Who Needs a Gallbladder?

Two weeks after having Luci, I was feeling pretty good. She came two weeks before I was supposed to be induced, so I had already been recovering and was moving around. I decided to go to Back to School Night so that I could actually meet my students and their parents before I turned them over to my substitute for the first four weeks of school.

The night went pretty well and I met the majority of my students. I decided to cut out a little early because I could (and I had to get home to feed Luci). On my way out of the school I called Eli to see how he and Lucia were doing. While I was talking to him, I broke out in sweats and felt really dizzy and nauseous. I figured I just needed something to eat since I had just had lunch that day. Eli asked what he should start for dinner and I told him I didn't care because food sounded gross.

As soon as I got to my car I couldn't move. I climbed into the driver's seat and was doubled over. I couldn't move and I could barely talk. I was in so much pain. I sat there for 15 minutes while Eli debated calling an ambulance. I told him I would grab my co-worker/friend and have her drive me to the hospital. Eli took Lucia to a friend's house and came to meet us at the school.

My friend Nicole drove me to the hospital while Eli followed and my mom met us there. By the time we got to the ER I was feeling much better. I was a little dizzy, but felt so much better. Eli and my mom insisted that I get checked out. So I was admitted and examined. I had an ultrasound and blood work done. Turns out that I had major gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder, but I was doing better, so I was sent home with pain meds and a number to a specialist because I needed to have my gallbladder removed.

I called the specialist Tuesday morning and settled in for a day with my baby girl. I was taking a nap with Luci on my chest. Eli was downstairs working. His company was nice enough to let him take half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help me out. I called him up to get Luci because I could feel an attack coming on. I don't think he realized how much pain I was in, but he just stood there while I writhed (I really did) in pain. I screamed, cried, whimpered, etc. He finally called my sister to come stay with Lucia and his pal Jordy to come give me a blessing. Not to mention he made a few phone calls to the specialist demanding I be seen as soon as possible.

We were finally able to get to the doctor's office where they got me in right away, but of course it took some time for us to be seen because of all the paperwork. The doctor finally came in, looked at my ultrasound (and was shocked they sent me home), got me in a wheelchair and Eli rolled me to the hospital. There we had to wait a little longer for more paperwork and admittance stuff, plus a urine test (to make sure I wasn't pregnant!), and an IV hookup.

I don't really remember the surgery because I was completely under. I remember waking up though and having the worst sore throat ever. I've never experienced a breathing tube and hope I don't ever have to again. I could barely sit up in bed because my incisions hurt so badly (I have four). Not to mention I was pretty incoherent. I was in and out for close to six hours. I really had no concept of time. I was finally released when I could hold down some soup and walk around without too much help.

At the end of the day, it was a crazy experience. Recovery wasn't fun, but fairly quick. The lortab they gave me knocked my baby out when I fed her. But Eli was home the rest of the week to help out. I love him. Oh, and if you're interested in seeing a gallbladder removed, go Google "gallbladder laparoscopic surgery". I'm so glad I didn't see it before. Nasty!

One more thing, this attack hit me out of nowhere. I'm relatively healthy. I asked the doctor why this issue hit so hard. He told me the risk factors are : genetics, fertile, female, and fat (having it and eating it). I have all of the factors, so I would have had to had it removed eventually. If you feel pain or discomfort when you put your hand under your right ribs, breathe in deep, and give a little push, you might want to have your gallbladder checked out!