Eagle Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Hoo, boy. Getting old ain't for sissies. This was the summer I was going to clean up the yard, paint the house, and get at least one of the MJs back on the road. Update: Not gonna happen. Last Wednesday (the 15th) I felt poorly after lunch and left work early. Still felt badly the next day. Called the doctor around noon, they said to to the emergency room. The emergency room confirmed my suspicion -- gall stone attack -- and admitted me. Since then I've been through two laparoscopic procedures to install drains and clean out the gall stones. I just got released this afternoon, but it's only temporary. I'm wearing one of those external drainage bags, and I'll have to back in six weeks to have the gall bladder removed. Meanwhile, I'm not allowed to lift more than fifteen pounds while the drain is in place. Not a happy camper ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Ouch. That's no good. How long is recovery supposed to be after removal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Hoo, boy. Getting old ain't for sissies...Ain't that the truth. Get well soon, the MJ won't fix itself! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 only a couple weeks usually before people go back to work after removal. been there done that. I am curious why they are waiting that long on the removal surgery. :hmm: It's usually outpatient and very straight forward. I could have had mine that very night, but waited a couple days for an appointment with the regular doc that does it. either way that really sucks. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Yea, getting old does kind of suck. But, consider the alternative.... laparoscopic surgery is quit amazing. I had a hernia repair a couple years ago and shoulder surgery earlier this year. Both cases the recovery was quicker than I expected and quite pain free. So take care, do what the Dr. tells you (mostly) and take care of yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted June 24, 2016 Share Posted June 24, 2016 Sorry to hear that, and take care of yourself! My boss had a gall stone attack back in February, but he ignored it and didn't see a doctor right away, not until he collapsed and his wife took him to emergency. Long story short they made their way to his pancreas and plugged it up. He's still in the hospital, been in and out of the ICU and on and off dialysis for the last five months. I sincerely hope you don't have to go through that, but instead have a speedy recovery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted June 24, 2016 Share Posted June 24, 2016 only a couple weeks usually before people go back to work after removal. been there done that. I am curious why they are waiting that long on the removal surgery. :hmm: It's usually outpatient and very straight forward. I could have had mine that very night, but waited a couple days for an appointment with the regular doc that does it. either way that really sucks. :( Exactly. My wife went through a few years ago. She went in as an outpatient around lunchtime and it was over in about two hours. They removed her gall bladder using laser surgery. She rested the next day, and the day after was back on normal ops. But she's pretty tough, a lot tougher than I am. :yes: Hang in there Eagle.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyav8r Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Sorry to read this, Eagle. Take care of yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw star Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Good luck man. Sent from my SM-J700P using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Tell me about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 13, 2016 Author Share Posted July 13, 2016 Update: Looks even worse than I thought. When I was sent home from the hospital after the emergency intervention, they said the surgery to remove the gallbladder would be in six weeks. Had a follow-up yesterday, and now they're saying the next follow-up will be six weeks after the initial hospitalization, and the surgery might be another couple of weeks after that. They initially told me the recovery from the surgery would be a week to ten days, now they're telling me six weeks post-op. Dang I hate doctors. They lie worse than politicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Did they mention anything else that would cause the delay, or is it just simply the fact that they are overbooked? When I had my back surgery they had to schedule it 4 weeks out to even get me in, but when they went in to repair a tendon in my shoulder it was 4 days later. I can't comment on the recovery times, because every surgery I have had required 4-6 weeks and then physical therapy and MRI/Xray's afterward. The worst was my ankle by far, which they had to go in twice to put in pins.I'm not old (33) but i've hurt myself a bunch lol.As far as the lost time, you would be surprised what you can do even with restrictions. I changed to different goals to get things out of the way and saved the bigger stuff for when I was better.In any case, I wish you well and hope that your recovery is quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Might want to get a second opinion at another Dr practicing at a different hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 there are a couple ways to remove the gall bladder, one has an easy recovery, the other is far more invasive and has a much longer recovery. the worse one is reserved for when there are complications. either way they should have told you why they're are doing what they're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 Is this the West Haven VA hospital that you are going to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 I have been laid up with gall stone necrotizing pancreatitis since January 27th of this year. I almost cashed out twice, had an occulated lung, lost 60+ lbs. I just had surgery this week. There is a reason why they can't tell you what kind of surgery you are having. They will start laproscopically, but if complications occur you will have to be opened up. I lucked out and the complication, I had did not require me to get opened up. The 4 inscions I have hurt enough. I also finally had my PIC line pulled this week ending a 6 month course of antibiotics. Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 Is this the West Haven VA hospital that you are going to? Yes, it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Dang I hate doctors. They lie worse than politicians. Especially at VA facilities. I'm a vet, but damned if I'll ever set foot in one nowadays. Hope you'll be okay Eagle. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw star Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Dang I hate doctors. They lie worse than politicians. Especially at VA facilities. I'm a vet, but damned if I'll ever set foot in one nowadays. Hope you'll be okay Eagle. :cheers: Then you've heard the VA joke before? "The VA, giving vets a second chance to die for their country." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Dang I hate doctors. They lie worse than politicians. Especially at VA facilities. I'm a vet, but damned if I'll ever set foot in one nowadays. Hope you'll be okay Eagle. :cheers: Then you've heard the VA joke before?"The VA, giving vets a second chance to die for their country." Yes I have, sad but true. But to be fair to the VA, one of the most popular federal budget cuts by the current and recent crop of leadership has been to hack and slash their budget. No longer can they attract the top medical personnel and administrators. Thus their caseload is now overwhelming and way back loaded due to incompetent leadership and understaffing. And I don't see any relief on the horizon for our vets. It sucks. Sorry for the rant - no need for comments - I'm off topic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpdriver1 Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Totally feel the pain Eagle. this past april my gall bladder when bad also. no symptoms prior. on a monday back ache, tues it had moved to the front and general feeling of bbbblllleeeeccchhhh ---- you seemed to caught yours early, mine was gangrenous with a thick layer of goo between it and the liver. only two stones, one the size of a golf ball and the other just a bit smaller. white blood cell count was over 30K took six days to get that under control. went home with a 1/4" drain in my side. all good now --- do not lift over the weight your doc says --- hurts like hell --- ask me how I know :yes: Good luck --- ps ask surgeon for a new scalpel and tell him a sharp knife is a happy knife :rotfl2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw star Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Dang I hate doctors. They lie worse than politicians.Especially at VA facilities. I'm a vet, but damned if I'll ever set foot in one nowadays. Hope you'll be okay Eagle. :cheers:Then you've heard the VA joke before?"The VA, giving vets a second chance to die for their country." Yes I have, sad but true. But to be fair to the VA, one of the most popular federal budget cuts by the current and recent crop of leadership has been to hack and slash their budget. No longer can they attract the top medical personnel and administrators. Thus their caseload is now overwhelming and way back loaded due to incompetent leadership and understaffing. And I don't see any relief on the horizon for our vets. It sucks. Sorry for the rant - no need for comments - I'm off topic... As long as Eagle gets good care he needs, we'll be fine with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now