Hey all-
Tomorrow will be one week since I got the dreaded gb out. To be honest, I'm kinda starting to regret it, the recovery has not been easy AT ALL. In fact, I can't even keep food down, everything I eat, comes out the other end (diahrrea). I'm getting so frustrated. Please tell me it gets better. I'm at my end here. Oh, and I have been eating bland and non-fat, neither stays down.. I am 30 yr old female who had tons of gallstones..
thanks everyone.

Sometimes it takes a while for the duct to kick in and take over for the gb.
There are meds they can give you to take before you eat. I imagine you are going back to the surgeon this week for suture removal/check up? Ask him for a scrip....

I am going for my post op check up on the 30th. I spoke to a nurse today, who told me to take metamucil since it will bind me.. hoping that works.. i'm tired of spending so much time in the bathroom!

I hope it gets better soon! I am sorry that you are dealing with this mess. My recovery was very painful. I didn't have teh problems with not being able to hold down food, but I was in so much pain it wasn't funny. I had to set an alarm clock for the times I could take my meds. I was on Percocet after surgery for over a week, and then on Darvocet. But after that, I got these here kidney stones, which make me want to die. I really hope that you find some relief soon!! If it doesn't get better with teh metamucil, I would talk to eitehr your surgeon, or GI, or GP. You shouldn't have to suffer like that. I am feeling lucky that I don't have to deal with those kind of issues. Good luck!!!
Daisy

thanks daisy! It sucks!! I actually ate a little soup and managed to keep it in.. i'm gonna try some delicious metamucil so fingers crossed! I'm sorry you had so much pain w your gb surgery.. I have only taken tylenol for pain, since i can't deal with pain killers.. kidney stones must SUCK!!! I hope you get it all sorted out. Not feeling well sucks doesn't it?

Yeah, it does!! I am glad that the soup stayed!! That is progress. Metamucil is the bomb, aye? Or not. Hope that it helps though! Thanks for caring! My parents aren't supportive at all, so I am glad that I have a church family that is helping me through everything. The first time that they started showing they cared, was well, when I got taken frmo home by ambulance last Friday, and I was home alone. Oh well...
Sorry, don't mean to ramble on about my life. I really hope that everything works out for you, and that you start to feel better really soon!! Keeping my fingers crossed!! :)

An ambulance? What happened? Why aren't your parents supportive? I was staying with my parents last week right after the surgery and after a few days they in a nice way, told me to go home to my apt. I'm married, and yes, my husband can take care of me but there is something about being at home that made me feel better. Not to mention, my husband is at work all day, so all i do is sit here alone and fixate on my health. Last night I ran a small fever of about 99 and started freaking out. Crying, the works.. I just feel like my body is going thru all these changes and no one really understands. That is why I love coming here, cause everyone is going thru something similar.. hope you are doing well today..

I can totally relate, I am married as well, and my husband has been great, but for some reason it just feels good to have mom there by my side. She came and stayed with me the week after my surgery and that just made me feel even better. My parents live in another town, so I wasn't going to make her stay away from her own home just to take care of me all the time. Now since my recovery has been not the best, with me here alone when everyone is at work, it just makes it harder.

