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Published: July 18th 2012
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Can you even believe this!
I am leaving my appendix in Germany! Hello Travel Blog Peeps!
I'm back...both in a technical sense (limited internet access in recent days of travel) and in a physical sense. Let me say more, but first thanks to those that have left comments on my blog. It's so nice to have a friendly note from home, although these days I am not exactly sure where that is! I still think of Minnesota as my home as my family and my dearest friends are there and I spent so many years of my life there, but actually Florida is my physical home and place where I am building an exciting new life for myself, and finally for the last weeks, I have referred to this cute little bungalow as "home" during our visit to Germany. Regardless, thanks for sharing this journey with me via my blog and keep the comments coming...it is great to hear from "home" wherever that may be! From a practical standpoint, I am going to resume my blogging with today and then work backwords with each entry, highlighting the different towns I have been in since my last entry so that I can keep the experiences and the pictures tied together in some logical
The attempted cure
in the days prior to surgery! fashion.
Many of you know the crazy story about my two little darlings, Jamie and Alec, having their appendixes out within 8 days of each other last year. Well, thousands miles away from home, in a foreign county where I do not speak the language, I decided to join their special little club! Rewind, about 7 days when I first started experiencing gastrointestinal issues, (aka diarreiha). Despite interventions with over the counter treatments, a trip to the doctor and more prescription medications, lots of pretzel sticks and coke (at the recommendation of said doctor), great tender, loving care from Ralf, stilll no relief from the diarreiha. (I really should know how to spell that word after 7 days of cursing it!) I was still thinking perhaps my body was just adjusting to vacation mode and eating lots of delicious (but most very heavy and rich) new foods but after 2 mornings of waking up with cramps in my lower abdomen, Ralf convinced me, after a loving reminder that he promised my mom he would take care of me before we left from Mankato, he convinced me that a trip to the hospital would be a good idea. (I know
Ralf's welcome home dessert
Yes, he treated himself to this entire assortment from the bakery when we retured home from our trip to the Rothenburg hospital, 3 hours from "home". I still donät know where he puts it! Carla, I told you I was converting to all natural medicine, but Ralf is pretty persuasive!)
After lots of tests and a thorough examination some very nice doctors told me they believed my appendix was to blame! It was the last thing I expected because I hadn't had much pain really like the kids had, just pressure in my lower abdomen and the darn diarreiha. Although after 7 days I was feeling kind of weak and tired but still enjoying my travels. Infact, the day before Ralf and I had enjoyed a city walking tour and lovely dinner. At first when they told me I thought surely this was one of those practical jokes TV shows and that somehow Jamie and Alec were behind it. Very funny, guys! Then when I couldn't find any cameras, I thought clearly something was lost in translation! (Thank goodness for my handsome German interpreter who has now had the pleasure of learning everything there is to know about my poop!) Seriously, don't know what I would have done without this man these last days, he was so patient and tended to my every need, making several trips to the pharmacy, bringing hot tea
My lovely stockings
to prevent thrombosis also accompanied by a nice shot in the thigh...they werenät messing around with with this! to the bedside, arranging for spa treatments and an awesome massage, but most of all keeping my spirits up while persistently helping me figure out what was wrong. Many of the doctors and nurses at the hospital did speak English because the hospital is in a town where there is a US military base but there were a few times when we were not able to understand each other so great that he was there to translate. Long and short, my appendix came out Monday afternoon, was released Tuesday at noon, and am now resting back at bungalow with vitually no pain and doctor. Just three tiny little incisions to remind me that I had my first surgery ever in a foreign country and the total bill was just 10% of what the cost was in the United States when the kids had the same surgeries last year!
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