Hworld Continued...

So it started with a visit to my wonderful OB/GYN Dr G. He knows me from working on the same unit. I went for a simple ovarian cyst and that is where my journey began. He treated me like you would normally treat this, but it didn't work. I went back and he said "you know, you look a little puny Amy, would you let me run some labs?" So of course knowing him for the amazing doctor he is I knew it was probably a good plan. He then proceeded to gork me to the gills and promptly sent me home to bed with orders to rest.

The next morning I am awakened by first a ring, then a text..... "Amy, it's H..... I need you to call me please, it is important" Uh oh, not something you want to hear. So I call Dr G back and he didn't even let me say hello this is Amy. He said "Amy, go to the ER now, you are really sick. Your liver is a mess and you are in clinical hepatitis. They are expecting you, I'll check on you later.

Well, my liver was a mess and still is a mess almost 2 years later. I have had multiple procedures and a pretty major surgery. I have met some fabulous doctors and some not so fabulous doctors. I have an autoimmune disorder called Lupus. I have severe biliary ductal fibrosis which causes the bile in my body to back up and form stones which can be excruciating. I have had to learn that sometimes a little pain is par for the course, but a lot of pain equals a stone and that is more time in the hospital as a patient instead of a nurse.

Today I had my third pain block. I have no pending procedures for the first time in almost a year. I know my doctors personally now. I am friends with them on Facebook and have even had invitations to dinner with their families. The staff on the GI floor know me well. I am a nurse in the same hospitals, but they also know me as a patient. They have seen me at my worst and they have seen me at my best. The people around me who know me know when I am in pain, and they know when to ask if I am okay. There are days when I am in so much pain I can't even begin to describe it. There are days when I feel just fine thank you very much.