He began to have what appeared to be tonic-clonic movements of his upper body, would not respond, and suddenly stopped breathing. I absolutely went into panic mode, started screaming for my husband who was asleep down the hall. When he didn't come right away, I ran down the hall screaming for him to call 911 and rushed back to my son. I ended up giving my son 2 rescue breaths. He did come to at that point, didn't remember a thing that had just happened. He was lethargic, but responding. The fire department and paramedics arrived and took him to the ER. ER doc thinks he "blacked out" and didn't seem to think it was a big deal--liter of LR and sent him home. I'm not so convinced after witnessing the seizure-like movements and will be folowing up with neurology. My daughter and husband have been teasing me all afternoon about screaming and panicing, but they were not the ones who saw what appeared to be a dead 13-year old, nor were they the ones who had to give him resuce breaths. I know I lost my calm, but considering it is my son, I think I did ok. I will definitely have a new appreciation of families who have been in similar situations. I also hope to NEVER be in that situation again. I will be giving a LOT more hugs now!

[leslie :-D]

"blacked out" because of????

had he been taking any medications that could have caused an adverse event?

his bloodwork's ok?

it's a good idea to f/u with his doc.

and you're a mom first.

of course you should panic.:)

leslie

[voraciousj]

I'm sure that when the emergency is happening to a loved one, it is very hard to be detached and calm. Best of luck to your son!!! :icon_hug:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed for your son.

In addition, you did what you had to do in order to rectify the immediate situation.

[nightmare, RN]

Wow! It's different when it's your nearest and dearest! I actually watched my husband take a stroke for some minutes before the "I'd better do something about this "kicked in!!I think you did just fine considering.Well done you .

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

Hey, don't feel bad, I've been there also. My 6 year old son has a severe food allergy to tree nuts. When we discovered it (via anaphylactic reaction to a sliver of a pecan at age 4).....I lost my "calm" too!

[icyounurse, BSN, RN]

Wow, that sounds really scary!! You did good though sounds like to me since you were able to get emergency help and do the rescue breaths and all.

I think you are very right to follow up with neurology. I would if it was my child.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Hey, you saved him right through your panic.

Sounds like you're a mom.

:)

[Annony RN]

Hug to you, mama! Hope th follow up gives you answers... good ones!

I'm sure your husband and even daughter are a little shaken, too, and hiding it in that teasing.

[joannep]

Hugs to you. I know what it is like, when my son was 3 he choked on some food and turned a nice shade of blue and couldn't dislodge it himself. I dislodged it and he was fine, but I nearly **** myself! Cuts, bruises, stitches & fractures in my kids were a breeze and didn't stress me, but that episode did.

Well done, you did great!

[casi, ASN, RN]

When it's someone you love you have EVERY right to panic. If you weren't paniced at all I'd be worried.

Sounds like you're a Mom.

[tbanurse]

Thanks to all of you for your support! :heartbeat I've always seen myself as a mom first and a nurse second, and your comments re-affirm that! I guess I was just amazed that my normal sense of calm didn't kick in like I always thought it would, and I feel for those moms who are in that position who do not have my background to help them get through the situation.

FYI-my son is doing well this afternoon! The MD thought he may have had a vasovagal response to pain/noxious stimuli, but because of the tonic-clonic movements, I do not completely agree. His labs came back WNL, and he had not taken any meds in ~24hours, so at this point, we still don't know what caused it. Definitely looking further into it, though.

Thanks again--y'all are great!!