I started the day pretty normally, no unusual pain or discomfort other than being pregnant and being about 18 weeks. Later in the afternoon I had some pain in my stomach, upper stomach to be exact. I thought it was just growing pains because of the baby and just blew it off. As the afternoon progressed so did the pain and it became quite worrisome, so much so that a trip to the ER was looking more and more apparent. For those of you who have ever visited the ER you know that when you are under a certain week of pregnancy you will be in ER anyway and for our hospital I think its under 20 weeks they automatically will see you in ER if anything is going on with you that may be about baby after 20 weeks it's straight to Baby department.
I was taken back pretty quick to a room in the ER because of where I was hurting, they were probably scared of miscarriage but didn't want to upset me. The nurse came in and asked me some questions and then the doctor came in pretty quick which for my hospital that is weird. There is usually one doctor and it seems like it takes him or her forever to make rounds. I am talking a matter of five minutes after nurse left he was in there. I was also close to their desk too. As you look back on things you notice all the things that you didn't then. My room was right in front of their station and they kept my door open most of the time even though I had someone with me.
After mashing on my stomach and asking more questions he said I need to call in a specialist it will be about an hour or so but be patient your top of our list of importance. That struck me odd and I actually asked what does that mean. His response was I think your appendix is about to rupture and I need a second opinion therefor you are top of our list we will be in here to check on you shortly. This time they didn't shut the door completely but did close it part way.
Talk about shock!! I am pregnant how can my appendix rupture? That means surgery! That is serious! I can't have surgery! I can't lose this baby! Correction I won't lose this baby!
About an hour to an hour and half a white hair older man appeared with the ER doctor, he felt around on my stomach pressing where I told him it hurt, asked me the same questions the ER doctor asked. His response was you need surgery your appendix is about to rupture and we need to catch it before it does. I said I am pregnant I can't have surgery I could lose the baby. He responded back but if you don't you will lose the baby but you will also lose your life as well. He preceded to tell me about a procedure where they basically in English not in doctor language blow up your stomach with air and laparoscopically remove the appendix. Less time to heal and less abrasive on baby.
I was admitted at 10 pm and less than 12 hours was in surgery. That night after being admitted was given morphine I did have an allergic reaction. They had to find other alternatives for pain meds. To be honest I do not remember exactly what they gave me but I do know one of them was Demerol.
The next morning I was a nervous wreck knowing I was going in pregnant and could be walking out not. I kept praying please God you got me this far please be with me and our baby as I go through this. They strapped me down so I wouldn't move and put warm blankets on each of them. I remember the whole team being so nice to me. The anesthesiologist put the mask on, telling me it was oxygen and to just breath and count backwards. I did and was out.
I woke up only for a few minutes where it was immediately noticed because a nurse was in my room. I found out there was a nurse stationed to your cubicle type room until you woke up. She said your baby is fine and so are you I smiled and said thank you and fell back to sleep where I don't remember when exactly I woke up I just remember thinking how tired I was. It was like I hadn't slept in days and now I could.
I was sent home with pain meds and instructions to take it easy. I had three scars exactly where they told me I would have them. It was a less abrasive surgery and considering I was released I believe the next day after surgery I believe it. They kept me an extra day due to being pregnant.
