Dulci
March 15th, 2003, 07:57 PM
I started vomiting violently Tuesday nite, it didn't stop until Wednesday morning. It reminded me of the time I caught a Shigella (a type of dysentery) in Egypt, I was squirting from both ends for HOURS. Totally empty. I stayed in bed all day Wednesday, my stomach was sore but I thought my muscles were hurting from all the dry-heaving. Thursday, I was sore and tender, and started getting feverish, so I had DH take me to the little country hospital Emergency room that night. I had my Doctor Mom type book with me, I told the doctor I thought I had appendicitis.
After an IV, urine test, numerous blood tests and a CAT scan (complete with radioactive enema given by a very cute, nervous Latino boy) old country doctor agreed that I had appendicitis, and he recommended that I get in the ambulance and ride to the big hospital about an hour east because they did laproscopy (please forgive all misspelling in this post), the tiny incision surgery. As it was now about 5 in the am, I agreed. I liked him a lot, as he had a charming stutter and was not intimidated by a woman who diagnosed herself from a book. Apparently a lot of doctors hate this, they even have a little french phrase for it, something like "little woman with many bits of paper."
After a bumpy ride (oh why didn't I take the pain meds offered?) I arrived Friday 6am and was parked in the emergency room, where I discovered that this fine large hospital was a TEACHING hospital. Very funny, just like on TV. I met so many fresh-faced young 'doctors' practicing their bedside manners and poking skills, but to be fair, I met a lot of residents and chiefs too. And of course they had to take their own blood and urine samples...
They decided in the emergency room that I did not have appendicitis, that because my pain was not restricted to the lower right quadrant of my abdomen like in the textbook, but was instead the lower half, and so I was presenting as PID, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and they discharged me to OB/GYN to get checked out.
WELL I certainly don't need to get any sort of female checkup this year, they were most thorough. I did not know that they have now invented an ultrasound that they stick up inside you, she showed me that my uterus was fine, both my ovaries and tubes were normal looking, (Yay!) she did not see any sign of inflammation at all. Oh yeah, and I am NOT pregnant either (whew!) :shock: She also said that I did not fit the usual profile for PID, as I am married for 14 years, monogamous, etc. She showed her findings and scans to the Chief OB/GYN and he concurred, they thought I had appendicitis. Back downstairs to the ER.
Ok, it's Friday afternoon, I've been at Big Hospital now for about seven hours, sitting in various uncomfortable wheelchairs, hard chairs, hard gurneys and stirrup tables. I am in a barebutt gown clutching the same blanket they gave me in the ambulance. I am smeared all over with KY jelly, ultra-sound jelly, radioative enema fluid and IV drip. I haven't eaten in days, my mouth tastes like *ss, and they won't let me have even ice chips. I am in pain and feverish, but they don't want to give me meds because it might 'mask' the symptoms. They were pretty disgusted that I showed up downstairs at the ER again (well nurse Ratchett was), so they decide to start all over again.
New fresh-faced doctors come in to take my history and poke me again. The resident from General Surgery insists I have PID and takes DH outside in the hall to ask him pointed questions LOL. The Chief Surgeon shows up, an exhausted looking blonde woman, and she orders another Cat scan.
Kathleen was in charge of that. I remember she had gorgeous Bra-strap length curly hair, and I wanted to ask where she got it cut, but mine was in a pretty ratty 3-day old braid. I believe her enema was about 10 gallons, it was COLD and she let it out FAST. I swear it went up to my tonsils. I held it in for the entire half-hour. I should get a medal. :rockerdude:
Ok, NOW they can see. All agreed that my appendix was inflamed, and indeed about to burst. A few of the doctors and even nurse Ratchett apologized and said I was right all along, but of course appendicitis is among the most difficult of things to diagnose. Finally they give me morphine and something to stop nausea because by now I was heaving bile. They moved me on the operating table and shoved a paper net on my head, but they put me under before I could get the braid up in it, I don't remember finishing. I don't like that, I thought they were supposed to get you to count backward from one hundred or something... :suspect:
I wake up in the recovery room a few hours later, where I discover that the nurse gave my little bag of stuff to DH and told him to go home. That bag had the Ace comb Teacherbear gave me in it! my new sophieandlucy lipbalm! my toothbrush! my socks! my favorite gray zippered hoodie sweatshirt for when I get cold! OMG I was in this hospital barefoot, in a barebutt gown with NOTHING. I don't even have DHs cell# memorized yet, it was on a card in that little bag! :no :no :no I feel like homeless Jane Doe.
