Ghost of a Gallbladder

Day 8. Today I was supposed to go to my last Gen Con and would have probably been touching ground right about now in Indianapolis gearing up to heft boxes and slap on a smiling face.  This was not to be. 


I am writing first to sincerely thank you for all of the lovely flowers, phone calls and general good wishes over the last week.  I apologize also for not always picking up the phone, and apologize even more for those poor individuals who actually got in contact with me only to hear a sad, soft and sometimes whimpering voice that simply said "I didn't know how much pain there was going to be, so much pain." Now that I have gotten a half a bowl of oatmeal down I think I have enough energy to move on to phase two, where I tell you all about my last week.

The morning before my surgery my uncle told me don't worry--the cuts will be so small they will be like mosquito bites.  The nurse told me that after she had the same surgery she went home and made dinner for her sister. She also made me put my hand under scalding water until it was red and raw, informed Dr. Rach that physical therapists were unjustly over paid, and then I swear she advised that I eat meat and potato's when I got home.  I admit that I made some jokes and Rachel and I were kidding around as we waited for my doctor to swagger in 30 minutes late drinking a bottle of Sunny D... but I did not appreciate the nurse who asked us what were on before she checked my medical chart to try and confirm her suspicions.  She checked my chart people.  I know I've had people want to check drug/alcohol usage before, but no one has ever actually done it. 

Tiffany Chronicles Part II


So got the gallbladder out, and after the nurse refused to let me stop by the bouncy house on my way back home, and a minor vomiting incident, Rach and I were on our way back home.  Yes I did step on the scale at this point just to find out that I had gained 7 pounds! ugh! My nose was incredibly ichy but you know over all things were just achey.. and after some sleep and a couple hours of smallville...two more near faints and vomiting --nothing says sexy like willfully lying down on the floor of the kitchen and just hoping you don't actually pass out)  things were cool.  Now mind you over the next 24 hours several things happened, the pain medicine would actually only afford me about an hour and half of pain free sleep until I woke up itching and in pain... then after I couldn't stand the itchiness that even benedryl didn't help, I switched to another pain medication that made me so sick that I went from eating a packet of jello and some pudding to absolutely nothing...so after a day of being terribly weak and sick I dropped all medication and as my Uncle Ray said "chose to be miserable." 


That day was really bad, the next day was less, and then the day after that I showered! 

Dawne told me today that at one point she just ran down to Rachel in a panicked surrender signaling Rachel that it was in fact her turn to try to make it all better.  While, today this is indeed amusing, at the time I remember feeling so bad--that if I could manage to grin and bear it I would--just so I wouldn't upset them--but I am a weak baby who just could not. 

Rachel, goddess of all that is good, changed my bandages (Mosquito Bites My Ass BTW.)  I haven't actually looked yet.  I think it was one day in when Uncle Ray said that one of his buddies told him he got his gallbladder removed through his belly button...this was when I looked down to see while there were 4 bandages there was a larger one over my bellybutton.  I didn't need to know this information.  SERIOUSLY.  Could they have found a less expedient route to get this thing out?  I firmly believe that I have phantom gallbladder pain and will until my body fully adjusts to the loss of the brave soldier that got amputated to save the rest of his fellow organs.  I have kept his son? Gallstone--which isn't as pretty as they said it would be--so Briana I don't think I'll need that necklace you so graciously offered to make me. 


I thought I would have time for job hunting, reading books, getting some correspondence done--but what I really did was watched Smallville 24/7 with a Zach and a gaggle of cousins and friends until at least one of us was dreaming of Kryptonite (okay okay it was me.)  I still can't laugh, although I swear I hurt myself talking to Maureen one day... to the point that I decided all funny people were off limits until I could talk to them without doubling over in pain..and as I think I am just so funny... I might have to stop talking until it's all healed too.  :)  


And finally, after a week of not eating I stepped on the scale and was 2 pounds below my goal weight.  While I opted not to see the dietitian today ( I haven't exactly been meal tracking), I hope to get back on a regular diet soon... and with that my flash of glory might disappear...but still it was a nice pick me up!