Hey! Last week my doctor gave me a prescription of Amitriptyline, without telling me some of the side effects, or that it interacted with several of my other medications. I started it on Wednesday. On Friday I woke up, but could barely move or anything. If I opened my eyes I became extremely dizzy. Well, when I could finally concentrate enough to move, I had to go to the bathrom, so I stood up to go. The next thing I remember is being on the floor with my dog licking my face. After that, I passed out a few more times. Well, after that I decided that the new medication was probably doing it, and so I called my doctors office. The doctor nor the nurse were in, so I called back 1/2 hour later. Doctor wasn't coming in, but the nurse was there. She told me that she would call the doctor for me. A few minutes later she called me back. I picked up the phone, but couldn't really talk all that great, as I was really dizzy and lightheaded and nauseaus. I was also home alone. The nurse told me not to try and talk, but to go and lay down. She hung up, and about 10 minutes later there were sirens, and then I saw the firetruck in my yard. They came in, and took my blood sugar (I am diabetic as well), and it was in the 40s. They made me suck on this nasty glucose gel. then tehy tested my sugar again, and then it was up a few points. they started raiding the cupboards for something to eat. They turned to me and asked if I had anything in there, and I told them no, because my parents went on vacation, and I asked for food...but nope. So, they finally found some instant wonton soup, and made it. As soon as I had had like 2 bites, the ambulance comes. The firemen told them I didn't really need to go, but the paramedics said I had to. So, I get on the stretcher and away I go. At teh hospital, they figured out my blood sugar was low, as was my blood pressure, and I was severely dehydrated. All of these were side effects of the medication. While on it, I am to take my sugar every 2 hours minimum. My doctor who prescribed it called me that night and told me I had to continue taking the medication. It is for migraines and depression. Ummm...how about I looked it up, and I am pretty scared of this stuff. Not to mention, my uncle was on it and was in a coma for 24 hours from it, after only 2 doses, and he was on 10 mg, I am on 50. The doctor also said that stopping cold turkey would make the side effects much worse. I am stuck as to what to do at this point!! My youth pastor came and picked me up that night. The next day I went and stayed with some friends so that if it happened again, I wouldn't be alone.
And as for my parents not supporting me...their advice to me all of the time is that I need a new job. The reason I can't get many hours here is due to the fact that I am in constant pain, and no matter what, I end up crying halfway through my shift, because it gets SO bad. My parents don't understand that. Then, I tried to talk to my mom about it, and she says that she refuses to help someone who won't help themselves. I am trying my hardest. I have asked for more hours, but my boss knows that that would not be a good idea. I am moving to Tennessee in a little more than a month, so there is no point in finding a new job. Also, I am having two surgeries before I leave, so that is just what an employer is looking for. they aren't emotionally supportive either, though I really can't explain it. I just want to get back to school, but I can't, as I am on final academic probation, from missing to many classes for doctor visits, and therefore the dean said that it would be in my best interest to take a semester off and get better, rather than to come back, get sick again, and then miss class, and end up getting kicked out of school. My parents say that it is just because I am lazy and don't want to go to class. I have the doctor notes to prove where I was. Oh well, it will get better.
I am so glad that you both have families who love and support you!! The week after my gallbladder surgery my mom actually did take care of me. I had to take a week off of school, because to go to school, I had to live in the dorms, but I couldn't walk up the stairs in the dorms. But, my family was supportive then, but now, they are telling me that I am a baby. I am sorry, but kidney stones KILL (not literally, although sometimes I wish they did, so I could be out of the pain)!
I hope that you both start feeling better. Sorry that I went arambling on. I am just really getting frustrated right now. My youth pastor is taking me to the Mayo Clinic on Thursday though!! Yay. Someone who might be able to sort out the medical nightmare I call my body. I have so many problems it isn't funny, and they all started when I started college! 2 years ago almost exactly. :( Oh well, it will be over soon!
Hope you guys are having a great day!!
Marnb77, don't worry, I went to the doctor because I ran a lowgrade temp right after surgery. They just looked at me funny. I was just scared something else might have happened. I totally understand freaking out! I am so used to things going wrong in my body, that I am almost scared when something isn't wrong now. But, hopefully that will soon change!!
Good night.
Daisy

Daisy - My thoughts are with you and my heart goes out to you. I've been reading some of your older posts and good gosh you have been through a lot. You are no baby! You are so strong to make it through all that. I can't even imagine having the strength you have. I would have passed out from fear long ago. I feel like such a wimp sometimes since this surgery, but I know others have had it far worse.

It is good to know you have someone who can be there for you and take you to the Mayo Clinic, I hope they find something soon to get you feeling better.

Thank you so much!! I have often thought I was not very strong at all, and wanted to give up, but luckily, I have found the strength to go on. Trust me, you are no wimp either. To have gone through the problems leading up to having your gallbladder removed, to even having it removed, that takes strength as well!! I am just looking forward to the day when I have no more health problems. I appreciate your looking up my past posts. Thanks for caring. I love being able to come to this site and find the support that I have needed to get through it all. If I didn't have support at all, I don't know where I would be. I have had a lot of cheerleaders along the way, even thoguh my parents are pretty much telling me that it is all my fault.
I hope that your recovery starts to get better! You are such a sweetheart! :) Thanks for your kind words! They are much appreciated.