But at least I'm in a nice semi-private room by myself, in a clean gown, with a comfortable bed with all the buttons, bells and whistles and a clicker for the TV. I turn on CNN and try to get some sleep, but every hour someone else comes in to take my temp, blood pressure, more blood, more urine, check my incisions (OMG, I see they have shaved me into what looks like a tiny Brazilian wax job LOL).
Question for medical types, do you think it might be more efficient if 2 or 3 of these neccessary and important functions were performed at the same? You know, like take the temp and blood pressure at the same time? And let the patient get, oh say maybe 3 hours of sleep at a time instead of just one? Just wondering...
This morning, seven big-shot looking doctors, my "team" surround my bed and told me that my appendix had had gangrene, it was dead when they took it out. Was I sure that I was feeling ok until Tuesday night? They really wanted to keep me overnight again, but since I kept the liquid dinner, and the semi-solid breakfast down, that I could go home late this afternoon IF I could keep the solid lunch down and not spike a fever this afternoon. Well this was quite a challenge because the lunch was pretty awful, (chicken breast, topped with slice of ham and a big lug of cheese, dipped in batter and deep-fried ::shudder:: ) but I ate what I could, didn't spike a fever, and they let me go if I promised to keep taking my temperature for the next four days and to come back immediately if it gets above 99. I have to return on Wednesday anyway. They gave me scrips for Vicodan and some giant antibiotic.
I'm so glad to be home, where it is quiet and I can keep my room dark. :heart: If I shut the door, my cat won't poke me and walk all over me. I'm taking the phones off the hook in the bedroom.
If you have managed to read this far, I am sorry for the TMI. ;)
:Star: :Star: :Star:
ONE good thing did come out of all of this however. DH was supposed to be on a plane this morning (Saturday) to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for four days of like gas-mask and mine identification training before being deployed to Kuwait. Well, he's missed the plane with the blessings of his company, and now his assignment is indefinately postponed, delayed or canceled, we're not sure yet. I saw that story on the news about the Marine Major who left his wife and heart-sick infant to go deploy with his troops and told my husband that that was the stupidest thing I ever heard, that he better not leave me like that. So I have managed to delay my husband from going for a bit, hopefully all the nasty antics will be over before he has to go. If he has to go. AND he gets to keep his silky, tickly beard that I love so much for a little longer. :heart:
After an IV, urine test, numerous blood tests and a CAT scan (complete with radioactive enema given by a very cute, nervous Latino boy) old country doctor agreed that I had appendicitis, and he recommended that I get in the ambulance and ride to the big hospital about an hour east because they did laproscopy (please forgive all misspelling in this post), the tiny incision surgery. As it was now about 5 in the am, I agreed. I liked him a lot, as he had a charming stutter and was not intimidated by a woman who diagnosed herself from a book. Apparently a lot of doctors hate this, they even have a little french phrase for it, something like "little woman with many bits of paper."
After a bumpy ride (oh why didn't I take the pain meds offered?) I arrived Friday 6am and was parked in the emergency room, where I discovered that this fine large hospital was a TEACHING hospital. Very funny, just like on TV. I met so many fresh-faced young 'doctors' practicing their bedside manners and poking skills, but to be fair, I met a lot of residents and chiefs too. And of course they had to take their own blood and urine samples...
They decided in the emergency room that I did not have appendicitis, that because my pain was not restricted to the lower right quadrant of my abdomen like in the textbook, but was instead the lower half, and so I was presenting as PID, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and they discharged me to OB/GYN to get checked out.
WELL I certainly don't need to get any sort of female checkup this year, they were most thorough. I did not know that they have now invented an ultrasound that they stick up inside you, she showed me that my uterus was fine, both my ovaries and tubes were normal looking, (Yay!) she did not see any sign of inflammation at all. Oh yeah, and I am NOT pregnant either (whew!) :shock: She also said that I did not fit the usual profile for PID, as I am married for 14 years, monogamous, etc. She showed her findings and scans to the Chief OB/GYN and he concurred, they thought I had appendicitis. Back downstairs to the ER.
