Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Let's give em (or me) something to blog about


Well I had quite the day yesterday (and I guess I'm looking forward to quite the few weeks!). Anyway, I'm just going to jump right into it without too much info. I'm also going to add a disclamer that some of this might not make too much sense because I'm loving my percocet a little too much right now. (I even wrote a poem for my morphine last night. It went like this "Oh sweet morphine, you can be mean, cause you make me dizzy but you also make me warm and fuzzy - how's that for some rhymin'?)
Moving on, I've been having some digestive issues on and off for the past few months but haven't thought too much about it. I had an endoscopy a few weeks ago thinking it was an ulcer but it wasn't. Anyway, I had severe pain in my lower right abdomen Monday night but I didn't think too much of it thinking that my MD would blow it off again. I decided to go in on Tuesday anyway because it was right where my appendix is and I know that can be dangerous and so I wanted to be safe and not sorry.
I dropped Sophia off at preschool and then took Lilly with me to the appointment. My MD was pretty sure that it was appendicitis and told me to find someone to watch my baby and get to the hospital for a CT scan. I asked him if I could go tomorrow or the next day but he was adament that I went right then. I called Doug and picked him up from work so that he could go with me. He stayed for a little while and then took Lilly to get Sophia from preschool and then took them to my friends house (thanks again Erin!!!!!) and went back to work. I stayed behind to drink 6 oz of nasty liquid every 10 minutes for an hour. If you've never had a CT scan, I don't recommend it because of the drink alone. Anyway, I then had to wait about an hour so that the liquid could get down low enough so they could get a good shot of my appendix. After the scan the tech told me I could go and that my MD would call with the results. I called my mom for a ride and while I was going to meet her my MD called and told me not to leave but to get straight to the ER because I had appendicitis and that they'd be calling a surgeon. That was unexpected!
Apparently they treat appendicitis as a medical emergency because you can be in serious trouble if it ruptures. They even took me back before all the people who were in wheelchairs or doubled over and even before the girl in a blood soaked shirt with a giant bandage on her head. They got me started on an IV and did the surgery a few hours later. I kept asking if I'd be able to leave that night (I had VT scheduled - thanks again for taking care of that Kriste!) and I really didn't think that it was that big of deal. They informed me I had to stay overnight and that I could possibly leave the next day (at the earliest).
So Doug came back with the kids and then my mom took the kids home and Doug stayed for the surgery. He then picked the kids up and took them home. He said on the way home he explained the situation to Sophia and she thought about it for awhile and then asked, "will mom still be able to open fruit snacks?" Thanks for the concern Sophs. Way to keep things in perspective. She also asked my mom if I'd be coming home with a baby this time. My mom came down today (thanks again mom!) to watch them so Doug could work for a few hours. Doug came by to visit and then said he'd pick me up and bring me home when I was ready. He said that Sophia really wants me home so that we can be a family again (I'd only been gone about 12 hours by that point. Settle down kid!) Anyway, after some yummy full liquid meals and a few naps today I was able to come home this afternoon. I'm looking forward to the next few days on the couch and a few more weeks of recovery. The surgeon did mention that my appendix was enlarged but not gangrenous or ruptured but that it I had waited 3-5 more days it may have gotten to that point. It made me feel better that I got right on it after hearing that. Thanks to everyone who has offered to help and who will help. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know! Hope you're all doing better than me and that you'll all be able to hang on to your appendices awhile longer. (I was one of three appendectomies (or lap appy's) going on last night so I'm pretty sure it's going around. Watch out!)
P.S. I'm sorry but you cute girls who entered my giveaway may be waiting a little while longer for your prizes. Sorry! I did say it would be some time this year though so I don't feel too bad.

15 comments:

Stacy Risenmay said...

I about peed my pant laughing at Sophie's comments!!! So cute. I hope all is well. I found out this morning from Georgianna and called sister Tuttle so we could line up meals. Hope that's ok. GET WELL SOON!

Alexis said...

I guess just something else to add to the mix of health concerns:( I'm impressed that you seemed so calm through all of that. Hope you get some good movies to watch while your stuck on the couch:)

ottspot said...

Oy! Will would also be concerned about the state of fruit snacks in his universe...since they are pretty much what he lives for. Feel better soon!

Alice-Anne said...

Sorry to hear about your surgery! But glad you got it taken care of before it got worse...hope recovery goes well!

Nancy said...

Sorry you had to deal with that! That is not fun. Im glad you got in soon too before it got more serious! I hope you start feeling good soon. Let me know if I can help you out somehow.

Amy said...

Oh, Joanna! I'm glad you got that taken care of. That is a good reminder to go to the doctor to get things checked out. How cute about what Sophie said about the fruit snacks! Those are a favorite in our home too. :)

Janelle said...

I remember when I had that done I walked all hunchback. Take it easy so recovery is not so long!

Lauren said...

Sheesh! So glad you caught it early, but no fun Jo! I hope you get some good rest... sounds like you have great help. Wish we were close and could lend a hand. Get well!

Ricki said...

Feel better Joanna! And yes, watch good movies and read a few books. :)

Jennifer Lyn said...

You poor thing! Get better soon! And call us if you need anything.

Jensen Family said...

oh man! i'm so sorry! i'm glad you listened to yourself and went and got checked out! i'm glad everything is ok now. and sophies comments were too cute! oh gotta love the kids!

Leda Johnson said...

oh my goodness! I hope you get feeling better!

Melissa said...

That is a funny story about Sophie and I'm glad that you are still able to open fruit snacks- that is awesome. That would be the end of the world for Josh too if I couldn't do it either. Way to go Sophs. Get better quick!! And Sorry you didn't take home a baby brother for Sophie to play with either.

PureDesign said...

Oh wow!

Hey I hope you feel better fast! I am pretty late on this. But better late than never right?

PureDesign said...

PS- I have no clue what an appendix looks like but I certainly hope it doesn't look like that cartoon...