Tuesday I woke up with severe pain on the right-hand side of my abdomen. It had not lessened by evening so off I went to the emergency room. After a couple lab tests and an ultrasound, appendicitis was declared.

My “loving” mother recounted all the family members who still had their appendix or who died with theirs still in tact. At which point I told her to shut up and mocked her whirlybird impression.

After my mother left for the night, and I was still in emergency trying to get some rest, a patient with paranoid schizophrenia came in, and had apparently stopped taking his medication without the advice of his doctor. I reflected on the fact that we were only separated by a curtain.

Wednesday night the offending organ was removed via laparoscopic surgery, which means I won’t have a huge scar once I am all healed. Thursday morning they send me home.

The CO2 used in this type of surgery left me with some inflammation, so I ended up returning to the hospital Thursday evening to get stronger meds. After 3 shots of Morphine (and repeating, I’m Captain Lavender) they sent me home with Percocet, and I should be okay from now on.

All day Thursday I was walking around and sitting down like the classic “woman in late-term pregnancy”. All day Friday my walk was better, but I keep having to run to the bathroom. I think my mother considers this beautiful revenge for what I inflicted upon her 25 years ago.

All things considered, it went very well. I’m just annoyed that the only thing I got to eat at the hospital was cream of wheat for breakfast (it was that or nothing, after already not being able to eat for over 24 hours).

Saturday, September 20th, 2008 · 7:23am