Hospital Stay

One of the reasons I blog is to document things that happen in my life. I want to remember the time I spent at the Mayo hospital in December 2024.

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First, I have been home for more than two months and am feeling good. Thanks.

On December 10, 2024 I started having pains in my abdomen. Let's back up a little bit....

When I was 14 I was diagnosed with a rare intestine disease called Peutz Jegher. I have polyps, or growths in my intestinal tract. This is painful and even dangerous and so I have spent a lot of time in the hospital. I have had 5 major surgeries, 8 colonoscopies and 14 endoscopies along with many other tests and procedures.

Here is what my intestines looked like during the capsule endoscopy I had in 2005, you can see the polyps.

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My last surgery was in 2009- 16 years. Amazing. The polyps are not growing and causing pain (thank goodness) now it is complications from the scar tissue from all the procedures that is now sending me to the hospital.

In March of 2022 I went to the Emergency Room (ER) with terrible pain in my abdomen. At that time I didn't know what the pain was, it was different than the pain caused by the polyps even though it was in a in my abdomen. I had my friend take me to the hospital and it was a terrible experience. I waited 4 hours before being admitted. All that time, I was throwing up, crying and sitting on the chair, rocking myself, sitting on the floor, laying on the floor, curling up in a ball because I couldn't not find a position without pain.

As hard as it was for me, I think it was really hard for my friend to see me in that much pain and not be able to help. After 4 hours they FINALLY took me back and gave me pain killers. I had a couple of pain free hours. Then they put a NG (Nasal Gastric) tube in my nose and then I had that pain for 4 more days. It was a time that is full of painful memories. One good thing is that they decided that it was a small bowel obstruction caused from scar tissue.

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Ok now we get to December 2024. I went to work on that Tuesday. After lunch I was talking with my co-workers and told them I wasn't feeling well. I asked someone to cover for me and told them I hoped I would see them the next day. I didn't. I went home and called a friend. She came over and the pain kept getting worse. I knew FOR CERTAIN I would not go back to the hospital system I went to in 2022.

Instead I went to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. It is a world class hospital and only 15 minutes more to drive. It was one of the best decisions I have made.

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Remember how I told you it took me 4 hours before they took me back at the ER in 2022. At Mayo it took them 1 minute! Yes, it was incredible. I was triaged, given pain relief, had a CAT SCAN, diagnosed and given a room in 4 hours.

Here I am with my sweet friend Kristen that took me to the ER! Before the NG tube.

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My care at Mayo was exceptional. In addition to the quick and efficient service, the doctor asked me what I thought was wrong. I told him I thought it was a small bowel obstruction. He said, "You know your body best. Let's do a CAT SCAN and see what we can find." When he had the results he came back and let me know that I was correct and that I would need to get an NG tube. I grimaced and almost cried. He was so nice and explained that if we did surgery again we would cause more scar tissue and that the NG might be able to fix the problem. I was so grateful for the kind explanation and I think that whoever put it in did better. I had it for four days like the time before and it didn't hurt as bad.

These are screen shots from Marco Polo videos I sent to my friends and family during the time in the hospital. I didn't feel like taking pictures of myself. You can even see @jarvie.

The NG tube was very uncomfortable and it did it's job and I averted surgery. The nurses were so kind. I did a lot of reading and talking to friends and working on my truffle business when I wasn't sleeping. I did go on walks too. It is a very nice hospital.

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Here is me with the NG out. It was so great.

When the NG tube was out. I started eating. Tomato soup, jello and orange juice one day and eggs, applesauce and orange juice the next. It might not look like much, they were SO GOOD! I hadn't eaten for days! The people that took my food orders were so kind too.

I spent 5 days in the hospital Dec. 10-14th. I got out on Saturday and the next day (Sunday) I was at church. Friends that knew I had been in the hospital were surprised to see me at church. I felt good. The Mayo Clinic was so healing. Instead of having to recover when I came home I was able to heal in the hospital. What a concept.

Here is a picture of the hospital as I was leaving. I am so glad that I was able to go to such a great hospital and get excellent care. I am also so grateful for my friends and family that visited and sent messages and prayed for me. It was hard and painful and also a special time to me that I want to remember.

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