Been kinda out of touch - with reality; brought on by morphine.
About 2 weeks ago, I felt kinda nauseus all day then finally gave in to the feeling about 9 p.m. Couldn't stop. It was bad. Then, this pain above my belly button came and nothing would make it go away. Not Tums nor Quick-eze (Aussie chewable Pepto), not even Panadeine which is over-the-counter Tylenol with codeine.
So about 4 a.m. I asked Tom for a ride to the hospital. He came back home to Thomas.
At the hospital, it was a lot of the same questions over and over as the shifts were changing. It still hurt. A lot. Finally, a blood test showed pancreatitis. Not sure if the morphine was before or after the diagnosis, but I finally slept.
Several times, I was told 40% of pancreatitis is caused by alcoholism (not guilty), 40% is from a gall stone and 20% is just weird. I fell into the gallstone group. Seems a stone I never knew I had went into my pancreas and clogged it up. Now, a pancreas doesn't just make insulin, it makes some whopper digestive enzymes. When they can't get out, it starts to digest itself. Gross, but true.
When we get back to the US, I'll have my gall bladder removed. I can't let an organ start throwing rocks at other organs. I didn't raise her that way.
I had IV fluids, some antibiotics and lots of pain meds and sleep.
The nurses were generally nice and competent. The hospital could use a bit of paint and I only saw one roach the whole time.
I was fasted for about 3 days. Water only, then clear fluids. NO hospital food tasted better than some broth at the end of a 3-day fast. Even the green jello was good although I couldn't finish it all.
Next came "vitaminized soup." A blend of potato and green things and other lumps. Stunningly savory after broth and green jello.
I was let home after 5 days and 9 hours. Slept like a log, woke for a snack, then slept like a different log. Repeat.
Tom and Thomas are being fantastic as men can be helping and bringing me things. I admit, there is a reason 8-year-old boys are not nurses. Friends have brought food and taken Thomas to school and back. I love and appreciate my friends.
Still resting a lot but each day is better.
Our pack-out is Tuesday the 7th. That is when they come and take everything going by boat which is most everything. Haven't gotten to every task I thought I would, but I'm alive and kicking and ok.
Oh, the photo is a candle made from just an orange and some oil. Nothing to do with the post, but neat, huh?
