if my last two posts seem random...

[Guest guest]

I ended up at the ER today. I basically had a repeat of my ER visit on Super Bowl Sunday in St. Louis. They were a little better at sticking needles in me this time, but not much. About 10 am, I got a sharp stabbing pain in my ribcage area (back) and laid down on the floor in my office for a minute trying to get it to calm down. I thought I had tensed up suddenly and cramped or spasmed a muscle...but it wouldn't stop. Then, I got really nauseated and decided to take an early lunch. I came home and laid down for a bit and Adam rubbed my back (around my kidneys and my waist). When I got back to work, I still felt pretty awful, so I put an ice pack on my back (thoracic region) and on my neck to try to calm my nausea. One of my coworkers is on vacation, so there were only two of us in the office and I had to cover the front during lunch. I wanted to throw up so bad because I thought it would make me feel better. Finally, about 12:55, I had to run to the bathroom and I puked...didn't feel the slightest bit better. Went back in to the office and tried to keep working, but decided I should probably go over to the campus clinic and make sure it wasn't anything serious. They had a 1:30 appt. with the same PA I had seen for my kidney infections and I took it. She did a urine test and wanted to do a blood test to check my kidneys (she was guessing another UTI), but they couldn't stick me, so they decided to start an IV to rehydrate me, but couldn't get the IV started. The urine test came back normal, so the PA came in and said I needed to go to the ER. The Dean's assistant came to get me (we couldn't find Adam) and off we went. Mind you, I was in excruciating pain and chilled this entire time. Also, they made me lay flat on my back while they tried to start the IV and when your 'kidneys' hurt, that's not a happy choice.

So, I get to the ER and they got me back amazingly fast. They poked me four times and finally got an 'Intima'? butterfly needle in me to start the IV, but it wouldn't draw (of course). She immediately gave me something for nausea (I'd thrown up on 3 separate occasions at this point ) and some Demerol (man, that stuff is nice ) and started pumping fluids in me to see if that would help to plump my veins.

The lab tech came in and got blood on the first stick. I told her I loved her. They were all wonderfully nice...which is odd for our local ER...could've been the Demerol.

So, the verdict is.... (drumroll, please.)

Slightly elevated liver enzymes and suspected gall bladder disease, possibly GALLSTONES. ARRRGGGHHHH. They are sort of like kidney stones, but different. This fits perfectly with the 'attack' I had Super Bowl Sunday and with all the other symptoms I've had as well (unexplicable pain and hardness in my abdomen on occasion, skin breakout, etc.).

But the good news is (according to Adam, who showed up at the ER right as we went back to the exam room) gall bladder surgery is just 3 little cuts...3 little half-inch cuts.

"Ain't nuthin' to somebody who's been run through by a spine surgeon!"

(He says the quotes make it look like a movie reference.)

So, I'll go have an ultrasound of my abdomen in the morning and then we'll know for sure. I was completely floored when they came in and said gall bladder today. But Demerol is very nice.

Someday, my life will be boring.

kam