Post by: grampster on March 21, 2006, 02:56:48 PM
I've been having lower abdominal discomfort (pain-Vicodin is a friend) since January.
It screwed up our retirement vacation in Key West and I've been bouncing from doctor to test to pill throughout and since. Fasting, eating, drinking, no drinking, changing diet, liquid, no meat, meat, veggies, no veggies, fruit, no fruit, etc etc ad nauseum. Throughout all of this I keep saying: Could this be my gall bladder? "No grampster, your cat scan says no...it's diverticulosis...it's diverticulitis...it's adhesions from your prostate cancer surgery..it's...well...we're not sure...never seen anything like this, take a pill see us in 2 weeks.
Finally, my regular doc sends me to the surgeon after I began wearing out my welcome in his office and tying up his phone. She (the surgeon) is a skinny, curly black haired young thing, probably just out of med school. Somehow, I think maybe I'm her first patient. I like new docs. They're interested, especially if you're their first spot under the microscope. She actually looked at me like I might be a sentient being. I have a strange sense of confidence in her.
She says, "What's the problem grampster?" I sez, "You want the long story or the short one?" She sez, "The long one." Her stock just jumped 100 points.
So I go through it. She sez, "I'm gonna send you for a ultra sound on your gall bladder. Did you have one yet?" "Nope", sez I, "but not for lack of asking."
"Well" she says, "If that shows nothing, we have a new test we can do that tests function rather than just looking at its condition". Well the ultra sound showed it was bad and her office called and said surgery is scheduled for April 3. It'll be laproscopic and out of the hospital within 23 hours. Trust me, 3 months of cramps and abdominal pain is no treat. It'll be worth the surgery if that's the total problem.
I am registered at every local liquor store in the lower 48 for single malts, Catholic irish whiskey and vsop cognac. I'm depending on y'all for your prayers and recuperation gifts of the above. Just kiddin' about the whiskey. The support I got from y'all in the way of kind remarks last spring on the cancer thing did a lot for me and my confident entry into that arena. So, I'm asking for that moral support again from my friends of the ether net.
PS: All of you males age 40+, get your psa tested and digital prostate exam. It's a lifesaver, take it from me.
grampster
Post by: Unisaw on March 21, 2006, 03:20:11 PM
Post by: Standing Wolf on March 21, 2006, 03:24:21 PM
Post by: kudu on March 21, 2006, 03:44:43 PM
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on March 21, 2006, 04:36:29 PM
You deserve at LEAST that much.
Get better quick, my friend!
Post by: mtnbkr on March 21, 2006, 05:03:20 PM
Chris
Post by: K Frame on March 21, 2006, 05:10:08 PM
But you look so fetching in a mumu...
Post by: SpookyPistolero on March 21, 2006, 05:11:19 PM
Post by: matis on March 21, 2006, 06:01:54 PM
mtis
Post by: Laurent du Var on March 21, 2006, 10:24:49 PM
Post by: Stand_watie on March 21, 2006, 10:41:50 PM
Post by: Guest on March 22, 2006, 12:32:21 AM
I hope you get better soon..everyone I know felt better after having it done.
Post by: 280plus on March 22, 2006, 12:56:41 AM
Post by: mtnbkr on March 22, 2006, 01:42:53 AM
Chris
Post by: 280plus on March 22, 2006, 01:51:26 AM
Don't tell me let me guess. Stone soup?
Post by: Balog on March 22, 2006, 01:54:30 AM
Post by: bermbuster on March 22, 2006, 01:59:22 AM
The procedure is straightforward and (relatively speaking) easy. You will soon feel FAR better than you have felt for a long time.
Take care. Keep us posted.
bb
Post by: El Tejon on March 22, 2006, 02:20:01 AM
After 5 operations, your 6th one is free? Or maybe just a free bag of pretzels?
Good luck, I'm sure everything will be fine.
Post by: garrettwc on March 22, 2006, 03:01:15 AM
Gotta love new doctors. New enough not to have their time tied up with pharmaceutical salesman so they can actually still learn about the latest treatments.
