Okay, so Im really behind on
.well,
EVERYTHING! I know I still have pictures to post from Florida, then the purchases
from Texas, and my itinerary (at least the 2nd day
), and I have some lists to post. BUT
.I first have to make a very important
announcement.
Prepare for a LONG story! (sorry
)
Those of you who have read my September 2007 PTR/TR (and hopefully still reading) might recall me mentioning how I got sick and was in the hospital last May for a few days. That post is
here
I never mentioned details because I didnt want to get into it and wanted to focus on my trip. However, I think its necessary for me to tell a little bit now. I started out with bad stomach problems early last year, and I kept having bouts where I would get really sickmany a times, I got
cant hold ANYTHING down, not even WATER sick. I saw a couple of different doctors about it. The first one was a good doctor, but his office staff were HORRIBLE. I think they had it out for me. It happened 2 or 3 times where I scheduled an appointment, and they wrote it down wrong on their side---so when I arrived 10 minutes early for the appointment (from my work which was 45 minutes away) theyd say I was 20 minutes LATE and that they marked me as a no-show and I would have to either wait a while or re-schedule.
I waited 2 hours one time just to see the doctor and be put on yet another medication that didnt work.
I waited at least an hour to get an x-ray that didnt show anything.
And I waited for 3 hours on one occasion, only to be told they couldnt take me because they were overbooked! I was INFURIATED!
Needless to say, I had to get a new doctor (that was Oschner by the way) only because of his terrible office staff. The next doctor was worse.
His office staff were nice, but he was obviously an idiot. He kept putting me on anxiety medicine saying this medicine is also used for stomach problems Then Id read the info packet and see side effects include
.upset stomach !!!!! WTH??? He insisted I had IBS. I must have gone back to him 6 times in 2 months. Running up bills. He ran some bloodwork on me, and nothing showed up on any of the tests. He really didnt want to do anything of worth for me, but did the blood tests and another X-ray because I kept coming back to him. I did try to take the stupid anxiety meds he gave me, and they NEVER helped my stomach. In fact, I think they made it WORSE in the end. He must have put me on 3 different kinds on 3 separate occasions. (not including 2 others that I turned out to be allergic to) He kept saying I wasnt giving it enough time to work. I kept telling him, there is something WRONG with me! I didnt go to the bathroom for one week. Went to him and he did nothing.
I begged and begged for a referral to a GI doctor and it took me another week to finally get one. I called and called, and went to his office. I needed one for the insurance and could not get it from those butt holes!
I finally made an appointment---it was for 2 days later. It had already been 2 weeks of constipation.
I was SO bloated and huge and was crouched over in SO much pain one day that I told Mike to drive me to my doctors office. (That was after I called and they said there were no appts available) We bypassed the downstairs check in and went straight up to see the lady in the window. I said, I need to see the doctor, NOW. They knew I meant business, and got me to a room. I dont know if he thought I was faking it, or what, but he acted very facetious and said well I guess we can admit you to the hospital, but I dont know if theyll have any beds I agreed to going and he made a phone call and said they had room for me. So in I went. I was there a whole day before they did anything aside from doping me up with Demerol. Dont get me wrong, I was happy for the pain reliever. I asked them to do something
check me out for God sake! So they had to arrange for the GI doctor to do a colonoscopy and endoscope. They finally were able to do it on day 3. I definitely wont go into detail here, but, I had heard the prep was the worst part.
And for me, it CERTAINLY was. In my situation, my belly was already so full, and after drinking that stuff for 2 ½ hours I still hadnt gone!!! My stomach was cramping SO BAD. I felt like I was dying. I had to buzz for more pain meds so I could finish drinking the stuff. The nurse was in shock that I hadnt gone yet. Anywho, fast forward through the yucky part and come to the end of the scope, they only found a lot of redness. Well, duh, on that note. Basically I had some type of blockage that the chalky stuff FINALLY forced out. But what caused the blockage? That was still unknown.
They dismissed me and gave me Miralax to start taking when I couldnt go and I use that occasionally when I need it. I needed it for a while after the hospital visit. But a lot of times its the opposite if you get my drift.
So I havent had to use it much lately. Im always getting bouts of nausea, stomach cramps, etc. And Ive never known what was causing it. Up until this past weekend.