Thanks Daisy, that is what we are for, to support and upbuild each other...at least that is what I hope I can do! :)

I'm really sad to hear about your parents views on your illness, the only way I can rationalize it is maybe they have become discouraged by all of your medical issues and blaming you is thier way of coping. It's a lame way to do it, IMO, but to each their own. I hope they come around.

I can't wait for the day when all of us will feel better and all this sickness will just be a distant memory!

Amen to that!! We should all just randomly one day start feeling amazing!! That's my wish. But, seriously, yeah this board is amazing! I have found so much support through everyone here, and it gives me the strength to go on! My parents will come around one day. Probably when I least expect it. What does IMO stand for? Sorry, I was just thinking for forever trying to figure it out. Hehe. Anywho...hope you start feeling better soon!! Thanks very much for your support!! I appreciate it so much more that you can know!!

Hey guys!
My day has been crap.. literally.. haha.. I just feel so useless laying around, not to mention I feel sick. I talked to my nurse today and she was saying how it's been a week and I should really start to feel better, and I'm thinking umm did you just get cut open? It's not like I don't want to feel better, I just can't. I thought yesterday was a better day for me since I managed to hold some food in, but then last night I got the 99 fever and I just felt so defeated. I'm a week post op and don't get why I'm having these weird issues. I know it takes time, but I'm just so impatient. Today I've had diahrrhea several times.. so I'm just tired. I feel like I'm gonna waste away into a skeleton.. haha. But enough about me, Daisy.. you are one STRONG woman! I really don't know what I would have done if I was in the position you are.. Your parents will come around, just give them some time.. My parents aren't too thrilled w the idea of me wanting to come back home for awhile but I say "too bad!".. Keep doing what you are doing and you will be back to good health in no time.. It's great you have your church as a support system, any support is good. Just know that none of these health problems are "our" fault.. as if we asked for bum gallbladders and kidney stones right?
Cindyrose- hope you are hanging in there too.. you are a few weeks ahead of me in recovery.. please tell me it gets a little better. At this point I'm kinda stuck in this place where I cry all the time. Not sure why.. my poor hubby must think I'm crazy.. well girls.. i'm off to my parents but please write anytime.. It's so nice to have people who understand what you're going through.. It really can help the healing process so much.. hope you all feel good...

marnb77 - It will get better. Not everyone has issues after, but a lot of people who I know and have had their GB removed, said they had diarrhea for a while after the surgery, some a few weeks, others longer. I was actually doing pretty good about 2 and a half weeks after, some days I almost felt "normal", mostly in the mornings when I was full of energy. It was just in the evenings that I would start to feel sore around the incision areas. Right now I'm just feeling lousy due to anxiety, but when I don't think about it I feel ok.

Hang in there and just remember that you did just go through a surgery which will take some time for your body to adjust to. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.:)



What does IMO stand for? Sorry, I was just thinking for forever trying to figure it out.

I think it is supposed to mean "in my opinion", well at least that is what I used it for! :D

thanks cindyrose-
Your words of advice did make me feel better.. I too, suffer from severe anxiety/hypochondria so ANY little thing with my body makes me go crazy and I think the worst. Like, why do I have a 99 temp BUT only at night? Why not in the daytime? I know I just had a surgery but it just sometimes doesn't sit well with me. Also, my arms and legs are soo sore.. and they weren't like this a few days ago.. I actually felt better a few days back and now I feel like I am stepping backward.. I just want my normal life back. My hubby doesn't really want to hear anymore about my "neuroses" and he only says "don't worry, everything will be fine" or "what do you expect, you just had surgery"! Granted I know this, I still always think the worst.. I just want to get on the road to some normalcy again.. had i known it would be THIS hard, I'm not sure I would have gone thru w/ getting my gb out... eventhough it was packed full of stones and I had attacks.. I guess what I don't understand is, I have no incision pain (knock on wood) and my stomach feels ok, besides the diarrhea.. so WHY a low grade temp?? Look at me, fixating again.. haha.. anyways sorry for my rambling.. hope you are keeping your anxiety at bay.. do you take anything for it by chance?

