On Thursday I had my gall bladder taken out. It was the result of 2 years of recurring excruciating pain, and was difficult to diagnose because I had no gallstones. This is how it all went down:
For the last 2 years or so, I’d get this horrible pain, usually 1-2 hours after eating, that felt somewhat like hunger pangs on crack. They would last about a month or so, then disappear into oblivion for a while. I’d go to the doctor, they’d do a little bit of testing and guessing, then send me home with pepcid or prevacid thinking it was horrible heartburn or GERD. Of course, the pepcid and the prevacid and the tums and all other antacids did not work.
About a month ago I ended up in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. In an effort to get me to leave the ER, they diagnosed me with “severe esophageal spasm”, dosed me up with morphine and other things, and sent me home. My personal doctor then sent me for a HIDA scan, which said that my gallbladder function was “depressed”, so my doctor then sent me to a surgeon, who recommended taking the naughty organ out.
So, Thursday morning I got up early, showered, and got my kid off to school. Then off we went to the outpatient surgery dept at the hospital. I was supposed to go to surgery at 11:30, but didn’t make it in until almost 2 (apparently bad things happened with the person who had surgery before me, as in they opened her up and found cancer they weren’t expecting–think good thoughts for her, whoever she was, please!).
Finally they were ready for me, and the anesthesiologist came in to say hi. Well, first he scolded me for being 2 hours late and holding up the schedule (joke, I was way early). He asked about my drinking habits, then, having found out I’m a lightweight (I drink less than once a year) he proceeded to tell everyone in the operating theater that I was a lush! The guy seriously missed his calling as a comedian, but he did make me feel much better about everything!
Since then, I remember next to nothing, but now it is Saturday (I think… right?), and I’m feeling ok. Still sore, but I don’t want to take a pain med because I’m not in the mood to sleep. I kinda want to go take a walk this evening, if it’s not too hot out. I feel good. yay!
But, my belly button still hurts. 
