I've done so very well since my last surgery when they removed another section of my small intestine. Although I am on daily medication and a very strict diet, I've been pretty darn healthy.
My diet is similar to that of anyone with Crohn's Disease although I don't have Crohn's. It's a no-fibre, high protein diet with few vegetables or fruits, and no sugar, nuts, or fibre. So basically I am allowed to drink water only, and eat meat and potatoes.
Of course being a woman I cheat. I mean we women can't live without chocolate occasionally!
So here I was, about to depart on a cruise with my girlfriends. I flew from Phoenix to Los Angeles where we were to meet. On the way I had some discomfort and I now realize that it was a partial blockage in my intestine due to eating eggplant when at a friends home for dinner the evening before. The skin on the eggplant, which I didn't even think about, was too thick, coarse, whatever, for my poor intestines. I thought that by taking it easy the next day and having nothing to eat other than an omelette for breakfast and clear broth for dinner that I would get past this but no. Friday evening I wasn't feeling too well but by Saturday morning I had the runs and really felt pretty badly.
I had to make a decision and make it quickly so I booked a flight and flew home where I would be close to my own surgeon should one be required. It was such a hard decision to make and it was a pretty tearful day at times but I knew I was making the smart choice and needed to go home, or at the very least, to not get on that ship which would be spending its first two days at sea, far from a major hospital.
I arrived home late at night in the cold, alone, dragging my suitcase through the airport and was lucky enough to catch the last cab. Off to the hospital I went. I must have been a sight as I went from the bathroom to gather a urine sample, then off for blood-work, then an x-ray and to have my vitals checked, all the while, dragging my suitcase. There was no place to leave it so everywhere I went, it went too.
Finally around 2am the ER Doctor on call came and explained that there was nothing in the X-ray and I should go home and take Tylenol. Seriously? I can all this way, giving up a week's cruise, to be told to take Tylenol?
I took a cab home and it was late, I was cold and tired and frustrated and just a little stressed as I stood at my garage door trying to remember the code to get in. It was so good to finally crawl into bed. I couldn't find any Tylenol but being the middle of the night there was nothing I could do.
Monday morning I called my surgeon first thing and left a message. His secretary called and said to come later in the morning and he would fit me in between other patients. After a thorough review of my previous tests and reports and an examination of my abdomen he said I seemed to be fine although I may have had a partial blockage but it's seemed to have cleared. If I had further issues he was on call Wednesday evening in the ER and to come in and he would order a CT Scan.
Tuesday I felt great and borrowed my son's truck to run errands and then meet a friend for lunch. I then picked up my grandsons and took them to their swimming lessons. I was tired at the end of the day but ok. Unfortunately I couldn't say that the next evening. We had fajitas for dinner and I ate some red and yellow peppers. That darned skin again? I don't know but by the time dinner was over I was in agony. I spoke with my husband on the phone and he said I needed to return to the hospital. The problem was that my daughter-in-law was out and my son couldn't leave the kids alone so we waited for her return then he dropped me off at the hospital.
I am supposed to have a CT scan when I go to ER and it's too bad the original ER Doctor hadn't done one. Now, again, I went through the blood and urine tests etc. then this ER Doctor decided to put an IV in my arm and have me sit in the waiting room all night. She didn't want to call my surgeon and wake him up. What? I came tonight because he told me he was on call and now they wouldn't call him?
So I sat in a chair all night with an IV in my arm. At around 6am they called the surgeon who ordered the CT Scan. It was done between 8 and 9am and by 9:30 he was at the hospital checking the results. He came to talk to me and it wasn't at all what I expected. First, he mentioned the cyst on my ovary. I vaguely remember being told about this when I spoke with him a couple of years ago. He also mentioned that the lower part of the colon was dark in colour and he didn't like the look of it. He had a telephone consultation with another surgeon - and after a long talk she said she wanted to see me but was swamped all day so would get in between patients later. So I was sent back to the waiting room to wait for her arrival, still dragging my IV pole around with me and now stuck in a very crowded waiting room.
Around noon this latest Doctor arrived and she told me that I required a colonoscopy but that it might be a couple of weeks before she could get me in. I was lucky thought and she had a cancellation for that Monday but the last one of the day so it would mean a long day of no food and clear liquids for me but at least I would get it done.
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