Unexpected Surgery

A few days after returning from Tahoe, I had an unfortunate surprise waiting for me.

I was at work Tuesday evening when I began to feel nauseated. By the end of the night it had progressed to vomiting, to the point where two of my sweet friends at work had to drive me home. Matt did the best he could to comfort me all night, but at 6am Wednesday morning he was off to Chicago for his internship conference until Friday night.

Luckily Wednesday was my day off, so all I did all day was rest. On Thursday the abdominal pain had subsided enough that I went to work. However, I only lasted a few hours before I drove myself home. The pain worsened that evening and by 11pm or so, after talking on the phone to Mom, Dad, Kim and Matt, it was determined that I should go to the ER.

I knew several of my friends were at the midnight showing of Harry Potter, and I didn't want to interrupt, so I couldn't think of who to call! Matt got in touch with our friend Roger who picked me up, then we went to pick up Grandpa Clyde, after which they gave me a blessing. At that point I was actually beginning to feel better and feared the trip to the ER would be a total waste (of money, that is). Everyone insisted that I still go, as it's better to be safe than sorry.

At midnight I was checking in to the ER. By 1am I was receiving a CAT scan, and by 2am they had determined that I would need an appendectomy. Naturally, I cried for a moment at the news. However, I think the blessing I had received helped me to feel peace and comfort. Considering Matt wasn't there with me, I could've felt much worse than I did. I was taken in for surgery at 6am. The appendix had not ruptured, but it was gangrenous (meaning the tissues surrounding the appendix were deteriorating) and some fluid was beginning to leak. When I woke up, sweet Grandpa Clyde was there to make sure I didn't wake up in the hospital alone. GraNola came to relieve him around noon. Matt was able to catch an earlier flight from Chicago and finally around 5pm he had arrived to take care of me.

I stayed in the hospital until Sunday so that they could keep me on antibiotics to prevent any infections. I got two and a half weeks of paid leave from work so that I could fully recover. Matt and I have determined that if he ever has to leave on a business trip again, I will go with him. ;) We feel very grateful for the love and support we received and I am now fully recovered.

This was when I was promoted from the Clear Liquids Menu to the Full Liquids Menu. Boy, was that creamy potato soup tasty!


I felt so loved to have so many lovely, fragrant flowers sent to me. I had my own garden in the room! It definitely lifted my spirits. It didn't hurt that I finally had my sweet husband to take care of me.