Complications...

I've had a few setbacks since surgery.

After surgery I had a ton of pain on my right side. I initially thought it was totally normal but even with pain medication it wasn't getting any better. I made a call to my doctor on Wednesday and the nurse told me to continue taking the pain meds and if I developed a fever or the pain intensified to call in the morning. I went about my day popping pain meds like candy and trying to feel as best as I could. I should mention that I hate medicine. I don't take tylenol for ANYTHING. I just as soon deal with the pain or the sickness and let it run it's course, so the fact that I have been relying on the medication so heavily is a pretty good indication of my pain level.

Thursday morning I woke up feeling like I was literally going to die. I felt horrible. I could not get out of bed and when I finally did my legs hurt so bad I crumbled under my own weight and was left crawling back up the stairs to my bedroom. It was not pretty. I placed another call to the doctor who urged me to come in immediately. When I arrived I was moving so slowly as every muscle in my body hurt, I literally felt like my life was going in slow motion. I had a fever of 101.2 and cold sweats that had my top drenched. After a quick check she decided I had developed an infection and needed to be treated. My blood was drawn and then I was immediately given a shot of anitibiotic in my hip and given a prescription for two more antibiotics to continue taking at home. I was told to call first thing in the morning to let them know how I was feeling. Afterward I went home, crawled in bed and slept the rest of the day only waking to check my temperature and take my medicine.

This morning at around 8am my fever finally broke, however, the pain continued. I made my follwup call and they had already scheduled me to go to the hospital for a CT Scan and more blood tests. I got to the hospital around 11am, they drew my blood and then sent me in for my scan. They got my iv going so they could give me contrast with the scan. I was lying on my back in the CT machine and they began the contrast injection. All of a sudden my whole body was warm and my mouth was filled with the nastiest, metallic taste ever. I laid there in discomfort for awhile when all of a sudden I had the most overwhelming feeling to sit up. I asked if I could sit up and breathe for a second and they ran over to me, unhooked my IV contrast and handed me a blue baggie. I must say my next thought was that I just needed some air and I was not going to puke...my very next thought was...barf. 7 times. It was lovely. We then finished the scan, I went and ate some lunch and went home to lay down and feel sick some more. BUT, when I got home the doctor called and said there was something concerning on the CT Scan and that I need to go back to the hospital for a sonogram! Blah!

So at around 1:30 I went back to the hospital for yet another test. My sweet, wonderful doctor actually came over to the hospital while I was having my sonogram done so she could see first hand what we were looking at.

So here is what I know:

It appears to be some sort of abscess or hematoma.

I had 3 options:
1. Be admitted this evening or tomorrow morning for surgery to have it drained.
2. Be admitted this evening or tomorrow morning for pain management and to see if it will go away on it's own.
3. The conservative method of continuing to take the antibiotics, dealing with the pain with a stronger pain medication, and returning on Monday for more labs and hopefully we won't have to do surgery.

Because my white cell count was back to normal she felt like I could go the conservative route and aside from suffering through the pain the next few days I might be able to avoid the surgery. My first thought was to just get it done and over with this evening. The pain sucks. It's awful. I wouldn't wish it on anyone and truthfully I can't be a mom while I'm stuck in bed in horrible pain or doped up on medication. There were a lot of family conflicts though and somehow it just seemed better to wait it out until Monday in hopes that I can avoid the surgery all together.

Jeremiah is up in Kansas City for the night and into tomorrow as he teaches a class at ITT Tech in the morning. My dad was visiting this week to help me out with the children but he has returned to Kansas City this evening as well. The good thing is that they took the three boys with them leaving just the girls here at my house. Truth is even though I won't be much of a mother this evening or tomorrow the girls should be ok with me until Jeremiah returns early tomorrow evening.

So, that's my crazy life. I can't ever do anything simple...didn't you know??