I got dragged to CCs pizza for lunch Saturday. I was trying to eat healthy so I made a big salad, and only ate one or 2 pieces of pizza. Later that day I started getting horrible stomach cramps. I went to enjoy a comedy show that night and managed to not run to the bathroom the whole timebut when we got back to my in-laws house, that was a different story. That night was rough. I noticed that (
forgive me for being so gross) I wasnt digesting the lettuce I ate. (Think CORN
) Sunday during the drive home was not much easier. In fact, it was worse. We had to stop a few times, but I managed to fall asleep in hopes that my stomach would calm down. It didnt. I woke up still feeling horrible. And Monday morning, still felt terrible. I was okay to come to work, but just made a lot of bathroom runs. (no pun intended) I decided to google cannot digest lettuce to see what I could find. And I found a story someone had written about their ongoing stomach problems, for years, and they finally got diagnosed with Gallbladder disease. At the bottom of the excerpt, she said
Keep in mind that one of the number one non-medical tests to determine if your gallbladder is not functioning properly is that you cannot digest lettuce. No matter how much you chew, your body cannot break it down. Also, if you eat anything with a high amount of tomato (including pizza), and you get sick feeling and grab your side, you are most likely having gallbladder trouble. After reading that, well you can imagine what I was thinking! I started researching gallstones, gallbladder disease, etc. I also found on Webmd that another symptom is chest pain that feels much like a heart attack.
I dont think I mentioned it here(on my TR I mean) when it happened
but one day last month I had that very chest pain they describe, along with the stomach cramps. (stomach cramps started first, then the chest pain) Mike happened to have my car that day, and a coworker offered to drive me to the hospital if I needed. I kept thinking about the $$$ it would cost to go to the ER, and thinking that they probably would give me heartburn meds and send me home, and then with people at work telling me it was all in my head, it was just so many emotions. I decided I would try to stick it out til 3:00 when the After Hours clinic opened (did I mention my new PCP was on vacation?! Ugh!). By that time, the chest pain had subsided (I assume it was a gb attack and it finally passed) so I just kind of let it go. And said to myself that if it happened again in the future I would call my doctor. I just kept thinking about the money. If my doctor had been in town that day I would have gone to see him, and maybe he would have found out what was wrong? Who knows---its too late to think about that. But Im going to find out NOW once and for all.
As soon as I read about all the symptoms and such, I called Monday and made an appointment with the GI doctor because my new insurance plan does not require a referral. The earliest they had was Wednesday (today) at 2:30. I took it, and explained that Im coming in for my gallbladder, I want it tested. I dont know what they will do today, but I have researched all the possible tests and I would like to have an ultrasound done TODAY. I just want this sucker OUT of me. I know in my heart and mind that its my gallbladder. Im having all the symptoms. Ive researched. Im ready!
Heres the catch. My boss goes on vacation next Wednesday (to WDW) and will be back on the 27th (day after Memorial day, which we have off already) I hear it takes at least 5 days for recovery (enough to drive/go back to work). So, unless I have the surgery TOMORROW, I will have to wait until the 26th (if they would do it on Memorial day) or the 27th. Unless they would do it on a Saturday, in which case I could do it on the 24th. I just cant see that happening though. Now I just have to pray that its not an emergency situationunless of course they find that out by tomorrow and can put me in for same-day surgery. If it happened this Friday, think I could be back to work by next Wednesday? Im just really worried about the timing of all thisnot the actual surgery. If it can wait, I guess I will survive---Ive made it this long. Id just have to be REALLY careful what I eat because I cannot risk having my gb burst or otherwise while my boss is out of town! No leafy greens or fattening food for me!
If anyone is interested, I already started a thread about this, so I could get others stories, opinions, and maybe help someone else whos having this same problem. Its certainly served its purpose. Here is the link to my gallbladder thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1823503
I will be leaving for the doctor in about an hour (want to get there at 2:15), and I really hope they can schedule me for the ultrasound TODAY. They send their patients to a diagnostic center across the street from the office. I asked the girl I talked to if they do same-day appointments and she said it depends how busy they are, and whether its an emergency or not. I will explain my situation with work, and maybe that will make them get on-the-ball with it. It can be a dangerous situation
too many attacks, and your gallbladder can burst. Please just pray for me if youre the praying type. I just want results! I dont feel very good right now. Im getting nauseated again.
By the way, my Mom is coming with me. Actually I just found out a little while ago that my Dad is taking off of work early and coming too. They live about 40 minutes away, so I really appreciate them taking the time to do this for me. I need the support! And Moms are always so good at asking the right questionat least, mine is!
Sorry for the long story; and whoever is still reading, THANK YOU for sticking around. If I had my wish, the next time I talk to you I will be gallbladder-free. However I know that wont be the case. Thats maybe like 1% of that happening. I just wanted to let yall know what was going on with me in case I get really quiet for a while. Also, Im pretty busy at work lately so I will try my best to get those updates I talked about up as soon as I can. If//When I have this surgery, Ill have some extra time on my hands when Ill be laying around, so I can work on all that.
I will let yall know how the doctors appointment goes later on today! I'm very anxious!
Glad you found me! I was hiding! 
(you ARE going to pony up for the soup right? 
, but I'm here for ya.
