Justin's and Lizzie's Journal: 12/29/25

 

Justin's Journal: 12/29/25

Bryson woke us up at 2:30 am. I put him back in bed 3x. I never went back to sleep. Kids got up normal time. Lizzie still shaking and visibly more sick. Fed breakfast to kids then took Lizzie back to urgent care. Clearly 2 different illness and high fever. All day at UC then cabin to pack and head back to Denver after IV. Tested for flu. Results delayed to next day. Rattle and bad cough started on the drive down. Got to Air BNB. Kids in bed. Lizzie up all night coughing and miserable. Vomiting couldn't breathe. Very scary chest rattle/wheeze. I was concerned it was pulmonary embolism or similar. 

Lizzie's Reflection of 12/29/25

Bryson kept waking us up and I felt like a terrible mother not even being able to get out of  bed to comfort him. I feel about as miserable as I did when I was dying during my cancer treatment from myxedema coma. I had zero strength, and my brain felt so foggy and stupid. I thought the dehydration and several days of not holding down my thyroid meds had gotten to my brain. Justin said we were going down in elevation because they thought I had altitude sickness. They asked if my throat was sore, and I said nothing more than normal. It's always a little sore from my restricted esophagus. I tried to get out of bed to help Justin pack, but I probably didn't even get my head off of the pillow. How did I even get to the car? How did they let me leave urgent care? My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. It was in the 140s just laying down. Justin started googling my symptoms and told me he thought I was having a pulmonary embolism. I remember not really understanding and just wanting to go home. He wanted to take me to the ER, and I didn't think I needed it. I ended up googling my symptoms and agreed with him I was really really sick and needed help. 

That morning Lori texted and asked if I was feeling any better. I said "No I'm horrendous. I just want to drive home." She said "That's really bad to want to make that drive. I'm sorry." I said "Thanks, Going back to urgent care. Oxygen wont get over 87 and hr wont go below 130 laying down. Body temp is 101.5 after advil. This is crazy."

Lori - "yes, it is. 87 is scary."

2 hours later Lori: "Are you any better?"

Me: "They almost sent me to the hospital, but we just agreed to book an airbnb at a lower elevation. I've never struggled this much. My dysautonomia is usually worse, but the HR laying down is killing me. Oxygen is staying between 85 and 87. Just checked! It's up to 91! They said once we make it to boulder in about an hour, I should feel so good...minus the flu." I had just found out I had the flu, and I thought there's no way this is just the flu.  This is a really messed up strain of flu, if it's the flu. She continued to wish me well. We talked about driving home versus the flight we had scheduled for 2 the next day. Then I attempted to sleep.  

I wonder what would have happened had they sent me to the hospital then? Would I have died the next day like I did? Would my heart, lungs, and kidneys still have failed? Would I have had to be on the absolute last resort life support (ECMO)? Would I have endured the most miserable 5 weeks of my life?