Emergency surgery

Hello, my bucket list friends. As you can probably tell from the title of this post, it is going to be a little bit different from my regular posts. This was an unexpected and scary event, but I think it is important to share life experiences with others, so let’s get to it.

My unexpected surgery – The day that I returned home from Oxnard, I started having pain. I thought I was having the mussel spasms that I get sometimes. However, this time could not make the intense pain go away. All the things that I usually do to treat my mussel spasms were not working, and the pain kept getting worse. I started thinking about going to the ER, but my insurance is not very good, so I put it off for a little while, but the pain was so bad that I was throwing up from it. When my mom was driving me to the ER, I couldn’t wait to get there. I was in so much pain, and I just wanted it to stop. The last time I had gone to the ER with mussel spasms, I had been given some medicine that stopped the pain, and then I went home. I thought that it would be the same this time but I was very wrong. When I first got to the ER, there was a line. I could not stand, so I sat down in the line. Someone brought me a wheelchair so I didn’t have to sit on the floor. It was around 10 or 11pm. when I got to the ER. I was also throwing up in a bag in the waiting room. I had some blood taken, and I was told to go back to the waiting room. I also was told it would be an hour or so before I could be seen. I was in so much pain that I thought I would pass out before then. I went back to the check-in and told them that my pain was worse. At one point, I was lying on the floor of the waiting room. I was very happy when they called my name and took me back to a room. It took a little bit, but I got some pain medicine, and I felt like I could think more clearly, and the pain was not as overwhelming. I got a CAT scan and an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, I got more medicine because my pain started again. After the 2nd dose of medicine, my pain was at a four, and I felt really good. It turned out that I had a grapefruit sized ovarian cyst. At first, I was told I could schedule the surgery to have it removed at another time. However, my doctors were concerned that my pain was still there after two doses of pain medicine. They said that my cyst was probably twisted, and that’s what was causing my pain. They advised me that I should have surgery right away. I was also told that it looked like my ovary had blood flow, but they could not be sure, and that my ovary may have to be removed. I had never been put under before, and I had only dental surgery in the past, so I was absolutely terrified. I started crying when I learned that I needed to have surgery. By this time, it was well past midnight, and it was officially August 1st. My birthday month had begun with me in the ER. They took me into surgery pretty quickly, but before that, I had some time to post on social media and ask for prayers. I took some pictures before I went into surgery. I liked the sea animal decorations in the room I was in so I also took a picture of the Octopus on the wall. Another thing that made it even more stressful is that I had to cancel some job interviews that I had scheduled. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled into the OR. When we arrived at the room, it looked just like what you would see in a hospital TV show, but it was real. Before I knew it, my fear kicked in again, and I began crying. I remember the tears flowing down my face as I laid on my back. I was told that I was going to be given some anxiety medicine. Right after it was given to me, my tears stopped. I was still nervous, but I felt better than before. The next thing I remember is an oxygen mask being placed over my face while we had a short conversation about the oxygen bars in Las Vegas, and that’s the last thing I remember before I had surgery. After that, I remember waking up in the recovery room. It’s kind of weird because it doesn’t feel like I went to sleep. It feels like I lost memory, but I’m ok with that because everything went well. My cyst was successfully removed, and my ovary was fine, so they did not have to take it out. It was twisted, and that’s what was causing my pain. I went home shortly after surgery, and my pain was gone. The recovery process is still happening now, but I’ve made it past the hardest parts. My incisions hurt for a while, but now they are perfectly fine. It was a scary thing to go through, but I know that God was with me the whole time, and I’m glad that the cyst is no longer inside me.

Thanks for reading! – Christina Epperly

NOTICE SOME OF THE PICTURES BELOW ARE OF INCISIONS AND BRUISES

Dear, OCD I’m in charge now

Hello, my bucket list friends . Last month I wrote quite a few posts about my TMS treatments for OCD . If you want to read them just look at my posts on this blog from February 2019. Anyways, I thought it would be a good idea to give an update on how I’m doing since treatment.Hold on tight and here we go !

 

Dear OCD, I’m in charge now

In my previous posts about TMS I wrote about some of the changes that occurred during treatments. OCD began to lose it’s grip on me and I was feeling more in control then ever before. Well, I’m happy to say that things have continued to improve. Before receiving the TMS treatments, OCD controlled a large part of my day. It was always controlling what I could and could not wear, what songs I could and couldn’t listen to, what order I had to put the blankets on my bed and many more things that impacted my everyday life. I felt anxiety that if I didn’t follow OCD’s orders bad things would happen . I never truly realized just how much of my time that OCD took from me.  Now, things are very different I’m in charge now. I’m able to make my own everyday choices with feeling little to no anxiety. If OCD stars to give me orders I remind it that I’m in charge now and I do what I want to do. I was so used to following OCD’s orders that now sometimes I have to stop and ask myself what I want to do . I feel so free now! Now , don’t get me wrong life is not perfect and it never will be but I feel a lot better now that I’m free from OCD’s control. OCD still sneaks in with it’s unwanted thoughts from time to time but I can dismiss these thoughts faster and easier then ever before ! I’m so happy that I took part in the study at Stanford. Things are looking up.

