Important Note--please read!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Important Note--please read!
12
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 1:19pm

Hey all,


 I just wanted to give everyone a "heads up" on something. I have to have my gall bladder removed. I've known about it for some time but have managed to put it off so I could get my trip out of the way--and mostly, because I've never had surgery and I'm not real fond of hospitals shall we say? LOL!


 So... I'm going in Thursday morning and will be kept at least overnight and if there are no complications I can come home on Friday! It will be laparscopic surgery rather than open--but the surgeon said that IF by chance it was really infected or too swollen he may have to resort to open surgery and that would keep me there a bit longer. We don't expect that however.


 I'll be here up until that time. I've already notified Cindi and Lisa of my impending absence for a few days this Thursday, Friday and possibly that  weekend--just in case. I should imagine I might be back responding to posts not too long after I get home but we'll see how it goes! Hugs, Lori


P.S. Oops--sorry Amanda, I forgot to add that of course, my capable co-cl schitz will be here to respond to posts and offer support as usual!




Edited 11/12/2006 1:22 pm ET by cl-onceachild
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 1:40pm

I had my gaul bladder out 9 years ago by laproscopic. it took a little while to get over it and i can say that sitting in a chair that doesn't have the back support is hard. sitting on the floor really hurt too. take it easy and take your time and rest. Getting your rest is the biggest part of getting over it.

I hope you have the laproscopic and they don't have to open you up and i'm praying you have no stones in your common bile duct because that is also a little more involved and painful. good luck and hope to see you back again soon.

Libby

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 4:00pm

Thank you, Libby! I'll take all the advice I can get--this is all unfamiliar to me and so it's the unknown that is causing me to be most nervous I think!


As I mentioned, I'll be here as per usual up until Wednesday evening and I'll be sure and do the self care thing afterwards but I anticipate being back soon! Hugs, Lori

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2005
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 5:48pm

Lori,

Good luck with your operation! I'm sure you're scared- I know I would be. But I want to tell you, my former boss had this same surgery a few months ago and she said she felt fine after. Actually, she felt much better than before the surgery. No more painful gall bladder attacks! She said she recovered really quickly. And I can testify that I saw her on her feet, back at work soon after the surgery.

Of course, I'm not saying you have to jump out of bed and go dancing three days after surgery... but I think this is a simple procedure.

I hope you feel much, much better after it's over with!

I hope someone will go with you and stay with you the first few days after your surgery! Do you have any plans for that?

I just read Libby's post, and I'm sure that in 9 years they have improved the procedure. I don't think it will necessarily be as bad as it was for her. Just make sure you let someone take care of you, do the cooking, etc. for a few days after you get out of the hospital.

Make sure you stock up on groceries, do your laundry, etc. before the surgery so you don't have any reason to get out of bed. Put some bottles of water on your nightstand in case you get a dry mouth from the medicine. And get some books from the library, maybe some movies from the library to watch while you recover. So you won't be bored with all that resting. Maybe get some crossword puzzle books, whatever hobbies you have. I KNOW you probably thought of all this already. But just in case.

Other ideas of things to do in bed:
1. Get Christmas cards and write them out early
2. Update your address book or get a new address book and put all the most current contact info it in
3. Write in your journal
4. Get a sketchbook and some colored pencils, draw
5. Catch up on all your letters
6. Plan your life for the next five years, write down the plan and your short term and long term goals
7. Eat bonbons and ice cream and watch soap operas.
8. Watch the Dog Whisperer!
9. Take fun tests at Tickle.com
10. Pray, read the Bible or whatever religious book you believe in
11. Go through your recipies or get cookbooks from the library and plan a special dinner for the holidays or any occasion
12. Listen to music
13. Sleep, keep a dream journal
14. Write poems, write an epic poem about your life
15. Keep writing that autobiography you started

So I hope you won't be bored, now!




Edited 11/12/2006 6:08 pm ET by bluerains
Avatar for alsmith32
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 9:53pm
I had my gall bladder out years ago. It was scary for me ahead of time, but it wasn't that bad. I think that they have improved the surgery tremendously since then, too. I had mine out before the laparoscopic procedure.
good luck!!
allie
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 11:44pm

Hi Blue,


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 11:47pm

Hey Allie,


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2005
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 3:39pm
We'll be here and thinking of you and don't worry about the board.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Amanda

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2005
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 4:09pm

I think it would be a good idea to have your neice spend the night, as long as it wouldn't bother her too much to see you in pain and maybe wake up a few times during the night to get you things.

I don't think you should be alone at first. You don't want to keep getting up and getting things yourself, because it will end up taking you longer to recover.

Oh yeah, if you don't already have one, move a phone right next to your bed. So you can catch up on calls and call someone if you need them. Also put a list of phone numbers on your nightstand.

Hope I'm not acting like I'm your mother or something. I just like to be prepared for anything.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 5:00pm

Hey Amanda,


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2004
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 7:06pm
Hey Lori! Good luck with everything!! I hope everything heals up quickly.

Marsha 

mommy to Rylee Elizabeth 4/12/2005 

Pages