Ok, it's Friday afternoon, I've been at Big Hospital now for about seven hours, sitting in various uncomfortable wheelchairs, hard chairs, hard gurneys and stirrup tables. I am in a barebutt gown clutching the same blanket they gave me in the ambulance. I am smeared all over with KY jelly, ultra-sound jelly, radioative enema fluid and IV drip. I haven't eaten in days, my mouth tastes like *ss, and they won't let me have even ice chips. I am in pain and feverish, but they don't want to give me meds because it might 'mask' the symptoms. They were pretty disgusted that I showed up downstairs at the ER again (well nurse Ratchett was), so they decide to start all over again.
New fresh-faced doctors come in to take my history and poke me again. The resident from General Surgery insists I have PID and takes DH outside in the hall to ask him pointed questions LOL. The Chief Surgeon shows up, an exhausted looking blonde woman, and she orders another Cat scan.
Kathleen was in charge of that. I remember she had gorgeous Bra-strap length curly hair, and I wanted to ask where she got it cut, but mine was in a pretty ratty 3-day old braid. I believe her enema was about 10 gallons, it was COLD and she let it out FAST. I swear it went up to my tonsils. I held it in for the entire half-hour. I should get a medal. :rockerdude:
Ok, NOW they can see. All agreed that my appendix was inflamed, and indeed about to burst. A few of the doctors and even nurse Ratchett apologized and said I was right all along, but of course appendicitis is among the most difficult of things to diagnose. Finally they give me morphine and something to stop nausea because by now I was heaving bile. They moved me on the operating table and shoved a paper net on my head, but they put me under before I could get the braid up in it, I don't remember finishing. I don't like that, I thought they were supposed to get you to count backward from one hundred or something... :suspect:
I wake up in the recovery room a few hours later, where I discover that the nurse gave my little bag of stuff to DH and told him to go home. That bag had the Ace comb Teacherbear gave me in it! my new sophieandlucy lipbalm! my toothbrush! my socks! my favorite gray zippered hoodie sweatshirt for when I get cold! OMG I was in this hospital barefoot, in a barebutt gown with NOTHING. I don't even have DHs cell# memorized yet, it was on a card in that little bag! :no :no :no I feel like homeless Jane Doe.
But at least I'm in a nice semi-private room by myself, in a clean gown, with a comfortable bed with all the buttons, bells and whistles and a clicker for the TV. I turn on CNN and try to get some sleep, but every hour someone else comes in to take my temp, blood pressure, more blood, more urine, check my incisions (OMG, I see they have shaved me into what looks like a tiny Brazilian wax job LOL).
Question for medical types, do you think it might be more efficient if 2 or 3 of these neccessary and important functions were performed at the same? You know, like take the temp and blood pressure at the same time? And let the patient get, oh say maybe 3 hours of sleep at a time instead of just one? Just wondering...
This morning, seven big-shot looking doctors, my "team" surround my bed and told me that my appendix had had gangrene, it was dead when they took it out. Was I sure that I was feeling ok until Tuesday night? They really wanted to keep me overnight again, but since I kept the liquid dinner, and the semi-solid breakfast down, that I could go home late this afternoon IF I could keep the solid lunch down and not spike a fever this afternoon. Well this was quite a challenge because the lunch was pretty awful, (chicken breast, topped with slice of ham and a big lug of cheese, dipped in batter and deep-fried ::shudder:: ) but I ate what I could, didn't spike a fever, and they let me go if I promised to keep taking my temperature for the next four days and to come back immediately if it gets above 99. I have to return on Wednesday anyway. They gave me scrips for Vicodan and some giant antibiotic.
I'm so glad to be home, where it is quiet and I can keep my room dark. :heart: If I shut the door, my cat won't poke me and walk all over me. I'm taking the phones off the hook in the bedroom.
If you have managed to read this far, I am sorry for the TMI. ;)
:Star: :Star: :Star:
ONE good thing did come out of all of this however. DH was supposed to be on a plane this morning (Saturday) to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for four days of like gas-mask and mine identification training before being deployed to Kuwait. Well, he's missed the plane with the blessings of his company, and now his assignment is indefinately postponed, delayed or canceled, we're not sure yet. I saw that story on the news about the Marine Major who left his wife and heart-sick infant to go deploy with his troops and told my husband that that was the stupidest thing I ever heard, that he better not leave me like that. So I have managed to delay my husband from going for a bit, hopefully all the nasty antics will be over before he has to go. If he has to go. AND he gets to keep his silky, tickly beard that I love so much for a little longer. :heart: