The gallbladder surgery
Hi there. I'm back, and only minus one major organ. To be honest, and I promise I'm not on any of the hardcore pain pills right now, I don't feel nearly as bad as I thought I would. Sure, I'm in pain, but I'm not dying by any means. I think the worst part of the recovery is the gas pains. To be able to see what they're doing in your stomach, they have to pump you full of air. Most of the air they will be able to get out, the rest, has to come out naturally, and it rises up to your shoulders and neck. The gas pain in my neck, is what's bothering me the most, only because it hurts to breathe too deeply, and it kind of hurts to move your head around too much. Besides that, honestly, I'm hanging in there.
I had to check into the hospital at 12:30. and once my mom and I got there early, I checked in, paid the first part of what I owe, and got my hospital bracelet. We were then moved to the surgery waiting room. I waited there with my mom for a little while, shed a few tears, and was then taken up to pre-op. In pre-op, I gave a urine sample, got my hospital gown on, and they started my iv of saline. This was the part that killed me the most, because there was a LOT and a LOT and a LOT of waiting. The hospital I was having my surgery at is a teaching hospital, so there was a lot of residents coming in and out of my "room", introducing themselves and what not. The thing I am most grateful for, is that the minister of my church came by to visit before my surgery. I felt extremely comforted, and of course, shed a few more tears.
Finally my anesthesiologist came in, and my doctor came in at the same time. We talked for a little while longer, and then it was time. This is about all I remember. I remember them putting the other railing up on the side of my bed, and I remember giving my Mom one last hug, and that's it. What!? My Dad says, at that point the anesthesiologist turned on the relaxation medicine, so that could be why I don't remember anything beyond that, but I remember nothing after giving my mom a hug. Mom says I was really anxious, and she walked down the hallway with me/the bed, but I don't remember. To be honest with you, I'm a little bummed I don't remember anything beyond that. It probably would have freaked me the fuck out, were I to remember anything beyond that, but I wanted to see the operating room. Oh well. The relaxation medicine, must have really relaxed me.
The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery with a oxygen tube in my nose feeling super groggy, and out of it. I felt nauseous, and sore. I don't know how long I was in recovery, but it didn't feel like I was there that long. But I couldn't have felt any better when I finally got the opportunity to put on my clothes and get wheeled out to the car. On the other side of the curtain on one side, there was a guy moaning and groaning, and the other side, a nurse talking to the guy about having to stay the night. Safe to say, I was ready to go. I didn't want to be in the hospital and around that any more then I needed to be.
I've been spending most of my time resting and sleeping. I went to my piercing place to get my ear piercings put back in, because they all had to come out, but that's about all I've been able to do. It sucks, but I'm glad to be feeling better. According to my surgeon everything went okay. My gallstone was pretty big, and my gallbladder was a little inflamed and had some gunk in it. So, even though I hadn't had any attacks recently, it was probably a really really good thing that I got it out when I did. I've got four incisions in my stomach, and I can't complain about too much really, because I think this surgery was pretty successful.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to feeling better and better as recovery continues, and am definitely looking forward to getting back to eating again. Thank you millionstar for being such an INCREDIBLE support system. You're simply the best. And thank you thekeyholder for taking the time to shoot me a message. Thank you for thinking of me.
Here's to a continued wonderful recovery.
I had to check into the hospital at 12:30. and once my mom and I got there early, I checked in, paid the first part of what I owe, and got my hospital bracelet. We were then moved to the surgery waiting room. I waited there with my mom for a little while, shed a few tears, and was then taken up to pre-op. In pre-op, I gave a urine sample, got my hospital gown on, and they started my iv of saline. This was the part that killed me the most, because there was a LOT and a LOT and a LOT of waiting. The hospital I was having my surgery at is a teaching hospital, so there was a lot of residents coming in and out of my "room", introducing themselves and what not. The thing I am most grateful for, is that the minister of my church came by to visit before my surgery. I felt extremely comforted, and of course, shed a few more tears.
Finally my anesthesiologist came in, and my doctor came in at the same time. We talked for a little while longer, and then it was time. This is about all I remember. I remember them putting the other railing up on the side of my bed, and I remember giving my Mom one last hug, and that's it. What!? My Dad says, at that point the anesthesiologist turned on the relaxation medicine, so that could be why I don't remember anything beyond that, but I remember nothing after giving my mom a hug. Mom says I was really anxious, and she walked down the hallway with me/the bed, but I don't remember. To be honest with you, I'm a little bummed I don't remember anything beyond that. It probably would have freaked me the fuck out, were I to remember anything beyond that, but I wanted to see the operating room. Oh well. The relaxation medicine, must have really relaxed me.
The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery with a oxygen tube in my nose feeling super groggy, and out of it. I felt nauseous, and sore. I don't know how long I was in recovery, but it didn't feel like I was there that long. But I couldn't have felt any better when I finally got the opportunity to put on my clothes and get wheeled out to the car. On the other side of the curtain on one side, there was a guy moaning and groaning, and the other side, a nurse talking to the guy about having to stay the night. Safe to say, I was ready to go. I didn't want to be in the hospital and around that any more then I needed to be.
I've been spending most of my time resting and sleeping. I went to my piercing place to get my ear piercings put back in, because they all had to come out, but that's about all I've been able to do. It sucks, but I'm glad to be feeling better. According to my surgeon everything went okay. My gallstone was pretty big, and my gallbladder was a little inflamed and had some gunk in it. So, even though I hadn't had any attacks recently, it was probably a really really good thing that I got it out when I did. I've got four incisions in my stomach, and I can't complain about too much really, because I think this surgery was pretty successful.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to feeling better and better as recovery continues, and am definitely looking forward to getting back to eating again. Thank you millionstar for being such an INCREDIBLE support system. You're simply the best. And thank you thekeyholder for taking the time to shoot me a message. Thank you for thinking of me.
Here's to a continued wonderful recovery.