Gallbladder Good Byes
The decision to have my gallbladder removed wasn't easy. I contemplated the outcome long before I met with my Doc to confirm the cause of my pain. The pain associated with surgery was enough to make me walk away, but I did not.
I drove my kids up to my parents on Thursday after retrieving Jonathan from school. They were both smitten with the idea of three nights and four days with grandpa, grandma, auntie, uncle, and three cousins! Once we arrived at my parents, the kids were off and running. They could have cared a less where I was or if I was sticking around. In fact, Allie was so excited she came running in the kitchen yelling, "when are you leaving?" Apparently, the plans she had with our extended family didn't include me or her daddy. I, meanwhile, sat there broken, but thankful to know my kids were in great hands! I hung out for a while and at bedtime, I headed out for my long drive home, alone.
Aaron and I enjoyed "my last supper" together. McDonald's Chocolate Shakes and a McChicken sandwich. The new McD shakes are awesome, in case you were wondering.
The next morning, we were off to the hospital at 7:45am. They brought me back right away and did all the usual OR prep. The nurse was a trainee and didn't do so hot on my IV, but we all need to learn at some point. They tried to play it off, but I knew it wasn't quite right. The trainer then disclosed to the trainee that she passed the vein and nearly blew it, but pulled back in time. Thank God! I didn't want her to stick me again!
Once "settled," Aaron, and two of our pastors came back to say hi and pray with me. It was nice to have them there for us. Shortly after "amen," the nurse anesthetist came in and whisked me away to la la land!
When I woke up, I was in the PACU and all seemed to have gone well. I do remember the nurse wheeling me to Same Day surgery and me saying, "I'm in room 12." How on earth I remembered that is beyond me or her! It took quite sometime for me to come fully out of anesthesia, which is normal for me. Aaron was finally able to come back and man was it good to see him. He spent the time prior updating friends and family through phone calls, Facebook, and Twitter (how did we get the word out prior to social networking).
After the nurse shoved soda crackers, juice, and a pill in me, I went to the bathroom. On the way back, I sat on the end of my bed and preceded to vomit profusely!!!! I always do this, so I wasn't shocked, but the nurses were. They had me lay down "for an hour" and rest. A half hour later, another nurse came in and said it was time to get up and try it all again! Um, what happened to my "hour of rest?" It was then I got feisty and said, "OK, what do I have to do to get out of here?" I downed juice, a couple crackers, and had Aaron help me get dressed. Signed papers and were out of there all within about 45 minutes! I was done and ready for my own bed.
We left the hospital at 5:15pm with a blue plastic barf bag in hand! Good bye severely-inflamed-I-made-the-right-decision Gallbladder!
Upon arriving home, I hit the hay! Aaron left for a minute to get my pills and quickly returned.
My girlfriend, Sara, stopped by and got more than she bargained for! I was sicker than a dog and she was a saint to stay and help Aaron with me. I'm indebted to her forever! My entire first night was spent running shouting for the barf bag and stumbling to the bathroom. My surgeon said my first night at home would be "the worst night of my life." He was right.
Saturday, Sarah and Jenna came to babysit me while Aaron ran and got our 1/4 beef we bought from my cousins at Gilbertson Farms. Jenna put quite the smile on my face. Her and I cuddled in bed (breaks my heart to think I can't hold her for another 9 days) where I spent the next two days (only getting up for bathroom breaks, nibbles of crackers, a bite of misc food here and there, and a walk around my room) due to horrible nausea!
Finally, Monday came and so did Zofran!!!! My life is forever changed! I started eating, sitting up for long periods of time, enjoying television, doing my Fill Ins, walking downstairs, fending more for myself, you get the idea!
Today, I am down to only taking Percocet so I can sleep all night. I take 3 Extra Strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours, eat small amounts of whatever I want, sit in my red Poang chair in the living room, and enjoy the hugs and kisses from my kids!
I drove my kids up to my parents on Thursday after retrieving Jonathan from school. They were both smitten with the idea of three nights and four days with grandpa, grandma, auntie, uncle, and three cousins! Once we arrived at my parents, the kids were off and running. They could have cared a less where I was or if I was sticking around. In fact, Allie was so excited she came running in the kitchen yelling, "when are you leaving?" Apparently, the plans she had with our extended family didn't include me or her daddy. I, meanwhile, sat there broken, but thankful to know my kids were in great hands! I hung out for a while and at bedtime, I headed out for my long drive home, alone.
Aaron and I enjoyed "my last supper" together. McDonald's Chocolate Shakes and a McChicken sandwich. The new McD shakes are awesome, in case you were wondering.
The next morning, we were off to the hospital at 7:45am. They brought me back right away and did all the usual OR prep. The nurse was a trainee and didn't do so hot on my IV, but we all need to learn at some point. They tried to play it off, but I knew it wasn't quite right. The trainer then disclosed to the trainee that she passed the vein and nearly blew it, but pulled back in time. Thank God! I didn't want her to stick me again!
Once "settled," Aaron, and two of our pastors came back to say hi and pray with me. It was nice to have them there for us. Shortly after "amen," the nurse anesthetist came in and whisked me away to la la land!
When I woke up, I was in the PACU and all seemed to have gone well. I do remember the nurse wheeling me to Same Day surgery and me saying, "I'm in room 12." How on earth I remembered that is beyond me or her! It took quite sometime for me to come fully out of anesthesia, which is normal for me. Aaron was finally able to come back and man was it good to see him. He spent the time prior updating friends and family through phone calls, Facebook, and Twitter (how did we get the word out prior to social networking).
After the nurse shoved soda crackers, juice, and a pill in me, I went to the bathroom. On the way back, I sat on the end of my bed and preceded to vomit profusely!!!! I always do this, so I wasn't shocked, but the nurses were. They had me lay down "for an hour" and rest. A half hour later, another nurse came in and said it was time to get up and try it all again! Um, what happened to my "hour of rest?" It was then I got feisty and said, "OK, what do I have to do to get out of here?" I downed juice, a couple crackers, and had Aaron help me get dressed. Signed papers and were out of there all within about 45 minutes! I was done and ready for my own bed.
We left the hospital at 5:15pm with a blue plastic barf bag in hand! Good bye severely-inflamed-I-made-the-right-decision Gallbladder!
Upon arriving home, I hit the hay! Aaron left for a minute to get my pills and quickly returned.
My girlfriend, Sara, stopped by and got more than she bargained for! I was sicker than a dog and she was a saint to stay and help Aaron with me. I'm indebted to her forever! My entire first night was spent
Saturday, Sarah and Jenna came to babysit me while Aaron ran and got our 1/4 beef we bought from my cousins at Gilbertson Farms. Jenna put quite the smile on my face. Her and I cuddled in bed (breaks my heart to think I can't hold her for another 9 days) where I spent the next two days (only getting up for bathroom breaks, nibbles of crackers, a bite of misc food here and there, and a walk around my room) due to horrible nausea!
Finally, Monday came and so did Zofran!!!! My life is forever changed! I started eating, sitting up for long periods of time, enjoying television, doing my Fill Ins, walking downstairs, fending more for myself, you get the idea!
Today, I am down to only taking Percocet so I can sleep all night. I take 3 Extra Strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours, eat small amounts of whatever I want, sit in my red Poang chair in the living room, and enjoy the hugs and kisses from my kids!
Comments
So glad you're doing better, it will definitely be worth it! :)