Happenings

So many things can happen in a life that some would say..."upsets the apple cart". Some would say just complain and gripe until things get better. Some would say "why does this have to happen to me". Do we have the right to be that way? Are we not a blessed people?

Questions! Gotta love them!! So...allot of you know (and for this I'm sorry to be feeding you "old" news) that I have been kinda ill for going on three weeks now. It started back around Troll's bday, the 12th. (Actually...it started about the same time I got pneumonia but I didn't realize it at that point.) I started to feel very uncomfortable when I ate. Would start to eat and within minutes was full. I didn't think much of it as I've never been a big eater. Then things started to change.

I'd eat and within about 1/2 hour I was uncomfortable. It started to get worse to where I wasn't eating anything but crackers, pretzels and white rice and drinking ANY liquid was causing pain. Within a week I'd lost 10 lbs. and Troll was adament about me going to the doc. So on my bday I went. Doc was concerned after checking me out and for the fact that I'd lost that much weight that she ordered blood work and urine test done that day and scheduled an ultrasound of my abdomen for two days later. Urine test came back within minutes that there was blood and white blood cells in it. So that was sent away to a lab. That eve my parents came to watch our kids so that Troll and I could go out for my bday. I knew I wouldn't b able to eat but was looking forward to the evening out with my hubby...something we've not been able to do for probably 6 months or so. We got about 20 min from the house and both my arms went numb and i honestly felt that something was terribly wrong. We turned around and went home where I crawled into bed. Not long after my mom came up and said that she really felt I needed to go to ER. So we got ready and went. An ultrasound was done, blood work and another urine test. Everything came back "fine" and they said I might want to have a HIDA scan done. Other things happened there that led me to believe that they had seen something as they prescribed me a very souped up antibiotic given to ppl fighting serious infections and anthrax!! But I was sent home with a "UTI"!! (of which i knew i didn't have) and an inflamed liver.

The next day I was scheduled for a HIDA scan to be given two days later. I arrived at the radiology dept...a very nervous person! Never b4 had I had a test so detailed. I've had MRI's and CT scans b4 but never one where I was going to be injected with a nuclear device!! I'm a very imaginative person and was like, what happens if I blow up!! LOL!! For two hours I had to lay on my back completely still while this stuff went thru my liver and then into my gall bladder. This was a Thurs. I had to wait until Monday to hear from my doc. I managed to get to church Sun a.m. but that did me in strength wise. By this point, rice is now hurting to eat and I was down to pretzels and occaisional sips from a milkshake. Starving so badly and so thirsty. A friend mentioned ice chips (for which I said, duh, to myself for not having thought of this!!) and that helped tremendously.

Monday came and the doc office called to say that my HIDA scan had come back and that it showed my gall bladder wasn't functioning properly so I needed to see a GI doc. They said they'd call and set up an appointment. Mon. eve I was in terrible pain to where I thought i was gona have to go back to ER. I was down to "sipping" on stage 1 baby food to at least try for some food intake. Tues came and still no word. Tues afternoon my husband was called that the one place didn't acept our insurance so they would have to call another place. By the time Troll got home from school there was still no word so he called our doc office again. They said that the GI place had closed and they'd call asap Wednesday am. About 9 something I get the call. Doc office said that i had an appointment scheduled for Oct. 11th to see the gastro center. I started crying and said, you're kidding me....I'll be dead by then from lack of food. I hung up and called Troll who got very upset and informed me he'd take care of it. He called the doc office and said, "this is unacceptable!" The doc on call told him that he could do 1 of 3 things. Wait for the apointment, go to the ER or get a surgical consultation. Troll was talking to the lady at the doc office and said, "Ma'am...I know you are not to give out info over the phone but i know you know my wifes case and with your expierience at a doc office you know what is going on. If this was your husband...what would you do?" She said, I'd bypass all this mess and get a surgical consultation. Troll said, "Then that is what i want." So she said she'd do what she could. Within 20 min she'd found a surgeon that could get me in and Wed afternoon we drove to the surgeon's office.

He was shocked to know that I'd lost 15-18 lbs. in a little over 2 wks. and after looking at my chart/HIDA scan results informed me that my gall bladder deff had to come out. The cut off line for a gall bladder being in good enough shape to still keep is 35% and mine was coming in at a (as he put it) whopping 17%!! Basically my gall bladder is only cramping and its back flowing into my liver and swelling cause it can't discharge the bile. So within "minutes" he had made a decision and surgery was scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

The relief of finally knowing musta been huge cause both Troll and i were in bed a little after 9 and for the first time in almost two weeks...I actually slept!! I can't explain to you how wonderful it is to feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And I can't begin to tell you how blessed I am to know that there are ppl everywhere praying for me and supporting me through all of this. Ppl watching our kids, bringing food, sending warm wishes...it has been a true blessing to have such support.

Through all of this and not knowing and wondering what in the world was happening to me...I have been very thankful that I have been able to rest in God's hands knowing that He isn't going to put on me more than i can handle. Yes, I've had two breakdowns where I cried and felt so miserable from the not knowing. But I can honestly say I have had a peace that God knows the exacts and I don't need to worry. So many other ppl out there are going thru much worse...much, much worse so I don't have the right to complain or whine. I haven't even had the desire to do so cause I know my God is in control! To have that peace and comfort is the best thing to ever have. So...all this to say....I'm thankful that there are surgeons and tests out there that can help a person out, I'm thankful for a gr8 wealth of friends and family that have been praying for me, I'm thankful for a husband and kids that have been "putting up with" me and ultimately thankful that whatever the reason this was all for.....I can be at peace and rest in the hands of God! :)