Post by: SADShooter on March 22, 2006, 04:53:59 AM
Post by: Gewehr98 on March 22, 2006, 05:56:14 AM
BTW, how does the body function sans gall bladder? Extra pills, special diet?
Post by: mtnbkr on March 22, 2006, 06:03:45 AM
If anything, a person with gallbladder disease (catchall term for all gallbladder problems) needs a special diet to reduce discomfort if they choose not to have the surgery.
Chris
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on March 22, 2006, 06:14:59 AM
All our best is coming your way. You were a big help to my mom during her (still ongoing) hip surgery.
FWIW, my mother in law had hers removed when she was in her mid seventies. She came out of the hospital a literally new person.
Post by: grampster on March 22, 2006, 06:40:10 AM
Thanks for the chance to whine a bit. Appreciate your support. Gotta love the internet and especially APS with all you fine folks. Sounds like I'll be feeling pretty fine after this is over, judging from some of the comments. Last 3 months have been a drag.
Post by: BillBlank on March 22, 2006, 07:26:27 AM
.
Post by: mgdavis on March 22, 2006, 07:44:42 AM
.) The only ill effect that is still with her is that her belly button will never be quite the same. Best of wishes to you.
Post by: SalukiFan on March 22, 2006, 07:53:47 AM
Chalk one more up on the list of people praying for you. I'm glad to hear that you got a doctor who will listen to you - even the "long story"!
SalukiFan
Post by: grampster on March 22, 2006, 10:05:44 AM
Post by: cfabe on March 22, 2006, 01:29:09 PM
Post by: Monkeyleg on March 22, 2006, 01:29:33 PM
FWIW, I think I saw my surgeon more often last year than I saw my wife.
Yep. Getting old sucks.
Post by: crt360 on March 22, 2006, 02:59:15 PM
Post by: Antibubba on March 22, 2006, 03:07:18 PM
Can't say I blame you!
Post by: Lennyjoe on March 22, 2006, 04:12:03 PM
Prayers sent!
Oh yea, I'll tip a dram of vsop cognac for ya on the 3rd of April
Post by: caseydog on March 22, 2006, 04:41:13 PM
Quote from: Gewehr98
BTW, how does the body function sans gall bladder? Extra pills, special diet?
Some folks have trouble with fatty foods , not many though , a few others get irregular bowels for a while , myself ~ i'm doing much better without it , been able to eat a lot of things that I quit eating years before I knew I had any trouble.Ray
Post by: grampster on March 22, 2006, 04:46:10 PM
SWMBO is always saying "You've got a lot of gall!" Wonder if there's any connection?
Post by: Lo.Com.Denom on March 23, 2006, 12:53:11 PM
Chin up -- I'm sure you'll be fine.
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on March 23, 2006, 03:28:12 PM
Quote from: caseydog
Quote from: Gewehr98
BTW, how does the body function sans gall bladder? Extra pills, special diet?
Some folks have trouble with fatty foods , not many though , a few others get irregular bowels for a while , myself ~ i'm doing much better without it , been able to eat a lot of things that I quit eating years before I knew I had any trouble.Ray
There is some medical term about 'XXXXXXXX dumping', which basically means that when the urge hits you, you'd BETTER be within about 15-20 seconds of a toilet, and dropping trou on the way there. It depends alot on HOW you eat, how well you LISTEN to your body.
You MAY find yourself a little more lactose sensitive, which I find is helped greatly by some Lact-Aid or Dairy-Eez. Don't eat a quart of ice cream at 10 o'clock at night and expect you're going to sleep like a baby starting at 11. Just won't happen.
Acid reflux can become a problem. My eating habits changed over time to where I really do little more than a small snack after 5pm, if I want to sleep anytime before midnight. I still have trouble with this from time to time, if I do the greasy/spicy thing improperly, or even just eat carelessly or heavily after 7pm or so.
This is not to say that I am hampered by these things, just requires more mindful choices. Which I need to be doing anyway.
Hope this helps you, my friend.
