STOMACH ULCERS.........et al.........

Well, I have been predicting its arrival for this past year.......and IT SHOWED UP!

I knew it that morning (1/20), when I was walking around Michael's looking for supplies...it sort of felt like that movie ALIENS....something blew out the front and the back. I came home, threw up a few times.....but, still packed up my ebay sales, went to the post office......waited in a long line...

Almost threw up all over my favorite post office worker....not sure how I drove home, but made it....just in time for another session of you know what....
and all night long........every hour on the hour...I could not even keep water down!

Did I go to the hospital, then? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I felt I was too sick to go to the hospital......LOL!!!

After tossing my cookies, so to speak for a day and a half relentlessly....I finally let myself be persuaded to go to the emergency ward (1/21)....what can I say, I WAS WEAK AND DELIRIOUS!!! I hate doctors, I hate hospitals even more.

I went and just in the nick of time! My potassium had reached dangerously low levels, to the point I was admitted for possible cardiac arrest. I agreed to stay till 7am the following morning, only because MY EX HUSBAND,refused to drive me home. Yes, he actually took me to the hospital.......can you believe it?

They ultrasounded me, EKGeed me, CatScanned me...and decided I also had an enlarged pancreas....wishful thinking. I kept telling them I THOUGHT I HAD AN ULCER...but, they were not listening.

Your pancreas does get enlarged after that much vomiting......I mean it is pretty tough on the digestive system......

Later that morning the gastroenterologist, persuaded me to do an endoscopy....I agreed since, he felt I had a possible ulcer per his review and basically bagged the pancreatis diagnosis of the rest of the medical dweebs.

It seems I have a stomach ulcer the size of a silver dollar, which is larger than average. Is that a surprise considering what my life has been for the past 7 years divorcing the ex.......trying to get the house under control, find a full time JOB, be fully self supporting, and deal with dating in the milenium........HELLO....

I am not surprised. UFO boyfriend, said it is my lifestyle....yes, he still is trying to get back in my good graces....but, just between you all and I...he is part and parcel of a big chunk of the acid that tore into my gut and I told him so! Along with the EX.......who has never been so nice to me, even when we were honeymooning!!! LOL! So what does this all say, MEAN?

1. Ex's can redeem themselves......perhaps???? Honestly, the jury is still out on this one....

2. UFO boyfriends...will always be that...UFO's.

3. The lifestyle changes that need to be made in my life, are knowing when to hold em and when to fold em and walk away, from difficult and disruptive people, influences, projects....because, they can KILL you.

4. I feel a new affinity towards JELLO.

5. I have no idea how I am going to be able to stay on a bland diet....NO SPICES...I am the CHILI POWDER QUEEN!

6. NO ALCOHOL til the ulcer heals....none, no wine, no beer, no martinis...

7. I need to learn to take on less stress from my environment.....

8. I think morning and evening meditation is in order........

9. I am sick of chicken consomme.

10. I think when I stopped knitting, the stomach acid took over....I need to knit more to keep my sanity and the stomach acid at bay!!!!!

Oh and the really biggie, not listed above, is I NEED TO REALLY QUIT SMOKING....not cut down.......so it is the PATCH for me, FEBRUARY 1st. NO EXCUSES.....smoking contributes to ulcers.

I need to go back to bed and rest. I am sore from this bout with death and that endoscopy destroyed my throat, my mouth....and bruised my face...not sure why that happened.

Wishing you a great evening.......

Smiles to you,
DC