Howdy from my very own soft comfy bed with my fat happy cuddly dogs in my own quiet house. I finally got discharged yesterday afternoon. They held me over an extra night because my bowels have decided to take a break, since they're stoned on pain meds. They gave me prescriptions for tummy stuff to help clear things out, but so far nothing major is happening. Praying this issue resolves soon!

Birdie, you were mentioning the passing clots from the bladder. Yep, that was some level of fun I got to experience. Sounds like you had a great deal more blood in your urine than I did; although they flushed out smaller clots & bladder tissue, mine wasn't black like yours. I had a catheter in for 4 days, but they were so afraid of me getting infection that they didn't want to leave it in there. The urologist gave me Urelle (medication) to help numb the bladder. I see him in his office tomorrow to schedule the cystoscopy. Have to see the hematologist, too, to get CBC & see if I need outpatient transfusion. After my rheumy found out I was hospitalized, she only sent me 1 email in 11 days to ask how things were going. She never was in contact with my hospital specialists, not once. I had given her the phone number to the hematologist who was in charge of my care, but she never called him. After her putting me off for 2 weeks & almost letting me die, I don't trust her judgment & never will again.

Birdie, you know how excruiating the cystitis pain is, so the "funny" part that my main issue in the hospital was fighting with the nurses over giving me my IV pain meds. It was a whiole saga with that! They felt my oral pain pills I take every day for my back should have been enough for the bladder pain. I was ready to strangle someone about a week in. I had to get the Clinical Nurse Leader involved & then STILL had a couple nurses give me crap. I swear, if the doc ordered it, said I could have it, & it's time I can have the shot - give it to me & shut up!!!!

Thank you for all the kind words & prayers. I still feel pretty yucky & it wouldn't surprise me to end up back in the hospital soon.....but I pray that part is over for now! Take care of yourselves Weggies - and TRUST your own instincts. You are your #1 advocate!