Quite the Week

[designgyrl]

Hi everyone, thought I'd update you on what's been happening since I haven't been  on the site much in the last week or two.  I started to feel sick over a week ago, stomach pain again, and back pain, thinking it was hernia pain, and went in to work, and had to leave early because the pain had me very uncomfortable.  I was talking with Sherry last weekend, and she convinced me to go to the ER on Sunday.  I went to the ER, and they admitted me into the hospital and I just got out tonight around 5pm.  I had a lot of blood work ups, and had surgery on Monday night after the doctor seeing a duct looking enlarged in my stomach area and my liver enzymes spiked up along with vomiting and a fever.  Monday night the GI doctor opened up one of my ducts and took out a gall stone, and the crazy thing is I don't have my gall bladder, had it removed years ago.  The doctor's that I've seen in the last five days all feel the liver, fever, etc... all have to do with the gall stone that I had and today I was finally well enough to be sent home.  Of course I have never heard of anyone getting gall stones after having their gall bladder out, and of course my work is not happy with me missing this week of work.  It's been a hard year for me in the hospital.  This is the 3rd hospital admission this year.  I've not known the hospital to keep patients for five days unless you are really sick.  My doctor made it very clear that I was not allowed to go home until they found out the culprit.  The other problem is that I take vicodin for the pain manager and my doctor does not want me taking that anymore for the time being and put me on percocet which typically make me sick.  So, that's not going to be fun but I at least need to do what the doctor is saying to have those liver functions to get back to normal.  Thank goodness it didn't go into pancreatitis, they were very worried about that too.  So, I just wanted to tell everyone that I was sorry I hadn't been able to post more, but this week has totally gotten away from me again.  I hope everyone is doing ok, and that their pain isn't to terrible this evening.  

Karen

[bcilliers]

I had my gallbladder out 3 years ago and still have horrible gallbladder pain. I still take the little blue pills for attacks even though its no longer there.  I ended up at the er when I was pregnant with my youngest.  It felt just like a gallbladder attack.  They couldn't explain it.  Kept me in over night on a phenegren iv.   Hope you get well soon!

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm glad that you're getting the rest you need!  It never pays to over-do it.  Especially after surgery.
As for me, I am hoping to find another doctor.  It really helps to compare it all to other people's problems and realize I'm not the only one with a CP infused life.  I am learning that the stress of all of this can cause more harm to the pregnancy than good so I am going to try to relax while I fight it out.  
I hope you are feeling better soon.  You're right about the hospital messing up your schedule.  Nurses coming in all hours of the night and doctors coming and going is definetly not like a normal day at home.  
Rest up and relax!

[namnam46]

All of us are very relieved to know that you have chosen to take today off to rest and get some of your strength back.  What you went through is EXTREMELY stressful and takes EVERYTHING out of you!!

We are ALL relieved that you are back with us and are safe!!

Sending you More ((((HUGS!!))))..........Mama Sherry

[designgyrl]

Bree,

I was just thinking about you. I read through what's been happening with you and OMG.  I can't believe about your pm but I agree with everyone, something weird has happened, it almost sounds as though he's in jail or something.  I'm so glad you'll have your bcbs at the end of next month and just got to make it through this one month. I also agree that why can't a high risk ob deal with your chronic pain situation, you are NOT the first person that this has happened to and wont be the last.  I'm just sorry the medication hasn't been up to par as before.  You know I totally understand that.

Everyone else, I was supposed to work today, but obviously didn't go to work.  I just woke up around 11am probably getting all their drugs out of my system and trying to get my sleep schedule back on track.  Staying in the hospital really messes up everything, and I have been finding out that having gall stones is not that unusual, and I'm thinking that with my little hospital stay in May I may have had them then, too, but no one checked that closely.  I'd say my year has been a lot about learning, what I can do and can't, new medications, and best of all meeting new friends that understand what I'm going through on a daily basis.  I'm resting for the rest of the day, which Mama Sherry and Tuck, and a few others mentioned last night and today, and then it's rest over the weekend and a new start next week.  I'll have a lot of follow up appointments next week to make sure I'm ok, and that this doesn't get any worse.  I'm so glad I have this place as a support system, and each and every one of you have been so helpful!

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm SO glad they admitted you and you're okay now!  I hope you feel better now.  Maybe the doctor could prescribe you some Zofran or Phenergen?  Also, don't feel too bad about missing work.  It sounds to me like you should still be resting from the surgery at home!  

