This week I had Tuesday and Wednesday off and then I was scheduled at work for a 9 day stretch. I wasn't looking forward to that. Wednesday started out like any other day. Woke up around 10 the 2nd time that morning and took a shower, got dressed, brushed my teeth and thankfully washed my hair. I had to run to the bank to deposit a check, I then went to Home Depot to get a few things, and then to Big Lots because its actually an awesome store. I had to get some plant food for the plants. When I went into Home Depot I talked to one of the head cashiers, Paulette, about having to work 9 days straight and how I wasn't happy with that. Did I mention I work there? She said she had to work the next 7 days and sometimes they do that to you. She then mentioned I might be able to go home early on Saturday or Sunday. Yeah! So, I left and did a few more things around town and went home. I picked Alexis up from school at 3:30 and I felt great. I had put a pot roast, with onions, potatoes, carrots and seasoning into the crock pot around noon and it smelled sooooo good. My mouth watered!
Around 5:30 as I was dishing out our dinner, my stomach started to hurt so bad. Now for those who know me, and this might be a little but too much information, I have IBS, which is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is where you get terrible stomach cramps, etc etc. A few of my family members have it, but I wont mention their names. I have had it for over 10 years. This pain was NOTHING like IBS pain. I finished eating and felt like I had eaten too much food. You know how it goes? So, I unbuttoned my jeans thinking that might help. I took a bath, because that usually helps with the IBS and still nothing. It hurt to even move. The sharp stabbing pains were right above my belly button and it was moving to the lower right side, but very slowly. Alexis was worried about me, and at some point joked around with me because she is used to my tummy aches/cramps all the time. I told her this was different. I also thought it might be either food poisoning from a Burger King whopper I ate earlier or maybe gas. I decided to wait a few hours to see if I still had the symptoms. Alexis wanted me to take her Baskin Robbins for .31 cent scoops of ice cream. I considered taking her, but I thought I was just "full" from dinner. Alexis still wanted me take her and I told her no because of the tummy pains. I called my mom (like I always do!) and asked for her advice. She, of course, told me to go in. Alexis and I even googled appendicitis and yep, its located on the right side, and not the left like many people think it is. I told Alexis before she went to bed, that if she woke up, and I wasn't home, I would be at the hospital. She was okay with that. After taking my temperature over and over again, the last temp I took was at 11:00 pm and it was 99.1 Normally my temperature is at 98.6 and/or lower, so I knew something was going on.
So I went to the ER and arrived at 11:15 pm. Because I was the only one in the ER at that time I got right in. I had a few nurses and nursing students come in and ask questions. I had my blood taken and had 4 x-rays done on my chest and abdomen. I then sat there and sat there some more and some more. They told me over and over again that because they weren't busy that it wouldn't take too long for the results. The nurses there checked on me twice. Luckily I didn't die right there because they would never have known. Sorry, being a little sarcastic there. I mean, seriously, if you DON'T like your job, then find one you do like. OK, I got off track. One of the nurses came in around 1:45 am and noticed that I was in a little bit of pain and asked me if I needed some pain medicine, I agreed. I was laying on the hospital bed on my side, rocking back and forth. She said it would be a few minutes because they would now have to start an IV. They should have done this when they took my blood. Oh well. At this point, I asked them to call my twin sister, Melissa, who is a registered nurse up in labor and delivery and I knew she was working. After a phone call and a "she is down in the cafeteria on lunch" and my reply was "can you let her know her sister, Alicia, is down in the ER?" Approximately 5 minutes later, Mel, was down there in the room with me. At the same time, a hot nurse Justin and a nursing student were in the room trying to figure out where to put my IV since my veins are buried. First they looked at my left arm and I was like there is no way you'll find one there, I was right! Both hands were out. Finally Justin was like, your vein is so buried we have ONE shot at this. The nursing student was shaking her head no because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to do it. Justin even looked at the space right underneath my shoulder and armpit. I was like NO WAY. Talk about a sensitive spot! They even looked at my feet. HA! Needless to say, he got it. Mel was shocked that the situation had come to this. Nothing like this happens to me. I thought I would be home in bed getting ready for the next 9 days of work. They started giving me anti nausea meds and pain meds. Justin said I would feel it all of a sudden and because I was sitting up, I suddenly was like dizzy, and warm and I said "I need to lay down". Everyone started laughing. Mel eventually had to go back to L&D to help deliver some babies, but I did get to meet her friend and co worker Amy, who all of us play a game on Facebook. About an hour later, they told me I would have to go for a CAT scan after drinking 2 FULL cups of Barium and almost puking it back up.
Whew!
You still with me?!?!
