Current complaint: It feels like I've been stabbed in the gut four times. Why is that? Well, mostly because I was sort of stabbed in the gut four times. Legally, mind you, by a trained professional who was dearly compensated for having the privilege. Oh, I'm ever so dramatic, aren't I? I had my gallbladder removed yesterday in a laparoscopic procedure that involved four incisions into my abdomen, all of which now sort of hurt a lot. Oh, there's Vicodin, which may be responsible for my current ridiculous blogging style, but it doesn't really keep much pain at bay. Which is pretty annoying, actually.
Really, the surgery went smoothly, and recovery is going just as it should be, and I don't really have anything to complain about. In fact, I have quite a lot to be thankful and happy about. You see, gallbladders are pesky little things. Not only has my icky little diseased organ likely been the cause of many of my digestive problems for the last few years, which isn't surprising at all, but gallbladder pain refers in interesting ways. Like into the right side of your back and shoulder. Seeing a connection here? Not that I didn't have real rotator cuff issues, but we couldn't figure out why, after months of PT and all kinds of stretches, exercises, and obvious strengthening, I couldn't get rid of the pain. Granted, I'm taking Vicodin, but I have had zero shoulder pain since the surgery, even when I woke up this morning hours after the drugs had worn off. So I'm hopeful, hopeful, hopeful that two birds have been struck by this stone. Or the removal of these stones, so to speak. Happy dance!
This was my first surgery and my first admittance to the hospital. I've really been extremely lucky in my life. So I'm not used to having to "get well soon" or being the recipient of beautiful pretties such as my darling coworkers had sent to me today:
Aren't they purdy?? The flowers are just really lovely. Let's zoom a bit, shall we?
*lurve*
The next post will have handwork content. I promise. No, really. For true.
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3 comments:
I'm glad everything went well for you. I have the same issues with Vicodin. It makes me dizzy, but barely dulls the pain. The flowers are gorgeous, too.
Wow -- We learned about the whole pain referral thing from the gall bladder when I was taking classes...but not sure I'd recognize it in the clinic. Your story is a good wake up call for me to really pay attention to patients who are inexplicably not progressing as I'd expect... I am so glad that your shoulder pain is resolving! That is no fun to deal with! Get well soon! (As you can tell, I'm really far behind in my blog reading.)
Jeez. I go away for a couple of weeks and the next thing I know you're having bits removed! ;-)
So sorry I didn't get around to catching up with your blog until now. I hope you're making a smooth and rapid recovery. Stomach settled down now? Has the shoulder pain stayed away?
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