This weekend, my appendix said “Screw you guys, I’m out.” And within two days, it was out. Needless to say, I didn’t get anything done around the house.
My appendix decided to let me know it wanted out by torturing my insides all day on Thursday. By Friday, the pain had moved down to my lower right side, which is a classic sign of appendicitis, so my Doc called and reserved a spot for me at the ER and told me to get my butt up there. I let Blanche out, thinking “Well, I’ll be back in time to let her out tonight.” Such a laughable thought now.
I picked Stan up from school on the way there, and the two of us waited in the ER. I wimpily winced at getting my IV put in, then they sent me for a CT scan. Weird experience. Have any of you ever had one? When they put the iodine through your IV (for contrast so they can see what’s going on) it feels so weird. It feels like steamy hot chocolate running through your body.
While waiting for the CT results, a couple of medical students came and asked me if they could do an ultrasound on me just for practice. I told them that I guessed I could take a break from twiddling my thumbs. They showed me my heart, kidneys, and bladder. Stan held my hand as we watched my heart beat, and I laughed inside that we were holding hands looking at my heart, and not a baby. It just seemed funny for some reason. Anyway, we asked them how long a recovery is for an appendectomy, and one of them said “I dunno, you can probably be running again on Monday.” It was Friday. Well it’s Sunday now, and that guy was full of crap! I ain’t running nowhere tomorrow.
Anyway, the doc came back with the CT results and said “You have acute appendicitis.” Even though it wasn’t surprising, I started bawling because I’m a big baby. Surgery is surgery, and it’s always a little scary. Plus it’s hard to poop afterward- who wants to deal with that? But I pulled myself together, the doctors answered all my questions, and then we were left to wait some more while they prepped a room for my surgery. When they left us alone, Stan and I actually started laughing, because… seriously? We don’t have enough going on? I have to get an appendectomy? But we agreed that if I had to have something go wrong, this is probably one of the better things, and at least it didn’t happen closer to the wedding.
They wheeled me up to the surgery ward (it was all very dramatic) where the surgeons told me some of the risks and possible complications, including “We might cut your lip, because we use a metal blade to put the breathing tube in”. I laughed- um, really? Can you just kinda pull my lips out of the way first? “Metal blade”, huh? I think they were a little taken aback to see me laughing and chiding them for their clumsy breathing tube insertion methods. Then they put some “liquid courage” into my IV and wheeled me into the operating room. I watched them arrange things around me, and then the next thing I knew I was waking up with a scratchy throat. The nurse or whoever welcomed me back, and I told her I liked their snowflakes (they had paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling- at least I think they did). Everything remained blurry for about 40 minutes (I know, because I kept squinting to look at the clock) and then they wheeled me into my recovery room where Stan was waiting- truly a sight for sore eyes.
Seriously, that man proved himself a million times over the next couple days (and continues to do so). He did everything right- staying with me, leaving only to take care of the dog and cat and sleep at his own house, bringing me flowers, spoon feeding me soup when I didn’t want to bend my IV arm, asking if I needed anything, helping me go for walks, making me feel pretty despite my hospital head hairdo, helping me brush my teeth, making me smile but not expecting me to laugh… I am truly blessed. Now that I’m home he continues to baby me, making me soup for dinner, picking up goodies, taking care of Blanche and Jesse… but the thing I appreciate the most is that he truly makes me feel beautiful. I feel so pathetic, having to shuffle around the house and barely able to pull myself upright (I had no idea how much I use my abs in everyday life until they were cut open!) but I can see it in his face that he has nothing but love and compassion for me, and not pity. I am sorry for the incoherent sap-fest (this Percocet is strong stuff!) but it’s true. I keep looking at him and tearing up because I’m overwhelmed. I feel like I might burst from love.
Anyway, now it’s Monday, and I’m still on the Percocet, which is making me feel like I might burst from something else (vomit). I’m still taking it easy, but I was able to take Blanche on a short walk today and I’ll probably be able to go back to work tomorrow or Wednesday.
An appendectomy is considered a “major surgery”. (I think basically anything where they put you under is.) However, this ordeal is nothing compared to what others go through, and the other feeling I’ve been overwhelmed with this weekend is gratitude. I complain so much about running, cleaning the house, my to-do list… but you never know how wonderful it is to be able to do all that stuff until you can’t. I have three small incisions in my belly, and those are enough to make laughing, sitting up, walking, and coughing painful. I can’t imagine having a more serious surgery with a longer recovery time- I’m simply too wimpy. I’m so thankful for my normal health. I have so much respect for anyone who has to go through more serious and chronic medical problems. I’m so thankful for Stan, and for the support I’ve gotten from my wonderful family and friends.
