I have been away for a few weeks. I have had quite an adventure lately. To keep it short, I have struggled with abdominal pain for the past few years, it would come and go but the episodes have got progressivly worse. About 10 days ago, I doubled over in pain and could not get up to my feet. I did not eat anything for 4 days and I realized I can not ride this one out.
Due to insurance, I had to see the local Doc first. He wanted to help, but at the small clinic all he could do was run bloodwork, and could not give me pain meds because of covering up a potential appendix burst. We went away and he calls me at 6 AM at my home and tells me to go NOW to the ER. No exceptions. The bloodwork indicated my white blood count was "off the charts".
The ER runs ultrasound and CT scans on upper and lower abdomen. They find I have bilateral pneumonia and a grangreneous gall bladder. Apparently the gall bladder was so inflamed the blood supply was compromised and necrosis set in. My weakened condition then allowed for the double pneumonia to set up in my lungs.
Surgery was preformed, but due to the extensive infection, I could not just do the laproscopic procedure. I had to undergo the full open surgery. I was on multiple IV antibiotics for 5 days, and I am now home with an oral to follow up.
Sorry to bore anyone with an "aches and pain" story. I just want to say DON'T IGNORE your body. especially as you get older. I am now 57. not 27, and I am trying to get out of the 27 year old mindset. I have stayed away from Doctors in past decades, but as I approach 60, I will go when necessary. The Docs did tell me much more gangrene and I could have died. The white blood count panicked them.
Due to insurance, I had to see the local Doc first. He wanted to help, but at the small clinic all he could do was run bloodwork, and could not give me pain meds because of covering up a potential appendix burst. We went away and he calls me at 6 AM at my home and tells me to go NOW to the ER. No exceptions. The bloodwork indicated my white blood count was "off the charts".
The ER runs ultrasound and CT scans on upper and lower abdomen. They find I have bilateral pneumonia and a grangreneous gall bladder. Apparently the gall bladder was so inflamed the blood supply was compromised and necrosis set in. My weakened condition then allowed for the double pneumonia to set up in my lungs.
Surgery was preformed, but due to the extensive infection, I could not just do the laproscopic procedure. I had to undergo the full open surgery. I was on multiple IV antibiotics for 5 days, and I am now home with an oral to follow up.
Sorry to bore anyone with an "aches and pain" story. I just want to say DON'T IGNORE your body. especially as you get older. I am now 57. not 27, and I am trying to get out of the 27 year old mindset. I have stayed away from Doctors in past decades, but as I approach 60, I will go when necessary. The Docs did tell me much more gangrene and I could have died. The white blood count panicked them.
