Wednesday morning, I developed a severe stomach ache, with fever and extreme shivers. Shivers so bad my artificial hip was rattling like maracas in a salsa band. I was worried it would pop out of its socket. But then things calmed down in the afternoon. I went to sleep at 9pm, but woke up at 10:15 with severe lower abdominal pain. It was scary and so severe that I thought I was at my end. Chantal drove me to emergency at the Trillium hospital.
I spent all night getting tested. Covid-19 negative, HIV negative, pulse and blood pressure still there, but the CT scan showed a burst appendix. I told the doctor that I thought when your appendix bursts, you die right away. But he affirmed me that it depends on when they catch it. I had the surgery at around 2pm Thursday afternoon.
I was lying on the operating table, strapped down, while they administered the general anesthetic. They told me to breathe deep.
And thenâŠ
I woke.
Iâve been thinking about âtimeâ a lot recently, from a philosophical point of view. Under normal sleep, your sub-conscious takes over and you dream. Your sub-conscious is the thread connecting eyes closed to eyes open. But when youâre under general anesthetic, there is no dreaming, just a black void, as if your sub-conscious is disabled. When you wake, there is no feeling of time. Itâs like you jumped into the future. And it doesnât matter how long youâve been out for, the time interval jump is a constant thing. I know this from experience. This void, I believe is a taste of the afterlife. But really, youâre not experiencing anything, just the blank void. And if your heart stops and you donât wake up, of course, you are in the afterlife.
I was connected to intravenous almost from when I first entered the hospital, and after the very successful operation, in my room, I noticed the IV line turning red. There was something wrong with the IV sac and my blood was getting sucked out. So a nurse and a trainee came in to fix it. There was also a woman with a very think eastern European accent asking me questions.
As they were fixing this vampiric contraption, I told them about a movie I once saw, where a vampire had a group of captives held in a dungeon, all hooked up to IVâs. But the blood was coming out into sacs, which he then stored in a refrigerator for later consumption. He was keeping them alive for their blood. He was harvesting them. This really freaked out the nurses, especially the Jamaican lady who whispered the word âvoodooâ and was crossing herself vigorously. But the lady with the heavy accent, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, announced,
âIâm Romanian, I know all about vampires.â
I told her that my grandparents were from Bukovina, which is close to Transylvania, and we made friends and had an interesting conversation. I think she had something to do with the food service, because it seemed that I was getting a special perk after that. Solid food, that is.
I couldnât get any photos in the hospital, and you probably wouldnât want to look at my laparoscopic perforations or my catheter drippings anyway, so here are some miscellaneous photos.
***
[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page]
February 20, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Len, You cracked me up! ” my artificial hip was rattling like maracas in a salsa band”.
What an imagination! You really charmed the Romanian lady with that blood story … more LOL.
Len
February 20, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Iâm not exaggerating about the hip. But I think Romanian ladies are easily charmed with blood. Take care Len, talk later.
February 20, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Len, I was led to believe that dad’s mom, Vyronakai, was Romanian. So you could say the dracula/transylvania thing is in our blood.
February 20, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Well, I don’t think all Romanians are vampires.
February 20, 2022 at 5:40 pm
You manage to make light of a bad situation.
Thank Goodness you caught it in time.
Hope that you are feeling better soon.
Always enjoy your writing and pics.
February 20, 2022 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for the comment Cathy. Feeling really good. Say Hi to Bishu.
February 20, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Fun story! Very entertaining. Hope you are better…sounds like it…or is it the drugs?
February 20, 2022 at 8:42 pm
Hi Jacqui, yes, almost as much fun as a root canal. Feeling very good, but no skiing for a couple more weeks.
February 20, 2022 at 6:45 pm
….’lord tunderin jaysus’ len…thank god for chantal …hope you recover soon….just don’t go crazy on the ab reps….best to you both…..
February 20, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Hi Linda, recovering very quickly. Feeling very good. No workouts yet for a while.
February 20, 2022 at 8:54 pm
You have a way with words. Love to read your stories. The enclosed photos were very nice to see. Happy they were none of your mid-week adventure
February 20, 2022 at 9:02 pm
Yes, I thought the photos would be a break from the blood story. You and Trish take care, talk soon.
February 20, 2022 at 10:33 pm
Len, glad to hear you are recovering well. I sympathize, I have not forgot the pain I experienced when my appendix ruptured. However, I do remember waking in the hospital to a beautiful sunrise, receiving one of your interesting blogs and feeling glad to be alive. Thanks for sharing them, I do enjoy them, Len.
February 20, 2022 at 11:27 pm
Nice to hear from you Sandra. Yes, very painful.
February 21, 2022 at 4:40 pm
I’m so glad you survived your ordeal Len. Here’s hoping you are able to get out on the snow again before the end of the season. Take good care and, as Linda said, thank goodness for Chantal!
February 21, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Thanks Cynthia. Yes, she was great, and I should get at least one or two days out to Blue in March. Depending on the weather, of course.
February 21, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Len, sorry to hear…but you got treatment fast! Happy to hear your ok and on the mend. Another interesting story from you! Love your great pics as always! Dave F.
February 21, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Thanks Dave, glad you enjoyed. Take care.
February 21, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Hi Len,
Jean and I are very glad that you and the doctors caught your problem in time. What an experience! This was something that you would not want to repeat.
God Bless,
Don & Jean
February 21, 2022 at 7:03 pm
No repetition. That’s the good thing about an appendix. It’s a one time only.
February 22, 2022 at 12:00 am
Hi Len
Andre and I have been thinkng of you. So glad to hear it is going well and that the doctor didn’t remove your sense of humour along with your appendix. Loved your pictures as well, as we always do. (Sure glad your episode didn’t happen while you were in Wasaga. We would have thought it was our cooking.)
Hope you are back on the skis soon!
February 22, 2022 at 2:39 am
Thanks for the comment, Dianne. I hope to be skiing in about 2 1/2 weeks.
April 29, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Len,
You are a very lucky and true ‘survivor’… I worked on a gut surgery floor for three years before I went to the ICU for 12 years…yes, some folks didn’t make it…. And yes, thank goodness for your ‘better’ đ half – Chantal likely had nerves of steel driving you to the hospital and patiently waiting through your operative time. Glad you are on the mend and sorry we didn’t see this post until now but know we will be thinking of you and hoping to see you both next ski season. đ đ
Cheers and Keep you pecker UP !! (Sorry, we have English background đ LOL!!).
April 29, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the comment, Kate. Yes, unbelievable pain and Chantal did have a rough time for sure. Nice to hear from you again and we’ll be seeing you skiing next season for sure. BTW, we bought a home in Collingwood and are moving June 16. 5×7 pass is ready and waiting!
May 2, 2022 at 9:10 pm
Congratulations on your upcoming move to Collingwood…it should be a nice change from living in the big smoke! You will have some peace and quiet to look forward to…and less traffic and more FUN! Cheers!
May 2, 2022 at 10:01 pm
Peace and Quiet? I’m actually looking forward to the wild apres-ski parties at Jozo’s.
May 2, 2022 at 10:40 pm
Never a dull moment with you, Len. đ