Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Do you really need a gall bladder???

So last week (Monday) Bryant and I took the boys to Kingman/St. George for a little vacation and to help my mom with a wedding reception for her stepson. We got to Kingman Monday afternoon and went to dinner with Bryant's uncle and aunt. The next morning we got up and went to the IHOP for breakfast and by noon we were back on the road to St. George. At about 3:00 we stopped in Mesquite, Nevada for a potty break and I wasn't feeling so well. When we got back in the car my stomach really started hurting. By the time we got to my mom's (3:30) I was in pretty bad pain in my right side and really nauseated. I just paced around her house in pain for a couple hours until she got home from work, then she asked if we wanted to go to dinner. So we get to the restaurant and are waiting to be sat and I began to realize that it had been close to three hours and the pain just kept getting worse and worse. So Bryant decided we better to go Urgent Care (which was right by the restaurant) and see what was up. So my mom kept the boys to eat dinner and we drove to Urgent Care. The doctor there told me it was probably my gall bladder, but that I would need some bloodwork done and an ultrasound so he sent me to the ER.
Once I was at the ER I started feeling a little better and was begging Bryant to let me leave, but he kept telling me not until they say everything's okay. So the nurse comes in and says "I'm here to put in your IV" and I"m like "Oh no I think you have the wrong room I'm just here for an ultrasound". So she goes to check my chart and comes back and says, "No this is the right room they want me to start an IV". Well, the tears started then and didn't quit. I HATE IV's and so I bawled the whole time she was doing it trying to convince her that I DON'T need an IV to get an ultrasound. So after the IV is in they take me to ultrasound and then bring me back to the room. After about 20 minutes the doctor comes in and says, "You are the official owner of one bad gall bladder". Big dose of tears #2. He tells me that it needs to come out and I once again try to convice him that it doesn't, I will be okay and that I don't even live there, I can't have surgery there, on and on, but it fell on deaf ears so him and Bryant made the arrangements for the surgery while I cried my eyes out. Within about another 30 minutes I was being wheeled into the operating room where the tears continued to flow all the way up until they told me to think of a happy place 'cause I was going to sleep. I guess the surgery went well (I was still in pain, but less a gall bladder). I stayed in the hospital until Wednesday evening and finally got to go home (to my mom's). It wasn't exactly the way I planned on spending a little family vacation, but all's well that ends well! I am pretty sore (they make five small incisions in your abdomen area) but every day I feel a little better! I was still able to help me mom with the reception and we got home Sunday night!
Soooo, my first surgery was a success (other than the river of tears I cried), but those that know me know that's par for the course with me :) Thank you to those who wished me well while I was in the hospital!
My kids start school this Monday, so I will be sure and post first day of school pics!