***IMPORTANT: The purpose of this blog is to inform and educate readers***
It all happened Sunday afternoon, I started having discomfort in my chest and back. My upper abdomen was bigger than normal. So much so, I thought it made me look pregnant (I want to clarify, I am most definitely NOT pregnant!). To continue with the story, the more I moved around, the better I was. I could lay certain ways and it would be more comfortable. Every Sunday night my family and I go to church, but when we came home the pain started to become unbearable. My boyfriend and I ate dinner with my family and lounged around the house before he went home.
I went to bed that night, I knew sleep would be sparse. But alas, I took my dog and went to bed. I woke up every 30 minutes to an hour and by 2:00am I was ready to get up. I didn't know how to handle the discomfort. I got up out of bed and left my dog to sleep. I went out to watch some television figuring maybe a distraction would help, and to my surprise my father had heartburn and was already doing what I planned to do. We sat and talked figuring I probably had a really bad case of heartburn. I slept sitting up for awhile that night and by morning I was miserable. I called my doctor and said, "I need a same day appointment." She told me the earliest she could get me in was 1:30pm. I said okay.
I laid around waiting for 1:30pm. I was miserable; my back felt as if it was going to break into two pieces. I took pain relievers and antacids. None of which helped. By 11:30am I was leaning over the kitchen counter head tucked between my arms and the counter crying because I couldn't handle the pressure and discomfort anymore. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy. My mother and brother said that is enough, you are going to the ER.
Upon arrival of the ER, my heart rate was 110, my blood pressure was 150/110, but no worries my oxygen was perfect. The doctor told me it could be 1 of 2 things. It could mean my pancreas was failing or it could mean my gallbladder needed to come out. Before we looked into other options we needed to look at some blood work and get an ultrasound. But first the miraculous drug, Dilaudid. My favorite drug thus far. When placed in my bloodstream it felt like I had armor on my body. It felt like my body took a huge sigh, and I didn't have a lot of pain anymore.
Back to finding out what was wrong with me. The ultrasound technician was very polite and explained what was going to happen, I wasn't worried just wanted to know why my body felt like it was falling apart. She placed the probe on my abdomen and pushed and moved the probe and pushed some more. The tears started rolling down my face, but I knew this was a good indicator of what was going on. She finished her test and wheeled my back to my room.
The results were in: My gallbladder needed to be removed ASAP, but it could wait a couple days. My Mom being the Mama bear she is said, "You call the surgeon, she is going to nursing school and needs it out now!" The Physician Assistant (PA) walked out of the room and proceeded with the request. The PA runs back into the room and says, "This never happens but they are coming right now to see you and will get your gallbladder out tonight!" My mom and I were relieved and anxious. Because now I was facing surgery.
I went up to the surgical waiting (still on the miracle drug), here is where I met my surgeon, anesthesiologist, and my nurses. All were lovely and very nice. The anesthesiologist told me I would be intubated (A breathing tube would be placed in my trachea so I could breathe). Though I have seen this done many times for my job, I certainly didn't want it done to me, but if we were gonna get the gallbladder out, intubation was the only way.
It was time to go into the operating room, it seemed very cold and bright but this is to be expected. Next, I remember moving to the table by myself but then I drifted off to sleep quickly. The next thing I know, I see my family and my boyfriend with a bouquet of red roses (ladies, he is definitely a keeper). I was pretty drugged up so I don't remember much of the night, but I was surrounded by my family and boyfriend.
This next day about 11am, I was given the all clear to go home. It was slow going, breathing was labored during walks, but a little bit at a time I got better. I was told to do laps in the house and go for as many laps as possible but listen to my body. Take a break and sit down when needed. I even went to work that Friday for a half day. Since that day, about 23 days ago, I have run, done full-time hours at work, done crunches and sit-ups. Today, I feel even better than I have in a very long time, and I am still improving one day at a time.
***Some of the descriptions and pictures below maybe graphic.***
Education TIME! What does the gallbladder do? It helps digest fat in the digestive system. Some people without gallbladders cannot digest fat well and their stool turns to diarrhea. Lucky, I am not one of these people...yet.
Where is the gallbladder located? Below the ribs and under the liver.
You can see in the picture that white mucous looking thing is fat, connective tissue, the gallbladder, and common bile duct. I have a really pretty liver, I mean look at it shine! They did cut into (biopsy) the gallbladder that was a little bit bigger than a small pear. There appeared to be between 50-100 gallstones present in the gallbladder.
