Monday, March 23, 2015

To Hell And Back... A Note From Catherine






Many of you may already know my appendix ruptured in February. It's hard to believe but  I didn't know it for weeks.
 
I started becoming very, very ill. My lower back hurt and became very swollen on my right side. It had a huge egg shaped swelling in the mix. Even the skin turned very red and angry looking. The skin felt like it had a thousand bee stings.  I couldn't raise my right leg more then an inch off the floor. I thought I had done something to my back working in the house that was causing all the symptoms I was having. So I just kept waiting for it to improve. A week later, things became much worse.
 
I now know I was septic. The highest priority in a hospital they told me. My blood white count was 21,000. A normal number should be about 10,000 or lower. I had an abscess between two muscles in my gut the size of a large Coke at McDonalds. That was discovered via a CAT scan. After being in the hospital for six days they discovered another abscess in my back. It was smaller but required surgery. I will spare you all the gory details of this ordeal. Just thinking about it myself makes me cringe.
 
I still have to go back to the hospital have my appendix out in a couple of months. They want everything cleared up before they can do that.
 
On the bright side..... I am still here. The Doctors have told me if I had stayed home a few more hours, I would be gone now. 
 
To those of you who knew and sent well wishes, good vibes and prayers, thank you very much!!!
 
My hands have finally stopped shaking from all the Morphine, general anesthetic and other drugs they pumped in me for eight days. So.... I can get back to finishing my petit point carpet now. :-)
 
Catherine XXX

Sterling silver fountain Pen by Mike Sparrow. The caps really clicks when you put it back on.
 
 
 
 
 
 

94 comments:

  1. Hi! I am wordless...and I am so HAPPY that you did go to see the doctor in time! You have been very seriously ill... I hope you feel better now! Please take care of yourself!
    Big hugs
    Kikka

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    1. Thank you Kikka,

      I went to the emergency room just in time. :-)

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  2. Catherine, It's lovely to see a post from you and even better to read that you've even contemplating taking up your petit point. Do take time to convalesce though, you've had a very rough time. Glad you're feeling much better =0)

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    1. Thank you Pepper. I am getting stronger every day. I really can't wait to finish the carpet now.

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  3. I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you recover quickly! All my best wishes are for you!
    Nathalie

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  4. Ahh yes truly the week(s) from hell......you scared me to death! I wish I lived closer. Continue on the road to recovery dear friend---

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    1. I owed you one. haha It was fair exchange after you dam near cutting your leg off with that chain saw.

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    2. oooo well played. Way to shock me into being more careful! Seriously, thinking it was not a even close to a fair exchange... :) and (((( {:>= ))))
      ^ .. ^
      (=*=)

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  5. Catalina eres una persona fuerte y positiva, mira hacia adelante siempre. Tienes gran talento y tus amigos podemos disfrutar de él. Un gran abrazo y pronta recuperación.

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    1. Gracias por tu amables palabras y buenos deseos.

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  6. WOW! You are so blessed ! I don't know if I have ever heard of anyone surviving anything that bad. I am so glad that someone was looking out for you and got you to go into the hospital! That had to be so painful!

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    1. Thank you Teresa. I kept wondering why so many different doctors kept telling me how tough I am.
      Painful... on a scale of 1-10 it was a 12.

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    2. The removal of your appendix will seem like a walk in the park after your grueling and terrifying experience. I hope you are back to good health soon!

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  7. Its so nice to see a post from you Catherine ☺ i hope you continue to improve and build your strength as each day passes. Best wishes Tony.

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    1. Thank you Tony. I am getting stronger every day. I am so glad it is spring. It is a real morale booster with all the gorgeous flowers blooming here.

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  8. You are a lucky, lucky woman..... my goodness how things could have turned. We were all praying for you and hopefully you are on the mend. Just take care of yourself and go easy with the petit point LOL
    All the best
    Vivian

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    1. Thank you Vivian. It is so nice to see a post from you.

      I am taking good care. ;-)

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  9. Que contenta me pone saber que has mejorado hasta el punto de pensar en hacer esa alfombra en petit point.
    Cuidate mucho y recuperate del todo.
    Un abrazo
    Maite

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    1. Gracias Maite. Sus palabras son muy apreciados.

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  10. What a perfect little vignette! Everything is in just the right place, nothing amiss!

    I am glad you are much better. Sounds like you were very sick and must've felt so terrible. Sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery.

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    1. Thank you so much. I an glad you liked the photos.

      Yes I was very sick. More then I realized. It has ended well and things will be back to normal very soon.

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  11. It really upsets me to know how close we all came to losing you.....this is very scary to read!!! I wish you a speedy recovery !!! The prospect of more surgery is never much fun....but it is a means to an end!!!
    Wishing you good health!!! Linda xxxx

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    1. Thank you Linda. I fell so much better then I have for over a month.

