Sunday, March 16, 2008

ER escapade

I'm home now, after spending four and a half hours in the local emergency room. My 11 year old, Donny, was experiencing bad abdominal pain in addition to plentiful throwing up and diarrhea (which I'm sure he's thrilled I'm sharing with the blog-world). Normally, I would just think he had a stomach bug and leave it at that, but the abdominal pain was worrying me, and he really seemed to be hurting. It doesn't take much to get me worried, so off we went to the ER.

I'm no stranger to ER visits, having scored dozens of sojourns myself as a child and adult, as well as multiple stays with my own children. This was our first time in this hospital though, since we moved here eight months ago. Most ER's are very busy and you can expect to spend a few hours depending on what's going on. I was prepared with my purse bag full of books, sudoku puzzle books, an iPod, my phone charger, etc. I wished I'd grabbed a bite to eat as well, but since I had just woken up, I pretty much threw clothes on and went.

Anyway, while in the waiting room, poor Donny had to make several visits to the bathroom for more of the above-mentioned bodily expulsions. It took a long time just to get called back to the ER. Once there though, they put him on an IV and some anti-nausea meds, took a pee sample and blood. We then sat in the room for four hours doing nothing.

However, there were some entertaining highlights I will share. Once Donny started feeling better, we turned on the TV and discovered a hilarious show called Women of Ninja Warrior, a Japanese show with English subtitles. It consisted of female Japanese atheletes who had trained for this obstacle course that had areas called the log jam, balance bridge, flying pillar, and my favorite, the hop rocket. The obstacle course was super challenging, and we laughed non-stop while constestant after contestant ended up falling into the muddy water below. The commentary was hilarious as well, due to the Japanese host trying his best to be witty and to keep talking no matter what.

At one point, we heard some loud arguing from the hallway outside our room. A female nurse yelled loudly, "It wasn't my fault!" and a huge commotion seemed to be underway. We never found out the full story, but we were pretty sure it wasn't Donny's nurse. Mostly sure. yikes.

We continued to watch TV, catching the end of Wayne's World 2 and The Incredibles (one of my favorite movies!). A very interesting commercial popped up for Kinoki foot pads, which you have to check out. Wild. I'm not sure I buy it...

Finally, after four and half hours, Donny was discharged with a diagnosis of "possible appendicitis" or "stomach bug." His white blood cell count wasn't raised, he had no fever and the pain was mostly gone, so they didn't do a CT scan. However, if he develops a fever or the pain gets worse, we'll have to go back. I'm really hoping it isn't his appendix, because his dad had a really weird appendix that wasn't in the right place, requiring big surgery and crisis. I'm hoping Donny's is in the right place (lower right side).

Just FYI, the appendix has been thought to have no function but new research suggests it might have purpose after all as a safe haven for good bacteria to hang out until you need it. Interesting.

What a way to begin Spring Break!

19 comments:

CJ said...

Oh good grief! Four and a half hours for basically nothing. That's an ER for you. I hope your son is fine and trouble free from now on.

And that Kinoki thing looks interesting to say the least.

cjh

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I hope that Donny is feeling better and that you don't have to make a return visit.

I looked at those foot pads. First of all...gross. Second...it does not explain how or why the pads draw out the toxins - maybe they leach out on their own...

Rhea said...

Thanks, CJ and Kat, for your well wishes for Donny. He's doing ok so far.

The Kinoki thing is suspicious. There was some comparision of humans to trees in the commercial...we leach stuff out from feet (like trees roots) or something like that. weird. I agree, kind of gross!! lol

Norma Shineynickels said...

Hey! Thanks for the comment on my blog. I popped over here to check out your blog only to find that you also enjoy Ninja Warrior, which is totally one of my all time favorite shows. There's another version with men called Ninja Warrior, and it's even crazier.

The pic in my header was one I took in the Smokies a few years ago when we were on vacation. I'll pop back by to say Hi now and then... :)

Rhea said...

