My crazy surgery experience

Sunday, December 6 started like just any other Sunday. Woke up late, since its the only day I get to really do that. Wasn't by any means feeling 100 percent, but I could totally say that I felt good enough for the day to move forward.
I got ready for church, and headed to the Hazel Dell building, looking forward to my last fast Sunday in Vancouver.
As I sat in the congregation, my mom looked at me and asked me if I was feeling well. I told her yeah, and she had the look of total concern on her face, looking me in the eye and saying "you look like your getting a fever." I didn't feel bad at all, just a little tired maybe, but not sick. I continued to listen to fast and testimony meeting, before I myself felt the urge to get up and bare my testimony.
As I did, i got very emotional. I poured out my heart and thanked those that meant something to me. I mentioned experiences I have had over the course of the last couple weeks. And in the end, I still did not feel sick in any way.
Once sacrament meeting was over, I headed home to make the final preparations for work, which started at 3:30 for me.
As I drove the 5 or so miles to work, I started to feel a little, just a LITTLE, queezy. Nothing really something that I was going to think to much into. I thought it would just pass over throughout the course of the evening, and continued my drive to work.
I swear, the second I stepped into my place of employment (Van Mall Retirement) it hit me. Like a freight train my stomach started to pound me from inside. I felt like a constant nagging to throw up. As I made my way the front desk, where I was to be planted for the next 8 hours, the feeling only got worse. I was up there for maybe 15 mintues before I had to ask my brother Andy, who also was working that night, to cover the desk for me while I went to the bathroom and tried to vomit. I, of course, kept this from Andy, since that would surely send me home. However, over the course of the hour, I made probably 3 more trips to the restroom, each time leaving without heaving anything up. Sorry for the description, but its necessary for the story!
After these happenings continued, I called my boss and told her my condition. She didnt sound to happy, and rightfully so, but told me she would come in in about an hour. I didn't think I would last that long. In fact, I knew I wouldnt. I had another fellow co-worker cover the desk, and I split.
On the drive home, the feeling in my stomach continued to build and the urge to vomit increased. Unfortunately, a key point so far in the story is, I HAD NOT EATEN FOR OVER 24 HOURS. There was nothing in my system.
I got home around 4:30, and the second I did, I threw my clothes off and headed straight to the bathroom, where I attempted to throw up some more. I was sure, based on my increasing symptom of nausea was becoming more and more prevalent. But, again, to no avail, I headed to bed with all inners staying intact. I was not to happy that my stomach was not cooperating. I went to bed and took a 45 minute or so nap.
When I woke up, I had an agonizing sharp pain in my lower abdomen. The pain was tolerable, but very very uncomfortable.
I again would attempt to release the stuff inside me, but to no success at all. I thought it would be a good idea to maybe "loosen stuff up" by eating something and maybe encouraging it to make its way up lol. I ate about 5 grapes, with a little sip of water, went back and planted myself in front of the toilet, with a blanket and pillow. Eventually, those grapes came up. But that was it.
As the night progressed, many dry heaves were the result of my efforts, along with increasing abdomen pain and more intensely centralized. I call my mom, recently awarded her RN, and asked her where the appendix was located. She told me and mentioned that that was something she never thought of. When she told me the lower right quadrant, and that's when it hit me. This was not a GI issue, this was my appendix. The sharp consistent pain was the give away. I had never experienced this kind of agony and really, dont ever want to again.
After about an hour of going back and forth whether or not to go to the hospital, I finally made the decision that I wanted to go. I was not going to put up with this pain any longer, even if it did mean surgery or just a bunch of pain medicine.
Being on Kaiser insurance (NEVER GET IT IT TOTALLY BLOWS), we had to go to a specific hospital of their choice, which luckily was SWWMC.
We got to the ER at 10:15, I remember looking at the clock to try and see how long this stupid process would take.
We sat in the waiting area for only about 20 minutes. Right when it was about to be my turn, a little baby girl came in bleeding, so naturally she went ahead. I was cool with that.
Went back to the triage nurse, answered some stupid pointless questions of course, and then went and sat back down for another 5-10 minutes or so. Then, we finally were taken back to a room and seen by a doctor. She asked me a few questions, felt my stomach and then ordered a CT scan. Before the scan, they tried giving me an IV, but I was so dehydrated they had to poke about three times to find a good vain. They administered some pain meds, as well as anti nausea meds. I immediately felt the affects, and became very quite and relaxed.
I went back to get a CT scan, only to find out the my IV needed to be RE-placed into my other arm, because again of the dehydration in my body. They finally found a good vein in my right arm, where it stayed for the remainder of my stay.
The results, which came about 20 minutes later, confirmed the presence of appendicitis and that surgery was needed to remove the worthless appendix. I was taken to a room where I would spend the rest of my stay. I was in a room by 12:30 that night. Not bad, considering I entered the ER at 10:15. I was very pleased.
I went to bed that night, with my mom staying the night with me, to watch over me. Great mother! We woke up, both of us, around 6:30 the next morning, Monday. We woke up to a great view of mount hood and eastern Vancouver, with a clear sky looming. It was really a great sight.
Got into surgery at, yeah ironically enough, 10:15 am. The staff was very nice and accomodating to my family and friends that came and visited me. I woke up in the recovery room around 12:30 pm, and slowly made my way up to my room on the eighth floor. I spent the rest of the afternoon receiving guests, from family and friends. I was a little loopy from my medicine, but it was really great to see everyone come and see me on such short notice. Jennifer, my wonderful girl, came and stayed with me until about 1 in the morning, after which I fell asleep pretty quick after she left.
So from 10:15 Sunday night, until 1 am Tuesday morning, I was in the hospital in pain and still kinda surprised. I did not see this coming at all, and really cold not have prevented it.
I was discharged today, Tuesday December 9 around 3:30-4pm, with JR, my great brother in law, picking me up and driving me home.

Overall, it was a very; painful, odd, humbling, annoying circumstance.
Some minor things that also played into the whole situation, I had two finals to take on monday, as well as a quiz. Not to mention, the service of one of my friends was held at 11am on Monday, of which I was not able to attend.
So pretty much, it was the worst possible timing to have my appendix be dumb, and need surgery.

I just want to express extreme gratitude to the staff at SWMC, they were great and very nice to me and my family. They helped me with all my needs and had a great attitude. Also, to all the family that came and saw me, I really appreciate and love you guys.

A weird weekend for me and my body!