Ben
Post by: grampster on March 23, 2006, 05:35:52 PM
I'm going to go have a glass of scotch now instead.
Post by: Antibubba on March 24, 2006, 03:41:18 AM
Post by: grampster on April 03, 2006, 01:55:13 PM
Pretty stiff and sore from breasbone to below my belly button, but otherwise feel pretty good. Laproscopy worked. I think I'll milk this for a few days; lying around, whining, abuse vicodan, getting special foods and generally catered to hand and foot. Grandkids put in my dock and if the sun keeps shining four a couple more days, the yard get its spring cleanup; again courtesy of g'kids. SWMBO will catch on pretty quick, but it will be good for a couple days anywho.
Looking forward to a couple days from now when I'll see if "I'm back to normal."
Before any of you wiseasses have anything to say about what is "normal' for me,
I have two words for you.....
Turn Left!
Post by: mtnbkr on April 03, 2006, 02:33:07 PM
Milk it as much as possible...
Chris
Post by: cosine on April 03, 2006, 02:40:39 PM
Quote from: grampster
Looking forward to a couple days from now when I'll see if "I'm back to normal."
Before any of you wiseasses have anything to say about what is "normal' for me,
I have two words for you.....
Turn Left!
Nothing to worry about... you're already "back to normal." Before any of you wiseasses have anything to say about what is "normal' for me,
I have two words for you.....
Turn Left!
Just pulling your leg.
Hope you recover quickly and feel "back to normal" (uh oh, did I just say that seriously?
) soon.
Post by: RevDisk on April 03, 2006, 03:03:03 PM
Quote from: grampster
Well, it's 6:47 PM EST and I'm home. They wheeled me into the operating room at about 11:30 AM. Woke up about 1:30PM. Left the hospital around 5:00PM.
Pretty stiff and sore from breasbone to below my belly button, but otherwise feel pretty good. Laproscopy worked. I think I'll milk this for a few days; lying around, whining, abuse vicodan, getting special foods and generally catered to hand and foot. Grandkids put in my dock and if the sun keeps shining four a couple more days, the yard get its spring cleanup; again courtesy of g'kids. SWMBO will catch on pretty quick, but it will be good for a couple days anywho.
Looking forward to a couple days from now when I'll see if "I'm back to normal."
Darn, that recovery period must have been measured in seconds. Pretty stiff and sore from breasbone to below my belly button, but otherwise feel pretty good. Laproscopy worked. I think I'll milk this for a few days; lying around, whining, abuse vicodan, getting special foods and generally catered to hand and foot. Grandkids put in my dock and if the sun keeps shining four a couple more days, the yard get its spring cleanup; again courtesy of g'kids. SWMBO will catch on pretty quick, but it will be good for a couple days anywho.
Looking forward to a couple days from now when I'll see if "I'm back to normal."
Post by: 280plus on April 03, 2006, 03:44:32 PM
(Glad you came out of it ok)
Post by: garrettwc on April 03, 2006, 06:05:49 PM
Post by: bermbuster on April 04, 2006, 02:43:35 AM
Glad you hear you are okay.
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on April 04, 2006, 04:43:06 PM
Take it easy, go slow, eat bland, and milk every last drop of compassion out of this.
Fig
Post by: gunsmith on April 04, 2006, 09:40:09 PM
;-)
Quote
All of you males age 40+, get your psa tested and digital prostate exam. It's a lifesaver, take it from me.
umm, I'm rapidly approaching 50 and I don't even know what it is your talking about ...except that digital prostrate exam doesn't sound comfortable at all.3 years ago when I had insurance I had a benign tumor on my vocal chords and had them removed, they stuck a digital camera down my throat by going up my nose...that wasn't alot of fun either.
hey! where in FL do you live?
I will be there for a week next month
Post by: Nightfall on April 05, 2006, 02:07:59 AM
Post by: Lennyjoe on April 05, 2006, 07:20:38 PM
Post by: grampster on April 06, 2006, 05:42:36 AM
I knew I couldn't trust you with the cognac.
The headache is your penance.