Alva Review-Courier -

As I mentioned last week, I woke up Sunday June 18 with a painful cramp in my stomach. I thought maybe I had food poisoning. I threw up all day, but I did not have diarrhea.

Everything I've ever heard says drink plenty of fluids so you don't get dehydrated. But if I drank a tiny sip of water, my stomach would hurt more. I felt bloated. When I tried to eat the smallest bite of a cracker, I got more bloated.

So all day Sunday I lay on the motel bed, writhing in pain. I could eat and drink nothing. Throwing up was really just experiencing “dry heaves” because there was nothing to throw up.

Monday morning was more of the same. I decided I had to get to a hospital. I would walk over toward the sink and almost fall getting there. After just a few seconds on my feet, I had to lie down again.

I woke up from one of my many naps at 1:32 p.m. I needed a bath before I could go to the hospital, so I made a special effort to get in and out of the tub quickly.

That accomplished, I lay down on the bed before drying off because my strength kept failing me.

I got up from a nap and went to brush my teeth. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush, laid it on the counter, and took another nap. When I woke up, I brushed my teeth.

I got some clothes out to wear but had to go back to sleep before getting dressed. I woke up and put on my underwear but fell asleep again.

Finally, I decided to check on the time. It was 8:34 p.m. I had spent seven hours trying to get dressed, and I still had no clothes on but underpants!

At that point, I decided to go to bed for the night and try again Tuesday. But things were getting dire. I had had no food or water for 48 hours!