Yesterday I took a trip to the emergency room for what turned out (fortunately) to not be an emergency. Around 4 PM or so I started having abdominal pain- it felt like the burning sensation that you get when a muscle is overtaxed, but rather more intense. I figured it was gas, and did the 'grin and bear it' bit. Around 6 or so I decided to lie down in the hopes that it would let up. It did, by about 8:30... Almost completely. Then it started to hurt in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen- this time a sharper sensation, more like a strained or pulled muscle.

Notably, I've never had pains quite like this before, so I went online to look to see what matched the symptoms- as it turns out, the symptoms were near identical to appendicitis. I know there was a fair chance that it was nothing, just BAD gas or constipation, but appendicitis is a very stupid thing to take a chance on, as one of its 'complications' is death.

So, I called foeclan and asked if he could drive me to the ER. He could, and we headed to HCMC (Hennepin County Medical Center). I lucked out and was in an examination room in 15 minutes flat. I ended up beng examined, getting X-Ray'd and my first ultrasound (Congratulations! Your gallbladder will be a boy!).

It was determined to be a fairly foul case of constipation; notably the worst I've ever had. They basically told me to get more fiber in my diet and to drink this 10 ounce bottle of... Red stuff. It was okay until the aftertaste hit- Gods, THAT was bad. And if you burp it COMES BACK. O.o

Anyway, things came out alright in the end, pun intended, and I seem okay now. The only bad things are that ths stuff they gave me seems to have been bottled diarrhea, and I woke with a MASSIVE headache, which after ibuprofin, tea and food has passed.

I refuse to be either embarrassed or chagrined by any of this. If it HAD been appendicitis, it's extremely dangerous.

So how was your day? ;)

Well, I went to the doctor, not copping out as I was tempted to. As it turns out, what the problem with the shoulder seems to be is tendonitis. Which means basically cold packs and pain pills til it subsides. As to my neck... The doctor suggested that I get an MRI to find out just what the deal is- I agree, but it'll be up to my insurer, unfortunately. It costs a grand or more for an MRI, which I could in no way afford myself. I'll call 'em and see what the deal is.

I've been prescribed 200 mg Ketoprofin extended release pain pills, but I need to get to the pharmacy to get them- that'll happen just before work. If they can't get 'em ready fast for me, I'll pick 'em up in the morning. I can last that long, I think.

Onto other things... ataramos!! I'll be making chicken breasts and spaghetti for dinner tomorrow, so bring home an appetite! See you soon!

Also, steamed broccoli on the side, hot Italian bread, and Chocolate Cake! Rar!

Just a 'I'm still here' kinda post. The week has gone well for the most part, starting with the Traveller game on Sunday- The last run before we switch to the next of the three games we alternate between, I received much unearned satisfaction as my character, a Vargr named Deyn, was vindicated in many things when our group of starship skiptracers got sucked into Imperial Intelligence service... Which for Deyn is a dream come true, tho its a bit of a nightmare for some of the other characters. ;)

The next game up, starting on the 19th of this month, is the Werewolf game- I'm WAY looking forward to it. :) We'll play that for 5 runs or so, two weeks apart, then switch to a GURPs Horror game.

Tomorrow, I'm in our DC Heroes/Blood of Heroes game- NOT associated with the above games. Its called 'Vanguard' and is a VERY longstanding campaign world- joshuwain is the GM and creator of the world, of which the current incarnation is the... 10th? I think? In any case, look to his journal and he's got most of the runs posted there in synopsis form- somewhere in my journal I've a run or two described in my own words.

Playing in Vanguard are: Myself (Goblin, A nonhuman vaguely spiderman-like character with limited ability to alter her form), ataramos (Kaya- Capable of controlling kinetic motion, accelerating and decelerating objects in motion, including the air around her), foeclan (Dr. Chimera- A man with enhanced intellect who has been changed to semi-animalistic form by an experimental drug which interacted with the Vanguard agent in his body; he can mimic the ability of any chordate creature that he has had contact with), feezlekhan (Dru- Apparently a form of dryad, she is hyperstrong, capable of flight and projects solar beams as an attack), danshrugs (Poundstone- A Brick's Brick, hyperstrong and tough, and capable of shaping the earth itself) and Mysterian, a bizarre form of occultist who can 'feel' magic and mimic auras.

mirrdae formerly played Mr. Fixit, who was a gadgeteer who had the additional ability to repair almost ANYTHING. He may return to the game. :) kint was also a player briefly (2-3 runs), but left when he moved outstate RL.

As to other things... Life is. I paid bills tonight (OUCH! OO! EE! AAIEE!), and I'm about to make dinner. Sunday I think I'm gonna make my Swedish Meatballs, and indulge in something akin to real cooking. Tonight'll be Hamburger Helper.

Oh- and I found out that Orudis KT (Ketoprofen) gets my hand and neck to stop hurting. Yay!

Well, its done with... At least the surgery part. As far as I know it went well; tho, as expected my hand aches. :P I have percoset and ibuprofin for the pain, and the wrap on my hand is even bigger than before...

So, Its a week or a bit more and I go back in for an exam, and I think the pins come out then- to be replaced by a cast. They apparently don't use plaster anymore, so there is a chance I'll still have the thumb and forefinger usable. :)

I may at some point put up the x-rays for the breaks, and the x-rays of the pins in place.