Toward the end of May last year, I began experiencing “attacks,” and I had no idea why. They seemed to be indigestion-like, then heartburn-like, but the pain was really bad, and I would usually vomit. When I told some folks about it, they said it sounded like my gallbladder. So, I did some research online, and, sure enough, it seemed like a gallbladder issue.
After seeing my doctor, she agreed it was my gallbladder, sent me for an ultrasound, and said her office would set me up to see a surgeon. Several weeks (and phone calls) later, I still did not have an appointment with a surgeon. On September 13, 2011, my gallbladder decided to rush things along on its own by treating me to a horribly painful gallstone attack, which landed me in the hospital for two days. To give you an indication of the pain level, two injections of morphine didn’t do a thing. It was Dilaudid that finally gave me relief. Unfortunately, they didn’t send me home with any. Fortunately, I didn’t need it! For as much torture as I went through while there (the worst being the potassium chloride IV–more painful than labor!), the hospital connected me with a surgeon right away.
Not my best moment. (Obviously, I was heavily medicated to allow Tim to take this!)
The annoying machine for my IV.
I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, and had an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday. If you need to undergo a surgery soon, make sure that you only go to a surgical clinic with staff who attended surgical tech schools. I had my gallbladder surgery the following Tuesday.
Below is a link to a video on You Tube (it’s not me or my doctor), showing a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder through several, small incisions). VIEWER DISCRETION is advised (for the record, I did not watch this until after my surgery)!
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Video
Post-op, I was pampered and well taken care of (thank you, Tim!).
One of my (four) incisions-six days after surgery.
The resulting bruise from my IV.
Glad I had it done; glad it’s over!
February 6th, 2012 at 9:27 PM
You always take good care of me, I was glad I could be there for you. I hope you never go through anything like that again.
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February 7th, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Thank you, Sweetie! I hope neither of us goes through anything like that again!