A Crazy Week

I promised I wouldn't let the blog get away untouched for more than a week, and alas it has. But I have good reasons. About a month ago I went to bed with a little pain in my abdomen, but in the morning it was gone so I figured it was something I ate. Same pain came back about a week later. Lingered a little longer, but eventually went away. It was uncomfortable and kept me up at night, so we figured if it ever came back I'd go to the doctor. And it did. So I went in to the doctor that I had only seen once for a flu shot to tell him my problem. I still had some pain, in the upper right quadrant of my gut, but especially my back, and wasn't sure what he was gonna say.

After many questions and some investigating, the doctor finally said, "One more test." He told me to take a deep breath and he stuck his hand right under my ribs, right at the hot spot. Oh crap. That hurt. I couldn't complete the breath and tears quickly filled my eyes. He ordered an ultrasound for the following week. Two days later I was told I had gallstones. I was also told that 30 million americans have it and live with it. Just avoid fatty, greasy food. Easy enough. Two days later I ate a piece of toast (with nothing on it) and a scrambled egg for breakfast. Then it hit. It felt like something was crushing my chest and I couldn't breathe. I finally threw up my breakfast hoping for some relief. Nothing. Chris threw all of us in the car and rushed to the ER.

He made a bunch of phone calls (my parents were out of town) and some wonderful friends came and took the kids. They hooked me up to an IV and took some blood tests. I told them of my recent diagnosis so they checked for infection, blocked duct, and pancreaitis. The pain finally subsided. All tests were clear. We called the surgeon and had a consult scheduled after the weekend. I spent 4th of July weekend taking tons of meds to keep the pain away, and ate practically nothing. The surgeon recommended immediate surgery and suspected an infection. Normally an easy laprascopic out-patient surgery, but if there was an infection, then much more invasive and more cutting.

So after many prayers from so many wonderful family and friends, I had the surgery and it went perfectly. Of course it happened to fall on Chris' birthday, but the relief has been instant. Just 4 holes on my tummy to deal with, but I know it will pass. Life has never been so sweet or tasted so good.