WARNING
The following is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach!
If any of this applies to you, STOP!
Go back!
Don't read!
(I won't be offended. Promise!)
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E is for Emesis
(also known as vomit, puke, upchuck, throw up,
heave, hurl, retch, and so forth...
my thesaurus has over 30 words to describe this condition. Egads!)
That's right.E is for emesis, the medical term for regurgitation.
I was originally going to pen some clever little E alliteration but instead, life bit me in the butt really hard yesterday morning.
I've been nursing a sinus infection going on 3 weeks now. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday because I thought for sure my eardrum ruptured. I was in intense pain, radiating from my ear down my neck along the jaw line. It wasn't ruptured or even infected for that matter...just filled with fluid. I was given another round of antibiotics for my persistent sinus infection, a couple of Darvocets (for pain), and sent on my way.
Within 30 minutes of taking my medicine this morning, the most severe headache and violent wave of nausea washed over me. I was totally incompacitated! I was bowing to the porcelain god for most of the day. Every time I attempted to lay down and close my eyes my insides would churn and burn and another bout of retching and hurling ensued. By 3pm the only fluids I had kept down were itty bitty sips of water. So you can imagine, nothing was coming up during these marathon spewing sessions, just a tremendous amount of painful dry heaving!
So, in essence, on the Holy day of Ash Wednesday, my fast was essentially forced and hoisted upon me. I had planned on fasting. Really. I have big life changing plans I'm pursuing this Lenten season. But during my fast I was going to allow myself juices and such. I, however, think God had other ideas. He took my plans to fast and abstain quite seriously and made sure I followed through with my life altering plans. Oh how I prayed throughout the morning and on into the day. I prayed for my suffering to be united with Christ. I prayed for Christ to take my suffering and use it for good. I prayed for my father. I prayed for my family and friends. For the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1505) tells us,
"...By His passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion."
I lost count of the number of Our Fathers and Hail Marys implored but at this writing I can say I am feeling better.
I also made a secret promise to God. I now need to make good on it.
God bless!
