I have had my first real complication from my surgery. I had/have a partial bowel obstruction. I have to say, it is extremely painful and miserable.

Yesterday morning, I had part of a sandwich around 10:30 AM. A few minutes afterward, I started to feel very full of air in my abdomen. The feeling continued over the next half hour to became pain through out the front, center are of my abdomen ("stomach" would be incorrect, as the pain was not in the high area of my abdomen where my new little stomach resides), which would spike when I moved wrong, pressed on my abdomen, or compressed my abdomen (sitting in an office chair). I was also weak, shaking, and somewhat nauseated, though I believe that was a reaction to the pain, not illness.

Luckily, I was done with work at noon, so I rode out the feeling through the end of my workday. I, then, headed home, hitting Walmart on the way to buy some Gas-X in the hope that was the problem. No such luck, I decided an hour after swallowing the little capsule.

The thing about Frankensteinees is that they are at a greater risk for gallbladder issues early on and then bowel obstructions forever. I am a worrier, so I was very concerned, but I also worked in an emergency room for years and have seen people come in for the silliest things. I had visions of going to the ER only to find that it really was just gas.

I suffered until 5 PM, when my mom talked me into calling the after hours clinic to see if they could get me in. They did. I was at their office at 5:30.

Two hours later, I left, after two visits with the doc, four x rays, multiple tubes of blood drawn, and a partial bowel obstruction diagnosis. Because I was not vomiting and my pain had lessened somewhat, the doc gave me the option to go home for the time being and do not eat solid food, because the obstruction could resolve itself. I was given strict order to head to the ER immediately if the water I was allowed to drink made me vomit or if the pain increased again.

Normally, they wouldn't even suggest the water, because, if the obstruction were complete, it would put more material in an unmoving stomach. However, my urine sample showed I am somewhat dehydrated. If it didn't make me sick, it was important that I slowly take in some fluids.

So, I went home. I texted my Lead at work to let her know that, if I did head to the ER, I wouldn't be into work on Wednesday. I headed to bed at 8 PM, hoping sleep would give me some relief. It didn't come quickly.

I ended up with about six hours of sleep. Not enough for me normally and certainly not enough for me after such a physically stressful day, but we do what we can. I got up, got ready, and went to work.

I still didn't feel good this morning. I had some pain, though the severe stuff had let up. Mostly, I felt/feel very bruised in my abdomen from all of the pressure. I still had some spikes of pain, but nothing like yesterday. Mostly, I was exhausted and unfocused, which was exacerbated by the fact that I wasn't drinking any coffee or taking in any food.

I was afraid to eat or drink anything beyond water. The last time I ate, yesterday morning, it seem to bring on that pain. I didn't want that again! I laid off the coffee, because I figured adding an acidic stimulant to an irritated gastric system just seem foolish.

By 10 AM, I was starving. It was pushing 24 hours since my meal. Then, my coworker came in with her freshly heated pop tart. I broke and had a small spoonful of peanut butter. A half hour later, when I decided that was staying down just fine, I ran to the store and bought a cup of soup. That stayed down too!

So, my obstruction seems to have resolved itself, like the doc and I hoped. I'm cautiously hopeful this little adventure is over. Very cautiously.

Oh, since I just finished talking about bowel problems, I'm going to continue on the path of TMI. You are so welcome!

Thanks to the cleaning cloths from prior to the urine sample I gave, I am now starting my 2nd yeast infection ever. Woo-frickin'-hoo.

Okay, I waited 31 years for the first and then two more years for the 2nd, so I probably shouldn't complain, but...I am. I have bruised stomach pain, a headache from not eating for a day, and, now, some "downstairs" pain (and more). I have to say, this is not my favorite week.

On the bright side, thanks to surgery, diet, exercise, and not eating because of pain, I am now down a total of 121.5 lbs. :) I weight 195.6 lbs.