My Trip to ER & Hospital Stay
Well...
I was in extreme pain Wed.- A sharp pain right in the center of my stomach- I left work by noon- went home tried heating pad ect. and called the bariatris dept. at PNC- Lucky me, Barb called me back and as I figured told me to head to the ER to get it checked out.
Now to back track just a bit- the night before I had Chicken stir fry and I think I did not chew a piece well because I ended up getting a tummy ach- but it went away in about an hour- returning on and off all night and getting worse Wed. morning.
After getting some pain meds and an IV started in ER- they sent me for a CT Scan- but being allergic to iodine made it a bit harder for them- but they detected a partial blockage in my lower bowels. They could not for sure determine why- could have been the piece of chicken but who knows- They admitted me to the hospital and put me on liquids only and scheduled a scope to check on my tummy for Thursday- That came back just fine so the excruciating pain was from the blockage. They finally released me on Friday.... I also had an allergic reaction to the Morphine so I was doing Benadryl to aid the itching so I was kind of out it a lot and really tired so I feel like I didn't ask enough questions that are now coming to mind- like why did my tummy hurt so bad and not lower where my intestines are- and why is my tummy still so tender even to the touch...... I think I am going to do some web research but if anyone else has experienced this and has advice or anything- I sure welcome it!!!!!!!!!!!
My only restriction they gave me at discharge was to not eat greasy foods ( been 8 months not gonna anyway!) and to not try raw veggies for awhile because they are hard to digest.
I was in extreme pain Wed.- A sharp pain right in the center of my stomach- I left work by noon- went home tried heating pad ect. and called the bariatris dept. at PNC- Lucky me, Barb called me back and as I figured told me to head to the ER to get it checked out.
Now to back track just a bit- the night before I had Chicken stir fry and I think I did not chew a piece well because I ended up getting a tummy ach- but it went away in about an hour- returning on and off all night and getting worse Wed. morning.
After getting some pain meds and an IV started in ER- they sent me for a CT Scan- but being allergic to iodine made it a bit harder for them- but they detected a partial blockage in my lower bowels. They could not for sure determine why- could have been the piece of chicken but who knows- They admitted me to the hospital and put me on liquids only and scheduled a scope to check on my tummy for Thursday- That came back just fine so the excruciating pain was from the blockage. They finally released me on Friday.... I also had an allergic reaction to the Morphine so I was doing Benadryl to aid the itching so I was kind of out it a lot and really tired so I feel like I didn't ask enough questions that are now coming to mind- like why did my tummy hurt so bad and not lower where my intestines are- and why is my tummy still so tender even to the touch...... I think I am going to do some web research but if anyone else has experienced this and has advice or anything- I sure welcome it!!!!!!!!!!!
My only restriction they gave me at discharge was to not eat greasy foods ( been 8 months not gonna anyway!) and to not try raw veggies for awhile because they are hard to digest.
5'2" - High Weight=224 / Current=145 / My Goal= 130
Believe in Miracles...
WOW! Poor you! SO they never did anything for the blockage?!?! Sorry you had such pain~ hope it's smooth sailing here on out
~Sandie~ 
-147!!WLS:12-12-06:Preop 268,Ht.5'4",BMI 44.9
Click on link to see my journey!!!
http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=2bfaca5561a1d558fceb
87&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
"Do unto others as you'd have done to you"~ The Golden Rule to Live by!
You are what you EAT and WHO you hang out with! Choices=Outcome~ what's YOUR choice??
I'm not perfect but I am going to die trying!!!
So glad you're on the mend--how scary that had to have been! I can relate to the morphine reaction--I'd been on that morphine pump for four days (post-PS), when I broke out in hives everywhere, and in groggy state had scratched skin raw in several places--also got Benedryl injected into the IV. Yikes, 
it's funnier now! All the best to you going forward! Positive thoughts and smooth sailing! Hugs, Patti
it's funnier now! All the best to you going forward! Positive thoughts and smooth sailing! Hugs, Patti Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.
