Yes, that is my Molly looking very confused, which is
what happened to me about 10 days ago, when around mid afternoon I started to have an
uncomfortable gut ache, although I can't imagine that ever being comfortable. I
have had that happen before, as sometimes what I eat can bother me. But this time
it wasn’t going away. By the next morning, it was still hurting, and Joe and I decided
I needed to head to urgent care. What I thought would be a 3 or 4-hour visit turned
out to be a 7-day hospital stay and undergoing 2 procedures and a surgery.
I had a CT scan at the urgent care facility and
showed gallstones. I had another scan at the hospital and obviously told the stones
would need to be removed. I was asked if I had my gallbladder removed because they
couldn't see it on the films. I told them no. I was asked more than once, probably
thinking I simply didn’t remember it. I might forget my phone or wallet once in
a while, but I wouldn't forget losing my gallbladder. The next step was
undergoing an ERCP (a much easier way of saying Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangiopancreatography). I won't go into details about the procedure, but the
main purpose was to check out the organs and remove the gallstones. Thankfully,
I tolerated the procedure very well. In case you’re wondering, the stones were
in my bile duct system.
Here’s
the thing, though. They told me they could not find my gallbladder. Um, what?
How does one lose a gallbladder? Perhaps the breast lumpectomy I had a few
years back was actually my gallbladder disguised as a precancerous tumor! It
was decided I needed to have a cholecystectomy to make sure that pesky GB wasn’t
hiding behind my liver or pancreas. So I
had that the day after the ERCP. It was discovered I have gallbladder agenesis.
No, that’s not a planet in the Delta quadrant on Star Trek. It’s a rare but
real thing. I simply don’t have a gallbladder. I do have what’s called a fistula,
which is an abnormal connection between 2 organs, this one I think connecting
my colon and liver. I was also told my liver, colon, and pancreas are stuck together.
When I found that out, I thought surely I
must be on Candid Camera! This cannot be real!
In
any event, the day after that surgery, I thought I was going to be discharged.
In fact, the nurse came in with the discharge papers in her hand! Another nurse
came flying in saying nope, surgeon wants a colonoscopy. Everyone wanted to get
in on the action and check out that fistula. Even if you have not had a
colonoscopy, I'm sure you know all about the fun in prepping for it. Now in my
case, I had an IV line running with fluids and antibiotics, so it was not
possible for me to use the bathroom. Yep, got to experience the pleasure of using
a beside commode, which at least was better than a bed pan. But unfortunately,
by morning, I still was not clear. You see there can't be even a speck of brown
in the bowl or it’s a no-go. Yeah, that meant another night of prepping. I did have to hit the call button with every visit,
because of any risk of fall, so each time I prayed it would not be a male
nurse. One time it was, but he was very sweet and stood by the bathroom until I
ready to get back to bed. At one visit, the
nurse came in, sat me down and said there was an emergency and she would be
back shortly.
I'm
waiting, waiting, waiting—no nurse. I wondered if I had misunderstood and I was
to use the call button to let her know I was done, since she had to leave the room
for that emergency. The remote was on the bed, and I could easily reach it, but
I did have to stand up to get it. When I did that, I heard a noise I should not
have heard because it didn’t come out of me. The bucket you sit on is
removable. And it managed to remove itself, crashing to the floor. It’s bad
enough my gallbladder went missing, but now the floor is covered in a sunburst
pattern of diarrhea? The thought of God does not give you more than you can
handle went right out the door that night! The nurse was so kind and apologetic
that she had not gotten back to me, but on a sad note, they could not save the patient
who had the emergency. So I was not about to complain or be upset. There was a
pad underneath the pot, and not a drop hit the floor, so there was that. It was
a quick cleanup!
Oh
but I'm not quite done yet with the lack of dignity. There was one instance when I was in the bathroom,
and I was trying to pull up my underwear. When I bent over, my gown fell to my
lap, and there I'm sitting with my panties around my ankles, and my gown
sitting in my lap. That was an easy fix, of course. But as I was trying to right
this wrong, I accidentally pulled on the string hanging by the grab bar that tells
the nurses station they are needed. It was a male nurse in my room waiting for
me to finish, and I yelled out “I'm okay, I’m okay! Just pulled that string by
accident!” So thank the dear Lord, I didn’t have to send that poor male nurse
into therapy.
One
last thing that isn't about lack of dignity. I had a lot of blood draws throughout
my stay, on top of more than one IV line. They were running out of veins, as
apparently I have tiny veins. So what else is new? The lab tech said she was
going to get this nurse who is super good at finding a workable vein. They shine
this green light on your arm, and it lights up all your veins, but you have to find
a certain type for taking blood. In walks this male nurse at least 6 feet tall,
looking like a young Antonio Banderas,
and I swear I heard music! My face must have been 85 shades of red, not from
blushing, but because I was trying to hide my veins so he couldn't find
anything. I think even Joe was crushing on this guy! I mean, come on, Antonio
Banderas!
I’m home now, feeling better each day, although I still might have to have that fistula fixed, but with a little luck and prayers, it won't need any further treatment, but if it does, I will remember next time to leave my dignity in my other purse. Thanks for reading this long post. I always appreciate your stopping by. Remember, keep reading, keep writing, don’t neglect your health, and enjoy your day!
