Operation Gallbladder or How I Spent the End of My Summer Vacation
Well, it's been quite a week. An unexpected week. It all started on Wednesday around lunchtime...an innocent meal at Boston Market with some chicken, marshmallow sweet potato, a bit of mac and cheese. A normal day. That is...normal until I got a gut wrenching pain on the right side of my abdomen. I've had similar pain before, but this was much, much worse. It went away in about 20 minutes only to return several hours later resulting in pain so bad it brought tears and a trip to the ER around 7pm.
The ER is nothing like it is on "ER"...the main doctor in charge is not attractive and he has the shittiest bedside manner of any human being I've ever met. Following a revealing ultrasound, his idea of breaking the news was, "it's infected, the book says it comes out...it comes out. Tomorrow morning around 6am"...followed by him leaving the room with no discussion and no explaination. This was followed by an admitting nurse looking for a signature so I could stay overnight. When I asked for more information (to speak with the surgeon or someone who could talk to me about this without being a total asshole), I was greeted with the return of the same ER doc and his sarcasm of the situation as he pointed to Katharine, "What? I tell you what's happening. She doesn't believe me? The book says it comes out." I had told Katharine of his lack of bedside manner and in front of him, she agreed, "You're SO right". "Right about what?" he asked.
So, I was admitted around 1130pm and dragged off down the creepiest hospital hallway EVER..."UNDER CONSTRUCTION" warned all the signs around me. I could hear saws rumbling in the background (I'm not making this up...it was the construction). "I've seen this movie," I informed the orderly, "This never ends well". He chuckled as if he were planning my doom. He wasn't...the Observation room was at the end if the creepy hallway and its staff was thoughtful...the rooms were separated only by curtains...because everyone was under observation. It was around 1am.
The next morning arrived...it was about 7am on Thursday when Katharine and I were both awakened by the sounds of a bedpan being filled behind my neighbors curtain. I was informed that the surgeon would arrive in a couple of hours...a couple turned into four. Unlike the doctor from the previous evening...my surgeon had some tact and a kind way about him. He obviously had much more experience talking to human beings. He informed me that the idiot from the night earlier was wrong and there was no infection, but my gallbladder was FULL of stones. So full in fact, that they were passing through it and that was the pain I felt. Ouch. He gave me the choice of going home...and living with that unbearable pain...or having my diseased gallbladder removed. After some debate (it's true...I admit it...I wasn't going to do it out of fear of surgery) I choose B...have my gallbladder removed...the next day at 10am. Another overnight in the hospital. Katharine kept me company for the night and I tried to share the tiny hospital bed while hooked up to an IV for the 2nd night.
Surgery day was Friday and I had some worry in my head, but not as much as I thought I would...until they rolled me into the operating room. They promised that I wouldn't be awake during the surgery...because I saw that on Nip/Tuck once. They gave me some "happy juice" to drink, which tasted like sour vinegar mixed with sour apple juice...and then carbonated. It was nasty. They tortured me a little bit when they couldn't get the *first* IV in my hand. "Tortured" is not an exaggeration...she tried for almost 10 minutes...I still feel it today. And then they gave me some kind of pills, which I didn't try to identify for the first time in my life (another truth...not a big fan of medication). They shaved my stomach...if you've ever seen me at the beach...you know that's something. They rolled me into the room and asked me to scoot over to the operating table...at which time I can't remember anymore because of some amnesia stuff they put in my IV. Good. Who wants to remember?
I do remember waking up after surgery and asking for my gallbladder...the doctor's response is the same as yours. "What the hell do you want that for?" What about the stones? How many of them were there? "I didn't count them," he answered jokingly annoyed. Then he explained how people used to make necklaces out of stones...that was nasty. I stopped asking questions and went back to sleep...like I had a choice
I had several visitors before and after the ordeal...even though I fell asleep consistently during some of your visits...I am still very appreciative. Katharine stayed at the hospital most of the time...even though it was uncomfortable. I appreciate that publicly as well. I'm recovering quite nicely and there's much more to this story of course. I can't possibly tell the whole story here. Some of you probably didn't make it to the end out of boredom. Just thought I'd tell the story and link to a picture of the aftermath. WARNING: It's not pretty.
