Seashell checking on you.

Susie:
How thoughtful of you to inquire about me.

I am still in the hospital with a small bowel obstruction and GI bleed, day 7. After trying to decompress the intestines with an NG tube and intestinal rest, I underwent a relatively minor surgery on Sunday to release the offending adhesions. I am making steady (but slow) progress and am aiming for discharge to home on Sunday. The Addison's disease is slowing my progress.

I think this intestinal kink had been brewing for several weeks, as nausea/vomiting had become a daily occurrence. I kept thinking the nausea was related to my endocrine deficits . . . and so went for a corticosteroid IV bolus . . . which instigated the GI bleed. The day after the corticosteroid bolus, I was vomiting up stool (no joke) and headed to the emergency room.

This is not my first small bowel obstruction. But I will admit an obstructed intestine is miserable experience.

My little tea cup Maltese, Molly, has been allowed to visit me in the hospital. And my mother has been genuine in her support and presence. When the chips are down, family is precious.

I notice that I posted a response on an incorrect thread. Whoops. I have had a lot of potent medications, so I guess its understandable. I actually hallucinated the evening after surgery. That was very distressing to me. To hallucinate.

Thank You for thinking of me, Susie. I appreciate your genuine friendship. It means more to me than you can possible know.
Karen

Ha, ha, Abilene's post was intended for you. She got the names messed up. We all do have our moments.

I do hope that you are on the mend & will recover well. I know these obstructions are certainly nothing new for you to deal with. Having crohns in the small bowel, the obstructions are not fun to deal with. I always dread the NG tube. Have been there & done that a few times.

Aw, I am so glad that little Molly gets to visit. She is one of your best medicines. And having your mother there for support is wonderful. I am guessing your mother is caring for Molly while you are in the hospital.

I have hallucinated before from IV Morphine. Now that i think about it, it was when I had an obstruction. It handled the pain very well but made me loony.

Hopefully you will be well enough to go home Sunday. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Sending many healing thoughts & prayers your way.

Karen, you are in Prayers Sweetie.

Well, sorry for the mix up but the care is still there...prayers, too.

many healing thoughts from the turtle.

I am home. Home is where true healing begins. Reuniting with my little dog, Molly, brought me to true tears. Of happiness.

My small intestine is still somewhat "traumatized" - for lack of a better word. Its functionality waxes and wanes. Meaning that it is moving and propulsing digested food material along at the pace of a snail and then stops. And then begins again, albeit slowly.

This is not my first instance with paralytic ileus. I have encountered it before. Although I was stronger physically than I am now.

I have endured much and am making the conscientious decision to foregoing any further invasive medical procedures or advanced care. I
can keep down small portions of thickened and clear liquids. It will have to do.

My medical team is accepting and supportive of my decisions for care and comfort measures only.

There can come a time when further medical interventions can leave someone in a worse place, with further reduction in quality of life. As a health car professional myself, I have been witness to medical care that caused more harm and personal suffering than benefit. I do not want this for myself.

I likely will not be posting to this forum any more. Thank You for letting me be a part of this group. It is a group of merit and commaraderie. Be well.
Karen

Glad to hear that you are home now and doing better, at least for the time being! Even though I tend not post much myself these days (it's been a very rough summer for me, too), I still do stop by and read with some regularity, and I know that I and a great many others here will miss you and your sage advice/wisdom if you do choose to leave the forum. However, I think we all understand. Focusing on maintaining your own health is always most important!! Wishing you (and Molly) all the best & a continued and speedy recovery!

Skeye