Abdominal Spasms; "malicious antibodies"

2.5 weeks since I made the last entry.

The most noticeable thing to happen was a trip to the emergency room on Monday morning, July 25, at 3 am. At the end of the previous week, I'd sorta noticed that my back was bothering me. But I figured once I rested Friday night, I'd feel better. Instead I could sleep in only one position, and if I moved or turned, I was in pain - a sharp stab that literally had me moaning.

Saturday, I stumbled around and tried to be careful not to bend or twist or lift, etc. I also started using the muscle relaxants that I'd gotten earlier for throat and neck tension. That night my sleeping was very fitful. I'd sleep 30 minutes, then wait up.

Sunday I decided to semi-hibernate And even resorted to taking some pain pills left over from my mother's supply.

Trying to sleep that evening was the worst so far. When I woke up at 3, I knew I needed to do something. Kidney stones was the first thing I thought of. Or an intestinal blockage. Or some exotic disease from eating tainted fish.

I calmly got dressed, started the car and drove to the hospital emegency room. Being certain to park in the appropriate place. Since the last time I'd taken mother there, the area has been renovated. When I walked in there was a desk in front of me with two women who took down the name, address, telephone number, who to contact, and insurance info. It was over in a few minutes, then I was shown the waiting room, much larger and nicer than the old one. In another few minutes, my name was called for triage. And then I was moved to one of the patient rooms. (A psych room with locked windows and a camera in the ceiling.)

(In taking the information, the clerk mentioned an old address. Which I didn't pay much attention to. Later I realized that address was from when I had nasal reconstruction surgery more than 20 years ago. So they have a very good record-keeping system.)

A nurse came in and said they would be doing blood and urine tests shortly. Then I was hooked up to an IV. The doctor came in, seemed slighly indifferent and left. Shortly, a technician appeared to take me to x-ray. Now came a problem. I did ok standing up, but when I lay on my back, I was in pain. But the technician was quick, and I was soon back in the room.

Nothing happened for an hour or so. Most of the patient rooms were dark. And I was in the room furthest from the nurse's station. I immediately begin to think of all the hospital slasher movies I've seen. But no one jumped in front of the door waving a butcher knife.

Suddenly the doctor re-appeared and said everyhing looked find. But I had a slight urinary tract infection for which he prescribed antibiotics. And he was also given me some pills for abdominal spasms. Well, neither one of theses was what I expected. I guess that this meant that the back pain was caused by abdominal spasms. Which I never would have thought of.

Around 7:30, two new people popped up with two pills, and the doctor's prescription. And said I could go home. By now I'd had only a few hours sleep, so I was exhausted. I dropped off the prescriptions, and finally got back to bed. But again I was restriced to only a couple of positions.

Monday night was actually a little better, and I slept late and went to work at noon Tuesday. Of course, I'm out of leave, so there will be a deduction from my check. Bummer!

Something very odd that I noticed was how calm I felt during the whole experience. No anxiety at all. It had to have been some combination of pain pills, muscle relaxants, and anti-anxiety meds.

"The city was famous for its artful, petty humiliations -- had not Balzac fashioned a career from such social warfare? -- and Szara knew himself to be the sort of individual who took it to heart, who let it get into his bloodstream where it created malicious antibodies."

"Dark Star"; Alan Furst; page 126 PAX!