Heartfelt Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who prayed and wished me well while I was in the hospital. A special thanks to Lynda M for informing everyone here and giving my update.
It has been quite some time since I've been on here. As most know, I am in the process of relocating to Colorado Springs. Hubby is already there working and we did find a house and close on March 23rd. However, I won't be moving out there until the end of May. This house still has to sell. DH feels it will be better for me to move out during the spring so I don't have to move smack in the middle of Winter. Bless that man!
Most know the stress I've been under with my adult children and grandchildren. Needless to say I added more to it by letting my daughter and granddaughter move in until I move in May or they find a place before then. I gave some rules before they moved in and of course they agreed to until after they moved in. It has been a very uncomfortable situation to say the least.
Last Sat. I started feeling light headed and nauseated. I had to sit down and grabbed the garbage can and vomited. I thought it was quite a bit of liquid for just having a sip of protein shake. When I examined it closer, I realized it was blood. At that point I got up enough energy to yell for HELP!!!! I asked for an ambulance to be called and felt sooooo weak and thought I was going to pass out. I started to pray really hard and got some strength back. I then felt better, but felt the need to have a bowel movement-I know, TMI!!!! At the same time the paramedics arrived, but I wasn't going anywhere until I went to the bathroom. After doing my thing, the bowl was full of blood too!!! YIKES!!! Can you say panic time. The ENT came into the bathroom to check it out and boy was I embarrased to say the least. I refused to go until I sprayed the heck out of my bathroom...I was sooooooooo embarrased. They assured me they have seen it all and weren't affected by any of this. Well I WAS!!!!! Can you imagine I was more concerned about them having to endure the stench of my poop than for what was going on with me! LOL..... I'm a nut case, what can I say.
I prayed all the way to the hospital and the whole time I was there. My main prayer was that I didn't have to under go the knife again. We thought it was bleeding ulcers since I had a perforation last year. Quite a few tests were done on me. The first was a Nucular Blood Scan. Wasn't too keen on having radioactive chemicals injected, but was assured it would not harm me. I had to lay still on this metal table for one hour without moving, while the scan was being done. Thank God I had my CD player with me. It really helped me get throught the first 48 mins. Then it stopped and wouldn't ya know it, I had to pee and was starting to really feel stiff in my arms, back and legs. I only had 7 more mins. to get through. Boy were they the longest 7 mins. of my life.
The test results came back neg. They couldn't find the source of the bleeding. Good news and bad. That meant know I would have to have a colonoscopy and an endoscope done. Most know my fear of another endoscope since that is what perforated my ulcer last year.
I forgot to mention that just before the Scan they had to start me on a blood transfusion because I lost too much blood. This lasted until about 7 at night and then I had to undergo a bowel prep for the morning tests.
What a nightmare. I wasn't going to get any sleep that night either. Between the affects of the half gallon stuff they made me drink and the blood transfusion, I started to feel sick, and got the shakes bad. I was to drink a whole gallon of that nasty stuff within 4 hours. They have got to be kidding I said. I told the nurse there was NO WAY! I drank half a gallon and couldn't drink anymore. She said she was going to have to call the GI doctor to see what else they could give me. She came back with what I was hoping would be an enema, but NOOOOOOOOO it was more stuff to drink. Not the same as before but still more yucky stuff. Not as much as a gallon but still quite a bit. If I didn't clear myself completley out, they weren't going to be able to do the testing that day.
My DH couldn't fly home in time for my tests but was going to be here by 5:00 pm the latest. I told him not to fly back unless I needed surgery, but he insisted. Gotta love that man!
Anyway, it didn't seem like I was getting close to having a clear bowel movement and the test was to be done by 12:30 that afternoon. It was still full of blood and stool. I prayed so hard for the blood to stop.
They sent a nurse up to prepare me for the test and who to my surprise was my DH's ex co-workers wife and the other nurse was someone I knew who used to go to my church. I told them they were both a God send. They reassured me that they were going to take good care of me down there.
The last two bowel movements came out clear and bloodless!!!!!! I was taken to have the procedures done and the GI doc asked if I was still bleeding and I was able to smile and say Nope! He was surprised and said he was going to have to do both tests one after the other. That was just fine with me. I didn't want to wait any longer than I had to.
The one nurse Bonnie leaned over and said a prayer for me and then I said one for everyone involved in taking care of me.
When I came out of the sedation, Bonnie leaned over to tell me that I was singing praises to God while under. I then dosed back off and when I was back in my room the other nurse, Collen told me she thought I was talking while under but realized I was singing and Bonnie told her I was singing a song we sang at church. Collen said in all the years she has been doing this, she NEVER heard anyone singing while sedated. I know the presence of God was with me the whole time. People from everywhere was praying for me and I can't thank all of you enough. Your prayers were answered. They didn't find any blood while in there. He saw nothing wrong in my stomach, no sign of an ulcer but he did see a few pockets in my colon which could have been a small case of Divoticulosus sp? Where blood vessels attach themselves to these pockets and then burst, but they saw no sign of blood. I was also told I had internal hemroids. Was told to add more fiber and take supposotories for two weeks and check back w/my PCP in two weeks and have a blood test done 2 days prior. Can you say I'm a Miracle!!!!! I don't anticipate this happening again, but was told if it does, I will have to swallow a tiny camera so they can see all through my intestines.
What an experience this was and I pray I don't have to ever go through it again! I feel great and I'm sure I am over doing it a bit, but took the weekend off from anymore cleanning. I really am resting the best I can. The main thing is to try and stay as stress free as possible and it's kind of hard with not having my daughters cooperation. She could have lost me and then how would she have felt. I don't want her regreting the way she disrespects me. She has the opportunity to make things right between the two of us and at the same time, have the chance w/my help to get through a tough time in her life. Once May is over, I'm gone and won't be able to help as much. That has been one of the biggest problems w/my kids. They depend on me too much and I enable them by bailing them out all the time. I have been activley working on stopping this, but it hasn't been easy. This move is going to be a blessing for all of us. They will need to stand on thier own two feet and take care of their families the way they need to. They need to be more self reliant and less dependent on us. I can't and don't want to raise my grandkids anymore. It's time for DH and I to have a life of our own now. It's hard to say this because it sounds selfish, but it really isn't. It's actually a healthy way of looking at the rest of our lives.
I pray they one day realize how much we do love them and want the best for them. It's time for a new season in our lives and I trust the good Lord will bring us to the place we are to be at with Him and at peace.
I miss all of you dearly and think of you often. I hope to be back on when I settle down. Until then, I will pop in and out when I can.
I see there are a lot of new names and faces on the Grads Board. Welcome and congrats to all you newcomers.
I look forward to being supportive and encouraging on here again soon. You all are the best!
Take care my dear OH family!
Love,
Your Gastric Buddy,
Jeannie aka The Lady In Red! LOL.....
Wow, what an ordeal! The power of prayer can do amazing things. I'm so glad all your tests came out okay and nothing serious was wrong. Someone else on this board or another one was having problems and the gastro doc wanted to do the swolled camera thingy. Her WLS said no way, that it was too big to pass thru the stoma. Just a little tidbit to tuck away just in case.
WOW! you have been thru a lot but I am so glad you are okay. I have heard of people singing and praying while under or unconcious. A pastor I knowand his wife many years ago had a terrible accident that killed her. The paramedics said as she lay on the road dying she was singing and praising God in "tongues". What a way to go!!!!!!!! I myself have woke up in the middle of the night singing or praying. That just goes to show you that our Father is always there and he certainly kept His hand on you.
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