I wanted to post a quick update now that I'm home. Every test that has been done since the year began has showed that there was not a thing wrong with me. My mystery pain would be intense for a few days but then I'd be OK. Well, last week I was unable to handle the pain any more so off I went to the ER. All of the preliminary tests came back normal; chest X-Ray, blood work, and a CAT scan. It was not until the upper GI that my symptoms were diagnosed. Here is the blurb from WebMD about what was found.

In the small intestine, obstructions are most often

caused by scar tissue (adhesions). Other causes include hernias, Crohn's disease, and cancer. A blockage can also occur if one part of the intestine folds like a telescope into another part, which is called intussusception.

I had 3 small intestinal blockages called intussusceptions. The big kicker was that they are uncommon in adults.

This part was easy for me to understand. I will always have complications from the Crohn's and I know to expect them. What was hard to grasp was the SURPRISE that was found during my operation. I had an internal abdominal hernia as well. It was a section of small bowel that had probably herniated shortly after a surgery in 2001. There was a loop of bowel that was described to me by the PA as "a few feet" that had begun to strangulate. Over the years small amounts of intestine were able to squeeze through the hernia to cause a long loop. Had it not been found the bowel would have began to die and my life would have been in jeopardy. The big kicker is that this was not evident on ANY tests.

So, here's the miracle. The surgeon sent to see me in the ER was amazing. He was familiar with my anatomy along with my medical conditions. I know for sure that it is no accident that he treated me. My care from him was amazing. He was calm and kind with me as I went into surgery. He was also reassuring to my brother who was visibly shaken as he stood at my feet waiting for me to be taken into surgery. And true to who I am, I did request a breast agumantation since he would already be working on me. He said the best he could do was to stuff a few surgical sponges in for me!

When he came in to check my bandages on Monday he let me know he was looking out for me in the OR. He chose to follow my old scar so he did not leave a new one. He even looped out around my belly button just to follow my tummy tuck scar!

So, 15 staples will come out Monday. I have never felt this weak, run down, tired etc. But I do plan to rejoin society soon. My belly looks like a road map but had to share anyway.