Well, I knew it was coming. Its my turn to join the ranks of Kia and others that will be or have had recent surgery. Maybe we can all reserve a wing at the hospital I work at and have a ROV git together there. I'm sure we can all put our collective minds together and figure out a way to "tune" the hospital beds.
As it goes, I have been having some pretty serious episodes of chest pain, usually at night which wake me up from a - no pun intended - dead sleep. The scary thing s that the pain radiates up my jaw, into my back and to my left shoulder. All classic signs of a heart attack. Now, being the male healthcare provider that I am, I immediately deny that I am having a heart attack :o , tough it out and eat about 10 rolaids and try to go back to sleep so I can work the next day. When I finally wake up the next morning, I think to myself: "well, it wasn't a heart attack afterall." Anyway, I went to the doctor and got a good checkup and one of the reasons I ruled out my heart was because I work a very physical job (I walk and run from 10 to 16 miles a day at 8/12hr shifts). Stress test was fine, Nuke studies of my heart were fine and most of my blood work was fine.
I got the choice of having a heart cath or an abdominal ultrasound to check my gallbladder. Being the weanie that I am and not wanting all the fine female nurses that I now in the cath lab sticking needles into my groin, I opted for the less invasive ultrasound. I got a call a couple days later saying I needed to come in for a HIDA (Nuclear) scan 0of my gallbladder, which I did and after that found out that my gallbladder is only spitting out about 6% of the bile - it should be working at 35 to 45%. So, the ultrasound did not show stones, but the little sac of bile isn't working right, so it has to come out. woooohooooo!
Now, being a Respiratory Therapist, I an well trained and proficient at putting tubes down peoples throats and breathing for them but I have never had it done to myself and I don't relish the thought of it. Did I mention that I'm a big weenie? So its going to be General Anesthesia and a laproscopic cholecystectomy (thats doctor talk for blowing my belly up like a beach ball, sticking a bunch of probes in me and a lighted fiber optic scope and cutting out my gallbladder). :o
I go in Monday the 12th at 0600, so say your prayers, send some flowers and come visit me. ;D
Its kinda cool though because I was already scheduled to be off for spring break, and the surg is before that so I'm off work for 17 days, then work on day then off for three more days. ;D ;D ;D The month of March is a wash. I'll have some good time to work on the bike.
David
lol,, we need to talk to our gracious host,, get a section on the site devoted to broken riders,,,,,, and those that are multiplying ,,,, roflmao
You know Lucky is going to be on your doorstep often now, chicken soup with matzah,,, oy, what a health benifit !!
A friend had her gallbladder removed a year or so ago. She said it was no big deal. She is a Physician's assistant in a small town near the Nebraska border. Had it done at the small hospital she works at. Hope yours goes as well. My prayers to you for a speedy recovery!
A separate section for health & family might keep the "Off Topic" section from filling so fast!
H2O
QuoteI go in Monday the 12th at 0600, so say your prayers, send some flowers and come visit me.
Would you like yellow ones to match your bike ;)??
Reading all this makes me feel fortunate that I live very close to some of the best hospitals in the world.
Heal up quickly so you can enjoy your time off!
Gall bladers are highly overrated! ;D
Take care and I hope the hospital food will not make you ill.
Lou
Dave, good luck. I hope you made friends with all the doctors and nurses. You wouldn't want them removing the wrong thing!
So your saying your gald bladder is as useless as a YICS unit? Just plug it off huh? :P
Heal up for a spring run! :)
Mutt
Dave, Had both Angiogram catheter thru groin artery scared the s..t out of me as I was awake during the procedure.The other was a can of corn . Got to hospital pre-op given a tranquilizer,after that got really calm,wheeled to O.R went to sleep"no dreams' woke up and it was over some discomfort,not bad. You,re on my Prayer list. Brewski....
Dave..
Best of luck for a successful operation and a speedy recovery!
At least it's not cutting into the best riding weather.
Brian
Dave,
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Don't want you laid up for to long or the V might start feeling neglected. We all know what happens when they feel neglected. ::)
Added you to prayer list along with davetn Brewski....
