From January 1, 2019

Early in 2018, let’s say March-ish, I started having what I would repeatedly refer to as “stomach issues.” Not acid, not heartburn, not pain, just an ongoing ache in my stomach that made me less hungry. So, as a perennial fat guy, not all bad!

I’ve had a surprisingly healthy life, almost never needing a doctor. Of course, being a guy, this means that I am invincible, which means I don’t have a primary doctor because I’m a stupid middle-aged guy in denial. So, Summer rolled around and not much had changed, but I went to the urgent care in June to see what I could find out. Nothing...is what I found out. I referred to a bump below my ribs to the physicians-assistant, who told me it was just a fat-something, I can’t remember, but nothing to worry about. My wife made an appointment with a new primary physician for me. Next appointment available, four months later in October. A month or two later the doctor’s office called saying that he was on vacation that week and I’d have to reschedule. Being a stupidly invincible middle-aged guy with a strong sense of denial, I didn’t call back.

Not much had changed with my stomach “issue” over the months, so I took a day off work in mid-December to go to urgent care to see if I could find anything out. They did a blood test, which quickly showed that I was anemic and my hemoglobin was dangerously low. They told me they could no longer care for me, I had to go to the emergency room. My wife drove me to an ER, which led to me being checked into the hospital, which led to a bunch of tests and x-rays and CT scans. Three or four days later I was sent home with some antibiotics and iron pills, but I still felt fine. A couple nights later that all changed. 

I couldn’t hold anything down...medicine, food, or water, so back to the ER I went, and was promptly checked in again. 3-4 more days of tests and x-rays and CT scans. Surgery was mentioned as a possibility early on, but all the while, I was convinced that the antibiotics were causing my innards to become inflamed. Then one afternoon they saw that my intestines were completely obstructed, nothing was passing through, and they believed surgery was my only option. When I asked when, the doctor said, “today.” 

It was a lot to wrap my brain around, and I asked to speak to the other doctors who had been coming to see me before making my decision. I mostly wanted to speak to one particular gastrointestinal doctor, who was very patient and particularly good at explaining what was important in ways that were understandable. Plus, was it just a coincidence that I was having no serious problems until two days after I started taking those antibiotics??? Apparently it was, and my favorite doctor soothed my fears (more or less) and convinced me surgery was the best way to go. 

Crap. 

Don't be dumb. 

Don't be like me. 

Don't wait to go to the doctor.

Next up: PART 2: MY SURGERY