I hadn't asked for prayers for Candice because I didn't know how much she was willing to share. But now I have the go-ahead.

Candice thought she was having an emergency apendectomy last week, but it ended up more involved. She had her appendix, a benign mass and part of her large and small intestine removed. Poor baby.

She is now home and I'm asking for prayers for a speedy recovery and the peace and ocmfort for her to be able to relax and make the most of her time off from work.

She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and the doctor feels as though she has seen the worst of it forever. Form now on she will be treated and monitored so this should NEVER happen again.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Oh dear sweet Candice! You of course are in our prayers and thoughts. I know from experience that relaxing is hard to do when one is recouperating because you finally have the luxury of looking around seeing what all needs to be done, or you see things that have been neglected.

Take my advice...relax, center yourself, stay grounded, and learn to appreciate this time and also to bask in it. Whenever you have any kiknd of surgery, it affects you MENTALLY as well as physically. Please don't forget that! Your mind needs time to heal as well. Your body will tell you when it is time to move forward again and rejoin the day-to-day things. Please take care of yourself and know you are much loved.

JJ

Yes, do take time to recuperate. Like Dotsie told me don't go back to fast. Let them wait on you!!
You are in our prayers and I agree with JJ the mental part does take time especially after all that anethesia.
Maggie

I will join the other boomers in prayer for Candice. Sounds like a very complicated surgery. Hopefully the recovery will be easy and healing will come quickly.
Candice, if you are reading this, know that you are surrounded by prayer.
smile

Dear Friend Candice,

There is a saying that goes like this;

When we face our fears and let ourselves know our connection to the power that is in us and beyond us, we learn courage. After all courage is just fear that has said its prayers.

Bless you, you are in my prayers.

Candice,

You are on my prayer list and in my thoughts.

The news sounds good in that you should never have to go through this again. I will pray for that outcome.

Lynn

Hello everyone. I figured I would fill everyone in on what's been going on since I haven't been in here in like two months.

First, I was preparing for my work's Convention which was in San Francisco in mid-April. Eveything went really well. My presentation on writing for our publications was moderately successful, so I was happy. My best friend from Las Vegas even came to see me. When I got home, I had some stomach pain, but it wasn't too bad and I figured it was from the aspirin that I had been taking and maybe I strained a muscle carrying my way-too-heavy suitcase.

I also figured it was stress, since when I got home I found out my Mom has breast cancer. But I went with her to see her surgeon and when I got home, I could barely get out my car mystomach hrt thta bad. Late that night I woke up in a sweat and actually fell over when walking from the pain. The next day, I went to my doctor who told me to go to the ER because she figured I had appendicitis. I get to the ER where they haveto do all the "female problem" things first and then decided tha the appedix doesn't look swollen or anything on the sonogram. They decide to do laproscopic surgery to see what's going on. So Igo into surgery and turns out my small intestine and colon were so inflamed that they had to remove part of each and reattach eveything. There was no mass or anything, they just sent the pieces to pathology to figure out what it was. The surgeon told my husband and parents that because of the extent of the damage, it might be cancer. Something none of them really needed to hear and no one told me as not to worry me.

So I was in the hospital for four days. But I am doing much better now. So there is a happy ending for both me and my mother. Turns out the damage was from Cohn's disease, so I will see a specialist in the next couple of weeks and we will figure out how to manage it. I am at home,trying to relax. ONe of you said something about looking around at all the things that need to be done, and you couldn't be more right. The first coupe of days I was content to just lay around, now it's getting harder.

My mom has a type of breast cancer called DCIS. The cancer is inside the milk duct. It is only 3mm in size. They will take it out and do soe radiation, but she will be fine. The doctor says it is merely a nuisance. Se is in good spirits and I will be there for her surgery next Monday. I will go back to work probably the end of next week.

I am getting back into the swing of things so I will get back to these Forums, one message at a time. I know I've probably missed a lot.

Tyhanks so much to everyone for all the paryers ad well wishes. Keep them coming please.

Candice, I'll add my prayers and good thoughts to all of the above.