Hi moms. Sorry to be dramatic in my title, but I am miserable!! After months of unexplained pain, and a wrong diagnosis from a chiropractor (see my previous post) my doctor finally figured out what is wrong with me. Its my gallbladder. I have gall stones that are blocking the passageway so my gallbladder is inflammed and very infected. I am so miserable! I have a LOT of pain, even with the pain medication, I can still feel a lot of pain. My surgeon wants me on antibiotics for at least 2 weeks before he operates. He has me on almost 3,000 mg a day of antibiotics. I am exhausted after simply getting dressed, I can't eat hardly anything because after every meal I get very sick. I have lost 15 pounds in less than a month. I just want them to operate now so I can feel better! I guess this is just a vent. Maybe someone out there has been through something similiar and can offer me some encouragement? I need a pick me up right about now. Thanks for anything anyone can offer. I just don't know how I am going to make it through the next 18 days before the surgery.
I was 37 wks pregnant when I found out I needed my gallbladder removed but they wouldn't. Do it until 2 months after he was born! So I was given instructions on foods to avoid, you can look these up, it made me feel way better
I can offer prayers. I pray that you get healthy soon and have a safe and successful surgery and post-op.
I had to wait two weeks for my surgery. It's really hard, isn't it? Try to watch what you eat - things that are high in cholesterol or caffeine are triggers for gall-bladder problems. Stay strong, and if it feels really wrong, get a second opinion. Good luck.
Well, I guess I'm going to say what no one else has.
Yes, I am very sorry you are going through this. I can't even imagine what you are feeling and going through. But as an RN (although away from hospital nursing a while) apparently your doc does not feel it is an emergency and would rather try to clear some of the inflammation and infection before going in.
As miserable as you are now, just try to imagine the complications you may have if your doc went in and the possibility of spreading the infection. Yes, they do emergency procedures all the time, but again, you doc must feel this is the better option right now and as miserable as you may feel, he or she is looking out for your overall health.
And honestly, looking out for himself as well. If he did not at least attempt to clear the infection and knowingly went in, IF you were to end up with complications, he could be liable by now following the standard procedure.
It will ease up, trust me. I went thru the same thing and as the day of surgery got closer, it got better. My gallbladder was still so bad when they went to do surgery they were thinking of postponing surgery, but I think my threats of performing the surgery myself w/a rusty knife changed their minds. Hang in there and just do whatever you can to cope. I know it's a vicious cycle w/the antibiotic & the pain meds b/c you feel sick from the antibiotic and can't take the pain meds w/out food but feel worse w/that. There were some nights that I would wake my husband up in the middle of the night in tears, begging him to take me to the E/R so they could do emergency surgery, but he would just tell me exactly what I knew. They wouldn't do it.
I would say it was about a week or maybe even less that I started feeling better (after I was put on the antibiotics) and then I was able to deal w/the uncomfortable feelings a bit more. Best of luck to you.
I'm so sorry!! My aunt went through this with the gallstones and a misdiagnosis (well, she never went to a Dr, just a holistic 'nurse' she spoke to on the phone)... she ended up needing emergency surgery a lot sooner. The antibiotics are pretty necessary though to avoid complications during the surgery.
Any other methods of pain relief... like an herbal heat pack and such to at least help soothe the area? I don't know, I'd be calling my Dr and begging for a closer surgery and better pain meds.
The waiting game is horrible. But just like a dentist doesn't wanna pull an abcessed tooth...same principle here. But I can sympatize with you about your pain 100%. Last June when I injured my sciatic nerve...it was the worst....I mean WORST pain I have ever felt...including childbirth. If you want to compare it to something...it was like I was waking up every morning in full labor. My life came to a halt...I couldn't dress myself, couldn't tie my shoes or put socks on...couldn't even pull my underware up or wipe myself, couldn't walk, couldn't stand for long, couldn't sit for long, couldn't bend over. I stopped eating also. I was like a cripple. To this day...8 months later..I still have limitations and pain...but they say it will get better with time. Truly....I feel for you. I hope time passes fast for you.
Hi,
I am so sorry that you are dealing with this pain and I know first hand what you are going through. I was mis-diagnosed for an entire year with this problem ultimately being told I had severe heartburn/acid reflux issues.
The first attack I thought I was having a heart attack! My second visit to the ER was uneventful and I was sent home because numbing my esophogus wasn't working and they didn't know what else to do for me! No one bothered to test my gallbladder even after I begged them. It wasn't until my third visit to the ER....after having missed a week of work because I couldn't sit, sleep, eat or breathe let alone keep from vomitting all the time without being in severe pain that they told me they thought I had pancreatic cancer! I was numb and sick all at the same time because I was told I had a severe case of heartburn for a year! By the time I ended up in the hospital my skin was yellow and so were the whites of my eyes and all of my blood counts and levels pointed to the cancer. It wasn't until they did an MRI that they found it was my gallbladder and that I had major blockage. They wanted to operate but they couldn't - I was too sick and needed to be stablized before they could operate. I spent 6 days in the hospital with nothing but fluids before I was stable enough for surgery. Hang in there - you can do this - with each day you will get closer to your surgery and I can guarantee you that once it's over you will feel like a new woman and will have a new lease on life....I promise you. Once the surgery was over I was up and out of my bed walking the halls of the hospital relentlessly because I felt AWESOME! There is hope at the end of the tunnel. I will pray for your days to go by quickly - try and do what you can to relieve the pain....I sat up and tried to sleep in my lounge chair, I used a heating pad on my back as the pain was most uncomfortable there and I drank warm fluids...try not to eat as it makes your gallbladder work harder and it's already having a difficult time so eat soups but nothing acidc etc....keep taking your meds and they will help. Stay strong and believe in the outcome. I know it's hard to even exist let alone take care of your family. We didn't have family in town to help so if you do please get help and have them there for you and your child as much as you can. Your relief is coming...God Bless.