:) All the very best for a speedy recovery.....
but if things don't work out can I have first dibs on your "V" :o ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D...
Best of luck, bro'... 8).......TIGER....... 8)
lol, join the club, had mine out over christmas.
Nothing a few tylenol 3 can't fix !
May be it's time to change the line under your avitar ?
You might not be able to do too much work on the bike, I found putting on socks and shoes a little brutal for a while.
;D
Dave, you are right. You are being a wuss! Kia is the one who has a major thing going! Anyway, hope they don't leave a junior mint in you or anything. All the best, Walt.
To all who wished me well and prayers, a BIg HEARTY THANK YOU!
Tiger, sorry man but Lucky gets the bike..... Just Kidding
Mutt, I've worked with most of those doctors and nurses almost all my life - for the last 20 years actually, so I know I'm in good hands.
The hospital was remodeled 2 years ago and is now like a 5 star hotel. I'm really no kidding about that. Its really nice.
As for the food, it is actually VERY good. So good in fact that many people come to the cafeteria to eat out....and they are not even patients or visitors! Its funny because we just thought it was a trick two years ago to encourage us to use the cafeteria, but its catching on. More and more people are just coming in to eat.
Thanks to all of you. You are all a great extended family!! ;D
David
ya know....
getting rid of excess parts and weight will make ya faster....
just make sure Lucky doesn't detune your carbs even more while you're gone...
Be Well....
Dave, now you are now an even bigger wuss! (Told someone before my feminine side is not working today). Suck it up man, rub some dirt on it!
Quote from: Mutt on March 06, 2007, 07:32:18 AM
So your saying your gald bladder is as useless as a YICS unit? Just plug it off huh? :P
Mutt
I love that comment! ;D
Walt,
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a Wuss when it comes to poking holes in my body. I can dish it out but I just can't take it in. :o
I tell people al the time "this'll only hurt a little" or "I've been doing this for 20 years and I'll do my best to not hurt you." knowing well that its probably going to hurt.
David
Dave knows that his bik'd be safe with me. it might be black & gold when he gets it back, but it'll be running well...
I've already told my wife that if anything happened to me, i want to be creamated & brought on a last Dragon run...Serously. with my luck someone would cross the double yellow & i'll end up making the same leap Harrison Ford did in The Fugitive (they filmed that scene there)
can i have your old gall bladder? i figure i can Dip it, clean it out & keep it on the shelf with my carbs for a spare...
and Dave, your only allowed to be a wuss before the operation ;D ;D
I'll be right here 'till you get back.
--Lucky
Quote from: DaveTN on March 06, 2007, 09:01:34 PM
As for the food, it is actually VERY good. So good in fact that many people come to the cafeteria to eat out....and they are not even patients or visitors! Its funny because we just thought it was a trick two years ago to encourage us to use the cafeteria, but its catching on. More and more people are just coming in to eat.
Thanks to all of you. You are all a great extended family!! ;D
David
If they offer liver or kidney beans......decline!
Mutt
Quote from: Mutt on March 07, 2007, 12:34:25 AM
Quote from: DaveTN on March 06, 2007, 09:01:34 PM
As for the food, it is actually VERY good. So good in fact that many people come to the cafeteria to eat out....and they are not even patients or visitors! Its funny because we just thought it was a trick two years ago to encourage us to use the cafeteria, but its catching on. More and more people are just coming in to eat.
Thanks to all of you. You are all a great extended family!! ;D
David
If they offer liver or kidney beans......decline!
Mutt
...or mini HAGGIS :o ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D... ;)
Hey Dave, you don't really know who you are until you're facing the "knife." I thought I was a real tough guy until facing an MRI this year. Found out the hard way that I am clastrophobic. There was no way you were going to get me into a tube with about 4 inches to spare all around and stay there for 30 minutes, at least not without serious intervention. On an encouraging note, I eventually found a more modern MRI machine (more clearance) popped a few happy pills and it was a piece of cake. Man, talk about a blow to ego.
So I am totally sympathetic to your concerns, but not to worry, drugs are the answer. You are going to be so happy you will want them to pull a few more items while they are poking around.
