OK, so, where were we? Oh yes, when last we saw our intrepid adventurers they were waving goodbye to Papa who was going into the OR to have his kidney stone removed, lol.
So, Mom went with Step-father while Tsu went in with me and they informed me that i was allowed nothing to eat or drink until after my consult with the doctor. Then if we were hacking this thing out no food or water, just ice chips, until after the surgery. I'd not eaten or had anything to drink since the day before anyway, was thirsty as heck, and was operating on a severe lack of coffee. Colour me crabby, friends.
But by now I was on morphine which was helping. I was also on anti-barf stuff which was helping even more. Before long the doctor came in and we chatted. He filled me in on my options and I discussed my concerns about the side effects. During this time my mom came back in and was there for the consult. He was pretty up front with me about the risk of "dumping syndrome". I also discussed it with nurses and they said most folks who have issues find it is related to just certain food items that they can avoid, but that yes, some folks just have this issue no matter what for the rest of their lives. That said, both of my nurses had their gall bladders removed and neither one of them has ever had any issues afterward, EVER. So with that in mind and everything else rattling around in my head I said, "Let's do this!!!"
*side note, I forgot earlier.... when I was still in the ER my ex inlaws came in because it turned out Papa needed some blood work done anyway. Tiff was with them and needed to get into the house for her stuff since she obviously wouldn't be coming home that night*
OK, so we let everyone know what was up. In laws came up to see how I was doing and Karen brought me a stuffed poodle to keep me company since she knows I do not sleep well without a dog around (hehehe! and I did sleep with it!). Eventually everyone headed home and left me to snooze. Step-dad had made it through his stone removal but they kept him and extra night. I told him he need to change the family name from "Cory" to "Quarry", since we are so good at producing rocks. *groan* I'd waited all day for the chance to use that line.
Anyway, that evening I am laying there resting and the phone rings. It is Papa, the ex father in law. It seems Tiff was getting some attitude. he said she was saying, "That is MY mom and if I want to be there while she has surgery I should be able to be there!!" *big grin* So I talked to her, calmed her down, and had her call Tsu to see about coming up with him the next day.
Shortly after that I gained a room mate.
But the story of my room mate will have to wait for the next installment of the adventure because I need to lay back down for a bit.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Great Gall Bladder Adventure! Part 1
OK, here is the story!
let's go back to the middle of last week right after I made my last real post. I'd had a short gall bladder flare up the night before that was minor and only lasted about an hour. I blamed that on gas, I think. The within hours of making that post I was having a full fledged attack almost identical to the one I posted about last week after my brother's wedding rehearsal. Around 10pm I told Tsu, "I think this is my cue to go back to the doctor. 3 or 4 a year is one thing, 3 in one WEEK? WHOLE other ball of wax."
It was progressing like a usual attack for the first 4 to 6 hours then the pain changed to my entire abdomen and lower back. One of the signs my doctor said to watch out for was a change in the presentation of the pain. So every hour or so it would let up and then 20 minutes later it would be back full force. By mid-morning I woke Tsu up and said, "I hate to do this on your vacation and when you had plans to go fishing with your dad, but I think we need to go to the hospital."
Tiff was here so i had her call her Oomama and Papa (my ex's folks) and see if she could go over there. She was stumbling over her words trying to explain what was ging on so she handed me the phone and I told Papa that I was going to the ER for this gall bladder attack and could we drop her at their house. Of course they said yes. I love those guys. They are made of awesome.
So I packed up my books and my knitting (hehe) and we dropped Tiff off and Oomama and Papa's on the way. Once we got to the hospital I got all signed in. Talked to the nurse about the issue. She said that the side effects my family experiences are usually called "Dumping Syndrome". The name made me laugh, and laughing made me hurt. We got to the hospital at 10:30am. I finally got a PA in to see me at noon. I finally got pain meds around 2pm just before my ultrasound. They also did bloodwork at that point and saw that my liver enzymes were elevated and my gallstones had apparently been breeding since my last ultrasound because they were almost doubled in size AND number. So I got moved to a room at 3:30pm to await consultation with a doctor about surgery.
