Steele’s Normal Monday Turns Into A Trip To The Hospital

It started out as a normal Monday.  Up at 3am, shower, dressed, all ready to go to work. Then it hit me.  I had a feeling that sent me running to the bathroom and I got sick.  Only I hadn't eaten since 6pm the night before.  When I looked down, I saw light red in the liquid.  It alarmed me, but I headed into work - and a few minutes after I arrived at work, it happened again.  Only this time it was more intense.  So I calmly walked down to Brain's office and said, "hey man, I'm throwing up blood...I am gonna head to the ER."

A few hours and an endoscopy later they found the culprit - an pretty significant bleeding ulcer.  I was admitted to the CCU (Critical Care Unit) at St Luke's.  They had cauterized the ulcer and stopped the bleeding, but they wanted to keep me overnight for observation.  I was released yesterday afternoon and I can't say enough great things about the doctors, nurses and staff at St Luke's.  They've pinpointed the cause (NSAID use - aspirin, ibuprofen, etc...) so I have completely cut those out and I am on the mend!  Thanks to everyone who sent messages, offered up thoughts and prayers.  The pics below include the first solid food I was allowed after 32 hours of nothing but liquids, and also my face when they uncovered the food!