Hi, Norma! Today was the first time I had ever seen or even heard of that Ninja Warrior show, and I really liked it! I will definitely be adding it to my recording list. I can't wait to see the men's version.

Thanks for coming by!

CrystalChick said...

Hi Rhea, what a shame he had to go thru that... hopefully there won't be a return trip! All good thoughts for his feeling better!

I just blogged about a couple recent trips to the ER, the second time my grandson had to go back I dropped him and my daughter off as I was overwhelmed with Doctor stuff lately... and because it happened right before LOST came on... I was rushing home. It's still on the blog...has LOST made me a cold-hearted b*tch?... I think was the title. LOL
But if you've spent alot of time in hospitals.. you know how it gets.

Rhea said...

I'll have to check out your posts about the ER, Crystalchick. That's funny about LOST coming on and you dropping them off.

Anonymous said...

possible appendicitis or "stomach bug? Geeez, you'd think they'd be able to give you a straight answer. How annoying! I hope he's all better now and it was just a stomach bug.

I remember going to the ER twice with my son. Once when he was 2 and he fell at a bookstore and hit his head on the Thomas the Train table. He must have hit just right because blood was everywhere and he ended up needing stitches. That was scary. Another time, he had just turned 3, I think, and it was 2 days before Christmas and we were on vacation. He had a fever of 104!! That scared the crap out of us, too, so we rushed off to the ER and waited forever just so they could give us motrin. Grrrrr.

I've found a really good urgent care not far from my house and now we go to them for everything because they double as a family practice. It's great...not appointment, you can usually get in fast, and they can do everything from fixing up a sprained ankle to pap exams and blood tests! Perfect for us! :-)

tearese said...

We went to the ER for the first time in January, when my eight month old had a fever and cold and wouldn't nurse for a week! The doctor actually sent us over there, as I am generally of the opinion that we can get better on our own. She thought they'd put him on fluids and a fever reducer. They sent us home (after several hours) and said he was fine. Even though I didn't want to be there, I was more annoyed at the ER doctors than at our regular doctor.

tearese said...

oh, ps I've seen a commercial for those foot pads before too. Its kind of hard to believe, yet also hard to explain any other way, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

I think people just have dirty feet and that's what causes the gunk on the pad. ;-)

Rhea said...

Kim, that must have been scary when your son hit his head on the Thomas the train table. yikes. We have an emergency care center down the street from us now, and I would go there over our local hospital ER any day...it's a great place! However, it wasn't open Sunday morning, unfortuneately. I'm with you though, emergency centers rock.

Rhea said...

Tearese, I don't blame you for being annoyed with the ER doctors after being there for several hours and being sent home. sheesh. It's scary when babies get sick...the first time my son threw up as a baby, I totally freaked out. Then you become used to it...

Rhea said...

Kim, foot gunk...ewww...lol

All Things BD said...

Yikes, not a great start to spring break.

Love Japanese game shows, btw. The hosts are as amusing as the crazy things they have to do. Hubby showed me one where they created a wall of foam cubes, and left a cut out portion shaped like a human body in a weird position. The wall came at the contestants and they had to somehow get their body into that shape and go through the hole. It was hilarious.

Now I'm going to have to go find the video again and put it on my blog. Thanks for more blog fodder!

Rhea said...

Thanks for coming by, All Things BD. I just love your blog. You crack me up!

The Japanese game show you mentioned sounds hilarious! Definitely good blog fodder! I can't wait to see it!

Alison B. Osborne said...

Poor Donny...diarrhea and a mom who blogs about it! :) Glad that he is feeling better.

Love to see how active you are with your blog! It inspires me to do more.

Rhea said...

Hey, Alison!

I know, I'm a horrible mom for blogging about Donny's dirrhea! He would be very unhappy with me if he knew.

You should definitely blog more. You've got awesome blogger potential ready to burst out of ya!

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