To the hospital...

So I had to go to the hospital. I was having horrendous stomach pain and nausea, throwing up (sometimes blood!), fever, and I couldn't eat (in the end it was a whole week I didn't eat). So we decided it was time to go to the hospital. I went for 2 days, came home for 2, then went back for 5! It is, needless to say, so nice to be home now and feeling better and knowing how to manage what I've got. The hospital was great, it it the newest one in Santiago and was very much like being in America. The rooms were nice and big and as soon as I walked in I felt calm and that I was in the right place. So what have I got??
Well, I had every test done known to man, or else it feels like it. Including endoscopy, colonoscopy, tomography, heart tests, poo tests, urinalysis, and ENDLESS blood tests! What they found was a bacteria called h.pylori which causes ulcers...of which I have 3 large and 2 small. My stomach is inflamed, along with my intestines, and my liver function tests are a bit out of line, probably from not eating for so long. The photo above is my doctor, Dr. Rodriguez who has been amazing. She checked on me so often and would call just to see how I was feeling. This picture was after the endoscopy and to be honest, I actually don't remember it thanks to all the meds I got.

The nurses were so nice, apart from the middle of the night visits when all the lights got turned on for their checks (I didn't like that part so much). They have to wear white uniforms and hats, which I'm thankful I never had to do! The patients aren't given robes or anything to wear, you're on your own for clothing...so I spent my first night in khakis until Ariel rescued me!

I hate needles. I can start IV's all the live-long day, but HATE being stuck. Well, I got paid back for every needle I've ever given in one visit! I apparently have bad veins, which meant lots of sticks to find a vein and then after a day changing the IV site. The bottom left photo is when my arm actually filled with all the IV fluid instead of the vein, which promted yet another IV site (you can really noticie on my left arm at the top for comparison). I was, and still am, black and blue from all the sticks! Finally I got taped to a little kid IV board, which was the best thing and allowed a 2-day IV site, thankfully.

I had lots of company! Ariel's family came by and Robin stayed with me a few days for English influence and to watch movies and talk celebrity gossip. Ariel was a trooper, he was so worried and running around getting me this and that. The only thing I wanted to eat (no, not Dominican food) after I was allowed to eat again was KFC mashed potatoes, which he ran out and got me...3 times! He put up with all my crying and the waiting and driving back and forth between Santiago and Puerto Plata (1 hour at least) to go to work in the daytime. We celebrated our 4th month of marriage during this "trip" and we've already seen the vow "in sickness and in health" put to the test, which he passed with flying colors.

So I'm home now and so grateful for that. I'm on lots of meds and lots of appointments ahead to make sure everything is going okay. Thanks for all the prayers and emails and love you've been sending. It was a hard and frustrating time, but I'm thankful to have been through it and be on the other side now.