I don’t know how often I was asked about my pain level. The scale started at 0 and ended at 10. At first, I wasn’t sure how to answer. Since I wasn’t sure what a pain level of 10 was, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

Then, it hit me. The most pain I’ve ever experienced was during a bout with kidney stones. The pain was so bad I thought I was going to pass out. That level of pain was my 10. While in the hospital, my pain never went above a 5.

I was hospitalized for four days and then released to go home with a drain. I was supposed to return in a week to have the drain removed. Three days after leaving the hospital, I was in ER with a pulmonary embolism. The five or six hours in ER weren’t fun, but I’m glad they decided to do a CT scan and find the blockages. I hate to admit that I had no idea how dangerous the situation was. Once again, God led the Physician’s Assistant and all the healthcare workers to do a CT scan.

The next few days were okay. I was recovering. The drain was inconvenient, but I knew I would only have it for a few more days.

Pain Level

Eight days after leaving the hospital, I returned to have the drain removed. My surgical team was terrific every step of the way. Whenever I called, someone answered the phone or called me back within an hour.

As I sat in the examination room, the surgeon told me it would be a strange sensation as they removed the drain. He told me to take a deep breath and let it out slowly as the nurse removed the sutures and pulled out the drain.

As the drain was being removed, the strange sensation was soon replaced by excruciating pain. As the doctor instructed me about my follow-up appointment with my primary care physician, I began sweating. The pain continued to get worse.

I would have rated the pain at a nine or perhaps even a ten if they had asked me. For a moment, I wondered if I was going to pass out. My wife was there and said all the color left my face.

My reaction was a new experience for the nurse, but the doctor said he had seen it happen a few times. They had me stay in the examining room until the pain subsided. I appreciate the care they showed. Since I knew there was no way I could walk out of the hospital, they found me a wheelchair so we could go home.

A few hours later, I was feeling much better.

I haven’t had any issues since. As far as I can tell, my recovery is going well. I still get tired, but that is to be expected. I believe the worst is over, and I’m glad the tumor is gone. Day by day, I’m recovering.

Prayer

I continue to mention how much I appreciate your prayers and concerns. I know your prayers are making a difference. I went to the ER because my left foot was very swollen. After checking my leg for blood clots, taking a chest X-ray, and not finding anything, they could have sent me home. But they didn’t send me home.

Some of my labs were elevated, and the Physician’s assistant believed something was happening, so she ordered a CT scan. The CT scan showed two pulmonary embolisms.

I’m thankful for medical and scientific knowledge. More than that, I’m thankful for heavenly wisdom. Prayer opens us to heavenly wisdom and brings insights we might not get otherwise. So thank you for your prayers. Who knows if the PA would have decided to order a CT scan without your prayers? I believe your prayers influenced my time in ER.

Since the ER visit, I have had appointments with my surgical and primary care physicians, who were very impressed with the ER finding the PEs. I know ER physicians are well-trained, but sometimes we need God’s wisdom and insight.

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of deciding to do the right thing at the right time. Not because you knew what to do but because you had a deeper insight. I find the more time I spend in prayer, the more insights I have.

If you believe prayer makes a difference, let my experience remind you to pray for others! We may never know the difference our prayers make.