Back in the Hospital...Again!

This is my liver specialist Dr. Bilchick, and his amazing resident PhD, Dr. Washington. I don't think I could be in better hands.


For those who aren't aware, I had a rough couple weeks after returning home from the liver surgery. We just thought it was a tough recovery I was dealing with until my conditions declined quickly. I slept 20+ hours out of the day, didn't remember having conversations with people, and because I got back into a lethargic/non-appetite state, symptom upon symptom stacked up. One doctor prescribed an antibiotic that didn't do anything. My body was constantly experiencing severe chills one minute, then super hot flashes the next. I started coughing a lot. Finally, Eric, Mom & Kim decided to get me to the ER. So back to Cedars Sinai I went. We checked in at 10 am, got a CAT scan that reflected I had pneumonia and two infected abscesses that needed to be drained. My doctor was currently flying home from the east coast, so I never expected to see him, so when he came sliding in from behind the curtain like a magician late that night, I was so impressed(yet sorry for his poor family that was without him).

Due to the hour, I was sent to a room in ICU and given transfusions all through the night, then went in for a torturous procedure at 8 am the next morning. I was in just so much pain which made it difficult to hold still for them to poke and prod me on the small little table.

I stayed a couple days in ICU before going back to the oncology ward on the 8th floor where I remained in the hospital for a week and a half. During that time, I had to experience three paracentesis procedures where they numb with me lidocaine then stick a giant tube in my stomach and suction out the fluid on my abdomen that continues to build up such a significant amount of pressure and had me looking as though I was due to have a baby any day. Finally, it just got to the point that the infections were going to require weeks of IV antibiotics and I was miserable in the hospital. Dr. Bilchick thought it best to release me to my family and have a nurse come in to administer any help I might need. What a blessing that day was!

I did have fun rekindling friendships with the staff from a couple weeks prior and sneaking out to the mall with mom and walking the streets from time to time (a girl's just got to get some fresh air and a change of scenery). If I never go back again, however, that'll be fine by me!