<@Drake> SO becuase of my on going medicical concerns, I have been suffering with a lot oa exxess fluid in my body.
<@Drake> Today I went and got a parentsis, or getting Tapped as they call it.
<@Drake> (this will be some TMI)
<@Drake> for the past 2 months I've been having a hard time sleeping, or eating much.  I've been really sore and bloated.
<Katarina> Ooof
<sapph> ^
<@Drake> This morning I had a brief panic attack when I tried to throw up, but between the little I was able to eat and the fact I was fasting for the procedure, I literally didn't have anything to give up.
<@Drake> We got to the hospital in San Antionio and they took me to the ultrasound room, where they checked my belly to see the best place to tap would be.  The Nurse is showing me the Ultrasounds, and tell me that all the black space, was just fluid.  and it took up more the 1/2 of the picture
<@Drake> Doctor comes in and double checks, drapes with was a sterie dressing, and does the most painful part of the procedure.  The first shot of lidocane, to numb the skin.
<@Drake> Then a second shot, deeper in, which I did not feel at all.  Then a third needle with the tap.  He takes that tap out, leaving the tap in and hooks me up to the vacumm
<@Drake> The removed 5 liters of fluid from me
<Tanner> ....
<Tanner> that's a lot
<Katarina> Wow
<sapph> that sounds horribly unpleasant
<@Drake> for reference the blood volume of a normal person is 4.5-5.5 liters
<@Drake> It weighs 11 lbs
<sapph> O_O
<@Drake> and it really wasn't.  I could feel the swelling going down, and I could breath again.
<@Drake> Oh, to be able to easily breath
<sapph> will you have to repeat this proceedure or can to mitigate fluid collecting?
<@Drake> My belly button has gone back to being an inie, and not an outie.
<@Drake> So some people get this done every other day.  I'm currently scheduled for 1 every month
<Katarina> Yay
* sapph nods
<sapph> as long as it helps
<@Drake> There are things to do to help midagate taht and we're working on them
<sapph> that's good to hear
<@Drake> Then she seal up the would with surgical grade superglue so it doesn't keep leaking
<@Drake> And they take my to get an IV of Albumin, which is basically a simple protein to help protect my kidneys, and keep me from cramping.
<@Drake> They could have taken more fluid, but they don't want to shock the kidneys and damage them.
<@Drake> That was when I relaized I was HUNGRY
<Echo_Homid{HS}> oh dear.
<@Drake> So we went to this dive sea food resturant which was soooooo good
<@Drake> I ate 1/2 a boudain sausage, a dozen boiled shrimp, steak and lobster.
<@Drake> And I could have eaten more
<@Drake> So I'm feeling better than I have in a while, and I cannot wai