A lot has happened since my last post. It all started the weekend of Nov 20. You know how you just don't feel right but you can't put you finger on it? Well, we had a family holiday party Saturday evening which I went to and just didn't feel like myself. Got through it but the next day was a bust. Mostly sat around resting. Monday got up as usual and started the work week. By noon I thought I had the stomach flu and by 2PM I was sure of it so I headed home to take a nap. When I woke up from the nap I knew it wasn't the flu since I had that telltale backache that screamed GALLBLADDER!!! Contacted my doctor and we were on the way to the hospital ER. Of course it was packed with those in my opinion were using it as a warm place to sit and watch TV. So we sat and played the waiting game. Poor Mark had to stand next to me since there were no seats. All of a sudden I turned to him and said you better ask them for something because I'm going to throw up. Well he no sooner got me a basin when I started vomiting. Want to see a lot of people move quickly - start throwing up. I of course turned to Mark and said "see, I got you a seat". Two minutes later they had a wheel chair and were bringing me into a room in the ER (note to self: good way to get a head of the line). Then started the fun of getting in an IV. I laid there for almost 4 hours while they screwed around trying to get one started. This is so frustrating to me why a hospital does not have trained people to put IV's in patients. Once they finally got one in it was off for a CAT scan which showed inflammation of my pancreas. Attending Doc noticed I also looked a little yellow (must be all the time I've spent in China) and decided I needed to be admitted much to my dismay. So about 4AM I finally was brought up to a room. Doc's started to flow in about 7AM evaluating me and deciding what to do. While they were powwowing a volunteer came in and asked if we needed anything. After saying no 3 times she decided it was too bright in the room and proceeded to turn down the lights. Unfortunately as she backed away from the bed she got tangles in my IV line and pulled it. It still showed it was still in but I had a bad feeling. I fell asleep and about an hour later I woke up to my arm and hand swollen from the fluid going under my skin. Nurse came in immediately and removed it giving my arm a rest for a few hours to let it go down (did I mention they had to use ultrasound to get the IV in my arm in the first place). Next thing I know the nurse comes in and wants to try putting in a new line because I had a "test". She couldn't get it so they sent me down without one saying I didn't need one for the test. When I got down they were all upset because of course you need one - we are putting you asleep for this surgical procedure" - HUH???? What surgical procedure - I'm down here for a test??? (HELP) So I had a discussion with the anesthesiologist and then the doctor who was performing the procedure. They had me until they disclosed all the risks including possible death. So I'm laying down there thinking no one knows I'm here having this done and I don't have a phone to let Mark know. Well, the procedure thankfully went well. They found the main bile duct between the gallbladder and pancreas was blocked and infected and they had to go in and clean it out (with a roto-router???). Next step is to talk to a surgeon on Dec 14 to see if I'm a candidate to have my gallbladder removed since it seems to be the root of all this evil.
The doctors finally agreed (after much badgering) to release me just in time for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I was on a clear liquid diet and not able to enjoy and food that day. Little by little the soreness is easing and I'm getting back to normal.
As soon as I get more new I'll let you know. Until then enjoy the holiday season.
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