Just keep busy up until the time. I will be praying for you too (most empathetically).
Louie ;)
Quote from: Tiger on March 07, 2007, 07:11:19 AM
...or mini HAGGIS :o ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D... ;)
Excuse me! Some of us are eating breakfast!
Brian
Quote from: Vision Rising on March 07, 2007, 10:58:14 AM
Quote from: Tiger on March 07, 2007, 07:11:19 AM
...or mini HAGGIS :o ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D... ;)
Excuse me! Some of us are eating breakfast!
Brian
::)...at 11.19 a.m. ??? Hmmmm, HAGGIS lunch, maybe :o ;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D...
OK y'all. Whats HAGGIS???????
David
:o Wit...ye dinna ken wit haggis iz laddy... ::) Here is a wee recipe for you to try...
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/sutherland/HumorArchives/haggisrecipe.htm
8).......TIGER....... 8)
A choice Scottish dish full of vitamins! :-X
Mutt
Quote from: Tiger on March 07, 2007, 09:29:33 PM
:o Wit...ye dinna ken wit haggis iz laddy... ::) Here is a wee recipe for you to try...
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/sutherland/HumorArchives/haggisrecipe.htm
8).......TIGER....... 8)
Ugh. I think my gallbladder just exploded. :o
David
Quote from: DaveTN on March 08, 2007, 05:43:58 AM
Ugh. I think my gallbladder just exploded. :o
My wife pointed out that the proper response is:
"How revolting!" -- Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez
Ha! Had my gallbladder out many years ago (it was like a bag full of marbles).
Just watch what you eat from now on. Eat the wrong stuff and you could either be doubled over in pain as there just isn't enough bile to do the job or the other extreme is that you suddenly, without notice gotta get to the bathroom to see how strong the porcelain really is. Fun stuff...
The surgery it's self is pretty straight forward.
Quote from: MotorPlow on March 08, 2007, 04:50:51 PM
Ha! Had my gallbladder out many years ago (it was like a bag full of marbles).
The surgery it's self is pretty straight forward.
I went in for the preadmission workup today....boy its fun getting poked on by people you know. I got to meet with the anesthesiologist who is going to be putting me to sleep and hopefully waking me up too. He told me the doctor that is taking my gallbladder out is "the best" and still holds the record for the fastest gall bladder removal. 12 minutes "from first incision to last stitch". I told him that he has to go for 11:30 on me.
;D
David
Dave--
After doing a bit of trial and error searching, i found that cepacol extra strength sore throat lozenges work decent for the soreness caused by the dr using a itubation thing during surgery- numbs it enough to eat a small bit and get fluids in. for longer period of relief, my guy at pharmacy mixed up a lidocaine spray for me to use, but only while with someone to watch out for me-- it works so good i could choke, lol
Well,
Its off to bed and up at 5am for my 6am arrival at the hosp. Surg is scheduled for around 8, so say your prayers before then. ;D
I'll be back online again later in the day or tue depending on how I'm feeling.
Take Care All,
David
My prayers are with you. Hope all goes well! Post when you feel like it to let us know how it all went!
H2O
Hi everyone and thanks for the prayers and thoughts!! ;D ;D ;D You all are a great bunch of people and friends
I'm back home and all went quite well. I actually got home just before noon today. Pain level is tolerable thanks to medication. ;D
I had a really bad nights sleep last night but made up for it during surg and afterwards.
Thanks!
David
hey, glad to hear you're alive! ..... now don't be farting all day either :D
Quote from: Night Vision on March 12, 2007, 02:11:00 PM
hey, glad to hear you're alive! ..... now don't be farting all day either :D
Actually, its the damn hiccups that are killing me... you mean I'm gonna be farting too!???! ugh. ;D
David
well my wife said the air pump/gall blader surgery was why she was farting all day
I just assumed that was true.....
Glad you're out so soon! Sounds like all went well. Heal fast so you can get out riding again! 8) ;D
H2O
Quote from: h2olawyer on March 12, 2007, 02:40:16 PM
Glad you're out so soon! Sounds like all went well. Heal fast so you can get out riding again! 8) ;D
H2O
Thanks H20.
