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Post by essiejean on Oct 9, 2023 22:14:00 GMT
Hi MichyM - I am having mine removed this Wednesday - the plan is for laparoscopic. Hopefully when you meet with a surgeon they will consider that option for you as well. Even though I will have my DH at home with me I do plan to make several easy meals tonight and tomorrow night to have in the freezer so he can just warm them up when I'm ready to eat. I plan to be home Wednesday (after the surgery), Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hoping to return to work Monday. I have a desk job and can get up and move around at anytime so I'm hoping it will all go as planned. I had never experienced a gall stone attack and I don't want to experience it ever again. The ultrasound 3 or 4 stones still in there and the wall of the gall bladder thickened so it was irritated. I'm not taking any chances on a re-occurrence. Let us know when you talk with your surgeon. Hopefully they can get you in sooner rather than later.
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Post by flanz on Oct 10, 2023 1:48:54 GMT
Oh, Michy, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I love all of the advice you received from dewryce (wise woman, isn't she?) and the other peas. that cooling pad looks amazing. PLEASE don't overdo it. YOU are the number one priority! I'm wondering if you might be able to have a friend come over daily for a few minutes to tend to the cat(s). And heck, to heat up something for you in the microwave, etc. Please keep us in the loop. I/we care! xoxo
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 10, 2023 11:24:43 GMT
Don’t get constipated. Take whatever stool softeners and laxatives they recommend. Better to go too much than too little. I had a lap chole and was tired a sore for about a weekend. An open procedure requires a lot more recovery time. No heavy lifting. You’ll be tired and sore, so give yourself permission to actually rest. So many women tidy up and throw on a load of laundry and putter around. Don’t do that! At least the first week or two, just rest. Living alone, things like laundry don’t get done if I don’t do them 😉. Do you think I’ll be able to manage laundry, trash, vacuuming, sweeping if I’m careful? Or should I plan on having a friend help out (I HATE asking). You are absolutely going to need help with all of the things you listed. I would go so far as to ask a friend to spend at least the first night home with you. Plan to do nothing the first two weeks post surgery. I'm not kidding.
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Post by christine58 on Oct 10, 2023 17:07:33 GMT
MichyM . Take it from someone who waited a year to have hers out actually ended up being a little bit longer than that. Have it taken out as soon as possible especially if there are gall stones because it’s only going to get worse. I wish now I had waited and it taken out in the spring of 2021. I spent 11 days in the hospital in May 2022 with severe pancreatitis caused by the gall stones. Then I had to wait for everything to heal at least two more months before I could have it removed. I never should’ve waited.
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 7,948
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Oct 10, 2023 17:48:00 GMT
I hope you get some answers but am glad for the update.
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Post by Ryann on Oct 10, 2023 17:56:59 GMT
MichyM I hope what's going on turns out to be an easy fix, gb or not. ugh. Sorry you're having to deal with this.
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 10, 2023 18:28:55 GMT
I hope they get you into surgery quickly. I don't know of anyone who regretted this surgery.
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 10, 2023 22:46:38 GMT
I haven’t had mine out, but have had many physical issues that seriously limited my mobility, and then DH’s issues when I was unable to help much. So my perspective is a bit different but hopefully helpful. How will you handle things if you can’t get upstairs? Are your cats items downstairs? Can you close them off down there with you? What about your clothes? Books? Craft items? Medications? If your doctor thinks stairs might be an issue have a list of things and a friend ready to help you relocate downstairs. If he says they will be an issue start moving things down and organizing now. Any chance you can sleep downstairs and avoid the stairs for a while if needed? At least be prepared for the possibility. I don’t know that a blow up bed would give you enough support sitting up, maybe a couch? Have a twin bed/linens to borrow and someone to help set up on standby if possible maybe. I had surgery for a torn achilles and the doctor told me I would be in a walking boot so we didn’t have anything ready. I couldn’t even use crutches. Our bedrooms and full baths are all upstairs and we were in no way prepared for that. Had to buy a good blowup bed, which was still really difficult to get up from, and take showers at a cousin’s house. So just something to keep in mind. Along with putting things on a level where you can reach them, consider that you might need a button-up shirts if you can’t lift your hands over your head. I’d have make ahead meals and snacks ready to go. DH’s (laparoscopic) diet was pretty plain for a while. I swear he lived on applesauce. I’ll check and see what else didn’t give him issues. It turns out he can eat as he did before now, he was a lucky one hopefully you will be as well! And I’m someone who would much prefer to be over prepared than under. Under prepared could mean you need to ask for help when you weren’t prepared to. I’d have every last scrap of laundry completed and a week’s worth of comfy clothes set where they’re easy to get to and in case I need them downstairs so no one has to dig around for them. Stations set up everywhere I spend time with snacks, generic meds, wipes, water, books, would care, trash can etc. so I can get up as little as possible. A lightweight bag to keep Rx pain meds, water, phone, tablet with me at all times, even when I go to restroom. If something happens you need your phone on you at all times. Don’t create more work than need be, if you are comfortable with it, consider disposable plates, silverware and cups, Clorox wipes, and paper towels. Do anything and everything you can ahead of time. Laundry, grocery shopping and other cleaning and hygiene supplies purchased, picking up prescriptions, house