Everybody -
I need some major TLC.  I drove three hours into Boston last Sunday night
before my IBLCE exam and stayed at a hotel.  At 1:00 AM I woke up with a lot
of stomach pain.  I thought it was just gas from the milk and apple pie I had
before bed. By 5:30 I was in real pain and had only gotten an hour's sleep.
I drove to the nearest emergency room and told them it was just bad gas and I
had my boards at 8:00, so to fix me up and get me out of there.  It was just
awful - ng tube, IV, x-rays and then they tried to rush me up to surgery
telling me I had an involuted intestine.  I asked if they had spoken to my
husband ( a gastroenterologist) and they said they had and he approved the
surgery.  I had said I couldn't believe he would approve it without speaking
to ME, and that he would agree to have it done at "East Podunk" hospital
instead of the New England Medical Center where he did his fellowship.  It
turns out they never called him.  They also told me I wasn't pregnant - we've
been trying for a few months now.
To make a long story short they finally agreed to transfer me by ambulance to
my hospital back home (three hours away).  More tests, more IVs, major
laxatives to clean me out (it's like having cholera), and still no food or
sleep.  The next day more x-rays, a cat scan and a big discussion about
whether or not I should have a barium study.  They finally decided I had a
hyper active cecum and it had twisted my intestines.  They said I should see
a surgeon to see if I should have surgery to "stablilize it". The attach
could be a once in a life time event or just the first of many.
I missed my exam,  my stomach and my throat still hurt, and I may still be
facing surgery.  My period is four days late and now I'm afraid I might be
pregnant after all (I've had an iodine IV and numerous abdominal x-rays).  My
husband brought me home from the hospital and then basically disappeared for
the next 24 hours.  I was terrified alone in the house - afraid to eat
anything because it might bring on another attach.  I feel so abandoned by my
husband, so depressed about having to prepare for the exam all over again, so
worried about whether I'm pregnant or not.  I really need to hear from my
sisters on the Lactnet who can understand how upset I am about missing my
exam.
Thanks.
Cynthia