Last Monday afternoon, I started getting mild abdominal pain. By 7pm, it was what I would describe as severe. I slept 30 minutes at a time waiting on the urologists' offices to open the next morning (I was convinced it was a kidney stone.) After calling 5-6 urologists who wanted me to wait until Thursday to come in, I finally found one that could see me immediately.

I had several scans (X-ray, ultrasound, CT-Scan) done, and the final diagnosis at 11:30am was Acute Appendicitis. The doctor told me to have Alison drive me right around the corner to the St. Francis emergency room, and check me in for an emergency appendectomy.

After sitting in the "emergency" room waiting room for 5 hours, they finally admitted me for my emergency surgery. I'd like to think that had my appendix ruptured while I was waiting, they would have made room for me. It's Memphis though, so I might have just died in the waiting room.

I had my appendix removed laproscopically on Monday night, and spent the next 26 hours in the hospital before being released Tuesday night. I've been home since then, and am taking painkillers every 6 hours or so to curb the pain. They told me I could take up to 2 pills at once every 6 hours, but I've been able to get by on just 1 pill every 6 hours. I've tried half pills a couple of times, but I always end up hurting again within 3 hours.

This morning I intentionally waited 2 hours past my pill time to gauge how I was doing. It hurt pretty badly to move around, but it would be bearable with aspirin I think. So, when the good stuff wears out, I'm confident that over the counter stuff will do well for me.