Update on Squeaks' (Squeakses? Squeaker's?) status

As many of you already somehow found that (Thanks Geoffrey) I ruptured my appendix at the beginning of the year. Now, for most people, they would have been patched up and minus and appendix by now.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not most people. I have what my doctors(notice the "s") like to call Complicated Appendicitis. It really just means that I messed up. How is this my fault? Because I didn't go to the Doctors to get it checked out when I should have. I had appendicitis early December, and never thought once to get checked out. Even after my appendix finally had enough of it all, and ruptured, it still took me five days to get to the hospital. In that time the infection spread back into my ovaries, and I went into sepsis. My body was shutting down on me. I was very lucky I didn't wait longer then I did. By the time I got into the ER I was so fevered and dehydrated I was quite agreeable when they told me I ruptured my appendix and would need surgery down the road.

Now, for the slightly more detailed part. Weak stomachs need not apply. Now, the easiest way to remove an infection like that is to insert what they call a JP Drain into the infected area. It's pretty much a tube with a plastic bulb at the end. The bulb is squeezed shut to create suction, which causes the infection to be drain.  I've had four of these so far, all in the same spot. Having one of them isn't fun. For the first week of getting one I could barely sit up I was in so much pain. The procedure to get one in or replace one is painful too. You're awake the whole time. I still have one in my stomach, I'll link a picture at the end.

ANYWAYS - Sometime this week I have to get my 4th(5th?) Cat Scan. This is pretty much for the Doctor's to check on my progress. If everything's going really well, they'll be able to take the JP Drain out. If not - I"ll have to keep it til my surgery(where, if you had missed it, they'll remove my appendix.) This is going to be on March 30th. Which pretty much means I won't be doing any traveling until some point in April. Supposedly the surgery should be pretty smooth and recovery won't take long, but with how the rest of this has been, I'm not too hopeful.

Pretty much the point of this rant is, if you feel really sick, please don't wait around. I was in the hospital for stays three times in January. I have to go back to see my doctors constantly, and they call me all the time. I have a nurse that comes to my house to make sure I'm ok. I almost died. I've been on antibiotics and pretty much under house arrest. It isn't fun. Especially when WoW servers are down.(I hate Tuesday mornings) Just take care of yourself.(Saying this amuses me, because like a month before I ruptured my appendix I started trying to be healthier, eating better, less soda, stopped smoking...) But seriously, take care of your body, you only have one. You never know when you might not get to say goodbye.

These are pics of the drain in my abdomen. I don't think they're especially gross or graphic, but look with caution, I guess. I'm sure someone would find it gross.
i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt67/Josalingoboom/pic3.jpg
i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt67/Josalingoboom/pic4.jpg

Hopefully, I'll see you all in April, or May!
xoxo,
Michaela

First... awesome pictures.    Second... feel better and get better soon.  Third... I've heard horror stories of folks who wave away pain, sickness, and other stuff just cause they think they don't wanna be cry-babies or aren't coming down with anything serious.  Those folks (if lucky) get to live to regret it.    Appendicitis ain't fun.

When your body issues you a pain notice, it is telling you something.  I ignored my tender abdomen overnight, figuring it was nothing (1979).  Fortunately, my physician lived next door, about 1000 feet away.  When I could not walk over in the morning, I knew there was a problem.

The anesthesiologist said if I had waited another 6 hours, I might have seen him under different circumstances.  He was the county coroner.

You are one lucky woman, Squeaks.  Also - I second what Paul said - neat photos. 

and with a third, motion carried "cool photos"

glad to hear ut not dead... we all miss u @ KR. hope u get well quicker than expected so u can get back to us..

Upside.. you can only get apendiscitis once so u never have to worry about it again.. unless ur a freak who regrows organs.. MUTANT!

anyways.. ur lucky u didnt die!

yes if u feel sick and OCT medicine isnt cutting the mustard.. GO TO THE DR!

be well... er be ... get better!

damn tuesday sever shutdowns...

Actually, you can get Appendicitis twice, which is why they take it out....


And trust me, I realize I'm lucky.

I miss my squeaks, so does Olivia. I hope we get to see you soon.