I finally had my surgery!!!

MissCrystal 9:31 PM 10 Comments Edit

Not the one we wanted though.
Let's take a step back in time...... Do ya'll remember me talking about my ulcers?
Allow me to refresh your memory...
There was the 4 am "Ulcer pain wake up call".
There was the "Had to leave dinner at a friend's due to ulcer pain".
There was the 2 weeks that I spent "Drinking cabbage juice to cure ulcers."
And then for good measure "An update on my ulcers" post.
There was the time I fainted due to my "Ulcer pain" and the only one home was Caden, who was 4. There was the time that I was taken out of a Kohls by an ambulance because of my "Ulcer pain". And also a time I laid on my inlaws couch and cried due to my "ulcer pain". I could continue... But I think you get the point that my "Ulcers" have made my life hell for the last 2 years. I'd had an endoscopy done, no ulcers found. And I'd had a barium swallow done, no ulcers found.
Anywho... on Saturday the 2nd of July I started getting "ulcer" pain. Which kept me up all night, and which I still had when I woke up. So I decided to go to the Emergency room. But not the same one I had been to the last 2 years. I wanted a new opinion!!
So I went to the ER and (When I finally get seen) the Nurse asks me if I'd ever had my gall bladder looked at. Nooooooooooooooooo. So during my next 4 hours of waiting in the ER to be seen I googled my gall bladder. And BINGO!! What do you think I read?

Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side
Pain between shoulder blades
Stools light or chalky colored
Indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods
Nausea
Dizziness
Bloating
Gas
Burping or belching
Feeling of fullness or food not digesting

Well! All of that sure sounds familiar!!! So after I wait a total of 6 hours I finally get an ultrasound, and they find stones. I was so relieved to know what was going on! And that there was a cure. Removing it!

However the Dr refused to do the surgery. He gave me some pain pills and said call my own Dr...But that I needed the surgery done immediately.

I was in shock! So I decided the next day, if I was still in pain I would go to a new ER.

Well Monday came around (Yes July 4th) and I tried a new hospital. Within 2 hours I was in a bed, seen by a doctor, had an ultrasound done, and had been told they were scheduling the surgery for Wednesday and I would stay in the hospital until then. I literally cried in relief.

Me waiting for Ultrasound.

My poor arm after my second IV

My HUGE hospital room!!

I had my own room and bathroom.

I had a pretty great view of the city too.

One of my "Feel better" cards and flowers.

I had what was called a Cholycystectomy.

So now I have 4 wounds in my tummy that are bruising up quite nicely.

That last one is right under my bra line.... SEXY!! lol

So now I am at home recuperating. Since I do need to be more careful with my diet (IE eating more so that bile doesn't build up) I have joined http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and I am quite impressed with it! It even has a great app for my droid, with a bar code scanner for foods. It really has helped a lot!! I have already lost ten pounds.

Here are actual photos that my surgeon took of my gallbladder.

(Pssst... It's that thing that looks like a schmeckle!)