there's a first

for everything.

first steps.

first bike.

first kiss.

first job.

first car.

first surgery?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I'm probably the most sickly eighteen year old out there.

Really. How many eighteen year olds do you know with diabetes and gallstones? 

I mean, I'm not on a pity search. I don't want people to feel bad for me. I hate pity. But I'm sort of freaking out here! If I have these kind of health problems when I'm only eighteen.. What does the future hold for me?

So here's what happened. Last Wednesday, I woke up with cramps in my upper stomach, and the muscles in my upper back were killing me. I went to work with a bottle of extra strength Tylenol handy, and popped pills all day. I could hardly move, and I couldn't lift Taylor. Madi was a good girl and kept Taylor entertained all morning so I could just rest up. It got worse after I ate or drank pop. Thursday morning it still hurt, but it was more of a stiffness, so I just did the same thing. Popped pills. Thursday for lunch we went to McDonald's. Afterwards, I thought I was going to DIE! I was so sore, and the Tylenol wouldn't even help. Mom suggested gallstones. So I looked it up on WebMD. Lo and behold, the symptoms of gallstones are : pain or discomfort, bloating or fullness, nausea or vomiting, yellow skin, tenderness to touch, yellow eyes, fever (slight), upper back pain. Ta-da! There was my problem! I had the same problem on Friday too, so I called and made an appointment with Dr. Greg Smith. This morning, after I told him what was going on, he automatically said 'gallstones'. Surprise! So he got me an appointment for an ultrasound - next Monday - and from there we'll get a date for surgery. 

I'M FREAKING OUT OVER HERE!!