Saturday, July 19, 2008

Well, I survived.....

As most of you know, I did not have the flu last week. I guess I don't have to worry about Jake and the kids getting it. LOL. I read Jake's posts. It was nice of him to keep everyone informed but seriously the man has never heard of the word drama has he? He really missed an opportunity for making a very dramatic story AND since he did I will step in and give everyone all the gory (and dramatic) details.

First I will post a little *disclaimer* - if you don't want to hear about my gross body functions, girly monthly stuff or rotten things inside my body you should stop reading right here. Seriously. The story I told you last year about my incision opening up after my c-section is mild compared to this.
So, last Monday I got home from work and went straight to the bathroom. It was one of those you have to run to make it...guess that is why they call it "the runs". I was starting to think there was something wrong with the food I ate earlier at Burger King (a garden burger & diet coke). I cooked dinner and then the babysitter came over for an hour or so because Jake and I both had a ton of stuff to get done in different directions. I wanted to get my Mom's birthday gift done so it would not be late (I am notorious for that) and Jake went to work on our other house. So, I went to CVS (of course) and made this little photo book. While I was there my stomach started hurting. At that point I realized I was starting my period (sorry, all of this is relevant). I get home, confirm I was correct and then I feel a little queasy. This isn't right. I started throwing up. After I did that I said, oh I feel better and I ate some tortilla chips. It wasn't long before I started throwing up again. I thought oh crap. I must have that flu that Jen F. had this past week-end. She threw up for a day or so then her hubby did the say. Bill and Sherry had done the same thing the week before. So, all night long I am barfing and barfing. Everything I put in my mouth - mostly just water at this point comes right back up. And my stomach hurt so bad. At one point I told Jake I thought I should go to the ER because I thought I might have food poisoning. I tried to take medication but it would not stay down. Incidentally, my cramps from my period were out of control. I was in serious pain. Basically I didn't sleep more than 20 minutes the entire night. So, I called off work on Tuesday and canceled my appointments. I was still throwing up so I had Jake call the doctor and ask for something to make me stop barfing. He prescribed an oral medication. I love when doctors listen to you. I told them I CAN'T KEEP ANYTHING DOWN AND I AM HAVING MY PERIOD AND I AM HAVING SEVERE CRAMPS. PLEASE GIVE ME SOMETHING TO MAKE IT STOP - EVEN IF IT IS A SUPPOSITORY. Now people....you know it has to be bad when a person asks for an anal medication. But I really wanted to stop tossing cookies. Regardless, Jake went to pick it up and it was a pill. I didn't even take one. But I did stop throwing up. Yippy. I took some much needed pain meds (left overs from my c-section that I never took) and I slept. I work up still feeling pain but I felt better. I even took a walk over to the old house to see what Jake and the kids were doing. That night I slept but I still had a bad pain in my side. At this point I decided I must have some sort of ovarian cyst or something because it hurt and the pain meds weren't really working. I did get up and do a few things, including, called a few clients and explained I would be in the next day. Then I called my Mom. I told her about my ovarian cyst and she said "what side is it on?" I immediately said, it isn't my appendix...Jake would have told me if it was on the appendix side! She informed me you appendix is on my right side, just as Jake walked in. He agreed. I asked him, "why didn't you tell me?" He said, well when I had appendicitis I was doubled over in pain. WHAT? I am in serious pain. And I really REALLY have a high tolerance for pain. So, I hang up with my Mom and immediately go to the computer and look on WebMD. I read the symptoms. I said, "uh, I think I need to go to the ER." In the back of my mind I really still expected them to find I have an ovarian cyst. So, I get my hat, get my book and DRIVE MYSELF to the ER. I decided to go to the local hospital in town, rather than the big ones in Akron. I get there, sign in, watch a man detoxing freak out, chat with some other people waiting. Then they get me in. The triage nurse was taking my case lightly. He wasn't interesting in my throwing up (that was two days ago) or the pain in my stomach (also two days ago) only why I am here now. Whatever. I told him I have a pain in my side. They take me to a room where I see a doctor, then another doctor. Then they tell me I have to take a pregnancy test. What? I am having my period and I have my tubes tied. Oh well, So I have to take an IV for an hour and a half to be able to even go pee (I was dehydrated). The realized I wasn't pregnant so I had to drink some stuff. Then Jake got there. When he realized we were going to be there for at least three more hours he left to go tell the babysitter it was going to be an all nighter. He came back...I had to drink some more stuff. I am reading my book. Getting up going to the bathroom. No big deal. I rated my pain as a 7 out of 10. I get the cat scan and I they wouldn't tell me what they saw but I heard the lady on the phone saying "this woman has already been hear for 3 and a half hours....". Hmmmm. What does that mean? So, I go back to my room and the doc comes in to say....My appendix has ruptured and I am full of infection. They said they would have to open my up (big incision) because of all of it. Great. Then he said, "I can't believe it myself. You are just sitting there reading your book." He said most people in my condition are dripping sweat, doubled over in pain, crying.... LOL. I am tough. So, before you know it I am going to surgery. They did not have to open me up. I have three small incisions. Dang it they have ruined my bikini wearing future. My appendix had not burst but was rotting inside me. Yes, it had gangrene! Isn't that just disgusting. I guess I had a lot of swelling elsewhere and puss. Ewwww..... So, they put in a drain tube. Oh man it was foul. The originally thought I would be staying much longer but once I gave up the pain meds they let me go. I still have some pain but nothing like what I had on Tuesday or Wednesday. Apparently they took pictures of my gangrene appendix. JenF was there when they told me, she about jumped out of her seat asking to see them. LOL. Then the doc couldn't find them. I have to go back in a week. I'll ask and see if they have a copy I can have to post here. Ewwwwww......that is just gross isn't it.

I think I will have to be off work for a little while yet. I will see how I feel. I am thinking Wednesday. We'll see.

5 comments:

Jake said...

Just to clear something up. I didn't say anything about appendicitis because we both thought it was the flu and cramps. Now if we weren't around people that were throwing up or she wasn't having her period then I would have said something about appendicitis. I guess symptoms can mask themselves as something else.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit the first thing I thought was well Jake would be talking about what happens with an appendicitis...what is most important is that you are ok. Get well soon!! Gail PS your story was not that gross,I expected much worse.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are home....sorry about the "name" joke, but you know I love you bunches!

Aunt D.

amyd76 said...

Umm...gross. Sorry, but it is. We can compare nasty hospital stories sometime!! ha ha Anyway, I am VERY happy that you are ok. Hope you feel much better very soon!

Anonymous said...

wow, Delilah, that's horrible!!! I'll keep you in my prayers. I certainly hope you feel better. BTW, you if you liked "Freedom Writers" read the book, it has so much more in it and very touching. Even better than the movie.
~Shannon