Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Update

Thank you all for your thoughts, comments, well wishes, prayers, etc.

After a few hours being home yesterday, I decided 'better safe than sorry' and took myself to ER. I spent about 8 hours at the hospital having various unpleasantries done to me including an abdominal CT scan to get a good look at my internal organs and pinpoint the cause of my pain. For those of you who don't know, a CT scan of this sort includes drinking a ridiculous amount of a foul tasting "contrast material" and being injected with iodine. Not fun.

Anyway, the results showed that I am NOT suffering from appendicitis. Instead, the pain is coming from an ovarian cyst. This is actually a much better scenario. I was dismissed with after-care instructions including a follow-up visit next week. I am very happy to know that this will NOT require a CT scan, but simply an utrasound. What happens next is still up in the air, but there is a much better chance of having this work itself out than if it had been my appendix. So YAY!

I came home with a prescription for percocet which did a lovely job of taking the pain away, but had the unfortunate side effect of making me feel like I was 'flying' all night. Apparently, flying takes a lot out of a person because this morning I feel like I was in a boxing match with a kangaroo and lost.

I'm staying home today and hope to be back at work tomorrow.

I need to decide what to do about the race this weekend. I can tell you one thing, when I was waiting for the test results and thinking over the scenario of needing surgery and what recovery would mean, I realized (once again) how blessed we are every day that we are actually ABLE to get up in the morning and run, bike, and/or swim. It's so easy to take that for granted.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.

20 comments:

  1. Yay, that's great news! Recover well and fast!!

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  2. Yikes, heal fast!

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  3. Lisa, sorry I missed your post yesterday but am glad you found out it was "only" a cyst. They are very painful. I've had one rupture so know how very unlovely that feels! Once they rupture, however, the pain usually subsides very quickly, if that's any consolation. Its just the buildup that makes you feel like you are dying! Hopefully this resolves before the weekend so you can make a decision on what to do. And I know how it goes to get your hopes up on a race only to have the rug pulled out from under you. As you say, you realize how blessed you are to be able to do anything at all, so that is most important of course. Hope you feel better soon!

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  4. Hi Lisa, Well I didn't want to suggest that yesterday but that is EXACTLY what happened to me 4 years ago. Agonising pain, suspect appendicitis was actually ovarian cyst. Mine still ended in surgery though so I'm glad your prognosis is better :o)
    Take care and rest easy! Kx

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  5. (((HUGS)))) Lisa! I'm sorry I missed your post the other day also. I'm glad that it was a "better" (for lack of better words. No pun intended LOL) diagnosis. Rest up! Here's to a quick recovery!

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  6. Ouch, but glad that it is something that can be dealt with without surgery. Take care of yourself and if there are any doubts at all about being ready for the race, scrap it. There are plenty of other races and you want to be able to run those...right?

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  7. Glad to hear there's a clear diagnosis. And I agree about how much we take our training for granted. I wouldn't trade my current situation for being able to train, but I really miss cycling a lot!

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  8. Add me to the list that had one. They are very painful! I hope you get rested up and feel back to normal soon!

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  9. Blessed we are. Most definitely. I am glad to hear it is better than you hoped. Rest and recover!

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  10. OK, call me the queen of the horror story, but I had an ovarian cyst rupture and the next month I was pregnant with twins! I just know those two things are related.

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  11. Lisa-OMG-I just read your posts..Those darn cysts can feel like apprendicitis for sure..be well-take care of yourself and take as many drugs as you can get away with..

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  12. Take Care of you...I have had one of those and they are not fun. VERY painful!

    Take Care

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  13. I am so glas that you found out what was going on. Hope you feel better for the weekend.

    We are so lucky to be able to do the things we do.

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  14. Oh, I am so glad you do not need surgery.

    And yes, we are on for chips'n'salsa.

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  15. Take care of yourself, heal fast!

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  16. I'm glad you're OK! I hope you can race this weekend - but if not...there's always another one!

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  17. So glad it's not too serious :)

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  18. Glad to hear the news was better than the possibility of the appendicitis. Recover well and enjoy the flying while you can:)Watch out for the kangaroos though.

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  19. Oh my...I am so sorry I haven't kept up with your blog so I didn't know you were feeling ill. What did the Dr. say about competing in a tri? Would it make it any worse or cause it to rupture? I guess it IS better than your appendix bursting if it's a "choice" scenario...but even having to rely on Drs at all is not a pleasant scene or one we athletes like to admit we even want to visit!

    Hang in there-think of the big picture!

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  20. Ha! Yes, "flying" might take it out of a guy.

    And yes, every day without pain is such a gift!! I recently had my first bout of knee pain of the season and came to the same conclusion: do NOT take good health for granted.

    Last, glad to hear things are on the upswing. Oh, one more thing - yes, the tri can wait, dearie!

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