From the time I was little I’ve been warned against being a hypochondriac.  My Nana was one…and I had a tendency toward it.  In today’s world of the WWW that tendency can get nice and complicated with self-diagnosis via webmd and all of those wonderful sites.  I have to say that overall, though – I’m pretty good at avoiding my tendency toward it.

Then again, in order to AVOID being a hypochondriac I go the opposite way and NEVER go to see the doctor. 

Sunday afternoon I felt a burst of heartburn coming on. I don’t get it often, but a few times recently it’s reared its head.  So, I went to the bathroom, threw down a couple of Tums and sat back down to relax in front of the computer.

The Tums didn’t help – in fact the pain got worse.  And worse.  And even worse. I stood up to get Archie and didn’t make it two steps before I collapsed onto the couch.  It took four attempts for me to scream for Archie loud enough for him to hear and come inside.   The pain was excruciating and radiated through to my back. I was bawling and screaming…it was ugly and embarrassing.

After much debate I finally just told him to call the paramedics (the girls were napping, boy wasn’t home and we weren’t sure when he’d get back)…especially because I couldn’t get to the car under my own power. 

He called the paramedics and our neighbor came across the street to start checking my vitals (he is qualified – it’s not random)…and by the time he did that and the paramedics arrived the pain was mostly subsided and I just felt nauseous.

But I got loaded into the ambulance and taken to the ER.  My very adorable EMT-in-training did my IV…and I gave him an A+ because I hate having IV’s done…and I didn’t hardly feel it when he did it.

By the time I got the ER I was feeling really stupid because the pain really was pretty much all gone and I was only a little nauseous…and I was wondering if I’d just overreacted as always…

An EKG, bloodwork and ultrasound were done…and the ER doctor came in to say…

“You have a very ugly gall bladder.”

I was admitted and scheduled for surgery the next day!  The doctor’s and nurses kept wondering at how I’ve never had any pain from it (I really haven’t – Sunday was my first ever attack)…and how I was sitting around smiling and joking with all of the nurses and my family.  Apparently I was so filled with stones in the gall bladder and duct that I should have been in constant pain.  So I was impressing everyone without even trying…

Now I’m home without my gall bladder and with 4 holes in my belly. 

Well, at least I get to be waited on by my husband.  He’s so wonderful and attentive…I should get at least 3 more good lazy days out of this!