The Health Update

So I spent a few days in the hospital last week. This included some "minimally invasive" tests that left me feeling like I need to join a support group for violated women.

In the hospital, before I figured out how to disconnect and restart my own IV, I had to come up with good reasons to leave my bed. The best way to do this: say you want to go Chapel to pray. Even if you really just want to go outside and smoke. To maintain my honest integrity, I did make a trip to the chapel. Twice. On the first visit, I made an entry into this book where everyone asks you to pray for their family members that are likely going to die soon. People wrote back that they will, had and would continue to pray for these strangers. I wrote:

"I have been an Atheist for as long as I can remember. I find no logical reason to believe. Every rational thought leads me to the answer that the existence of God is ridiculous... something out there watching over us and determining our destiny. I would trade in every moment of my remaining life just to believe in God. Believers, please pray that your God might show himself to me so I can have the solace of knowing equality and rightness exist as it should somewhere, anywhere. If God would make himself known to me in a believable way, I would become his greatest advocate and devote myself to doing all I can to follow his way and help others do the same."

I went back to the Chapel the next day to see if anyone had logged their prayers for me. Not one comment. Not one person who said they would devote some of their sacred prayer to my salvation. I guess you have to be in the club for members to help you out.

For the actual, honest update on what the hospital people found: the endoscopy showed severe stomach inflammation, not unexpected for one experiencing nausea and vomiting as often as I do. There was also apparently a polyp somewhere in my lower gastro-system, likely now sitting on a slide somewhere in a pathologist's lab waiting to be explored. After four days of the madness, I told the hospital people I wanted to go home. I couldn't stand being there anymore. It was awful.

My regular gastroenterologist called me today at home (on a Sunday!!!) to tell me that the hospital had failed to conduct some key studies related to my gallbladder or something. I have more tests scheduled next week. Apparently, the hospital, which opened its doors for admission the day before I came in, was not completely on top of things and left out some key stuff that needs to be done to completely rule-out a major problem.

Cheese and Rice, I am so sick of doctors and hospitals. Which sucks, because I have to go to work tomorrow and deal with doctors and hospitals. Is this a case of life mimicking work or vice-versa...? I dunno. I'm loaded on pain meds. I'm in a lot of pain. I want an answer and a diagnosis and a plan to make everything better. I want to have the strength to write things here worthy of reading - I know my content has been disappointing lately. At least for me it has been, I miss funny Lex. I don't like being sick Lex.