Hi CheriLynn,
I'm so sorry to hear of your experience! To answer your questions, your tummy hurt in the center of your stomach not down lower where your intestines are because people often have what's called "referred pain" or pain in an area other than where the exact location of the condition really exists. I know they told you that there was a blockage in your lower intestines, but it sounds like possibly you had a small bowel obstruction (??) because these types of obstructions sometimes cause more discomfort. Your abdominal area still hurts because your intestines were working so hard to try to clear out the obstruction that the nerves and muscles are overworked - just like you exercised too much. You FOR SURE want to take it easy with the food you eat. I would think soft, fairly bland foods for a little while would be a good thing until things inside there get a chance to settle down.
It certainly could have been the chicken. I think there were times when this happened to me, only mine cleared on its own and I didn't need to be hospitalized. Even after 6 years! I STILL have a problem remembering to chew well! I usually remember when it's too late!
Be sure and keep track of your allergies! You should really consider wearing some kind of medic-alert bracelet or necklace especially because of your Iodine allergy. I don't know if you've had any problems with foods, but Iodine is in seafood and oftentimes when you go out to eat seafood is in dishes that you wouldn't normally consider having it in. So the bracelet/necklace would alert someone to that fact. Also, if you are ever in an emergency situation, sometimes morphine is given when you may not be totally aware of it being admistered.
Just FYI...........oh by the way.......can you tell I'm a nurse?? Best of luck to you, get well
Pam
I'm so sorry to hear of your experience! To answer your questions, your tummy hurt in the center of your stomach not down lower where your intestines are because people often have what's called "referred pain" or pain in an area other than where the exact location of the condition really exists. I know they told you that there was a blockage in your lower intestines, but it sounds like possibly you had a small bowel obstruction (??) because these types of obstructions sometimes cause more discomfort. Your abdominal area still hurts because your intestines were working so hard to try to clear out the obstruction that the nerves and muscles are overworked - just like you exercised too much. You FOR SURE want to take it easy with the food you eat. I would think soft, fairly bland foods for a little while would be a good thing until things inside there get a chance to settle down.
It certainly could have been the chicken. I think there were times when this happened to me, only mine cleared on its own and I didn't need to be hospitalized. Even after 6 years! I STILL have a problem remembering to chew well! I usually remember when it's too late!
Be sure and keep track of your allergies! You should really consider wearing some kind of medic-alert bracelet or necklace especially because of your Iodine allergy. I don't know if you've had any problems with foods, but Iodine is in seafood and oftentimes when you go out to eat seafood is in dishes that you wouldn't normally consider having it in. So the bracelet/necklace would alert someone to that fact. Also, if you are ever in an emergency situation, sometimes morphine is given when you may not be totally aware of it being admistered.
Just FYI...........oh by the way.......can you tell I'm a nurse?? Best of luck to you, get well
Pam
Cheri, I hope you're feeling better, and the blockage has cleared, allowing your hurting parts to heal up.
I've had two small bowel obstructions, so I know too well how MISERABLE that is. I think the difference between an obstruction and a blockage is that with an obstruction, NOTHING gets through. Not even teaspoons of water - at least that was MY experience. And that was cause for emergency surgery - TWICE. I think with a blockage, some liquids and such can still get around the offending bit that gets stuck along the route. If something helps dissolve the bit and/or relax the spazzing intestine, a blockage can clear itself. But yeah - the ache is something else!
Be good to you!
I've had two small bowel obstructions, so I know too well how MISERABLE that is. I think the difference between an obstruction and a blockage is that with an obstruction, NOTHING gets through. Not even teaspoons of water - at least that was MY experience. And that was cause for emergency surgery - TWICE. I think with a blockage, some liquids and such can still get around the offending bit that gets stuck along the route. If something helps dissolve the bit and/or relax the spazzing intestine, a blockage can clear itself. But yeah - the ache is something else!
Be good to you!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Most Active
Recent Topics
