Year of 2007:
March
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Sun., March 18:
I was in the Emergency Room all day today, thanks to excruciating pain in the abdominal area. The pain started Friday night, and it was constant for about five hours before it lessened around 10 p.m., just in time for me to get some sleep before I woke up five hours later from more pain. Let me tell you, the pain was very similar to child birth contractions. I was in THAT MUCH pain. Before Andrew fell asleep, he told me he prayed to God to make Mommy feel better soon so I would stop crying. How sweet he is!
Yesterday, the pain wasn't constant and it wasn't nearly as bad as the prior night. But it lasted all day and all night. Of course, I was very worried about the possibility of cancer recurrence. That's why I decided to check into the ER this morning when the pain was still present.
The ER staff took good care of me. I was admitted into my own room within minutes, despite a waiting room full of other sick or hurt people. At least four nurses each tried twice (that's eight different pin pricks, plus one more from a nurse who tried three times -- one in my hand and one near my thumb) to hook me up to an IV for pain meds, fluid, and contrast dye for a CT scan but was unsuccessful. So I was given oral contrast to drink prior to the CT scan, which tasted like lemonade, and a shot of Dilaudid to subdue my pain, which definitely took away the pain in my abdomen and made me feel like I had a few too many Martinis to drink. Hahaha!
One of the nurses came into my room and asked me many questions about my colon cancer diagnosis out of her own personal curiosity, and I was happy to answer all of them. She was happy when she came back into my room with the doctor to discuss the results of my negative CT scan.
Turns out I am very constipated. I would have never guessed as I am always regular -- DAILY regular! I have NEVER been constipated in my life, and now I know how awful it can be. I should have probably been embarassed to be in the ER for constipation, but I was only relieved to learn that the pain was not cancer related and I think the doc and nurse were relieved for me as well.
I'll tell you that I am very frustrated to be the target of gastrointestinal problems (constipated today, cancer diagnosis/chemo in 2005-2006) because I take good care of myself! Everything the doctor told me to relieve or prevent constipation, I already do! Exercise on a regular basis. Drink plenty of water. Eat vegetables and fruits. Stay away from dairy and refined foods. I am just beside myself right now. I don't know what else to do to prevent any other type of tummy ailments! I am to rest for the time being and until the pain subsides enough for me to carry on normal activities.
So I am to take 17 grams of Glycolax powder stirred into 8 ounces of water until dissolved. No taste. No problem. This medication is supposed to allow the stools to retain liquid for easy passage, so to speak. Gross, I know, but as I said soon after my colon cancer diagnosis, there is no embarassment to discuss any type of natural bodily function.
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Fri., March 23:
It's been a week now since my abdominal pain started. The pain gradually subsided over the past few days, and I'm not feeling any pain at all today. I ran two miles today for the first time since last week. It felt great to be outside on this beautiful spring day. Reached over 80 degrees with a welcomed breeze throughout the day! But I think the high for tomorrow will only be 60. No worries. Warmer weather and even hot temperatures will be just around the corner.
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