Goodbye Gallbladder

Sorry, there are no cute pictures to attach to this post! This week I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. I was shocked to find out that surgery was the solution to the bizarre stomach pains I had been experiencing this year. My stomach issues began last spring when I had several painful attacks where it felt like I was in labor. I had intense abdominal pain that lasted for 30 minutes or so and it was so bad that I thought that at times I might pass out from the pain. Around this time the Millers had returned from a trip to Alabama and complained that they had a touch of a stomach bug there, so I figured it was just a strange virus. But in December I had several of these episodes again. Some at home, one while driving, and another in the middle of a church service! There was not rhyme or reason why they occured, they just started and would go on for minutes or hours and then I would magically be cured! I decided to go see my doctor because it was clear that it was not a virus and that something was really wrong with me. I had labs done and was sent to the hospital for an ultrasound. The same day I received my diagnoses-gallstones! Gallstones are not like kidney stones, they don't just pass. Once produced, my body would always produce them and if they escape my gallbladder I could risk infection of my pancreas. So, my gallbaldder had to go! As far as the surgery, everything went well. I went in to the hospital at 6am and we left by 11:30 am. Both pastors from my church visted me to wish me well and my parents took charge and watched both our children and the puppies for the weekend. I have four incisions in my abdomoinal area. The kids are so interested in seeing my "boo boos"! I still am very sore but can walk around. I have only been on a liquid diet until tonight. And of course, now my stomach is not happy with me! It will take some time for my digestive system to get back to normal. So I guess tomorrow I'm back to liquids only! I plan to go back to work on Tuesday, but I may request an extra day if my stomach doesn't settle down over the next few days. I have also not been sleeping well so I would like to have at least one good night's sleep before returning to work. I have not been waking up in pain like other gallbadder patients have claimed, I have just been waking up every hour. I should be happy that I'm not screaming out in pain like others, but I am very tired and it doesn't take much to wear me out. I will keep everyone posted on my recovery and the changes that may come from this new lifesyle without a gallbladder!