completely clean, fridge cleaned out and all trash emptied, cooking and prep work done so you only have to reheat, any returns (library books?) done and items mailed out, a grocery delivery service that will put things on your counter set up, etc. And have helpers on stand by. I don’t know how long until you’re allowed to drive, but know who will be available in case you’re not able to unexpectedly. Also, decide to let some things go ahead of time, especially things requiring lifting and bending. The bed doesn’t have to be made and as long as you have appropriate clothes to wear the laundry can wait. Sweeping, vacuuming? Your health and healing are more important. If it will really bother you not having those things done, have a friend scheduled to come in, or hire someone. Use your (depleted) energy on things you have to do, heating your food, basic hygiene, caring for your cats and healing. I don’t know if you’ll be able to bathe immediately following surgery, but consider how you’ll handle keeping clean if you can’t. Even if you’re allowed to shower, will you be able to handle the pain or have the energy? Do you need help in the shower? Get body wipes ready. We have tons of wash clothes so I could use them for a while, but you need to consider not making too much laundry. Hopefully this doctor was wrong and it can be done laparoscopically! You’ll still want to prepare, but not nearly as much. This is all great advice! Not the same, but comparable pain—I broke my wrist 10 weeks ago. I was completely unable to function on my own. I’m so sorry that you are hurting. Pain is miserable. You really need someone there that first night. Maybe a rehab place would be better for you, at least for a night or two? Be prepared for any movement to increase your pain level. The vacuuming and sweeping can wait or plan to hire someone. Use baby wipes for bathing, paper plates and such, and I agree 100% that you should spend at least the first week downstairs. Write down when you take your meds. It gets fuzzy with napping and pain meds. When I had my c/section, it was hard to get in and out of bed. You may want to sleep in a recliner initially. Just know that it could be hard to put the foot rest down. With my c/sect, I felt much better after a week or so. The nerves around the incision died off and my abdominal muscles made peace with being so stretched out.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Oct 11, 2023 2:57:54 GMT
I didn't have open but was told to lift nothing heavier than a gallon of milk for weeks I don't remember how long - it may have also had something to do with a hernia that they repaired. Seriously don't plan on doing much. Get one of those grabber things because you will drop things. I laughed at my husband when he bought me one but several hours later in the middle of the night I needed it as I dropped the remote and was so thankful. If you can prep some meals and do some shopping now that will help a bit. Stick with easy low fat foods. It took weeks for my stomach to recover but I had already had so many issues finding something to eat that didn't hurt it wasn't fun. Ask your dr about your concerns - showering, stairs, length of recovery, how soon before you can drive (I honestly couldn't drive for a month maybe it was longer so obviously I needed help with shopping) The detailed list above that someone posted had great info.
I know you don't want to ask but you are going to need some help - with laparoscopic I could do the minimum but caring for cats and some of the heavier lifting you are going to want help especially with an open. I didn't vacuum for a while.
Make a list of movies and shows to watch and enjoy while recovering. Make some Christmas cards if you feel up to it but don't even think of vacuuming. Leaning over to empty your eufy will be difficult if not impossible for a while (I think you were the one that posted about it from Amazon).
I am sorry you are going through this and hope that you have a speedy recovery and that this is the cause of your pain and that you start feeling better soon.
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Post by gizzy on Oct 11, 2023 3:09:44 GMT
UPDATE 10/10
Saw my GP yesterday. Heading out for more tests this morning. He thinks that the galbladder and gallstones were found because of all the tests I had due to my pain, and that they are not the cause of my pain due to it's location. Now, the hospital doc said gallbladder out ASAP, the largest gallstone is too big to pass naturally or blast, so I'm hopeful that todays tests might shed more light about what's what and which direction to go.
So, we're in a wait and see mode here. Pain is a dull roar if I keep alternating advil with hydrocodone, but would prefer to be off of these ASAP, ya now? I hope they can figure it all out for you soon. Being in that level of pain is awful.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 11, 2023 3:30:04 GMT
........I don’t know if you’ll be able to bathe immediately following surgery, but consider how you’ll handle keeping clean if you can’t. Even if you’re allowed to shower, will you be able to handle the pain or have the energy? Do you need help in the shower? Get body wipes ready. We have tons of wash clothes so I could use them for a while, but you need to consider not making too much laundry. ....... There are heavy duty bath wipes. They use them in the hospitals. Work well too!!
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Post by grammadee on Oct 11, 2023 3:31:42 GMT
(((((HUGS))))), MichyM. I hope they find the source of the pain SOON. In my experience, gall bladder pain is excrutiating, but it is not constant. There are times between the attacks. And an attack will calm down once you stop giving the bladder something to go into spasm about. My doctor would put me on IV fluids, nothing by mouth for a day or two, along with strong pain killers to help my gut and my muscles to relax. But once it settled down I didn't need to continue on the pain meds. I guess the advantage of having an open surgery would be that the surgeons would get a look at everything else at the same time and hopefully be able to fix it, but hopefully they can find a solution in a less invasive way.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Oct 11, 2023 10:00:28 GMT
MichyM I just wandered into this thread. I have had a flair up once before and it was super painful. I'm sorry you are going through this. ❤️ Hopefully you can get in there soon and get this done quickly and safely.