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  12. Oh, boy, Catherine, and here I am with my message. I am very sorry you went through all this. My son had an appendix and the doctor said, 30 minutes more and we would lost him. So, I understand your emotions and can feel your pain. Wish you feel better and fast recovery to you. Mini hugs, Natalia

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    1. Thank you Natalia. When I looked at a diagram on the wall of the doctors office and saw the appendix I thought... OMG how could that tiny little thing have caused me so much misery ! haha

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  13. Oh my! :[ What a scary experience! Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.

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  14. Oh Catherine, my heart goes out to you for all that you've gone through and still more to come. I'm glad you're still with us and able to think about finishing your work-of-art carpet. Thank you for the beautiful photos, your displays are always food for the miniature eyes. Real envy for your fountain pen ;)

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    1. Susan thank you for your very kind words and well wishes.
      I am happy to hear you liked the photos. :-)

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  15. Good to hear from you Catherine and pleased to hear you are on your way to recovery and you are looking forward to getting back to your rug.

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    1. Thank you! I am looking forward to getting busy an finishing the carpet. I have so many other things I want to do.

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  16. What a terrible ordeal! I am so glad to hear you are recovering! I hope you will take it slowly and gently as you are getting back to your usual self.... and good luck with the rest of your medical operations.... not fun but necessary! There was an angel watching over you!

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  17. You were very fortunate! Goodness what an ordeal. A very good reminder to listen to our bodies very closely. Glad to hear you are on the mend.

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    1. Thank you!
      I have just always been healthy. I couldn't imagine having anything that wouldn't take care of it's self in time.

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  18. dear catherine, Welcome back from the edge. A lesson for all of us to listen to our bodies! Very glad you are making a steady recovery. All our best wishes.
    Janine

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    1. Thank you Janine. It was a good lesson. I am paying close attention now, that's for sure! haha

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  19. Best wishes for you Catherine! What a difficult and dangerous times you have had. I hope you will fully recover. I am glad you are still here.

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    1. Thank you Lara. I am very glad I am still here too. Who would have finished my rug? :-)

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  20. Oh my, what a scary experience, Catherine, wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.
    The miniature scene is precious!
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Thank you IIona. I am glad you enjoyed the photo of my note to all of you.

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  21. Wow, what an ordeal! I'm so glad you got the help you needed in time. I hope the appendix operation goes smoothly and you recovery will be soon. Take care, my thoughts are with you.
    Hugs, Peggy

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    1. Thank you Peggy. I had the help of wonderful friends and neighbors.

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  22. Oh My Goodness! What a trail by fire, you have been through! I am so sorry to learn of it but exceedingly Grateful that you and the doctors caught it in time; Praise God for that!
    Please hurry and Get well soon, Catherine, you are GREATLY MISSED!

    elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth.

      I am having such trouble with your blog. I can't leave a comment. Please know I look at every new post you make. I adore seeing what you do.

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    2. Oh no, not again!!! :((
      I have tried to correct that problem and thought that I had it resolved once I removed the Google + comments and restored it back to the original format. BLAST! ><
      Thank You Catherine for letting me know that, however I wasn't referring to my blog, but I that I was missing You on Yours! :))

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  24. That's horrific Catherine! Terrifying to think about actually. Hoping you will be here for a long time yet! Take it easy until that op, wishing you an extra super speedy recovery (there's lovely mini work to be done :P) Keep us posted! x

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    1. Thank you Sarah. You are so right. There is lots of work to be done. :-)

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  25. That's horrific Catherine! A terrifying ordeal for you. Hoping you will be here for a long time yet too. Glad to see thoughts of miniatures are still on your mind. Wishing you an extra super speedy recovery (lot's of lovely mini work to be done :P ) Take care of yourself until that op :) x Sorry if you get two of these messages, having computer problems over here..

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  26. That must have been a very frightening experience for you and thank goodness you got to the hospital in the nick of time. Hope your recovery and future operation goes smoothly and then you can enjoy the coming warmer months to recuperate.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary.

      I was never frightened during the ordeal. It never occurred to me that things wouldn't be OK in the end.

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  27. Hello Catherine,
    I am so happy you are doing better. I knew you were unwell but never would I have imagined to that point. I will keep on making a little prayer for you and sending good vibes. Take care of yourself.
    medium hug (I'm afraid a big one might hurt you)
    Giac

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  28. Moi qui suis une ancienne technicienne de laboratoire tu as explosé les globules blancs!!! , ravie que tu sois bien vivante et bon rétablissement .

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    1. Merci Catherine. Comme un ancien technicien de laboratoire vous comprenez sans aucun doute ces chiffres bien meilleurs que moi. Merci pour vos bons vœux. XXX

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  29. So happy to hear you back at home and starting to feel better. Missed your posts. What a blessing life is and how quickly it can turn around. Sending you healing hugs and prayers. Jenn

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  30. Thank you Jenn. I truly appreciate your kind comment and well wishes.