And I do apologize that this is not very well written- I really am pretty doped up on pain meds (which, by the way, are not as fun as everyone says they are). Thanks for reading!
February 7, 2011 at 9:42 am
Yuck! I hope you get to feeling better fast! Glad you are ok!
February 7, 2011 at 9:54 am
Stan the man passed the nursing test with flying colors so you have the green light for the whole marriage thing. I will pray that you are soon able to stand up straight. Were you flattered when your Dr. said your appendix was “cute”?
February 7, 2011 at 10:24 am
wow glad you’re ok! Sounds like you’re marrying an amazing guy 🙂 hope you’re back up and running in no time!
February 7, 2011 at 10:33 am
I’m glad you’re ok! That’s scary when it happens so fast. Sounds like you’ve got a keeper 🙂
February 7, 2011 at 11:06 am
I was going to suggest you “test” stan by taking advantage of the situation and making him hold your hand while you pooed your hard poo and waited for the “CLANK!” sound but looks like it wasn’t needed so that’s wonderful! Nice work stan.
February 7, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Not sappy at all. When I spent five days alone in the hospital (hysterectomy) without a single visit from my husband, I finally realized that things had gone terribly wrong. Three years later when my beau showed up and spent two hours in the ER with me late one night and drove me home and got up to go to work on about 4 hours of sleep and not one teeny tiny moment ever even hinted that he’d have preferred it some other way, I finally realized something had gone amazingly right. No need to blame the percocet; you’ve got good reason to feel all mushy and grateful! Hope you are feeling better soon 🙂
February 7, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Oh no! Well, kudos to you for fighting through it and looking on the bright sides of things – or is that the painkillers talking? Hahaha, just jokin! 😉
Glad everything went well and hope you feel better soon!
~Chelsea
February 7, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Aww. I loved reading this. Made me tear up too cause I know what that feels like.. Give that man of yours a huge hug from us. Love you and hope you get to go off those nasty drugs soon!
p.s. I just learned about what we (as nurses) are supposed to say to help prep patients for CT scans and such. Did you feel like you were peeing your pants? All that warmth down there, ya know? They did not teach us that you might get a cut lip.. makes me wonder what has happened before!
February 7, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Wow, I hope you’re feeling better!
February 7, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Oh Sweetheart, that’s awful. I’m so sorry that happened. Can you do me a favor though? When the drugs wear off and you read these comments can you tell me who took that pic of you in the hospital bed cuz it’s really high up like it was taken by angels. I’m just sayin.
February 7, 2011 at 7:21 pm
YIKES! Considering the circumstances, I’d say this is a very coherent post! I’ve known a couple other people who had their appendix out and it sounds like a very painful surgery. I’ve never been on strong painkillers like Percocet, but everyone says they’re a wonderful thing. Too bad you’re not having the same experience! 🙂 Glad to hear you have someone like Stan by your side. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!!
February 7, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Oh gosh, I’m glad you are doing better! How crappy.
February 7, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Yet another confirmation that you are marrying a top notch fella (I don’t know Stan but he sound swell from what you say about him in your blog). Allow yourself some time to be doted on. You deserve it. And I hope the Percocet pukes go bye bye. All the best. 🙂
February 8, 2011 at 9:26 am
What a lousy way to spend a weekend 😦 I hope you’re feeling better!
February 8, 2011 at 11:40 am
Sorry to hear about this! I think any surgery involving a stomach incision qualifies as major. I’m happy about all the love though. 🙂 Get well soon!
February 8, 2011 at 11:50 am
Well I am SO GLAD that worked out okay! I think surgery is a good excuse to lay off the house work for a bit. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
February 8, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I’m glad you posted that picture, and now I can’t stop laughing at it! I laughed until I read the part about how blessed you were and then I had to stop because I threw up in my mouth a little…. 😛
February 17, 2011 at 2:32 pm
i threw up a little too… after the tears the filled my eyes went back inside.
February 10, 2011 at 10:01 am
Yea good thing you out that pic up to prove the realness of your illness. Now we know you’re not just one of those people like on Facebook who are always posting about how they’re sick ALL the time.