I am Normal(ish)

Today was quite the day.  (I guess it actually all started yesterday).  Yesterday afternoon, I went to stand up and felt a sharp pain in my left abdominal area (opposite side of the liver).  I didn't think too much of it at the time, but as the evening drew on the pain got worse.  It was not a constant pain, it only hurt when I moved or turned the wrong way, but it was enough to cause some concern.  My wife did not get home until late in the evening and I mentioned something to her about the pain.  I told her that if pain was still lingering in the morning, I would call the doctor.  Any of you who know my wife know that she was not having that.  She handed me the phone and did everything but dial it for me.

It was past midnight at this point, and I spoke with the coordinator on call.  Since there was no fever and the pain was still manageable, she said that I could wait until the morning and come into the transplant center to see a doctor.  So on my wife's only day off all week, we were up early and trekking it back to the transplant center.  I got blood drawn and waited to speak with a surgeon.

Here is where the "normal" part comes in;  Drum roll please...

My billiruben is down to .9, which is with in the normal range!  It has been years since has been that low.  Even with my old liver (liver #2) I cannot remember the last time it was that low.

Back to the pain however.  The doctor felt around in the areas of the pain, and seemed to have a rather perplexed look on his face (not the look you want to see on your doctor's face in case you are wondering).  He couldn't give me a definite diagnosis, but there was enough concern to send me for a CT scan.  The best guess at this point is that it could be a hernia.  The CT was scheduled for today, but due to more insurance crap we had to reschedule it for Monday afternoon.  At that time we should get more information.  Until then, I have to suck it up with the pain and hope that I do not spike a fever.  

Despite the pain that I am feeling, it cannot compare the the excitement I am feeling over my billiruben numbers.