A Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a girl named Karen.  She woke up early one morning in horrible pain, so her husband took her to the emergency room.  Karen and her husband were there for five hours while the doctors ran blood tests and pushed and poked random places in her "abdomen".  (She may or may not have been chastised for calling it a stomach.)  It was then decided that Karen needed to wait for another day before the doctors could determine the problem, so Karen was sent home (after a shot of morphine).  At home, Karen got to sit in bed with an IV in her arm and drink the disgusting "juice" the nurse gave her in case she had to have surgery the next day.  The next morning, Karen woke up and went back to the ER ready for a second blood test.  It was determined by the third doctor in two days that this pain was not appendicitis.  Now, Karen is lying in bed at home, only drinking clear liquids, and still in pain.  There is still no diagnosis.  Goody.  The end.

Thank goodness for a loving husband, an amazing family, some great friends, and a kitty who sits with me while everyone is at school or work.