Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Forum: dukebballfan - Viewing Profile - Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Forum

I haven't visited the forum in quite some time and feel rather selfish for doing so now, but I just have to get my feelings out somewhere as to what has been going on with me in the last month. And to also ask for your thoughts and prayers for the next few weeks.

On the evening of August 28th, my husband took me to the ER because I had been unable to eat and was having abdominal pains for about a week. After a CT scan they determined that I had a blockage in my intestines and admitted me to the hospital around midnight. The next morning a surgeon came to talk to me and told me that from the scan, the blockage could be 1 of 3 things: 1) crohns disease (which was unlikely), 2)a carcinoid tumor or 3) lymphoma, because there was a lymph node right at the blockage that was also inflamed. She informed me that I needed to have surgery that day to remove that part of my small intestines (and have a pathologist study it) and she was also going to take out them out in entirety to make sure she could feel nothing that could be other tumors.

I got through the surgery as well as possible, fast forward two days later and I was given the best news possible (out of the three options) on my birthday, that I did not have any type of cancer, but I did have Crohns disease. So kind of a bittersweet day. After being educated on the symptoms, things started to fall into place and make a lot of sense. I just wish it would have been caught and maybe I would have not had to have what my new GI doctor calls "the ultimate treatment."

Anyway, I stayed in the hospital for eight days, came home, my appetite was almost entirely back (which may not necessarily be a good thing, LOL) even managed to work last week for 12 hours. Was happy with my progress and bam! Intense abdominal pain Saturday night and I woke up Sunday morning with a lot of discharge from my incision. Back to the ER and I had an infection. Horrible procedure done while I was awake and dealing with a wound vac and it not working and having to have my wound unpacked and packed each day. I am getting ready to go home in a little while and home health services will have to visit me each day.

Out of all I have had to deal with in the past few weeks, here is my problem: I am so terrified of the unpacking and packing (and I usually have a very high tolerance for pain) I am having panic attacks. I didn't sleep last night, I sobbed, shook and it's all I can think about. The next time I have to have it done is 24 hours from now and I am already sitting here shaking, obsessing about it. It is freaking me out. I need the strength to get through the next few weeks.

We have had probably the worst year of our lives this year. We have almost lost our home, lost 2 pets and now this. Not being able to work is devastating for our family. Saying I am a nervous wreck is putting it mildly. Any prayers and well wishes you can throw my way would be appreciated.

Crystal