marnb77-
Things will get better! It just takes some time. And, sometimes, venting helps because you get out exactly what you are frustrated about, and, well, I don't know why, but just seeing or hearing what my fristrations are makes them easier to bear, because I realize it might not be so bad. Just a thought. Probably doesn't work for everyone, but since it works for me, I thought maybe it would be worth a try. I like to journal a lot, so that is how I vent.
I really hope that your recovery starts speeding up, so you can feel much better! Thanks for your encouragement!!!
Thanks Cindyrose for your words of encouragement as well!! It helps so much. Oh, and thanks for the definition as well of IMO.
Both of you are so sweet!! Only one more day until Mayo Clinic!! How about that? I am super excited about it. Well, really nervous as well. I actually had nightmares last night, because I am very much against needles. Which reminds me that I have to go to the doctor and have labs redrawn this morning. Last night was good. My grammy called and told me that after Mayo, she will cash in anything she can to make sure that I have enough money to come and live with her until I have enough to get to TN. She said that when my grampa gets his settlement from work she would pay my way. She said she doesn't understand my parents, and my sister ahd called her and told ehr that I need out of this situation, as I am really sick, and she is really, really worried that when my parents come home, it will make me stressed out, and that will cause it to get worse. I really don't want my grammy to have to do all that, but just knowing that she is willing is something else. She only lives like an hour and a half away, but neither of us have any money, and besides that, I have to be going to the urologist and go for surgery like both total four times, and it is kinda far from her house. I think that I might just tough it out here, but if I think I can't handle it, I will go. I love my grammy. So, tomorrow is Mayo!! I am about scared!! Eeek! But, hopefully I will get all figured out!
I hope that today is a good day for all of us!! TTYL!
Daisy

I really hope that things will get better, it certainly doesn't feel that way now.. I hate that i can't resume my normal life.. i just feel really bummed out. Today I attempted to eat a little bit of pasta and some cream of rice. The pasta went right thru me, but the cream of rice stayed down for a good hour or so before coming out. I overall just feel like i have the flu and just really crummy. My tongue is turning white from dehydration (even though I'm trying to drink as much fluid as possible), and my arms and legs are sore.. I think i'm gonna go to my internist tomorrow and have him run some bloodwork to see if everything looks "ok".. Good luck at the mayo clinic, hopefully you can get everything sorted out finally!! Doesn't it suck when you realize you are excited to go to the dr's? haha.. Your grandparents seem like amazing people.. cherish them while you can.. i only have one grandparent left and she isn't doing too well.. I miss my grandparents so much.. try not to be scared about tomorrow, remember, you are one step closer to feeling good!!! talk to you soon!!

Thank you so much!! I appreciate the encouragment!! Right now, I am needing it, as I feel like I have been beat up and dragged. But, today is the day! It is like 1 in teh morning, and yes, I am getting up at 6 to get ready the rest of the way. Gees I am so nervous. I am trying not to be scared. Really hard when you are being faced with the possiblity of getting stuck with a bunch of needles. I am fearing the worst, but that will make it all better, when it is all done and over with, and I will be like, oh that wasn't quite so bad (I am quite experienced in this). Hehe.
I really do hope that you start feeling better. Hopefully your doctor will be able to offer you some advice, and tell you what's up. Drinking a lot of fluids is essential, but since you are already doing that, I don't know what to say. Have you tried Metamucil? That normally takes a little while to work with me. I really hope the doctor can figure it out. Good luck!! I won't be back until at least Friday night. My youth pastor said thst she has to be back for the weekend, so hopefully they won't keep me to long. Eeek. So, I will see how you are doing then. Good night!!
Daisy

Good luck today girl!!! Post as soon as you can with any news. I will be rooting for you!!! :)

