For the last couple of years I have had alot of pain.  I was constantly thinking it was period pain but slowly got worse.  I just put it down to other things.

Then one day after going on a school excursion and lifting children to feed animals, the

pain got worse.  I thought i had pulled a muscle.  Three days went by and I then could not do anything and found myself standing next to the heater full time for relief. The pain gradually built up over two years and last year is when this all happened.  My husband looked after the children and my dad took me to Modbury Hospital to emergency.

They were very good the pain did slow down quite alot but I was so frightened  I would have to go home and the pain would return.  They were so good they did ultrasounds, ct scans and bloods tests, etc and told me I would have to have surgery. I had my appendix out and I was in their for four days. They put together a meeting with a specialist and told me I had appendix cancer.  Believe it or not i wasn't surprised or upset because my appendix was gone until they said I needed more surgery to have my bowel removed. Then I was scared - very scared. I looked at it that the cancer was gone but everyone else was crying around me and then it hit me alot later.

When it was time to go have surgery I was so afraid my body shook.  They gave me an epidural and did my surgery.  I wasn't sure when I woke up if I would have a bag and looked down and I didn't have one.  My husband couldn't be their as he had left his fantastic job of a long time to work at a new job.  This was very bad timing but we all need money.  Mum and dad were their and he came straight after work. The epidural worked for a few hours then it was like the room was moving all around.  They called in  a pain doctor and I had the press button pain relief similar  to morphine - the doctors were fantastic. I am so thankful to have such great doctors at Modbury Hospital they saved my life.   I had my children at this Hospital and have brought them into emergency before.  I am so glad it is close by and it is a great hospital for all ages young and old.  Well I was very very lucky it had not spread to my bowel. 

What I have learned from all this (when in doubt get checked out) don't leave things if you don't feel right go and get them checked out. 

I didn't tell my children what I was going into hospital for and should have been more honest which affected then by other people telling them.

Now I may have to have surgery again and have been honest and told them more information.

Ask the doctors everything you want to know I was told if I had any worries to ring then.

Tell the doctors everything you can think of about your symptoms when you go to emergency or follow up appointments they can't read your mind if your in pain tell them.

 One thing you have to do when going in for surgery is tell yourself your children are fine you have to accept that and other peoples help.

Don't be afraid to ask for pain relief if you feel pain coming on after surgery get pain relief before the pain builds up.