As they wheeled me down for the CAT scan, the nurse that was pushing me along, told me the doctors told her that she needed to push me very gently and be careful of any bumps on the floor. Odd huh? The CAT scan was a little weird to say the least. The meds they pumped into my veins burned and I was a claustrophobic. I squeezed my eyes tightly so I wouldn't start freaking out by being inside of the machine. At this point, I honestly just wanted to go home. I even thought about just leaving. It took them forever to give me any information and I assumed there was nothing wrong. *sighs*
Around 5:00 am, the Dr. came in and informed me that I had a grapefruit size cyst on my right ovary and he was calling the OB-GYN to discuss the removal of it or drugs to maybe shrink it. He also said they didn't know if my appendix was swollen or not, but it was extended. They were waiting for...who knows. Around 7 am or so, the nurse came in and told me they were admitting me and I would soon get my own room. I was shocked! Nobody was telling me anything and I was getting angry, irritated, and just full of anxiety. I called Mel back up in L&D and told her what was going on. She took care of Alexis that morning and told Alexis that "I was having more tests done". She and I didn't want to worry her before school.
Still with me?
Finally around 8:00 am or so I was moved into my own room. It was actually quite nice and so...quiet. It also had an awesome view. They were changing nurse shifts so yep....I got the student nurses again. *sighs* She was learning the computer and I could hardly understand what she was asking me. Finally after an hour of my medical history, we were done and I was left in peace.
Then the doctor that Mel works with came in and told me that yes my appendix was the main reason for the pain and the cyst was a lucky find. So it was basically a 2-for-1surgery. He told me there were 11 other surgeries that day and because I was a stable, healthy female I would be in surgery sometime between 4:30-5:00 that evening. I still couldn't believe I was getting ready to go under the knife...again. When I was 13, I had carpal tunnel in both wrists and it required me to go for surgery at 2 separate times for each wrist. Then approx. 10 years ago, I had my wisdom teeth taken out. These were minor compared to this one! The Dr. told me that the cyst was on my right ovary and that they might not be able to save it or my fallopian tube. I didn't know what to say. Many women have hysterectomies, but I, myself didn't want to lose any part of me including my ovary or fallopian tube. Drugs were an option to shrink the cyst, but because it was so big, they weren't sure if it would totally shrink or not. I was calm! My older sister came to visit me around 9 am or so, she brought me some bootiful flowers w/ a card and sat and talked for awhile, then Mel showed up. Now, because Mel works there she has access to the computer with my medical information on it. She brought up my cat scan and we were all just so silent after seeing the huge cyst. It was unbelievable. You would think I would know something that big was down there, but I didn't. Dava, my older sister, left around 9:45 so she could be at work by 10 and Mel left around 10:30 because she had worked the whole night and needed sleep. At this point, I had had 3 hours of sleep, I was so tired, and not to mention HUNGRY. No food for me though! Now that I think back, I didn't even get any ice chips. Jeez! I took a warm, relaxing shower and washed my hair since I couldn't shower the next day and for those who know me, know that I wash my hair every other day, otherwise, gross. So I took the shower and got back into bed and was just about sleeping and my grandma arrives. We talked about the past and the future. I was so tired, but didn't fall asleep. My grandma left around 4ish to meet Mel and the kids (including Alexis) to go out to lunch at Arbys. I talked to Alexis for a few minutes over the phone and Mel had told her what was happening. I was fine with the entire thing until Alexis started crying, I just tear up now thinking about it. We told each other we loved each other and that I would see her soon. I called her dad, my ex husband Jason and let him know what was going on. If for some reason I didn't make it, she would be on her way down to San Diego. He wished me luck. I also called work and let them know I would be out for an entire week. So right now, it looks as though I will go back on Monday.
They wheeled me out around 4:35 pm and put these legs covers that wrap around your legs and then blow up constantly like a blood pressure monitor around your upper arm. As they pushed me through the Surgery doors my anxiety level raised and I started to freak out a little. I actually started to wish that my mommy was with me. Hey I'm not embarrassed to say that. Who knew I was 31 years old. But I didn't show my anxiety. The nurse there gave me some relaxing medicine that she said might give me amnesia and she wasn't sure I would even remember our conversation, which I do. I was then given a plastic warm blanket that a long hose was inserted into and I was so warm. The surgical rooms were freezing!! I had to switch beds and they put an oxygen mask on me. I had 2 people on either side and 1 person at the head of me. I went to sleep.
Whew!
I woke up to the doctor explaining to me what had happened. But all I remember thinking was pleasssse be quiet. I am so tired. I remember seeing Alexis, Mel, Brandon, Jessica, and my grandma and that was it. I honestly don't remember much after that. The doctor came in when I was actually awake and explained things to me. The cyst was actually on my fallopian tube and not my ovary. They were able to save both which I am very thankful for. And the removed my appendix as well since this was the main reason for the pain I was in. The procedure that they did on me was called Laparoscopic Appendectomy. This is where 4 small incisions are made in my abdomen. One in my belly button, 1 on each side of my belly button and one under my belly button. Then a long metal tube with a tiny camera is inserted into these incisions. There they take out my appendix and the large cyst through the larger incision in my belly button. That is the most painful incision. The others I forget are there.
I was released Friday around 1 pm. Mel picked Alexis up for me and I met them at her house at 5:00 pm for dinner. Its now Tuesday and I can sleep a little better now. I have been a little nauseous and sick to my stomach. I have a doctors appt. on Thursday, so we will see what happens.
