Pain is there for a reason

 

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary:

A localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that causes mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (such as injury or disease)

Wordsmyth.net:

Physical distress or discomfort that is usually caused by injury or illness and is the nervous system’s means of signaling to the brain that something is wrong.

Leslie:

Extreme discomfort around the area of the stoma where the G-tube was surgically inserted resulting in severe stabbing sensations and sleepless nights.

My Central Coast Palliative Care RN checked the MIC-KEY yesterday and instructed Jon to take me to French Hospital Emergency Room. My pain level was right around where the needle points on the image above. After making a phone call, the RN learned that the interventional radiologist who surgically inserted my G-tube on November 21 would be on call at French Hospital all day yesterday. We arrived at noon. It was determined a CT scan with contrast was needed. Because there’s only one CT machine at French Hospital, I had to wait my turn—as in 3.75 hours! My interventional radiologist saw nothing on the CT scan that would contribute to my severe discomfort. However, she noted the redness, swelling, and acute sensitivity around the stoma area may be indicative of cellulitis. I was sent home at 6:00 p.m. with an antibiotic prescription for seven days, 4X times daily. So grateful for our Rexall  pharmacist putting that prescription in suspension for me this morning so I can take it orally without issue—pills are increasingly a choking hazard.

We are quite tired today but very thankful to be in the comfort of our own home. We’d appreciate your prayers for complete healing around the stoma and minimal to no side effects from the strong antibiotic.