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The gall
By cjcastillo in Digital Babble
July 9, 2007



June will be a month to remember. So will July. Most people take fun-filled vacations during these warm summer months, but not me. No sir, I had to go and get sick, so sick I was confined to bed for two weeks before I went in for surgery about a week ago, which equals three fun-filled weeks of doctor appointments,blood tests and pain killers.

What was the cause of my demise? Gallstones. Who knew they could cause so much pain? I sure didn't. I never really knew anyone who had issues with gallstones so I wasn't aware of the anguish they can cause. Ever have a gallstone attack? I never did, but now that I have experienced one I'll never forget it, and oh great Odin's raven did it hurt! It hurt so much it sent me straight to the ER and had me eating nothing but broth and applejuice for two weeks. I lost 12 pounds. I had been wanting to lose some weight, but not this way.

Eventually I became so ill the only solution for me was to have my gallbladder removed. I know some people have been able to get rid of gallstones naturally or with medication, but I don't think I would have been able to rough it out long enough. I was fading fast, too weak to walk, had no appetite whatsoever, was running a constant fever and nearly passed out at work one day.

Fast forward to my surgery, I was terrified. The last time I had been operated on New Kids on the Block was all the rage and I was sporting friendship bracelets and Keds (junior high). As you get older you get more paranoid about people cutting you up, or at least I do. I really didn't have much to worry about, the procedure was a common one, done with minimal incisions(laparoscopic) and my surgeon was great. Everything went well with the surgery, the gallbladder was removed and I am now on the road to recovery.

This whole episode was a wakeup call and has caused me to change my eating habits and lifestyle. I don't ever want to be that sick again. I am on a low-fat diet for a month; during this time my body will get used to not having a gallbladder, and I will get used to knowing which foods won't make me run to the facilities right after eating. Good times. My stomach is still a little sore from the incisions and I can't lift anything heavy for a while, but I'll manage. It could have been much worse.

During the whole time my family was great. My mom and dad came over to stay with us after my surgery to help us out around the house. My dad helped mow our yard, while my mom was there to take me to visits to the doctor, helped me out after surgery by cooking, cleaning and taking care of Mango. My husband was there right after surgery in the recovery room with me, feeding me soup because I was too weak and sore to lift a spoon, and my sister has put up with my many requests for applejuice and pillows while I heal at home. The rest of my family and friends have been great as well with their words of concern and well wishes. I am grateful for all my family and friends and can't thank them enough!

So life goes on. I had to drop out of my summer classes I was taking, which may delay my graduation plans a semester, but that is ok. I've waited this long, what's another five months or so?

Anyway, if anyone has any tips on a low-fat diet feel free to share. This whole episode was probably a good thing, because I was struggling to stay away from things like cheeseburgers, fries and chicken strips, with the latter being the cause of my attack. I was never much of a salad person, but that will change now. Produce section, here I come!