So I got my gall bladder removed

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Figured I'd say it here, so you guys don't pick it up off the streets.

I'd been having a nearly-constant stomache ache since last friday, which on two occasions peaked up to maddeningly painful; both of which times I ended up going to the ER. The second time, they narrowed my problem down to my gall bladder, which was functioning at less than 30% of its supposed efficiency, after thinking it might have been acid reflux the first time.

It took them about 12 hours to arrange for all the testing, but two hours after they figured out my gall bladder was wunky, they had me under the knife. I ended up overnighting at the hospital, which was longer than usual for the procedure, but probably a good thing. I ended up throwing up twice that night, after sleeping sporadically. (I was coming up on being a day without sleep when I was first able to get any rest).

Anyways, the surgery went well. The night after, I threw up twice, not sure if it was from the anastesia or from the pain of standing up with torso wounds. After that, though, things weren't too bad. I've only recently reclaimed the ability to sit, and the pain is tolerable, as long as I'm not actually moving my torso. I've also learned that popiscles are excellent food for after surgery, as they are icy and thus hydrates the back of one's throat nicely whilst one eats on them.

With the basic rambling out of the way, feel free to bombard me with questions! I'll add in a few more stories later.

[Cyhirae]

Ew... I've had a family member undergo that about a year ago. Relax and get your strength back. *nod* I hope they were able to do the lazer one- that's so much easier to recover from compared to the old fashioned way. Just a little sore and stiff for a week or two before the worst of it's healed.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

I dunno if it was done laser style; I wasn't privy to such details; but it involved three incisions along the top of my stomach, and a fourth around my belly button, which is the painful bit at the moment.

I'm feeling a bit better now, and got my mind on foods. As for reasons why, they didn't go into it. I do know that I didn't have any stones, but it was a bit thicker than it ought to have been and was operating at less than thirty percent efficacy.

Oddly enough, on the night I had no troubles between the two visits, I made myself some pizza (as a test), as my pizza is unhealthy and delicious as you could can get. Then the next day, I went to Waffle House with my lady friend, had a Chicken and Eggs plate, and five hours later, I was paying for it.

Thinking about some simple noodles today, with olive oil. That oughta be fairly light, I think.

[Cyhirae]

Yeah, you'll want to stay to mild foods for a bit. Dairy is also very much on the 'avoid' list for a bit. They made my relative stay far away from it for at least a solid week or more. The 'fake' dairy was fine, but nothing with actual whole milk and definitely not eggs.

Hope you recover quickly.

[Gamemusicfreak]

Wow, glad you made it through ok! I had my appendix removed along with a hernia fixed in '03. They didn't have to make any incisions, as I got the newer version of the surgery where they remove the appendix through the belly button.
Surgery sucks, you always feel like crap after it, hang in there.

[Lumi]

Yikes. Hope you get around to recovering quickly enough. I just had a friend from work get hers removed a couple weeks ago as well, though she had the laser method done so her recovery time was pretty short.

Just hang in there and get as much R&R as you can.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Tis the plan!

And yeah, I think they drug mine out through my belly button.

Also, I lack the resources for said noodles. =[ I wonder if Ramen might work in it's place? Hrm.

[Lumi]

Ramen might be okay, just be careful of the season packets if you're fixing the instant stuff. Might wanna season it yourself to avoid anything that'll make your insides go "ARGH!!"

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Ended up finding some olive oil after all, but I think I used a tad too much. Off to bed with me after looking at some threads :]

Noodles didn't come out half bad, though. Went for Italian seasoning instead. Maybe tomorrow, I'll see if I can persuade grandma to pick up some ready to boil ravioli and tortellini, and eat it straight up. And some juice. I could use juice.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Been living on a nap at a time schedule lately. Usually I'll be up for an hour or two, then sleep for a few hours. It's vaguely annoying, now that I'm not feeling so beat up. But I'll live, more sleep is probably good for me anyways. I've spent most of the night feeling fairly lightheaded, for reasons I cannot ascertain. But it's kept in me in bed and at least trying to sleep for most of the night.

