Health news

Where to start...where to start....
On August (or about) 28, I went back to the hospital via ambulance with severe stomach pains and vomiting. The same type of pain that sent me in July. Normally, when I have had that pain in the past, it means I have to have a really good "movement", if you get my meaning. And by drinking prune juice or eating things like fruit and oatmeal aids in that movement thing.The pain actually started on Monday the 24th. After three days with no relief, I called the doctors office on Wednesday the 26th to see if I could get in, like at the end of the day. I feared that an old hernia had returned and was maybe creating a blockage. Of course there was nothing open until Friday, when he was working a half day and I could come in at 11:30. So I said ok, knowing that I was going to need to be seen. Thursday night, right before bed, the pain worsened, expanding from the area under my belly button to the upper portion of my stomach. At about 5:30 am I started vomiting, after about 3 hours of that, I finally called my son to take me to the hospital. He was at work and I got this voice mail, so I called his girlfriend Amy (I pretty much consider her my daughter-in-law). As soon as she got dressed, she came. He ended up getting the message I left anyway and so they met out in the driveway.
In that 15 minutes or so, I had become so weakened that I didn't feel like I could walk from the house to the car so I had Amy call 911. After getting to the ER, they did the usual blood tests and x-rays. It turned out that there was an intestinal blockage. They wanted to do a CT Scan but they didn't think I would be able to keep down the contrast that a person needs to drink. They had to insert an EG tube into my nose, down into my stomach and start sucking out my stomach contents, of which there seemed to be an endless supply. Emergency surgery was performed to remove a piece of mesh that was used to repair the previous hernia. It had become attached to part of my intestine and that's what was causing the blockage. There was also a small hernia but it was higher up toward my stomach. The surgeon fixed that too, even though he said it wasn't that bad, but in a year or so, it would have been. After 5 days, I came home. You know how they always make sure that you pass gas and have a bowel movement after surgery before you go home? Well, the doctor didn't really seem to concerned that I even though I had passed gas, there was really a movement to speak of. If I had been the doctor, I wouldn't have been satisfied with it. I came home on Tuesday, the first of Sept. I had absolutely no appetite, no hunger. I only ate because I knew I needed to. I ate oatmeal for breakfast thinking that would get things moving. It didn't. By Friday Sept 4th, I was vomiting again. Nothing I ate stayed down and again there seemed to be an endless supply of whatever it was taking up residence in my stomach. I had been vomiting for about 5 hours, when I noticed my incision had become to "weep". It startled me at the time, I thought I had been vomitng for so long that maybe I had ripped something open. Even though it wasn't bright red, it was a watery, pale red. So with another ride via ambulance to the ER, more blood tests, and x-rays, another EG tube inserted, it was determined that I had gotten an infection somewhere. With a couple of anti-biotics loaded onto my IV pole, along with the usual bag, I spent another 3 days there. The doctor said too that after a surgery involving the intestine, the body can have a problem getting back to normal. After 2 days of no food, and clear fluid being sucked out of my stomach, the doctor ordered the removal of the EG tube and put me on a clear liquids diet. Broth, apple juice, tea, that type of stuff. I drank so much apple juice that I got diarrhea. He started me on a full diet that morning he said I could home. He said try a regular breakfast and lunch and if it doesn't cause nausea and stays down, I can go home in the afternoon. I ordered a BBQ beef sandwich with chips for lunch. I figured if anything was going to make me sick, that would have been it. After not having an appetite for a few days and then not eating at all for the next few, it's the first time hospital food actually tasted good.
I am back home now since Monday, the 7th. I feel pretty good, have an appetite and eating normally. Everything else seems to be working fine too.
I hope you all had a good holiday. Summer is at it's end and winter is just around the corner. BBRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Take care....