It started off innocently enough. A few good friends. Out for a very nice dinner. Celebrating Brian and my 30th wedding anniversary! Then back to our house for dessert and a (mean) game of Apples to Apples…
Sounds like fun? It was!!!
But…
After the games. After the dessert. After the wonderful time with friends. When everyone went home, I began to get sick. Blech…
Food poisoning? Flu? Ulcer?
I didn’t sleep all night…or all the next day (which was Sunday), or Sunday night, Monday, Monday night or Tuesday. Finally on Tuesday afternoon I got in to see the doctor. The stomach pain was almost unbearable (ask Brian what happened when we forgot the pain meds at the doctor’s office on Tuesday! I almost went ballistic!). I was certain I could not go another minute with the pain and illness, and if I didn’t get some relief NOW, I would certainly lose my mind. (No comments, please!)
Anyway, the doctor identified the issue as a probable gall stone attack. I was SUPER fortunate to get in to have an ultra-sound immediately (right at the doctor’s office) and yes, they did find gall stones. The doctor was concerned because the size and position of the gall stones in themselves should not have been causing that problem, so he decided to schedule surgery for the next day to have the gall bladder removed. Fine with me. GET IT OUT OF THERE!
The surgery was scheduled for 3:00 pm (if I remember correctly). It was a little delayed because of the doctor’s schedule, but the last thing I remember was being in the hallway down by surgery, talking to the anesthesiologist as he inserted an iv in my arm. The surgery was to be a simple same day surgery.
It took me awhile to figure out that something was going on, when I woke up and was in the cardiac intensive care unit. At first I guess I just thought I was in recovery until Brian and one of the nurses started to explain that I would need to stay overnight and have a bunch of tests done. Of course, I would have no way of knowing that while there were minor complications during the surgery because of scar tissue from previous surgeries I’ve had, the big issue was that while I was under my vital signs dropped suddenly, which indicated there may be heart complications. I’m glad I wasn’t awake to hear that! I was fairly calm about having to stay the night…since I was in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, it suited me just fine to stay as close to the meds as possible! It was strange though. That state of confusion your mind rests in when you’re on medication. I knew what was going on, but didn’t realize until days later the real issues. I do remember nurses coming in at 3 and 4 in the morning taking blood and doing tests, etc. Still, I was just content to stay in bed and rest (not have to move). By the next morning when the surgeon came in he assured me that all of the tests they took came out negative (obviously a wonderful thing to hear – although I will follow up in a week or so to check out other possible problems). I went home that afternoon…feeling pretty much like someone beat me up in a dark alley, but still thankful that everything turned out ok and knowing that I would come home to rest and get better.
It’s been close to 2 weeks now, and I’m desperately trying to get back to work. I feel fairly good, but I am extremely tired. I guess it takes a lot out of a person when someone digs in and messes around with your innards!
Isn’t it weird how these surprise events turn up in your life sometimes? It certainly took me by surprise! The Word tells us to not be surprised by these things! That anything can happen at any time! Boy, is that right! Are we practicing what the Bible tells us? To always “be ready, for the Son of God can return at any time”? Are we prepared for the unexpected? This was a very good lesson for me, and one I don’t ever want to forget. I was not prepared to have a major surgery, but there was no avoiding it! Will I make the best of my situation? I certainly am trying! Pastor Denny prayed with me before the surgery, and reminded me that “in all things God works to the good of those who love Him”. There are so many things that have made things better from my experience…especially my awareness for my family and friends, how much I love them and need to let them know that. It makes me even more desperate to share the Good News with more and more people, so that they too can live with pure joy, no matter what the circumstance.
Christmas was kind of a bust for me. I wasn’t very festive, that’s for sure! But my family was there and that meant the world to me, and I wonder if it really could have been any better? I don’t think it could have. I love them so much, and as I thought about lots of different scenarios, I know that God was watching over me and that I am just plain blessed beyond measure to have such an amazing family. I really have much, much more than I deserve or ever thought to ask for.
What a crazy ending to 2010!!!
LOVE YOU!
Posted by: Shannon | Tuesday, January 04, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Thank you for sharing it all with us! I am glad that you are on the mend though and feeling better! Whew!
Your Anniversary...well, that just look wonderful! I am glad you had fun with friends before the attack hit!
Posted by: April | Wednesday, January 05, 2011 at 08:44 AM