We arrived at Flagstaff Medical Center around noon (I think. Things start to get fuzzy for me around this time.) I was checked in to the emergency room, and asked a ton of questions. The bottom line of the problem for me was that I could not have a bowel movement and I was in a lot of pain. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t button my pants, and was just plain miserable.
The admissions staff in the emergency room drew blood and took all my vital signs, then took me back to a cubicle. I was examined by a RN, and then by a gastroenterologist. They gave me a Gastrografin enema and sent me for X-rays and a CT Scan. Some time around 3:00 p.m. they decided to admit me to the hospital.
At this point, I am not really sure of the order of things, or of what really happened because I was on morphine for pain and was out of it a lot of the time. I think the gastroenterologist and the surgeon decided to wait because I had a severe infection in my intestinal tract. I was put on continuous IV cipro and flagyl to fight the infection, and we waited. I was given a Gastrografin enema every day. At some point, I had an NG tube inserted in my nose. While getting that tube put in was an awful experience, it did relieve some of the pressure in my abdomen. I do remember one time that they used a syringe to fill my stomach with Gastrografin through the NG tube, and filled the other end with an enema, so that they could do another CT Scan.
After the NG tube was inserted, I was not able to talk, so I requested a pencil and paper so I would be able to communicate. I thought I was making perfect sense, but Fabgrandpa and the nurses had a hard time deciphering what I was trying to say. We waited 13 days for the infection to improve and for the obstruction to clear itself. On May 23, they decided to operate.
Susan says
June 17, 2012 at 1:23 pmOh my Karen……..I had no idea this was the ordeal you had to endure. I only remember one post you made saying the doctors thought it was colitis……..this is mind blowing that you had to go thru this.
Flagyl I know is often used to treat a parasite infection, which I had, and is no fun at all.
You truly are a miracle woman to be doing as well as you are doing.
Fabgrandpa must have been beside himself.
Cheryl says
June 17, 2012 at 2:05 pmI can’t even imagine how Fabgrandpa was feeling! Especially since he had to work this whole time!
Carol says
June 17, 2012 at 5:01 pmSo glad you are on the mend! What an ordeal.