Hello! I just came back from Mayo. Well, it was quite the experience!! I met with my internist yesterday, and he told me that there are several specialists he would like me to see. The gyn, neurologist, orthopedist, dietician, psyhciatrist, and I also have to have an oxometer test, which measures how much oxygen is in my blood while I sleep. I have an xray of the whole spine yesterday, and today they did labwork (12 tubes!!!), and three ultrasounds, none of which are fun. I have to go back August 27-29 to see the specialists. None of the results are in yet, though. All that I know is that I don't need the surgeries for the kidney stones, as that is definitely not the problem. Another month to wait, but it is worth it, because I have been waiting for two years to get answers, and if I get it next month, that will be absolutely amazing!! Thanks for the thoughts!!
How are you feeling now? Any better? I hope so!! Good luck! :)

hey! that's great news! Hopefully they can figure everything out in no time! And no surgeries? That's even better!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! I am ok, sometimes I feel ok, other times I feel down in the dumps so to speak.. hehe. I mangaed to keep some food down yesterday, some cream of rice w/bananas and some noodles and saltines. For some reason I get really hungry late late at nite but don't wanna go crazy and eat and then get sick. I am sleeping with the help of some sleeping pills which i hope i don't have to rely on forever but hey, at least it gets me thru the night. I'm not really taking any other pain med but tylenol once a day.. soo that is my update.. can't really tell if i'm getting better or not.. i guess i would know? This morning i had a lovely diahrrea wake up call but it hasn't been the kind i would get after eating- if that makes any sense.. anyways, i'm rambling. I'm so glad you are getting sorted out. let's hope for good days ahead!! keep in touch!

Hey there, glad to see you both are ok. Hope everything comes out ok with your exams Daisy.

marnb77 - I do think things will get better for you. I am on week 4 and my diarrhea is just starting to subside somewhat. It seemed that every morning since my surgery I would wake up with the big "d", but the last few days it hasn't been so bad. I even went out for lunch at a restaurant today, grilled chicken, vegetables, water, and didn't even get sick after. But the only thing is, you never know when it's going to hit you. Today I had chicken with rice soup, then 3 hours later, BAM! I had to rush to the bathroom with diarrhea. My body is still adjusting. Seems like yesterday I didn't have any pain, but today I've been kinda of sore around the incisions.

Thanks you guys!!
Marnb77, I really am glad that you are making some progress, even if it is slower than you would like. I hope that it gets better though.
You to cindy!
Life is rough, but I am getting better. Haven't slept in forever, but whatever. Got really depressed because of the pain and some home stuff going on, but it is getting a little bit better. I really hope that one day I can be free of pain. It got SO bad tonight, but we closed early at Mo's so that was good.
Hope everyone has a good night!!

well i thought i was making progress.. and then i had diahrrea all day today. Had some waffles that came straight out.. I tried to leave the house for a bit to run some errands but felt exhausted and sweaty and just wanted to get back in bed. My fever is not subsiding, except with the tylenol and now i am starting to get worried that it's not just the surgery doing this to me.. :confused: I know it hasn't even been 2 weeks but i'm guessing i should feel a little better by now.. i'm starting to think the worst (and i have really bad anxiety) so i'm just not quite sure what to do here.. I'm regretting getting my gb out and want my old life back.. this has just been a sucky day. hope you both are doing better than me..

Hey! Last night was pretty bad for me. I became really depressed, because I am tired of being in pain, and really tired of not knowing what is wrong. I hate that I have to wait a whole month before they will know. But, I know that I have gone to a great doctor. I called my doctor from Mayo last night at midnight, becasue I haven't been sleeping, and because of the depression yesterday. He told me to go back on the Elavil until I get back up there. He was not happy that I have to wait a whole month before going back, but he did tell me that if either problem keeps up, then I need to go to the ER. Fun times.
Sorry that yesterday was so rough for you. That really stinks. When you go back, have a list of what you are fearing, and go over it with your doctors, and they will most likely help you through them. I find that that helps. My doctor at teh Mayo Clinic was willing to test me for something, even if he thought for sure I didn't have it, to put my mind at ease. He was pretty thourough. Last night he actually sounded nice, which was good. Hopefully when I go back, he will have some answers for me. Right now, I am just going to live my life, and try to be happy. I called my health coach first, who then told me to call my doctor (but since I can't really trust my pcp, I called Mayo), who then told me to call my counselor. I did, and felt better afterwards, and when I took the Elavil, I was able to go to sleep finally. But, I am scared about what side effects it will bring with it. Gees is life difficult. But, I somehow have found the strength to go on, just as you have. Things will get better! For all of us!! Good luck tomorrow with the doctors.
Daisy