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,473
Jul 6, 2014 23:59:59 GMT
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Post by peasquared on Oct 12, 2023 0:09:31 GMT
I'm sorry you are dealing with all this pain and unanswered questions. If surgery is in your future, I pray it goes smoothly and that your recovery is quick. Take care!
Big Hugs!
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Post by MichyM on Oct 12, 2023 1:28:42 GMT
Hi MichyM - I am having mine removed this Wednesday - the plan is for laparoscopic. Hopefully when you meet with a surgeon they will consider that option for you as well. Even though I will have my DH at home with me I do plan to make several easy meals tonight and tomorrow night to have in the freezer so he can just warm them up when I'm ready to eat. I plan to be home Wednesday (after the surgery), Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hoping to return to work Monday. I have a desk job and can get up and move around at anytime so I'm hoping it will all go as planned. I had never experienced a gall stone attack and I don't want to experience it ever again. The ultrasound 3 or 4 stones still in there and the wall of the gall bladder thickened so it was irritated. I'm not taking any chances on a re-occurrence. Let us know when you talk with your surgeon. Hopefully they can get you in sooner rather than later. essiejean just checking in. Let us know how you’re doing when you can. Hopefully you’ve got just the right amount of pain meds on board tonight and are feeling good 😉
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Post by Patter on Oct 14, 2023 11:21:41 GMT
I am so sorry that they can't see you until December. I had someone here locally that couldn't get in for a painful/similar problem for quite a while either. She couldn't suffer like that for months. I suggested another doctor (who is phenomenal) in another town, and they got her in that week, tested the next week, and she has been treated and on the road to recovery. Maybe try to find another doc to get in sooner. I am so sorry you are hurting!
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Post by essiejean on Oct 14, 2023 18:03:03 GMT
Hi [mention]michym [/mention] Everything went as planned. Was able to avoid the narcotics they prescribed by alternating ibuprofen & acetaminophen every 3 hours. Today I am extending the schedule to 6 hours to ween my self off. Very sore and feeling tired but that was to be expected.
Good luck on your diagnosis- I hope they can get this resolved for you soon.
Thank you again for checking in on me.
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Post by marysue63 on Oct 14, 2023 21:28:32 GMT
I’m scheduled to have mine removed on Tuesday. My DH will be at my beck and call (thankfully!) to help with anything I might need. We are going camping next weekend (with a trailer) but all I’ll need to do is get in the truck for the ride over. I’m getting all our food prepped the next two days so it will be easy for him to get it into the trailer. I’m taking a few books and some DVDs to keep me occupied.
I can’t imagine having to wait! The attacks are SO painful! I had an attack the last week in August, went to the ER, saw the surgeon two weeks later and got scheduled for the surgery. I’m so sorry you are having to wait so long. I’ve been very, very careful with my diet and have had only two major attacks and a few minor ones since the ER visit.
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
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Post by mlana on Oct 15, 2023 18:45:56 GMT
I had an attack of pancreatitis and gallbladder inflammation in July. I spent 2 nights in the hospital with awesome pain meds before coming home on a really low fat diet. I stayed on the diet- lost 15 lbs!- and didn’t have any real issues.
My general surgeon tried to remove my gallbladder laparoscopically, but it had adhered in several places. He realized it wasn’t coming out, so he stopped, cleaned up, inserted a drain, and let me know I’d have to have a specialist perform the surgery. I was in the hospital overnight, but was able to walk upstairs when I came home.
Recovery went really well for the first few days, but then I got very sick. Apparently my gallbladder had been attached to my small bowel and had formed an ileus. This allowed a very large gallstone to go thru the opening and into my bowel, causing a blockage. The same surgeon removed the gallstone via incision and said it wasn’t the biggest recorded, but was abnormally large at almost 4 inches.
I saw a surgeon who specializes in pancreas and liver and he is going to try to remove the gallbladder using a robot. If this doesn’t work, he’ll make an incision and remove it that way. He’ll also repair the hole in the bowel and whatever damage may have happened to my liver, colon, etc.
My case is so unusual, the two surgeons are writing a journal article about it!
Given how severe my case is and how my surgeon still thinks it can be removed laparoscopically , I’d really want to find out exactly why your dr insists you will have to have an incision. It might be worth it to find a specialist in that body area rather than using a general surgeon, if there is so much concern. Apparently surgeons who use robots in the surgery have access to even more tools than those who perform a classic procedure, according to my specialist.
Even after the bowel surgery, I was able to navigate the stairs at home. I didn’t do the, frequently, but I could do them without pain. My mom ives with me and she kept my still longer than was good for me. I do advise walking as much as you feel able to do.
Best wishes on a speedy surgery with no cuts! Mlana
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,885
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Oct 15, 2023 18:58:10 GMT
Hang in there, MichyM! I hope you get some relief soon!
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