Post 10 – Recovery
One morning I woke up with a sharp pain in my abdomen. It had been almost two weeks since the surgery and recovery was going well. By lunch time the pain was intense. It felt as though I was being stabbed in the stomach with a sharp object. It was continuous to the point that I was unable to stand. Hunched over with my arms hugging my stomach, my anxiety was rising. What was happening?
You know how some people have an organ transplant (like a liver, pancreas or heart), and the organ rejects the body? Complications can arise if the blood or tissue type of the organ is not compatible with the recipient’s. Even if the transplant is a compatible match, the immune system may try to attack the new organ because it is a foreign tissue. Basically, the body rejects the organ. Well, in much the same way, I believe that my body was ‘rejecting’ the fact that a significant organ was missing from my body. It was displeased with me.
It’s as though my body was saying:
“Hey! I want my uterus back!”
“…if I don’t get my uterus back, I’m going to attack you!”
Irrational? Maybe. But in that moment the thought crossed my mind. The more likely case was internal bleeding! Whatever it was, I had to see a doctor.
Myles brought me to the hospital, set me up in a wheel chair, signed me in and left to pick up the kids from school. I hated to see him go, but no one else could pick up the kids on such short notice. I felt alone.
The pain was unbearable! Sitting in the waiting room, tears rolled down my cheeks. I wanted to scream! I couldn’t take it anymore! The agony! Something was seriously wrong!
The waiting made things worse! Why was it taking so long to be seen? The tears were ongoing. An older woman sitting across from me asked if I was alright. I shook my head from side to side to suggest that I wasn’t doing well. She walked into the hallway to advise a nurse. The nurse asked me a few questions and assured that I was to be seen shortly.
After twenty minutes, another nurse came to get me and rolled me into a room with a bed where I could lie down. Then I waited another hour until the doctor finally appeared!
Examining me, the doctor applied pressure to my abdomen. I let out a shrill cry! It was the most intense pain I had ever felt! Then, he did it again! I screamed as loud as the first time, if not louder. Furious, I gave him a piercing look as if to say: “What the f@*k? Did you not get the message the first time?”
“That REALLY hurts!”
He gave me some pain killers, took a few tests and asked me to “sit tight” until the results were back.
Within a few moments, Myles was back. I was so happy to see him! The kids were with his parents so he was able to stay with me.
By the time the doctor came back with his diagnosis, my abdominal pain had subsided. It was still present, but the intensity had decreased. The doctor relayed some good news. There was no internal bleeding and everything seemed to be healing as planned. Unfortunately, he couldn’t explain the pain.
“My best guess…it could be the settling of the surrounding organs, or the ‘awakening’ of the intestine.” he said with a chuckle.
“You were off solid foods for a while. The sudden introduction of solids could be causing distress to the intestine. I suggest you integrate them at a slower pace.”
Was he for real?
His diagnosis was…indigestion?
There was no way the pain I was having was indigestion! How could this man call himself a doctor? And, what kind of doctor starts his diagnosis with: “My best guess”?
Once I returned home I felt much better. By the evening my pain had disappeared completely. In the following days I changed my diet slightly, re-integrating the softer foods and within five days I was back on solid foods. The pain never returned. With much humility I had to accept the fact that the doctor may have been possibly…probably…likely…right. Yes – okay, he was definitely right.