SO... as they are wheeling me up to my room I am out of it but I hear what sounds like my MOM talking. *makes weird face* OK, this is odd because no one but my ex inlaws knows what is going on at this point. No wait, my inlaws knew too because Tsu had to cancel fishing but no one knew I was being admitted yet at all. How would they know to come to the hospital? I look back and see my step-dad on a bed being wheeled out of a room as I am being wheeled into the one RIGHT NEXT DOOR! After some laughing and questions we find out that he spent the entire day BEFORE in the emergency room with a KIDNEY stone! They just hadn't had time to call around and fill everyone in on what was going on yet. He was going in to have the kidney stone removed when he saw Tsu walk by his door!
OK, I'm going to take a break from writing because I am tired and sitting here is making me sore, but I will be back later to write more.
let's go back to the middle of last week right after I made my last real post. I'd had a short gall bladder flare up the night before that was minor and only lasted about an hour. I blamed that on gas, I think. The within hours of making that post I was having a full fledged attack almost identical to the one I posted about last week after my brother's wedding rehearsal. Around 10pm I told Tsu, "I think this is my cue to go back to the doctor. 3 or 4 a year is one thing, 3 in one WEEK? WHOLE other ball of wax."
It was progressing like a usual attack for the first 4 to 6 hours then the pain changed to my entire abdomen and lower back. One of the signs my doctor said to watch out for was a change in the presentation of the pain. So every hour or so it would let up and then 20 minutes later it would be back full force. By mid-morning I woke Tsu up and said, "I hate to do this on your vacation and when you had plans to go fishing with your dad, but I think we need to go to the hospital."
Tiff was here so i had her call her Oomama and Papa (my ex's folks) and see if she could go over there. She was stumbling over her words trying to explain what was ging on so she handed me the phone and I told Papa that I was going to the ER for this gall bladder attack and could we drop her at their house. Of course they said yes. I love those guys. They are made of awesome.
So I packed up my books and my knitting (hehe) and we dropped Tiff off and Oomama and Papa's on the way. Once we got to the hospital I got all signed in. Talked to the nurse about the issue. She said that the side effects my family experiences are usually called "Dumping Syndrome". The name made me laugh, and laughing made me hurt. We got to the hospital at 10:30am. I finally got a PA in to see me at noon. I finally got pain meds around 2pm just before my ultrasound. They also did bloodwork at that point and saw that my liver enzymes were elevated and my gallstones had apparently been breeding since my last ultrasound because they were almost doubled in size AND number. So I got moved to a room at 3:30pm to await consultation with a doctor about surgery.
SO... as they are wheeling me up to my room I am out of it but I hear what sounds like my MOM talking. *makes weird face* OK, this is odd because no one but my ex inlaws knows what is going on at this point. No wait, my inlaws knew too because Tsu had to cancel fishing but no one knew I was being admitted yet at all. How would they know to come to the hospital? I look back and see my step-dad on a bed being wheeled out of a room as I am being wheeled into the one RIGHT NEXT DOOR! After some laughing and questions we find out that he spent the entire day BEFORE in the emergency room with a KIDNEY stone! They just hadn't had time to call around and fill everyone in on what was going on yet. He was going in to have the kidney stone removed when he saw Tsu walk by his door!
OK, I'm going to take a break from writing because I am tired and sitting here is making me sore, but I will be back later to write more.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
guess what
guess what happened immediately after my last post?
i had two more gall bladder attacks in one week and got my gall bladder removed. i am too sore right now to move my laptop and typing all leaned over hurts but i will give the whole story when i feel better, lol
i had two more gall bladder attacks in one week and got my gall bladder removed. i am too sore right now to move my laptop and typing all leaned over hurts but i will give the whole story when i feel better, lol
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