When I said I might need surgery for those gallstones, I had no idea what was to happen.
About 3 in the morning on Friday I woke up once again in intense pain, and despite the pain meds, it only continued to get worse. Once again we had to wake up the kids and head back to the emergency room for the second night in a row. Within hours though I was being admitted due to high liver enzymes.
{in other words, I was yellow, full on jaundice people! not cute. SO not cute.}
Turns out my gallstones caused pancreatitis, which only seemed to further complicated things.
Without the pancreas issues, I could have had my gallbladder out almost immediately. But because the pancreas is not to be messed with when angry (i guess it could be fatal) I had to wait out the pain in a hospital bed for 32 hours until my levels started to come down.
Might I mention I was not allowed to eat or drink while I waited it out?!?
not good, not good at all.
{after the pancreas calmed, before the surgery, smilin’ through the pain…with kids, life goes on.}
Finally Sunday afternoon, I headed into surgery to have yet another organ, (already now without my tonsils & appendix), removed from my bod.
And, aren’t you having a blast hearing all about it?
That’s what you get from a girl who’s spent a week with the elderly in a hospital.
{who is also, um, slightly medicated.}
What was that about the elderly?
I forgot to mention that because the hospital was full when I was admitted, I got to reside on the floor with the elderly demented patients.
Super fun and lively bunch they are.
The nice thing was that every time a nurse came into my room, they commented on how cute and young and adorable I was.
I think they were just happy I knew why I was there and who they were….
because really not only was I yellow, but I had not showered since Thursday.
There is NOTHING cute and adorable about that, I don’t care HOW MANY old people are around.
On that note, if ever in the hospital make sure to have someone bring you:
baby powder (for dry shampoo, nobody wants to smell the grease)
facial cleansing cloths (nobody wants to see the grease)
and your own pillow (which has nothing to do with grease, but still very important!)
Anyway here I am at home finally, SHOWERED, loaded up on pain meds, and ready to embrace bed rest for the next week.
{bed rest that includes taking care of the kids while Jimmy’s at work, so life as usual really.}
And to think….it all started back at Walmart.
In the words of my friend Lacey, who knew screaming kids could cause gallstones*?!?
Or mmmmmaybeeee…
it’s all WALMARTS fault?!?
oh. ma. gah.stones!
*side note
what DOES cause gallstones sometimes?
losing weight too quickly.
{Rapid weight loss, particularly eating a very low-calorie diet}
i had symptoms of “sludge” (sexy, I know) and severe gallbladder attacks shortly after losing the pregnancy weight from having Chloe.
once again, they flared up after the 30 day method…
the doctor couldn’t say for sure this is what caused mine, but just wanted to put it out there.
and here i am, passing it along.
and pssssssss…..
thanks for all of you who were so SWEET and SUPPORTIVE on facebook and twitter.
your comments kept me smiling when I wanted to cry, honestly.
makes me just want to mwa you all!
© 2011 “Le Musings of Moi”
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I KNEW there were benefits to not losing weight! I knew it!!!
So glad you are back home…hope you mend up quickly and the kids are angels for you at least for one or two days. <3
Oh Summer, I had no idea. I missed all your tweets. I am so sorry that life has been miserable for you but I am glad that you are home and on the mend.
Wow, get better girlie! Don’t you love that you still have to take care of the kids when you are on bedrest??? Ugh…some day they will thank us for this sh**!
Stay healthy…that’s an order!!
i am soooo happy that you are home!! I hope the kids are good for you, so that you can heal quickly!
oh good lord!! Poor you!! Hope you are feeling better!!
Holy heckuva week, batman! You are one tough cookie…so glad you are okay! Here’s to a speedy recovery and glad to see that despite losing pieces of you, your sense of humor is still intact (c: xoxo
Wow, what a week! Hope you get back up and feeling better really soon! And thanks for the info about rapid weight loss (since that’s currently the “goal” of this 17 Day Diet…) Definitley not something I want to go through. I’m not as tough as you!!
Hang in there Summer. Hope you can find a little rest amongst the business of being a mom 🙂
Aw Summer, I’m so sorry you have to go through this =( So not fair!!! Get better soon <3 <3 <3
I’m so sorry! That sounds awful! I’m glad things are on the mend. Feel better soon!
Summer. Dude. As someone who works in a hospital, you look WAY too freaking cute there! Seriously – hair all braided up cute – no hospital hair for you, girl.
I’m a little disappointed that you don’t have a crazy story about a demented patient – they can be pretty fun sometimes. 😉
So, so very glad you are home and recovering. Big hugs to you, friend. ((((((HUGS)))))))
Ok, the headband I am so glad I went to bed wearing because when I woke up and had to go the er, it proved necessary the rest of the week to keep my unwashed bangs back! =) Now, the lip gloss….that’s kind of funny, because my lips were chapped and the only thing I had in my purse was burts bees tinted chapstick! guess that worked for me. lol
thanks for all the well wishes you guys!!! so so good to be home!
I just started working in a hospital in a heart unit and its always nice when a young person is on the floor. They don’t complain as much and don’t “accidentally” hit the call button all the time.
I hope that you get to feeling better soon!!!!
Awww, sorry to hear about the crazy happenings! But glad to hear its out. Stress always made mine act up. during the foreclosure it was nonstop.
Thinking of you Summer!
hey girl! oh man! i’m sooo sorry you have to deal with this! i have another friend going through the exact same thing right now, although she doesn’t have kids to take care of at the same time. argh! stay strong – thinking about you lots and sending healthy wishes your way.
xoxo,
marit
I am so sorry to hear this, but glad you are feeling better! I went through the same thing after the birth of my 2nd daughter. Gallstones are SO not fun!
Aw poor thing! Hope you’re recovering well!! 🙂
Oh, wow, Summer! Thats crazy! I hope you’re back to feeling better now!