I hope I am not beating a dead horse in sharing this. I have edited it about 20 times on Facebook and it refuses to show up correctly, and I know not everyone is on FB, so I will share one last time here on my own blog. My view for five days:
Advance warning. Contents of this note may be TMI. If you are squeamish or don't care to read about my adventures in hospitalization in the past week feel free to close this window now.
I really hope this doesn't come off weird that I am posting a full report to the world, but my life really is an open book. I've kept people updated along the way, but things moved so fast in the past week that I know I missed talking to people and I don't want anyone to feel awkward talking to me because they heard one thing from me and something else through the grapevine you know??
It all started last Tuesday April 3rd. Starting at about 3 in the morning I had terrible, knock me off my feet upper abdominal pain. I passed it off as gas and fell asleep a few hours later. The pain was still there by 9, but quickly progressed so that by 11 I could barely sit. Josh brought me to the ER in Bandon. They helped me with the pain and did an ultra sound and saw that I had gallstones. My first experience with them. I knew I was just about 6 weeks pregnant and had told the Drs. The ultrasound tech asked me if I wanted to take a peek. (I hope this doesn't get her in trouble because most likely those few words helped save my life.). After a few swipes on top, a call to the dr, and a more thorough US, it was determined that there was nothing in my uterus. After more tests were sent up to coos bay, I was sent home.
Wednesday was a trip to Coos Bay for more tests and a long sonogram. The next day my OB called and he said that the egg had been blocked in the Fallopian tube and fertilized and was growing there. :( The measurements showed that it was small enough to respond to the less invasive injection treatment over surgery. Thursday afternoon was spent in the CB hospital outpatient injections department. It was hours of waiting and tests for about 5 minutes and two shots. It was after this that I posted my I<3 Nurses post. Everyone at the Bandon Hospital had been so wonderful on Tuesday, and then with the injections on Thursday to remove "the blockage" (which we all know what that meant) I was pretty delicate. Susie in the outpatient injections department was so kind and helpful through the whole process, I just couldn't believe it. She knew exactly what the shots she was giving me would do, and said all the right things to both myself and Josh as comfort. I was blown away at what an amazing human she was.
Friday was back to normal life really. Tired, but very little pain. Stiff and awkward, but moving. Sue took me down to Harbortown where I set up my lights and backdrop for the Bash for Cash fundraiser Saturday night. We left around 2 and I thought I might come back to test my lights after I got a delivery from FedEx. Around 3 I was doubled over in pain, gas, bloated, light headed, and went to lay down in my room. Hours passed in what felt like minutes, later in the evening I got up and forced myself to the living room to at least be around Luke and Josh. The only real pain was my gallbladder convulsing every few minutes. I chose to sleep in the recliner because the position was least uncomfortable. I chatted with a few friends online and slept from midnight to 4:00am. I woke up in excruciating pain, and moved back into bed. I had turned down Josh telling me to go to the hospital several times thinking it was just gas. When I couldn't stand up without passing out I knew it was time. I laid in bed and started making calls. I called Sue to come watch Luke, the OB office to have them alert the OB on call that I was coming, then yelled for Josh. I really didn't know it was the tubal, but I figured if it was I would need someone there who could help right away. I knew we had to go straight to Coos Bay as there are no OB services here in Bandon. I passed out on the floor, but Josh got me to the car. In hindsight, I probably should have called an ambulance, but that can take a while if they aren't in town, I think we made the right decision for that moment.
Thankfully the ER was empty, but I had to wait a few minutes before they brought me back to answer what questions I could. Once the Dr scanned my abdomen and saw all the blood it was fast and furious from then on. I remember them scanning my gall bladder and talking about the blood, I thought it might be the gallbladder bleeding, but it turned out that's where the blood from my tubal had traveled. I think I was in surgery within 20 minutes of walking in the doors. My Fallopian tube had ruptured. Dr Hamilton told me later that she had never seen so much blood in her career. She said they actually tilted me up on the table to help get it all out. (I know, gag huh?) 10 hours of blood infusions later, I was less gray by Saturday night.
I can't express my thanks enough to everyone this weekend has brought into my life, including my husbands awesome driving skills. :) I hope this isn't an over share, but it helps me to get it out. I've mostly been in shock and disbelief since last Tuesday. It really is hard to believe how fast it all went down. Again, sorry if this is TMI, but I'm all about information. Love and hugs to you all near and far.
