I've been ill...

Hi All, I'm sorry if I haven't been posting much this week. Starting a week ago today, I've been sick with bad stomach pains that went from my esophagus down to the lower bowel. I suffered through last weekend, and called my surgeon on Monday, only to find out he was out all week on vacation. His nurse told me to take it easy and to call her on Tuesday. Well, she beat me to it on Tuesday and called me first. I wasn't feeling much better, so, she talked to the surgeon on call and he told her to have me drive up (one hour drive) to the ER. They like to have all the tests, etc in one place. So, in the car, hubby, kids and I go. I get there at 4:30pm and don't get seen until 7:30pm. Bob had taken the kids to eat. It was a lot of stupid waiting, like all ER visits. BUT, the thing is, the nurse called in orders for me to have a upper GI done and a CT scan . I ended up with a resident that had to keep running to the attending for approval for everything and they kept getting their wires crossed. A nurse took blood, big deal. The attending came and went over everything the resident did and the attending said he was going to call the surgeon that already sent me there... The resident comes in and says, your blood work is fine, we're sending you home. Bob takes the kids out to the car, it's already after 9:30pm...he's tired cause he'd been up since 4am and had to get up the next morning at 4am. I get changed and am waiting for papers when a technician comes in and tells me I have to drink contrast for a CT scan. I say, "WHOA, wait a minute...something's not right here, get the doctor." I get Bob out of the car...Attending comes in and says, yes, surgeon wants you to have this test. I say, yeah, maybe if you ran it when I got here and he had already ordered it, but not tonight. We have an hour's ride home and it's already 10pm. So, I leave frustrated, tried and am still in pain. Yesterday morning, I call my surgeon's nurse again and tell her. She was livid. She said that if my surgeon was in and found out this happened to me, he'd have all of their hides. She talked to another surgeon on call and he ordered up a GI series and I went back to the hopsital and it was ok on the upper. The barium ran through my small intestines so quickly, that he said it looked like a flair up of irritable bowel or infalmmatory bowel disease. I'm glad that there was no obstruction, though. The nurse called me a bit later and gave me good news, and that my surgeon had called in to check in from vacation and she told him I was ill. He said that he'd be in doing a surgery on Friday, and if I needed him, he'd be on call all weekend and I can call him need be. The diarrahea has stopped, but that's because of the barium stopping me up. I've been eating hardly nothing, so, the nausea and sharp pains are not that strong today. I've been doing a very bland diet. I'm weak and shaky, but, it's from not eating and drinking much. I really forced the fluids today. Plus, I'm exhausted from all of the driving too. Back and forth, back and forth. I'm going to get in to see my surgeon for next week to go over all of this mess and see if I need an endoscopy to rule out an ulcer, etc. I don't want to get admitted, though. We're going to San Francisco on Aug 23rd, so I have to be better by then. Sorry it's so long. Just wanted to fill you all in. Sorry that I haven't replied to any posts. I've just not had the strength to type. I've been scanning and reading them, though. Have a good weekend. paula

Sorry your not feeling well Paula. I hope things are getting better for you sooon. ER'S are such a joke anymore wait wait wait and still find out nothing much. Hugs, Get well soon Shel

Paula honey, I've been so concerned about you - I want them to find out what the heck is going on and fix it!! For anyone who ever thought this is the easy way out - well guess what, it isn't. We have always got to be on top of things and that is the scary part, you want to just have it, lose weight, and get on with life. I'm glad your doctor is there and on top of things You're a strong woman Paula, and I am sorry you are in pain Don't worry, you will be totally better by the time you go to San Fran and you will have a fantastic vacation. You take care of yourself and just rest - love you donna

Paula, I know how frustrating and scary it is when something feels wrong with your stomach. You just want them to fix it and make it all go away. I also have over an hour drive to the doctor's office, which is a MAJOR pain in the rear. That is why I just had the endoscopy and colonoscopy, but I haven't gotten any answers either. I hope you can take it easy till you hear from your doctor. You will be in my thoughts and I hope you are feeling better . Keep us posted when you are up to it. Feel better soon, Christine

I love reading your posts. they are always so detailed that I can be right there with you. I hope you are feeling better. I hate ER rooms. To go to my doctor its only 15 minutes. But I just imagining me doing that driving to pittsburgh...its 1½ from here. Next time I would deffently request a DOCTOR. Last time I went to get blood work, they asked me if I would let a student practice on me... I said "NO" My viens are hard to find anyhow.......i want some one who knows what the heck there doing! Look luck sweetie....thank you for such details when you write. I loving it!

Paula sorry your not well, I can't imaging having to drive 1 hour to see my dr. They are maybe 10 minutes away. We are changing hospitals and I was complaining because now I have to go over the river to get to them. I hope that you are well for your vacation. I leave end of day today to go to the beach I can hardly wait. Me taking a beach vacation is a riot. I have always hated the ocean. I am a true camping woods type. Now I can actually sit at the beach and not feel like a whale...... donna

hi Paula... I'm so sorry that you're not feeling great...I hope you get better very soon! I have found that since this surgery my body reacts differently to things...I got a stomach virus back in early June and thought that I was dying...I couldn't eat or drink anything without pain. I lost 9 lbs in 3 days...I would have preffered the weight compared to the pain...had I gotten the same virus a year ago I would have thought nothing about it -- this time it took me to the ER for a battery of tests. it's amazing how much more aware we are of things now. I hope you feel better for the weekend and especially your trip to San Francisco...that's my next vacation - I have never been to CA and can't wait to go!! Linda

so sorry you're not feeling well. sending (((paula))) and Micha

Paula, Sorry to hear you are still feeling ill. Hope you find out what is bothering you so you can have an enjoyable time in SF. Sandy

Paula I hope you are feeling better. This sounds like the flu bug that is going around our area i had if for almost a week. Really bad crampy feeling in pit of tummy and intestinal area and had diarreah for a week. Took that to feel better. This went through my whole family and some i work with it hit everyone with different levels of force but all were hurting. I hope thats all it is and your on the mend now. Hugs to you. Keep us posted. Tammy o