Update on Maroo!
I am not sure how much of the story I posted on the thread already, so I will start at the beginning and fill you all in.
I woke up Monday at 4 AM with a horrible backache and my right side was hurting. It hurts some off and on anyway, so I was not really worried. But I could not go back to sleep. By 5 AM I was really hurting...and since it was on the right side, I was concerned it could be my appendix.
I drove myself to the ER that connects to my office at work - it was a short drive. They saw me immediately and ordered blood work and a CT. They did the CT with triple contrast, which was the first time I have had that done and it was NOT fun. But it was worth it, because they finally saw what they now assume has been what is causing my frequent abdominal pain over the past few years - I had moderate colitis. The problem with a CT is that you can't tell what is causing it, only that it is there.
The ER doctor said that the normal treatment is antibiotics and I would get the first dose in the ER via IV. He also gave me a pain medicine shot - which knocked me off my tail!
I had a friend drive me home and left my car at the hospital. The whole way home I was very nauseated, but figured when I got in the air conditioning at home I would be fine.
I was not fine. I was alone, just me and Muffin, and got so very sick. I had not eaten anything all day and figured I needed a bit of food on my stomach and tried to eat a cracker - that did not work. I tried drinking a bit and even took an oral Zofran (nausea medicine) but could not keep anything down. When I was still getting sick over and over I finally decided I needed to find out if this was supposed to happen or what I needed to do.
I picked up the phone and called the main switchboard at the hospital and asked for the ER. Then the most amazing thing happened - the DOCTOR answered and not just any doctor, the doctor that had just treated me! (Now when was the last time a doctor answered a random phone that was ringing?) He said to come straight back and ask for him and he would take care of me.
But I was stuck at home. Within about 30 seconds of making that call, I was sick again and got a text from a man that goes to my church. I have known him and his wife for years and he was just texting to check on me. I wrote back that I was "very very sick" and he called. I figured he could possibly call someone from church or anyone to take me back. And I contemplated calling an ambulance, but I wasn't dying - just felt like it. But he graciously offered to come pick me up and was there in minutes.
Back to the ER! I was still getting sick every few minutes - which is particularly horrible if you have nothing left in your stomach! I was violently ill. They did not make me wait in the waiting room and put me back in the first room they had open, but they did not realize I was supposed to see the specific doctor. They started me all over asking my meds, etc, etc. And I was really too sick to even tell them. I just kept saying the other doctors name over and over. I think they thought I was just trying to be difficult and that a lot of patients come in asking for a certain doctor. But he eventually was told where I was and help came quickly after that. Another IV started (#2) and phernergan (sp?) and it was nap time for Maroo!
I got on the floor and they started the antibiotics by IV. Long story short, I had a bad first night. The nursing staff on the particular floor was not great and being alone in the hospital did not help me any because I could not really do things for myself. It was a long 36 hours. During that time I blew another IV site and got another one started (which was done by a nurse that was not real sure what she was doing). (That was IV #3.)
Word finally spread (through my church buddies) that I was in the hospital and they started coming to visit and the floor that I was on "closed" for census and I was moved to a different unit - which was WONDERFUL. Great nurses and great care! And visitors!! Lots of visitors!
The GI doctor came by and said that he wanted to go ahead and do the colonoscopy because since I was sick now, he felt like he could possibly see what is going on. This was my second colonoscopy (the last one was years ago when I was having similar symptoms). I had not really eaten in two days, so the prep was supposed to be better, too.
But...oh, was that wrong. The bad part of the prep is drinking the stuff. I have had to drink a small amount for my last colonoscopy (I think it was 6 cups). And it was nasty, but at least it was not a terrible amount. Although at the time I thought it was pretty terrible and did not really enjoy it either!
This, however...was FOUR LITERS. Ok...for you guys keeping track at home - that is TWO two liter coke bottles or 17 cups of this junk. It did not really taste bad, just salty. But the consistency reminded me of oil or something. Oh my gosh...it was nasty! From the first gulp, I was in for it. My nurse is so sweet and at first only brought me two cups of it which were cold and said to drink those and she would bring me two more...so the whole time I had no idea how many I was supposed to be drinking total...If I had known, I think I would have just stopped and refused the whole thing. Good grief!!!
But I made it through the night thanks to my friends Zofran and Phrenergan (anti-nausea medicines). And my friend stayed with me that night, too, so she was there for me, too. I only got sick once and the prep basically went ok. I never did finish all of it...I think I had 4 cups left to go when it was time for me to be NPO (which was 8 AM the following day).
They took me for my test, which was a breeze. The only problem was that IV #3 was not good enough to give the happy juice so a very competent nurse started another one (it was in the bend of my arm, though) IV#4. It flushed fine, but when the doctor came in to give me the happy juice, it also blew - so he started IV #5! Good grief! Like a pin cushion. I also felt bad for the nurse because evidently she is new to the unit and the doctor was not happy.
The results were that I have infectious colitis. It is strange for it to recur, so it could be a result of IBS and I have medicine that I am supposed to try and will just take antibiotics the next time I have the symptoms - which is good because they have ruled out the really bad stuff (Chrons, etc) and it should be simple to treat.
I am still in the hospital. I think I could have gone home yesterday, but they wanted to observe me for the night and evidently the doctor has not made his rounds yet to discharge me. So, here I sit. Not many visitors today because most everyone knows I am going home, so I had time to catch up on the DIS.
So...there you have it! Hopefully a clean bill of health for the big trip! I also got to rest my feet this whole time, which may have done wonders for the plantar fascitis that I have been dealing with. I am more worried about that for our trip than this GI stuff - I think it will be ok!
Thank you so very much for all of your prayers, comments, and sweet thoughts this whole time. You guys are an amazing group of people and I am so glad to call you friends!
At least this part of your trip sounds like it went a bit better. (Bedding issues not withstanding).
Nope, nothing made up yet. Although, it sounds rather fantastical doesn't it!!??
he he
Bless your heart for posting from your hospital bed (and blessings for many other things about you too
But she lived till her late 80's and was basically healthy in body !!!Now her mind was a different story Dementia 
You are a great mom for cleaning this up!
