At the point when my host parents woke me up, the pain on a scale from 1-10 was most likely a 7. My host parents at this point were concerned, mostly my host father. He had me do a couple of stretches and movements that the doctors made my host brother do a couple of years ago when his appendix had to be removed. After the stretches, he didn't seem optimistic about my situation, but we still decided to try eating dinner hoping that it was just my stomach being hungry. I barely could force down half of a European portion of food. At this point, we decided to go to the hospital. However, before we could go, we had to find my insurance info.
After finding the insurance info and contacting the insurance company, we headed to Danderyd's Sjukhus (Danderyd's Sick House). The journey there was extremely painful because of how Swedish laws and roads are constructed. This is because of Swedish law the speed limit can't be below a certain number. This forces the road planners to add large amounts of speed bumps and curvatures to control the speed of drivers. That doesn't mix well however well when you have appendicitis. The jarring motions cause you great amounts of pain.
When we finally we made it to the hospital I had to wait for my host father to find a parking spot. Once, that was done we had to climb two flights of stairs which wasn't and easy feat for me. When we entered the E.R., we had to get a ticket and wait for our turn to be screened. While waiting with pain (which at this point was a 9) on a chair, I got to listen to a women tell the screener about how she had a little pain in the right knee and a LITTLE pain in her left knee. All I could think about that she couldn't have waited for a scheduled appointment for this. Finally, after her and a couple of others were done I finally got to shuffle over to the screening area. After a quick discussion, it was decided, I would be emitted to the E.R. However since I was not an EU citizen it was going to take more work. Eventually, after some exchange of information, I was presented with an EU medical number.
I wasn't going to be emitted to the E.R. straight away. This meant I had to lay back down on the chairs in the E.R. I, unfortunately, made the mistake of sitting too close to the screening area and was subjected to having the pleasure of overhearing a young lady talk to the screener about how she thought she was having some lady problems. After they had an EXTENSIVE discussion about it the lady was told she couldn't be helped in the E.R., and she had to go to the other side of the hospital. I felt bad for her as her friend had to help her walk to the stairs.
About 30 minutes later they finally called my name and emitted me to the E.R. I was taken back where they asked me a few questions and then drugged me up on morphine. After waiting for a couple hours, probably around twelve now, I get to see the doctor. After, talking with her for a little while with her she confirmed what we thought and said her best guess was my appendix had decided to misbehave. This now meant I had to have a rectal examine (...) to check to see if the infection had spread to my intestines. I have to say that the stigma BEHIND these exams have merit. It was was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever had to do in my life. The exam found nothing, so that was a plus however I then had to wait two more hours to get an ultrasound. At this point, I was completely exhausted, but couldn't sleep.
The ultrasound which was supposed to be quick scan to find my appendix, but my appendix decided it wanted to play hid in seek. I ended up have to be scanned, poked, and prodded for an hour and a half until the technician was able to locate my appendix. After, this I was carted to a room where I would have to shower, disinfect, and sleep before my surgery in the morning.
Around six o'clock I awoke to have to go to the operation room. Once there I had to choke down this medication for my stomach. This was because we had decided for me to eat and my stomach wasn't empty. I then waited for about five minutes until the doctor came in and I was asleep within ten seconds of the assistants applying the amnestic. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room. The rest of the day went quickly I was moved back to my room, had lunch, and was released the same day. I was able to walk without many problems which impressed all of the Swedes ;). In total, I stayed in the hospital less than 24 hours from arriving in the E.R. to being discharged.
To the displeasure of a certain Rotarian... (not going to name names all the outbounds know who you are ;) ) I don't have any photos or videos of the surgery, but I do have some photos of when i removed the bandages, so if you wouldn't like to seem them don't.
After finding the insurance info and contacting the insurance company, we headed to Danderyd's Sjukhus (Danderyd's Sick House). The journey there was extremely painful because of how Swedish laws and roads are constructed. This is because of Swedish law the speed limit can't be below a certain number. This forces the road planners to add large amounts of speed bumps and curvatures to control the speed of drivers. That doesn't mix well however well when you have appendicitis. The jarring motions cause you great amounts of pain.
When we finally we made it to the hospital I had to wait for my host father to find a parking spot. Once, that was done we had to climb two flights of stairs which wasn't and easy feat for me. When we entered the E.R., we had to get a ticket and wait for our turn to be screened. While waiting with pain (which at this point was a 9) on a chair, I got to listen to a women tell the screener about how she had a little pain in the right knee and a LITTLE pain in her left knee. All I could think about that she couldn't have waited for a scheduled appointment for this. Finally, after her and a couple of others were done I finally got to shuffle over to the screening area. After a quick discussion, it was decided, I would be emitted to the E.R. However since I was not an EU citizen it was going to take more work. Eventually, after some exchange of information, I was presented with an EU medical number.
I wasn't going to be emitted to the E.R. straight away. This meant I had to lay back down on the chairs in the E.R. I, unfortunately, made the mistake of sitting too close to the screening area and was subjected to having the pleasure of overhearing a young lady talk to the screener about how she thought she was having some lady problems. After they had an EXTENSIVE discussion about it the lady was told she couldn't be helped in the E.R., and she had to go to the other side of the hospital. I felt bad for her as her friend had to help her walk to the stairs.
About 30 minutes later they finally called my name and emitted me to the E.R. I was taken back where they asked me a few questions and then drugged me up on morphine. After waiting for a couple hours, probably around twelve now, I get to see the doctor. After, talking with her for a little while with her she confirmed what we thought and said her best guess was my appendix had decided to misbehave. This now meant I had to have a rectal examine (...) to check to see if the infection had spread to my intestines. I have to say that the stigma BEHIND these exams have merit. It was was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever had to do in my life. The exam found nothing, so that was a plus however I then had to wait two more hours to get an ultrasound. At this point, I was completely exhausted, but couldn't sleep.
The ultrasound which was supposed to be quick scan to find my appendix, but my appendix decided it wanted to play hid in seek. I ended up have to be scanned, poked, and prodded for an hour and a half until the technician was able to locate my appendix. After, this I was carted to a room where I would have to shower, disinfect, and sleep before my surgery in the morning.
Around six o'clock I awoke to have to go to the operation room. Once there I had to choke down this medication for my stomach. This was because we had decided for me to eat and my stomach wasn't empty. I then waited for about five minutes until the doctor came in and I was asleep within ten seconds of the assistants applying the amnestic. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room. The rest of the day went quickly I was moved back to my room, had lunch, and was released the same day. I was able to walk without many problems which impressed all of the Swedes ;). In total, I stayed in the hospital less than 24 hours from arriving in the E.R. to being discharged.
To the displeasure of a certain Rotarian... (not going to name names all the outbounds know who you are ;) ) I don't have any photos or videos of the surgery, but I do have some photos of when i removed the bandages, so if you wouldn't like to seem them don't.
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