Back in the ER; Back to Reality
The reality is, I am sick and I haven't been very well for over half a year. The reality is that the doctors are working hard to figure out what else besides gastroperesis is happening in my GI system. The reality is that I need to continue to trust in God no matter what sickness comes my way. It seems as if something comes up one after the other.......
Last Friday, I really thought I was having some kind of GI attack or issue. All of Thursday and especially Friday, I was in so much pain--- pain in my upper and lower stomach. Then on Friday, my pain was still in my stomach but more in the upper part and my back part near the ribs. I tried to call the doctor for an appointment but she couldn't fit me into her schedule. I refused to go to the Augusta Health ER because of bad experience a while ago; I didn't want to go to EmergeCare because they don't know my history and I didn't want to spend time on the history of my problem and not get treated. So I opted to stick it out until Monday. That is, until I was in so much pain I was in tears. The pain in my back was horrible that I had called my best friend who's a PA and she told me I needed to 'GO TO THE ER NOW" I didn't want to go; but I knew I had to and as much as I hate hospitals, needles, doctors, etc, I knew from the tone of my friend's voice that this pain was serious especially since I was running a temperature (I'm talking 101 fever and pain that made me cry). So at 9pm, Dad took me to the UVA ER. I wouldn't go anywhere else since UVA is my hospital and every record about me is there. I waited no longer than 15 minutes and was right away seen my a nurse and a doctor. They ran blood and urine tests and gave me anti-nausea and pain medication to help me get comfortable. Finally they figured out I had a REALLY SIGNIFICANT kidney infection; thus explaining all my pain and such. I was sent home with pain meds, anti-biotics, and anti-nausea medicine.
Monday I still wasn't feeling well so my doctor ran urine tests again and it still showed significant infection. The pain was still there---but the doctor wasn't sure how much of the pain was kidney/UTI related and what was GI related. Either way I was still in pain and nauseated. Since Friday, I've been on a light diet; and since Monday I have been on fluid/crackers diet and have felt some better. I'm still struggling with pain but like the doctor said we aren't sure how much of it is kidney related and how much is it is my GI issues related.
I continue to live with reality. I continue to go about my day studying my course, helping around the house, and subbing at Littlest Lamb whenever I can. I have to keep reminding myself that reality is that my health is not allowing me to live as I used to live (being able to work a 40 hr week). My GI issues continue to have a huge impact on me physically as well as emotionally. It's been rough because I want to work full time, but reality is that I physically can't handle it since I do not know when I will have a good day and when I will have a bad day. Those bad days are debilitating---I'm in bed most of the time with pain and nausea that sometimes even medication wouldn't help. I had to pray about my job situation and actually made a hard decision to turn down a great job offer because when I realized the work load involved, I knew physically I couldn't handle it with my health and with my schooling. However, the reality and the praise is that I can work a day here or there. I'm grateful for being able to work every so often for my dear friend Pam at her day care. I love being with little kids/babies and it makes me happy. I admit I come home very tired but I know I don't have to worry about working the next day and if I'm not feeling well, I know I have the next days to get better.
I'm continuing to recover from my kidney infection, but still need a lot of prayers; and especially prayers for my continued GI issues I'm having. Hopefully another diagnosis will come and help can be on its ways.
Praying and trusting God is the answer; it's my hope. He's the Rock to which I cling.
Last Friday, I really thought I was having some kind of GI attack or issue. All of Thursday and especially Friday, I was in so much pain--- pain in my upper and lower stomach. Then on Friday, my pain was still in my stomach but more in the upper part and my back part near the ribs. I tried to call the doctor for an appointment but she couldn't fit me into her schedule. I refused to go to the Augusta Health ER because of bad experience a while ago; I didn't want to go to EmergeCare because they don't know my history and I didn't want to spend time on the history of my problem and not get treated. So I opted to stick it out until Monday. That is, until I was in so much pain I was in tears. The pain in my back was horrible that I had called my best friend who's a PA and she told me I needed to 'GO TO THE ER NOW" I didn't want to go; but I knew I had to and as much as I hate hospitals, needles, doctors, etc, I knew from the tone of my friend's voice that this pain was serious especially since I was running a temperature (I'm talking 101 fever and pain that made me cry). So at 9pm, Dad took me to the UVA ER. I wouldn't go anywhere else since UVA is my hospital and every record about me is there. I waited no longer than 15 minutes and was right away seen my a nurse and a doctor. They ran blood and urine tests and gave me anti-nausea and pain medication to help me get comfortable. Finally they figured out I had a REALLY SIGNIFICANT kidney infection; thus explaining all my pain and such. I was sent home with pain meds, anti-biotics, and anti-nausea medicine.
Monday I still wasn't feeling well so my doctor ran urine tests again and it still showed significant infection. The pain was still there---but the doctor wasn't sure how much of the pain was kidney/UTI related and what was GI related. Either way I was still in pain and nauseated. Since Friday, I've been on a light diet; and since Monday I have been on fluid/crackers diet and have felt some better. I'm still struggling with pain but like the doctor said we aren't sure how much of it is kidney related and how much is it is my GI issues related.
I continue to live with reality. I continue to go about my day studying my course, helping around the house, and subbing at Littlest Lamb whenever I can. I have to keep reminding myself that reality is that my health is not allowing me to live as I used to live (being able to work a 40 hr week). My GI issues continue to have a huge impact on me physically as well as emotionally. It's been rough because I want to work full time, but reality is that I physically can't handle it since I do not know when I will have a good day and when I will have a bad day. Those bad days are debilitating---I'm in bed most of the time with pain and nausea that sometimes even medication wouldn't help. I had to pray about my job situation and actually made a hard decision to turn down a great job offer because when I realized the work load involved, I knew physically I couldn't handle it with my health and with my schooling. However, the reality and the praise is that I can work a day here or there. I'm grateful for being able to work every so often for my dear friend Pam at her day care. I love being with little kids/babies and it makes me happy. I admit I come home very tired but I know I don't have to worry about working the next day and if I'm not feeling well, I know I have the next days to get better.
I'm continuing to recover from my kidney infection, but still need a lot of prayers; and especially prayers for my continued GI issues I'm having. Hopefully another diagnosis will come and help can be on its ways.
Praying and trusting God is the answer; it's my hope. He's the Rock to which I cling.
Comments