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

Getting ready for TMS and a trip to the American girl store

Hello, my bucket list friends ! Next week I’ll be up at Stanford all week for TMS treatment. Today I went for one more appointment before my treatments officially start also I finished my appointment early enough to walk across the street to the Stanford shopping center. It was quite a day and I’m excited to tell you all about it . Here we go !

 

Getting ready for TMS and a trip to the American girl store

I had a two hour appointment scheduled at Stanford today . This appointment took place in a different building then the MRI scan did. ( you can read about my MRI HERE ) I have been to this building before for other appointments related to the study . Today I talked to a doctor about some of my OCD symptoms then it was time to meet the TMS machine . today we were just figuring out the right way to set the machine for my treatments since everyone’s bodies are different . After getting it all sorted out I was done for the day . I still had sometime before my ride came so I walked across the street to the Stanford shopping center . It wasn’t raining when I left my house so I didn’t bring any rain gear but it was raining pretty good by the time I left my appointment . I got a little wet on the walk over to the shopping center but not to bad . I love American girl dolls so I was excited to go shopping at the two story American Girl store. I have been to the store before but it’s been awhile.  I bought two books . The first one I decided to buy was a book about Blair the girl of the year for 2019 . The 2nd book was a brain teaser book filled with fun puzzles. I also got some free stickers . I spent a while walking around the store looking at all the dolls and other items . I really like this store it’s so fun and decorated very nicely . After going to the American Girl store I got some lunch at Starbucks. It was packed day and I’m both nervous and excited for next week . I can’t wait to tell you how it all goes !

Rock On – Christina Epperly

 

 

Bouncing back after living in sick town

Hello , my bucket list friends ! I’m happy to report that this is my second day being back at work after being out sick . ( you can read about my sick days here ) I’m still not 100% better but I’m feeling much more productive again . I’m not sure what I was sick with but in the meantime I’m being very careful about what I eat. I’m cutting back on foods like cheese and beans that can cause digestive problems. I’m also drinking tea like crazy ! The tea I’ve been drinking while sick is Traditional Medicinals Belly comfort peppermint tea. It tastes good and it helps to keep me hydrated . I’m looking forward to being all the way better hopefully very soon ! I hope all for you are staying well and staying out of sick town ! Rock on – Christina Epperly

I don’t have time to be sick!

Hello , my bucket list friends ! This post is going to be a bit of a rant but have you ever been sick at a very inconvenient time ? I mean I guess there is never a good time to get sick but there are sometimes that are better or worse than others .When I was a kid my family got the flu during Christmas time . It was definitely  not fun at all . Well currently I’m dealing with a very inconvenient sickness . On Tuesday I had to leave work early because I was feeling so sick . I was also unable to go to my second job that afternoon . Yesterday I missed an appointment and another shift of work . This morning I missed another shift at one of my jobs .In addition to missing all that work,on Tuesday night I was in horrible pain my abdomen was hurting so bad I thought I was going to have to going to the ER but fortunately the pain decreased and I was able to get some sleep. yesterday I was feeling very week and I didn’t to much but sleep and lay on the couch. Being sick is never fun but it’s hard for me to miss all this work when Christmas is coming and I have gifts to buy . The good news is I slept pretty well last night and I’m feeling ok today not 100% better but I feel well enough to make it to my afternoon job ! I’m excited to get back to work after being out for awhile . Stay Well my friends !

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

My crazy heath problems

Hello, my bucket list friends As I’m sure you all know life is a crazy thing sometimes it’s crazy in a good way sometimes not so much . Right now I’m facing some problems and I know from experience that it is good to talk about both sides of life .  So here we go !

 

My Crazy health problems !

Ok ,bucket list friends I’m not sure how to explain all of this but I’ll do my best .  For as long as I can remember my hormones have been crazy  I always thought it was related to my OCD but now my hormone problems are getting worse.  I’m trying my best to  figure out everything . Since last Thursday I’ve been to the doctors three times . I’ve had a blood test and an Ultrasound . After my doctor goes over everything I should know more . For now What I know is that my Iron is very low and that is causing me to be very dizzy. I’ve been taking Iron to stop the dizziness  but I’ve still been getting dizzy and I get very tired . I have been taking a lot more naps then normal . All of this has caused me to miss work and that does not help me with all doctors bills . It is hard to stay positive in times like this and every little thing that happens like leaving your dad’s Disney World sweat shirt at the doctor’s office or sleeping wrong and waking up with a very painful neck seems to add a whole new layer of stress on to what you already have. The best advice that I give to myself and others that are going through times like this is look backward and forward . I know that may sound a little strange but stay with me . first look back on all the good times that you’ve had and all the blessing you have received now look forward  to all the good things ahead . Think about your dreams and your plans for the future . Focusing on all the good things that have happened and the good things that will happen can be just the dose of positivity that you need . I have faith that I’ll be feeling feeling better soon and I can’t wait for my next adventure .

Rock on – Christina Epperly