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  31. I was just planning on sending you an email when I saw your post, I am so happy you are still here. I pray that you will continue to heal and get stronger. It is a good sign that you feel like stitching again, enjoy! Lots of hugs, one day I want to give you a real one :-)

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    1. Thank you Elga. I would love to meet you too and give you a big hug. XXX

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  32. What a fright! How lucky you are to have been able to be saved. I hope everything will be fine now.
    Geneviève

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  33. Thank you Geneviève. You are right, I was very lucky.

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  34. What a horrific time you have had. I hope the coming procedure will be a walk in the park compared to what you've been through. Glad you're on the mend and we can look forward to seeing that unbelievable carpet - not to mention your beautiful vignettes. Linda

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    1. Awww Thank you Linda. I am keeping my fingers crossed that what is ahead will be a breeze.

      One of my favorite things to do is set up miniature photo shoots. Grabbing things out of my collection to tell a story. Such fun!

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  35. Catherine, don't worry, you can answer any time. Take care of yourself! The good thing is that little guy will never bother you again! Life is wonderful! Hugs, Natalia

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  36. Thank you Natalia... Wishing you all the best too.

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  37. Goodness me, what a nightmare that must have been! So very happy to read you have come out OK, even though you still have some healing to do. I'm sending you good thoughts and best wishes. Take care! Josje.

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    1. Thank you Josje for your good wishes. It was certainly was a nightmare.

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  38. It's good to hear you are on the mend. What a scary time it must have been.

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    1. Thank you Irene. I am getting better every day. :-)

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  39. Welcome back dear Catherine, I read about your illness and I thought much of you.
    It's such a relief to know that you are back home and on the mend. I am truly happy for you
    Big hugs, Rosanna

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  40. Thank you Rosanna, I am so happy to be home and feeling better.

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  41. So sorry to hear about this, Catherine. Oh my goodness what an ordeal. Glad you are on the mend.

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    1. Patricia how nice to see you here!!! Thank you for your kind message.

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  42. Good grief Catherine - if we can't trust YOU to look after YOU what hope is there??!! Thank goodness it turned out okay. The pen is unbelieveable by the way.

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  43. haha Norma. How right you are! I can't be trusted with me.

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  44. Good heavens, Catherine, what an awful thing to go through! Get well soon and take care of yourself.

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    1. Thank you Anna.

      It was a nightmare but I am feeling so much better now the memory of it all will fade very quickly.

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  45. ......... Oh my! dear Catherine... I'm lost for words, so out of touch by totally missing out on the hardship and roller coaster you've been going through the past few weeks. I can't tell you how happy I am to read this post! Just thinking bout what might have happend if things had gone wrong... just makes me sick to my stomach. Like you wrote not so long ago, I do too feel you're a very special person and meeting you in person is on my bucket list as well. So relieved and happy you're on the recovery path right now! Keep going Dear!

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  46. It sure wasn't fun! I have never hurt more or felt worse. I still have a gapping hole in my back from the surgery. They wanted to keep it open for three weeks. So I have to have it packed daily with gauze to keep it open. Lovely huh! It is healing from the inside out. So now it is about 3 centimeters verses where it started at 9 wide and 5 deep.

    I do look forward to meeting you Debora. I am glad I still have a bucket! haha

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  47. I am so relieved to hear you are back home and on the mend.......Sharon Chrystal

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  48. Sharon,

    How lovely to see you!!!!!! Thank you. I am much better now.

    I have thought about you many times. You seemed to just disappear. I hoped life was treating you well.

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  49. Hope you feel much better now!! Maybe you even had a good Easter? Hope you took some time to relax and maybe meet with loved ones that could take care of you a little extra!
    Best wishes
    Hannah

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    1. Thank you Hannah. I am feeling much better now.

      I had a great Easter. I hope you did too. XXX

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  50. Hi Catherine! I had no idea you had been so sick and even beyond being sick. Hell and back is right. How horrible to have gone through so much. I am so happy you survived such an ordeal. Hope all goes well with your recuperation and with your surgery for your appendicitis. Sorry I have not been around much. I have been neglecting my blogs for quite a while now. Take care!

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  51. Lucille! I have really missed you! You must be busy to have stayed away so long. I hope all is well in your life.

    Thank you so much for your kind message and well wishes.

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  52. I am so sorry to hear of your ordeal Catherine, I can't believe it is that long since I looked at blogs. Hope you are really on the mend by now. Hugs from downunder.

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  53. Oh My word. That is too awful for words. I am so sorry that you had to go through such a terrible experience, and do hope you are now feeling stronger, and not is such pain. xx

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    1. That was last year at this time. I am happy to have lived through it. ;-)

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