Heal fast, heck yeah. Its supposed to be 80 degrees here tomorrow! ;D
NV, Thats true, they actually fill your abdomen with CO2. They blow you up like a large beach ball. It, however, is the abdominal space, not the intestine, so you don't get to fart it out. :o Most of it is evacuated through a valve that they insert in your belly button....I'm not kidding..and they actually evacuate it that way. Kinda like untying a baloon and letting it go.
She just wanted an excuse to fart. ;D :o
David
Quote from: DaveTN on March 12, 2007, 06:12:22 PM
...they actually fill your abdomen with CO2. They blow you up like a large beach ball. Most of it is evacuated through a valve that they insert in your belly button....I'm not kidding..and they actually evacuate it that way. Kinda like untying a balloon and letting it go.
;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D I have this mental picture in my head of Dave flying around the operating theater like a deflating balloon...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Glad to have you back bro'... 8)....Sorry, still can't stop laughing :D :D :D :D :D
Quote from: Tiger on March 12, 2007, 07:06:00 PM
Quote from: DaveTN on March 12, 2007, 06:12:22 PM
...they actually fill your abdomen with CO2. They blow you up like a large beach ball. Most of it is evacuated through a valve that they insert in your belly button....I'm not kidding..and they actually evacuate it that way. Kinda like untying a balloon and letting it go.
;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D I have this mental picture in my head of Dave flying around the operating theater like a deflating balloon...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Glad to have you back bro'... 8)....Sorry, still can't stop laughing :D :D :D :D :D
Laughter is the best medicine.....c'ept when you're bloated. ;D
David
I think this must be some kind of medical prank! Has anyone, besides me, had a colonoscopy(spelling?), twice? I felt like a Macy's balloon, twice! But the last one was a little less painful, better dr. I guess. My wife is not altogether willing to have her second one. I'll bet the doctors just laugh and laugh.
Quote from: Walt_M. on March 12, 2007, 09:03:02 PM
I think this must be some kind of medical prank! Has anyone, besides me, had a colonoscopy(spelling?), twice? I felt like a Macy's balloon, twice! But the last one was a little less painful, better dr. I guess. My wife is not altogether willing to have her second one. I'll bet the doctors just laugh and laugh.
Had one a few years ago. I'd rather have my gallbladder out again rather than go through that again. :o :o :o
David
Walt, that's an exit portal only!
Mutt
Phew, yesterday was pretty rough. Apparently anesthesia slows down the digestive tract. In my case, shut it down. Like nothing out since before Monday. ugghhh. Called the doctor yesterday and he recommended some stuff to losen me up and it did in a big sorta way. double ugh. Pain has set in now and I'm dealing with that. Looks like another couple days with pain meds, although I tried to avoid them today.
David
you just need a good gut shaking Harley to get that all moving
Quote from: kwells on March 14, 2007, 06:34:26 PM
you just need a good gut shaking Harley to get that all moving
Thanks, I'd rather put up with the pain....
Actually, my BIL has a very nice sporster 1100. His job transferred him to Ohio (we say ohiya down here) and he had to leave the bike here. Being the loving family member that I am, I offered up some of my garage space for it. Of course I told him that I'd be glad to keep it running for him too. ;D Still waiting.
David
hey dave,
i think the docs use something to bind you up for surgery, slip it to you when you arent paying attention. mine told me to just wait, fixed on it's own
now if i could just eat something, it will all be ok
got my stiches out today, one big running stitch, 6 loops a knot on each end- one snip and it slid out of all the holes in one pull- tickled too.
did get ok to ride bike in three weeks, instead of seven - by taking my helmet in and showing how the helmet and neck guard work as one piece.
Quote from: DaveTN on March 14, 2007, 06:28:29 PM
he recommended some stuff to losen me up and it did in a big sorta way. David
I'll be standing waaaay over there......-->
Kind of like where you would want to be during a nuclear explosion- someplace where you can say, 'what was that?'
Dave TN: Did you hear about the constipated mathematician that worked it out with a slide rule? :)
I heard he worked it out with a pencil . . .
H2O