Back in the Saddle

I just typed a LONG story about my recent medical emergency and decided it was a little too graphic and personal and long winded to share on this blog. I'll put it in my journal instead. Here's the Reader's Digest condensed version: (I'd be glad to give you more details if you're interested:))

I started feeling pain in my lower abdomen on Thursday morning, September 25th. It felt familiar, similar to the pain I had five years earlier with an ovarian cyst. I went to urgent care at the Student Health Center, where they made sure it wasn't appendicitis. The pain intensified quickly, and I threw up several times as it got worse. They gave me a shot of pain medication and sent me to a clinic for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a large ovarian cyst, 10 cm across. The Health Center then referred me to the Emergency Room, since the pain medication they had given me wasn't strong enough (I was still in a lot of pain). At the ER, the ObGyn on call said I would have to have surgery since the cyst had grown so large that hormones wouldn't shrink it. They gave me plenty of pain meds before sending me home. :) I got an appointment with an ObGyn (Dr. Thorpe) on Saturday morning, and he said he could perform surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday. Unfortunately, the pain returned and worsened Saturday afternoon, and we went back to the ER. Dr. Thorpe happened to be on call that night, so he decided to perform surgery right away. The last thing I remember was the anesthesiologist giving me a syringe of "happy juice" through my IV to calm me down (I was really nervous for surgery, and so glad Trevor made it to the hospital before they started). Trevor told me some funny stories about what I don't remember doing or saying. I started feeling better right away, and I can honestly say I feel 100% right now.

Tender Mercies (how I know the Lord was watching over us): I had substituted in my old choir classroom on Wednesday the 24th, and I had lots of pumped milk left over, so I didn't have to worry at all about feeding Cassie when we dropped her off to be babysat. Also, two of Trevor's brothers and their wives live in our ward, and they were so good about watching Cassie with a moments notice. AND, when the milk ran out on Saturday night, Cassie took formula without blinking an eye. What a blessing. Also, we just happened upon Dr. Thorpe, since my previous doctor retired after delivering Cassie. I really like Dr. Thorpe, so that's definitely a blessing. My mom was an angel and dropped everything to come stay with me when Trevor had to go to class. We also received two delicious meals from people in the ward. We really are blessed, huh?