This journal entry happened March 11th, which was a while ago. So don't be freaked out or anything. I just wanted to let you guys catch up to date one what's been happening. Okay? Okay!

 

March 11th, 2007

 

Well, I didn't have a choice. I had to go to the hospital. I tried not to go! I tried so hard to convince my family that I didn't need to go. I tried to convince myself that I didn't need to go. It was just a cyst. It was just internal bleeding. It was just level 8 pain. I could deal with it. Right? I mean, what would the hospital do? Put me on morphine and watch my vitals?

Then today came along. The pain dropped from level 8 to level 5, but it wouldn't go away. My insides still felt like they were bleeding, and I could not even make it to the cafeteria for food. My common sense finally caught up with my stubbornness, and with the help of my Mom screaming at me over the phone, I called the Medic and asked to be driven to the ER.

I got there at 1:30 pm, signed in, and sat down. And after we had figured out that giving me certain medicines would kill me thanks to allergies, I was ready to sit in the waiting room for half and hour, gripping my stomach and hoping the pain would leave. Then my name was called---and proficiently garbled---and I was led to the Emergency Room #3. Although I was still hurting, I made a good show of acting strong, and by the time I was dressed in my hospital gown and sitting on the hospital bed, I felt like I could go home and I'd be fine. But I was still hurting, and pretending like I wasn't.

About an hour later, the doctor came in. He apologized for being late, and asked all the embarrassing questions that doctors seem to have a knack of doing. He was talking so fast my brain felt like a trainwreck was coming, and I tried not to get annoyed. Turns out, he was the only one on call, and someone else was having some serious problems. My little cyst pain would have to wait until the more serious stuff was dealt with. But I was fine with that. I understood that. Heck, even if I came first, someone who might be having a heart attack takes priority over me and my pain, and if any doctor thought otherwise, they deserve to be slapped.

By the time the doctor stopped speed-talking, he suggested I accept some pain medication before they did all their tests to see how serious my burst cyst was. I had three choices. I could take some medicine by swallowing pills, I could get a shot, or I could get an IV. I definitely didn't want an IV, and since the medicine taken by mouth causes problems for me, I decided to take a shot. Satisfied, the doctor left and said a Nurse would be with me soon.

"Soon" turned out to be about an hour or so later. She came in cheerfully, and informed me I'd be getting a shot in my "toosh" area. Suddenly, I felt a ton more freaked out about the whole shot situation. Trying to convince the Nurse that I was fine didn't work, cause all she did was touch me gently and I cried out. Next thing I know, I'm lying on my side, gripping the hand of the Medic who had driven me to the ER (another student here at college), and trying to be calm as the large needle was inserted into my hip. (Okay, not ACTUALLY my toosh, just my hip) What happened next was rather blurry.

The medicine was a step-up from morphine, apparently, so it worked better. I began to discover that my pain was going away....and that I was feeling much heavier than usual. My eyes closed, and when I opened them, another hour had passed. And my stomach was growling. I hadn't eaten. But I was determined not to let that bother me, and tried to put on a good face for the doctors and nurses as they ran their tests.

When I was ready to go, it was 7:30 pm, and the Medic was smiling at me with a kind yet amused smile. She informed me that I had said "thank you" to everyone who came in, and was trying to talk to people about school. I don't remember. But finally, I was allowed to leave. I had to stop for food on the way, cause the cafeteria was closed at 8:00, and I was so dizzy from the pain medicine that I could hardly think.

Now it is past 10:00, and I am still dizzy and hurting. But I know that I'm doing okay, and that my cyst is gone and the fluid and blood is getting reabsorbed into my body fine. I'll have to take some SERIOUS pain medication that will make me dizzy, so my homework might not be so good for a while. But at least I don't have to deal with the pain.

And now....before I collapse in my bed, I want to say that I am very bummed. Why? Cause in all the hospital craziness, I missed the free John Reuben concert at the Coffee House. And I wanted so badly to go. Oh well. Opportunity missed.

Have a great day people.

God bless you all. But I am losing control of the ability to think. Good night!

 

.....end update from March 11th.

 

As for an update on what's going on TODAY......

 

I just had a ballet rehersal! My ballet class here at college is putting on a recital called Dance Fest. And we perform tomorrow. Man I am so tired! You guys do NOT want to know how wet my back is right now. haha! Okay nevermind. Anyway, finals are around the bend! So keep me in prayer!

 

God bless ya!

 

Rika out.