Awful Appendictis!

What happened to me?

Okay, so I haven't posted in a week.  I think it may have been more than a week, actually.  Sorry!  For anyone who actually keeps up with this blog, they know that I intend on keeping track of posting regularly and keeping my blog updated!  I haven't given up or anything, I just have been recently hospitalized.
Appendicitis.

Appendicitis?  You're not dead?

Appendicitis sounds very scary and dangerous, and it is. It's basically a small bit at the end of your intestine and it becomes inflamed to the point where it bursts.  Luckily, my appendix burst and then separated itself from the intestine to successfully keep me safe!  All the body goo and liquids can still harm my body (main concern at this point), but I'm dong "so well" with my medicine that no harm should be threatening right now.  The doctors told my family and me that surgery was believed to be the immediate reaction once the known cause was a ruptured (exploded, yay) appendix.  However, since this is the 21st century and medicine is continuing to evolve and scientists are continuing to learn, an appendicitis would be easier to treat with medicine.  The appendix and everything around it is inflamed, making surgery hard and possibly unsafe.

(Diagram should answer a few questions.  Any others can be left in the comments!! :)

What led up to that diagnosis?

I had been having a dull stomach pain for four days before going to a local clinic to ask what it could be because I was also constantly running a fever.  The doctor pushed around, found a spot that hurt the most, pushed REALLY hard on that spot, I winced, and I was sent to the hospital!  (Not without crying my eyes out because I heard "ruptured" and thought I was going to die.)  I got needles done, drank a gross pink drink, performed well in a CT scan, and was diagnosed with the dreaded appendicitis.  Next came doctor discussions, getting an IV, trying morphine for the first time, and then finally I was transferred (by ambulance) to a new hospital. The doctors at the new hospital made the final decision: no surgery!  I was given antibiotics for 3 days and then sent home because I was doing "extremely well."

Overall, I'm feeling great.  I'm still reading The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.  I'm working on a blog post for a new book "Review and Q" (I love how that rhymes).  Hope you enjoyed this short update on the most recent events on my life and hope you're doing better than me! :)

-h.f.