This story is a little embarrassing, but let’s be real… that has never stopped me from sharing the craziness of my paralysis journey. So sit back, grab some grape juice and enjoy my less inspiring version of The Color Purple.
Last week I was tired of drinking water so I made myself some grape Crystal Light. I’m recovering from surgery so I’m temporarily sleeping in a hospital bed in my living room. One evening I went to lay down with a glass and immediately spilled it all over my vinyl flooring, personal items, bedding, and pjs.
I currently have my catheters and medical supplies on the floor by my bed, within easy reach. Of course, as it dripped downward, it splashed and splattered, making a colossal mess! My medical supplies were not excluded from this mayhem.
Coinciding with the grape juice, I was not feeling my best and had no appetite plus felt constantly exhausted. Recovering from surgery, I didn’t give much thought to feeling “off,” instead assuming it was pain meds and post op symptoms.
As the week progressed, I continued to feel worse and noticed that my urine had an odd tinge of color plus my catheter bags were turning dark purple. Remembering the spilt juice, my husband teased me that my “kool-aide” really had not missed a thing as it spilt.
Feeling worse each day, on Friday evening as I thought back on the week, I realized that this could not possibly be a result of the spilt Crystal Light. Some of my supplies had been back in my bedroom during the “Great Spill of ‘24” but were still turning deep purple. My husband insisted it was the juice but I was unsure. The facts weren’t adding up.
So I turned to Google as I always do when I’m in fear of imminent death. Web MD has saved my life on more than one occasion.
(Okay, that was just thrown in for dramatic effect. It’s never really saved me from anything.)
But I googled “purple pee,” and lo and behold, I had a rare syndrome called “Purple Urine Bag Syndrome” or PUBS that caused my strange and unusual symptoms. It wasn’t life threatening but could be a serious UTI. Being paralyzed I’ve had many, many UTI’s over the years, but this took the prize. Seriously, I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
By the way, don’t just Google PUBS because you will simply get a long list of bars. It’s obvious how I discovered that mishap but now my Facebook and Instagram feed are filled with Pub decor and funny bar t-shirts. Good grief.
Asking all of my nursing friends, no one had ever heard of purple urine, so I decided I should go to the Urgent Care first thing in the morning.
My dear friend, Mari, who is a nurse took me on Saturday morning and neither the doctor nor the nurse had heard of any purple pee issues before me.
I have heard several times before from medical professionals, “We’ve never seen this before.”
Yep. I am one of a kind. Unique. Special.
I may donate my body to science when it’s my time to go to Glory.
And yes, I did have an infection and received antibiotics which is clearing up this very odd infection
(Let me add, as a paraplegic I had shoulder surgery so I’m down to ONE usable, working limb. So instead of a paraplegic, I’m calling myself a tripalegic since three limbs are now not working properly. This is important soon.)
Steve, my husband and I are always laughing at the absurdity of my life. And my brother sent me a joke about the song “Purple People Eater.” We decided to expand on it and wrote this little diddy about my current condition (which everyone over age 40 can enjoy because the young-ins probably won’t know this iconic song).
“I am a one armed, tripalegic, tired, purple peepee wheeler.”
Sing along! It’s catchy!
Deeply blessed, I have a dear and precious tribe of friends who threw me a “Purple PeePee Party.” When friends do that, you know they are keepers!
I actually had felt sick and didn’t show up to my own little surprise party (which they said was like the bride not showing up for the wedding). They FaceTimed me so my hubby drove me over to our bi weekly Bible study because who would want to miss a Purple PeePee Party. Ummm… no one!
They had purple cupcakes, purple jello, purple drinks, and purple flowers! And they all wore purple!
I felt so loved, cared for and connected at the outpouring of encouragement from my girls! 💜
So there ya go… that concludes Season 9, episode 22 of House, the show of medical mysteries.
😝
Just Differently Abled 