[optimus22mac]

Wow...we are all so happy that you went to the ER!! So so so happy!!! What a terrifying thing to go through...I hope you are on the mend.  Do you have to take much more time off? Please don't tell us you have to go right back to work? Having any type of surgery or hospital stay must require a solid rest at home....I hope you are able to have it.  I have had nausea problems with the percocet once, and I took gravol with it...which we have in Canada, and it really did the trick.  I'm not sure what they have in the states (I did grow up there and had one baby there...emetrol? I think I took that with my 1st pregnancy??) Well, if you can stomach an anit-nausea medicine with the percocet, it may work.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers...I've had a rough week or 2, so I am so happy I didn't miss your post...xoxoxo
Alison

[mellie4]

Really sorry about the rough time you've had, Karen :(  But I'm glad that they got to the bottom of it.  Hopefully a note from your doctor will make any work issues go away.  And you're right, in these days of healthcare you don't get to stay inpatient unless you're at death's door.  My mom had a mastectomy ... and it was day surgery!

Rest up and feel better.  Try eating some yogurt or break with the percocet.  Maye that will help.  It used to make me vomit all the time but I got used to it.  It wasn't perfect but better.  But when I switched from percocet to oxycodone I was fine.  (And I can take Tylenol so it must be something else in the percocet that's notin the pxycodone.  See if you can get it without the Tylenol.  It may help.

xox

[melissaky]

Karen I am so glad you listened to Mama Sherry ! I am so glad you are OK . You have been through such an ordeal .I wish we had known you were in the hospital so we could have been there for you .I hope with this you will feel so much better now .You try and rest and take care of yourself .We will be here for you anytime you need us .

HUGS
Melissa

[Sarajmt]

Oh, bless your heart. You get picked on so much!  This isn't fair.  Hopefully this will be the end of it.

Did they give you any nausea meds?  I hope so.  This sounds miserable.

Good luck sweetie,
Sara

[sandee1818]

Karen,
  I have been wondering where you were at:)
Too bad you were not on a beach somewhere sipping iced tea!
I am glad they did find out what was wrong though, i know that is a huge relief!
Try taking your percocet with some milk and toast and eat some saltine crackers when you feel nauseated.
When my meds were making me sick at my stomach the saltines did help.
I hope your feeling better soon, I am keeping you in my prayers:)

[Jaybay]

Good job talking her into going to the ER Mama Sherry!

Karen, don't feel too weird about having stones in your bile duct.  I did the same thing after gallbladder surgery.  Even better, after the ERCP I got a mild case of pancreatitis that laid me out for over a month.  My sister-in-law had her gallbladder out one day after a c-section birth and was still barfing all over the place.  Two days after that she had the ERCP to get the sludge out of her bile duct and finally got to go home with the new baby.  See?  You're not alone at all!

PS - I grew up in your stomping grounds in Mission, KS.  Went to Shawnee Mission North High School and my sister and her husband lived in Olathe for years before moving to Texas to join the rest of the family.  Small world!

[namnam46]

Karen,

As you know I was VERY relieved when you called tonight and let me know what had happened to you.  I had a feeling that you had been admitted when you didn't answer your phone or your PM's.  (Next time DON'T forget to take your Cell Phone with you!!)  :)

I'm sorry for what you had to endure this past week with the fevers and pain and surgery BUT I'm very thankful that they took the time to find out "what the culprit was" as not all Doctors would have insisted on that.  Thank heavens you had a wonderful Doctor who was very caring.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this IS the cause of all the pain and sickness that you have been enduring these past few months. I'm encouraged that your Doctors feel that this is the cause also.  That would certainly answer MANY of your questions and concerns that you have been having as of late.

Please try to get some rest and know that you are in my Thoughts and Prayers. I'm sending you MEGA ((((HUGS!!)))).........Mama Sherry

[Tuckamore]

Hello Karen,

I have been so worried about you. I am glad that things are taken care of and you are on the mend. You have been in my prayers....and will continue to be there.

Yes this does happen on occasions. Probably more than most ppl know. Thank goodness they caught it. You have had much more than you share. My heart goes out to you.

I am sorry that you are concerned about your job. You certainly have a good excuse and hopefully they will see it that way also. You are such a sweetheart I have to beleive that you are also a very valuable employee.

Thank you for letting us know where you have been and what has occurred. I hope you are feeling better and that you will heal quickly. Now that the stone has been removed you can gain strength.

I had some issues with oxycodone in the past but this time around I seem to be tolerating it okay. I am hoping that you will find the same to be true.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Blessings,
~Tuck