Oh, so sorry I have been quiet and that I have not posted my update (after my ER visit) on here...but I have been feeling...well, less than great for the past week or two! So here goes...

As you read, the ER doctors expected to find that I had appendicitis. All the evaluations they did, physically, showed that I was in the 90% of people who had it...but I didn't! Some inflammation (this was not the first time...just take it out already!) but I honestly prefer no more surgeries...I have had my share, thanks so much...

They did, however, find out that my right ovary is, I guess the only way to describe it is enlarged? They are not sure from what, I obviously have no clue what-so-ever, but that could be a little cause of the pain.

And then, I hate this part, I had some bowel backed up...not a lot, "a little" in their words, but enough to suggest that maybe trying to move it along would help with the pain...

Okay, let me skip back a little. When I got to the ER, I went to Hopkins because if it was anything to do with my shunt, as in the catheter pulling out of place in my stomach, etc., from all the lifting I had done previously, we wanted me to be in the right place. And the Hopkins ER is only about twenty minutes away. So if not a life-threatening emergency, that is not bad. They literally had to try over fifteen times to get an IV in me. The first one was good, drew blood, flushed, then when fluids were hooked up...it blew. Then like (random number) the sixth, good, flushed, fluids hooked up...blew! Then after they tried in my neck twice, they used the ultrasound and FINALLY, a doctor got one in my arm, above my elbow. That one held, thank God. I am just now getting over the bruises. I looked like I had been beaten. They were pushing to get one because they needed the IV dye for the CT of my appendix. So they got that and also made me drink two cups of dye. I drank them, as they asked, yes...but as soon as I did, I threw them up. I did not miss getting sick like that!!

So they kept me good on nausea medicine and pain medicine as I asked for it...I did not want pain medicine often because I have been able to pride myself in not needing it for pain in the past few months, but okay, I cracked. I asked. Morphine sure helps for that pain...I won't lie, lol. Anyhow...they did the CT, then came in with the results and then had me go for an ultrasound of my ovaries, both pelvic (I guess that is what they call it) and then vaginal (I am new to that one, honestly). So after those results, I was moved to their observation part of the emergency room (it is called the EACU - Emergency Acute Care Unit...you are moved there when you are still in emergency, but not admitted...like a longer-term emergency room stay so you can be pain controlled or kept for longer waiting for tests or test results, etc.) All in all my stay was over twenty-four hours...

In the EACU, the doctor told me that there was a little bowel backed up and I would be prescribed a stool softener and could go home whenever I felt comfortable pain wise...I am glad I was given that choice because I was in an incredible amount of pain. My nurse was fantastic, though, because she came in and brought in liquid Magnesium (the glass bottles that you can drink to help you go to the bathroom...basically a liquid laxative) and said I could take it at home because they work fast. And then I asked to go home because I was so tired I just did not want to fight sleeping anymore, no matter how bad the pain was! The doctor did send me home with a prescription for pain medicine, though.

When I got home, my mom was on my case about drinking that stuff...but I did not drink it right away. Actually, to be honest, I got home from the hospital on a Wednesday and I did not drink it until Saturday (I was already going to an NFL game that Friday night, I was not missing it to go to the bathroom! lol)

So on Saturday, I drank that stuff...it was lemon flavored, but it was so sour afterwards...I felt like I had eaten a sour candy. Or more like sucked on one for hours. IMMEDIATELY after drinking it, I vomited. Needless to say, it did not really work...

So my mom and I bought another two bottles at the store a couple days later and I got cherry flavored...figured, what the heck...maybe cherry will be better than lemon! I drank one, and vomited right after again. BUT it worked. A little too well...

Skipping that stuff, because I know you do not want to hear it (I wouldn't!), it's been over a week since that and I have pain still. I could tell I had some gas before because of the pain radiating up to my shoulder...it made me cringe when I felt it there...but now it is located on my lower right side, where it started, and only there.

They said to come back if I felt worse or if it didn't get better, but I do not want to. I just don't wanna know. I am not running a fever or anything and it has not gotten much worse, it's about the same, so my appendix more than likely has not gotten any worse...and if it is something with my ovary, I don't wanna know. I just don't...that part could not only effect my life, but my future kids lives, too...if there are any, can't tell you!

So that was my update. Long again, sorry, I do wanna write one day...maybe I should! ;)

As for my PTC, I have been having some headaches daily...seem to be worsening, but today is a little better. My ears hurt a bit less today, but I am going to monitor my headaches for a week more or so and if they get worse or don't improve, I am going to call my neurologist and see if there is anything I can do...my pressure is good, I do not have the eye pain I get with my high or low pressure, I am not nauseated or vomiting, so I really do not think it is my pressure...but I will keep an eye on it.

Again, sorry I have been kind of M.I.A...I'm here now!
Heather