Hospital Chronicles 1

Warning: May contain medical and disturbing material which may be to intense for little babies.

Who: Hans

When: January 21-24

Where: San Joaquin Hospital

What:

• Friday 1/16 I had stomach pains and diarrhea with blood (gross).
• Saturday 1/17 drank tea, ginger ale and read the bible at Starbucks. Still didn't feel well.
  
• On Sunday 1/18 and Monday 1/19, I went to NW Urgent Care (which ironically turned out to be neither urgent or caring :() They took tests, labs, and other unspeakables to analyze. They weren't much help to my condition.
• Tuesday 1/20 morning I went to a GI specialist (Gastrointestinal), Dr. Bhikha, who scheduled a colonoscopy for Wednesday morning. I was only to drink liquids and bland foods. That night I had to drink about a gallon of solution between 5pm and 7pm. I made it to 6:30 and threw it up. No liquids after 12am. The stomach pains and dia. continued.
• Wednesday 1/21 8am I went into the Truxun Surgury Center for my colonoscopy. I had a "midnight" anesthesia, means I stay awake during the procedure. It was only about 10-15 minutes, but wow. Painful and weird-- especailly when they have screen with the camera's view right in front of you. Afterwards, the doctor admitted me to San Joaquin Hospital with a clear liquid diet, antibotics, and a medicine called Asacol for patients with ulcerative colitis. Which is my diagnosis. Basically, I have ulcers in my colon. It's a painful inflammatory bowel disease that comes and goes, and is treatable.
• Got to the hosptial with some help from our friend Diane Lowry, was admitted, and drank liquids the rest of the day. Alina was with me through the entire thing and was a great support for me. Jill Lowe, Rob Ryerson and Kristen Lowry. I recieved some very encouraging "get well" cards from my students. I went to sleep with some great pain medicine:)
• Thursday 1/22 spent the day watching tv eating soft foods like pudding, soup, etc. Jared and Mary-Beth Dragoun visited us as well as Summer, Ashley and Ethan Goldsmith (with wonderful cards), Brenda Hall and Kristen Lowry (whose classrooms made very nice get well cards/posters), and Myla U.
• Friday 1/23, after eating some solids for breakfast, the Dr. let me go home! However, that night I threw up my anti-bodics, had a fever, and started the diarrhea with blood again.
  
• Saturday 1/24 After a painful and sleepless night, I threw up some more of my medicine and we went to the emergency room. I was readmitted to San Joaquin Hospital and have a new room on the 5th floor (room: 5211), a great view, and internet access. Kristen Lowry and Jill Lowe came to releave Alina from her post, while I had a nice chat with Jill.
  
• MORE TO COME