The ER is nothing like it is on "ER"...the main doctor in charge is not attractive and he has the shittiest bedside manner of any human being I've ever met. Following a revealing ultrasound, his idea of breaking the news was, "it's infected, the book says it comes out...it comes out. Tomorrow morning around 6am"...followed by him leaving the room with no discussion and no explaination. This was followed by an admitting nurse looking for a signature so I could stay overnight. When I asked for more information (to speak with the surgeon or someone who could talk to me about this without being a total asshole), I was greeted with the return of the same ER doc and his sarcasm of the situation as he pointed to Katharine, "What? I tell you what's happening. She doesn't believe me? The book says it comes out." I had told Katharine of his lack of bedside manner and in front of him, she agreed, "You're SO right". "Right about what?" he asked.
So, I was admitted around 1130pm and dragged off down the creepiest hospital hallway EVER..."UNDER CONSTRUCTION" warned all the signs around me. I could hear saws rumbling in the background (I'm not making this up...it was the construction). "I've seen this movie," I informed the orderly, "This never ends well". He chuckled as if he were planning my doom. He wasn't...the Observation room was at the end if the creepy hallway and its staff was thoughtful...the rooms were separated only by curtains...because everyone was under observation. It was around 1am.
The next morning arrived...it was about 7am on Thursday when Katharine and I were both awakened by the sounds of a bedpan being filled behind my neighbors curtain. I was informed that the surgeon would arrive in a couple of hours...a couple turned into four. Unlike the doctor from the previous evening...my surgeon had some tact and a kind way about him. He obviously had much more experience talking to human beings. He informed me that the idiot from the night earlier was wrong and there was no infection, but my gallbladder was FULL of stones. So full in fact, that they were passing through it and that was the pain I felt. Ouch. He gave me the choice of going home...and living with that unbearable pain...or having my diseased gallbladder removed. After some debate (it's true...I admit it...I wasn't going to do it out of fear of surgery) I choose B...have my gallbladder removed...the next day at 10am. Another overnight in the hospital. Katharine kept me company for the night and I tried to share the tiny hospital bed while hooked up to an IV for the 2nd night.
Surgery day was Friday and I had some worry in my head, but not as much as I thought I would...until they rolled me into the operating room. They promised that I wouldn't be awake during the surgery...because I saw that on Nip/Tuck once. They gave me some "happy juice" to drink, which tasted like sour vinegar mixed with sour apple juice...and then carbonated. It was nasty. They tortured me a little bit when they couldn't get the *first* IV in my hand. "Tortured" is not an exaggeration...she tried for almost 10 minutes...I still feel it today. And then they gave me some kind of pills, which I didn't try to identify for the first time in my life (another truth...not a big fan of medication). They shaved my stomach...if you've ever seen me at the beach...you know that's something. They rolled me into the room and asked me to scoot over to the operating table...at which time I can't remember anymore because of some amnesia stuff they put in my IV. Good. Who wants to remember?
I do remember waking up after surgery and asking for my gallbladder...the doctor's response is the same as yours. "What the hell do you want that for?" What about the stones? How many of them were there? "I didn't count them," he answered jokingly annoyed. Then he explained how people used to make necklaces out of stones...that was nasty. I stopped asking questions and went back to sleep...like I had a choice
I had several visitors before and after the ordeal...even though I fell asleep consistently during some of your visits...I am still very appreciative. Katharine stayed at the hospital most of the time...even though it was uncomfortable. I appreciate that publicly as well. I'm recovering quite nicely and there's much more to this story of course. I can't possibly tell the whole story here. Some of you probably didn't make it to the end out of boredom. Just thought I'd tell the story and link to a picture of the aftermath. WARNING: It's not pretty.
posted by Jeff - WeinerToons at 3:33 PM
4 Comments:
oh my goodness!!!!
Jeff, I had no idea it turned into SUCH an ordeal!!!!! Argh... you forgot to mention which hospital you went to, please let us all know so we can be sure to avoid from this point on. ARGH!!!!
Glad your pains are a thing of the past. Wishing you prompt recovery!!!! I would have asked for my gallbladder too and frankly, I did expect a blown-up picture of it on your website, lol!!!!!
Take good care
Helen and Jay
Not a bad job. Looks like you're going to make it. At least it's not an open reduction of the zygoma which can make the entire side of your face black and blue.
Get well soon!
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Ouch! I hope that you're feeling better now. And ew gross, I clicked on the picture. The diet changes after having your gall bladder taken out aren't exactly fun, but it sure beats the heck out of feeling lousy. My hat's off to Katharine for her loyalty and patience. Cheers!
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