My Unexpected Hospital Stay

Friday, October 3, 2008 For the past eight days, I've been confined to a local hospital.  I awoke at 3 a.m. on Thursday, October 2 with a large pain in my lower abdomen.  Thinking it was just indigestion, I did not do anything about it right away.  Five hours later, I knew my original thinking had been wrong.   I immediately called the paramedics to come take me to the hospital ER.  I arrived there at approximately 8:30 a.m.  There was a lot of prodding and poking around by various doctors around the area of my lower abdomen, but nothing obvious was to be found.   My sister was notified that morning, and she arrived at the hospital, about three hours later.  It was good, having company, although I could see that she was nervous and worried about what was happening with me.  During the time that she was there, I ended up having a CT scan, which also showed nothing.   By the time that was finished, it was nearly early afternoon, and I was still having a lot of pain.  They had wanted to give me some morphine earlier in the day, but I had put off accepting it, because I have a strong sensitivity to many medications.  I finally gave in to their suggestions that afternoon.   Although the morphine helped my pain, it also had a slight reaction for me.  My "frantic" sister ran throughout the ER, shouting "help, help!"   They gave me something to slow down this reaction to a level that I could withstand.  Shortly after that, they gave me two more doses of the medication.  Each of them lowered my pain, but after their effects wore off, the pain returned.   The doctor helping me said that since it was now early afternoon, I needed to start thinking about whether I wanted to go home.  She said that she would go along with whatever I wanted, but that I should consider what would happen if I went home and the pain started all over again.  I realized that I would have to go right back to the hospital, and because of that,  I agreed to stay overnight.  Little did I ever think that one night would turn into seven.   Throughout the next several days, I went through more CT scans as well as an ultrasound.  To make a long story short, it turned out that I had a UTI that had somehow made its way up my urinary tract and into both of my kidneys.  That is now being treated with an antibiotic.   I also have some type of a hernia, but am not to worry about that for the present.  Before I left the hospital, I was told that both my kidneys were small, but that should not cause me any problem.   Thanks to anyone who is left hugs messages, comments, etc. for me during my absence.  I will try playing that old catch up game throughout the days and weeks to come.