It all happened Sunday afternoon, I started having discomfort in my chest and back. My upper abdomen was bigger than normal. So much so, I thought it made me look pregnant (I want to clarify, I am most definitely NOT pregnant!). To continue with the story, the more I moved around, the better I was. I could lay certain ways and it would be more comfortable. Every Sunday night my family and I go to church, but when we came home the pain started to become unbearable. My boyfriend and I ate dinner with my family and lounged around the house before he went home.
I went to bed that night, I knew sleep would be sparse. But alas, I took my dog and went to bed. I woke up every 30 minutes to an hour and by 2:00am I was ready to get up. I didn't know how to handle the discomfort. I got up out of bed and left my dog to sleep. I went out to watch some television figuring maybe a distraction would help, and to my surprise my father had heartburn and was already doing what I planned to do. We sat and talked figuring I probably had a really bad case of heartburn. I slept sitting up for awhile that night and by morning I was miserable. I called my doctor and said, "I need a same day appointment." She told me the earliest she could get me in was 1:30pm. I said okay.
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| Just a picture of my little girl... isn't she cute? |
Upon arrival of the ER, my heart rate was 110, my blood pressure was 150/110, but no worries my oxygen was perfect. The doctor told me it could be 1 of 2 things. It could mean my pancreas was failing or it could mean my gallbladder needed to come out. Before we looked into other options we needed to look at some blood work and get an ultrasound. But first the miraculous drug, Dilaudid. My favorite drug thus far. When placed in my bloodstream it felt like I had armor on my body. It felt like my body took a huge sigh, and I didn't have a lot of pain anymore.
Back to finding out what was wrong with me. The ultrasound technician was very polite and explained what was going to happen, I wasn't worried just wanted to know why my body felt like it was falling apart. She placed the probe on my abdomen and pushed and moved the probe and pushed some more. The tears started rolling down my face, but I knew this was a good indicator of what was going on. She finished her test and wheeled my back to my room.
The results were in: My gallbladder needed to be removed ASAP, but it could wait a couple days. My Mom being the Mama bear she is said, "You call the surgeon, she is going to nursing school and needs it out now!" The Physician Assistant (PA) walked out of the room and proceeded with the request. The PA runs back into the room and says, "This never happens but they are coming right now to see you and will get your gallbladder out tonight!" My mom and I were relieved and anxious. Because now I was facing surgery.
I went up to the surgical waiting (still on the miracle drug), here is where I met my surgeon, anesthesiologist, and my nurses. All were lovely and very nice. The anesthesiologist told me I would be intubated (A breathing tube would be placed in my trachea so I could breathe). Though I have seen this done many times for my job, I certainly didn't want it done to me, but if we were gonna get the gallbladder out, intubation was the only way.
It was time to go into the operating room, it seemed very cold and bright but this is to be expected. Next, I remember moving to the table by myself but then I drifted off to sleep quickly. The next thing I know, I see my family and my boyfriend with a bouquet of red roses (ladies, he is definitely a keeper). I was pretty drugged up so I don't remember much of the night, but I was surrounded by my family and boyfriend.
This next day about 11am, I was given the all clear to go home. It was slow going, breathing was labored during walks, but a little bit at a time I got better. I was told to do laps in the house and go for as many laps as possible but listen to my body. Take a break and sit down when needed. I even went to work that Friday for a half day. Since that day, about 23 days ago, I have run, done full-time hours at work, done crunches and sit-ups. Today, I feel even better than I have in a very long time, and I am still improving one day at a time.
***Some of the descriptions and pictures below maybe graphic.***
Education TIME! What does the gallbladder do? It helps digest fat in the digestive system. Some people without gallbladders cannot digest fat well and their stool turns to diarrhea. Lucky, I am not one of these people...yet.
Where is the gallbladder located? Below the ribs and under the liver.
You can see in the picture that white mucous looking thing is fat, connective tissue, the gallbladder, and common bile duct. I have a really pretty liver, I mean look at it shine! They did cut into (biopsy) the gallbladder that was a little bit bigger than a small pear. There appeared to be between 50-100 gallstones present in the gallbladder.
Yes, I have about 4 scars from this surgery I only picked out two pictures but most everyone has seen a scar. Due to the nature of this procedure the surgeon only needed a couple holes and a camera. The technical name for the procedure is laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Both of these picture are just a couple days after surgery and I was already feeling better. Thank you for everyone that sent a card and prayed for me. Love you all!