Confession time, I'm trying to avoid showers. =[

Why? Because my wounds are covered with surgical tape, you see. It's supposed to fall off when it's good and ready. And I sorta don't want to risk washing or hydrating it off. I like having them covered, so I don't accidentally scratch at 'em, and it keeps the crap out of them.

[Cyhirae]

Sponge bath for you. Find a sexy nurse to help out! -Seriously though, it's definitely best to avoid the shower for now. That also tends to irritate the wounds even if you find some way to keep the water from ruining the tape. Water pressure + injury = ow.

And sleep is always best when ya healing or sick. ^^; I slept like a rock the first few days after surgery myself- really helped speed up the healing.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Much less random lightheadedness and boughts of sleep today. Or rather, sleeping in more regular periods now. This may be partially due to family coming over for a regular sunday gathering, with me deciding I had no desire to deal with my fundamentally loud Chinese Aunt in law and thus sleeping through the whole visit.

My pain pills are starting to run low, so I'm going to begin rationing them more strictly; cutting down to minimum dose and such.

Got my hands of some frozen ready to boil pastas and cranberry juice today. This is a mixed blessing, for the tortellini is excellent, but the ravioli has like taco bell quality meat paste in it. The juice is particularly welcome, though, as the water here tastes a bit fishy.

The pain's been behaving itself, mostly. I also got confirmation that my entire digestive process is working correctly. I think tomorrow is going to be a cereal day. Maybe I'll risk some tea and sugar, too.

[Arjak]

Okay, prepare for a long and disgusting medical history!

When I was about eight years old, I started having trouble going to the bathroom. I had the most F***ING HUGE stools. I also had problems eating. Most foods just tasted horrible to me. I was in the bathroom for hours at a time. Then, after I cleaned myself out, this weird abscess (sp?) appeared right behind my anus. It was quite painful. Then, one day at school, it burst while I was in the bathroom. It turned out to be a bacteria filled fistula (an abnormal hole to the inside), and I had to go back to the doctor. Finally, the cause of all this medical mayhem was found.

I had Crohn's Disease.

To make a long story short, I had a colonoscopy. They put me out, and explored my intestines from both ends with a little camera on the end of a flexable fiberoptic cable. The pictures they took were awful. My intestines showed signs of erosion. I was put on some medication. Finally, the disease went into remission.

I've had a few colonoscopys since. My disease is still there; it doesn't go away. But, I am feeling much better.

If you want to see pictures of the inside of my intestines, send me a pm!

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Hey, I forgot all about this fing.

I've been dong fine lately. I'm eating almost normally again (trying to avoid tomato sauce, but that'll peter out soon). Not eating as much as I did before, which is a little disconcerting, but I'm doing okay. The pain is mostly gone, save for when I try to do something stupid, like bending down instead of kneeling down. I'm still staying at my Grandma's, though, because it is very peaceful here, and I can actually walk to places; thus giving me a reason to take walks.

I went for my post surgery check-up yesterday, whilst the hospital was having a power outage. It seems I am doing fine, and the doctor removed by belly-button bandage. I suppose I should start getting real showers now. Especially since I mowed the lawn today.

About the only thing I can complain about now is a pain in my side when I lay down, which the doctor said ought to die away in time. I'll give it until June, then bother my family doctor at the free clinic about it.

Now I just have to convince Medicaid to take my broke ass onboard, so I can pike off the $2800+ bill that my family and I cannot possibly afford.

[chesty]

Hey You! Since you're mostly fine now I've got a bone to pick. You owe me an apology for all the times your sister called me when you went to the hospital.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

You owe me an apology for her calling you while I was in the hospital.

[Del Stimpson]

You both just need to shut up, no one owes anyone an apology.