Missing in Action

Well, its been a while, but trust me, there is a GOOD reason why I was missing.

It all started three weeks ago. I suddenly started getting these ridiculous pain attacks in my abdomen area. I went to the hospital on a thursday evening, they sent me home with pain killers. Friday morning, I got the attacks again. Went back to said hospital, they sent me home, again after a dose of morphine. Saturday morning, I had the worse attack yet...I couldn't even make it out of my room. Went back to the emergency room and they decided to keep me. Thank goodness. Turns out, I had a diseased gall bladder. First off, let me be honest and say I didn't fully understand what the gall bladder did at that time, except I wanted it OUT if it was causing me this much pain. So, for the next two days, I was on a NO FOOD DIET. Just kill me now. That is how bad it was. I could not eat anything other than ice chips. It was ridiculous. And its also important to know that a few years ago I started having panick attacks. So, not eating, and being stuck with needles for days on end, was not the ideal situation.

Finally, the Monday, they performed an endoscopy, just to rule out any other issues. One more day of not eating anything (there is a silver lining, I promise)...finally, I had my gall bladder removed via laprascopic surgery. It took a total of 25 min. and I have 4 tiny holes to prove that something was, indeed, done. I was FINALLY allowed to eat a pureed diet after the surgery. Oh joy! But hey, chicken noodle can taste like filet mignon after an experience like that. Anyways, my mom flew up from St. Croix and she was the first person I saw when I opened my eyes on Wednesday morning! I'm convinced she was the reason I recovered quickly. I was released that evening...and spent the following week under a lovely cocktail of painkillers and antibiotics. Worked like a charm.

Came back to work exactly a week ago and I have to say, being out of work for long periods of time is often more catastrophic that the REASON you had to be absent from work, but not this time. My coworkers were so understanding and they covered all of my projects, so that I won't have to play catch up upon my return. I love them. I really do. And, the silver lining is that I lost 8lbs...and considering the fact that the gall bladder was the part of the body that produced bile to process fatty foods...well, its safe to say I won't be eating much fatty foods anymore, and I intend to lose more weight :-)

I also thought about those persons who are unemployed with no health insurance and those who are employed with no paid sick leave or health insurance. I have to say I was comforted that I had paid sick leave and health insurance so that was not an extra worry on my mind. I am forever grateful for that. I couldn't fathom how I would pay for all of this (the hospital stay, procedure, prescriptions) if I did not have insurance...food for thought.

Toodles!