UPDATE ON SANDRA BOTTS/JANIE

JANIE EMAILED ME AND SAID FOR SOME REASON SHE COULDNT GET THE POST TO SHOW UP SO ASKED ME TO RELAY THE INFO TO YALL.. SHE  HAS BEEN MISSING IN ACTION LATELY AND I EVEN WONDERED WHY HAVENT HEARD FROM HER. SHE SPENT MOST OF LAST WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING HER GALLBLADDER OUT. SHE HAD A ROUGH TIME. SHE SAID SHE GOT UP LAST MONDAY AND HER BACK WAS KILLING HER. THE PAIN GOT WORSE AND ENDED UP GOING TO THE ER. THEY DONE XRAYS, A CT SCAN AND BLOODWORK AND FINALLY ADMITTED HER ABOUT TEN THAT NIGHT. SHE GOT AN ULTRASOUND THE NEXT DAY AND SAID WAS THE GALLBLADDER. IT WAS A LAST MINUTE THING WITH NO SCHEDULE SO SHE WAS BOOKED TO GO LAST IN THE OPERATING ROOM. THEY TOOK HER IN ABOUT FOUR THAT DAY AND SHE WAS IN HER ROOM BY SEVEN THAT EVENING. SHE SPENT THE NIGHT AFTER SURGERY AND WENT HOME WEDNESDAY.  HER GALLBLADDER WAS IN VERY BAD SHAPE WHEN THEY GOT TO IT. SHE HAD TO HAVE AN INCISION THAT WAS TWO TIMES THE ADVERAGE SIZE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE GALLBLADDER AND WAS TERRIBLY INFECTED AND FULL OF STONES. SO JANIE SAYS WHEN YOU START FEELING SOME FEELINGS IN THE BODY MAKE SURE TO TAKE NOTES AND TO LISTEN. SHE HAD NO SIGNS JUST WAS FEELING BAD. BOYCE HAS BEEN A TROUPER AS USUAL AND PLAYING NURSE NANCY VERY WELL.... IM SURE IT TOTALLY STRESSED HIM OUT ALSO.,.. SHE IS TIRED AND SAID THE BEST THING OF ALL WAS THAT HER ROOM WAS COLD AND SHE LOVED THAT LOL.... SO LETS ALL GIVE HER A BUNCH OF WELL WISHES AND HOPE SHE IS FEELING PERKY SOON. HUGS MARGE

Thanks Marge for posting this.  I do not understand why I can reply to messages, but not post a new one.  I slept better last night after I finally got to sleep.  I am ready for winter, I have definitely decided that I like cold better best, even though I freeze, I can always put more on.  Boyce has been wonderful, but worried to death.  They told him the surgery would be only 1/2 hour, so when I was gone for 2.5 hours he was a wreck by the time it was over.  I still have surgical discomfort, but my lower right side of my back is driving me nuts.  No matter where or how I sit it hurts, so I am just having to ignore it as much as possible.  Merlin has been very concerned.  The other day he asked, "Mama hurt?  Need hug?".  Mollie just wants to be as close as possible, and bless her she hasn't even tried to jump up on me once.  One thing I think this surgery has helped with is the potty situation.  I am no longer constantly constipated!  And yes, this is a good thing.  I have become addicted to the lite apple juice with splenda from Kroger.  It has 6 grams of carbs instead of 28 in the regular juice.  It has been satisfying a tremendous thrist lately that I think is because it is so hot.  I have been avoiding tea, even decaf because I am sweating like a mule even when sitting still!  The only time lately that I have been comfortable was in the hospital.  My room was 69 degrees.  The nurses and Boyce were freezing, but I was so comfy.  They brought me a heated blanket at night and I just snuggled down.  Boyce is really in for it if we ever win the mega millions.  I will then be able to have the perfect year round temperature all the time.  Well I must run.  Boyce is a good nurse, but a so-so laundry man and things have piled up.  I sort and put in the washer, he takes them out and puts them in the dryer and helps me fold-another issue,but at least he tries, bless him.  I go back to the doctor on August 15 and they told me to take things easy until then.  I plan on it.  I also, unless it is absolutely required, to have no more surgery.  If I flop, I flop.  I don't think I could take the pain of a tummy tuck, I am becoming a wimp.  I also hope this surgery helps to rejumpstart my weightloss.  Oh, I did find out from the radiologist on one of my tests that my pouch is still the size it should be.  I HAVEN'T STRETCHED MY POUCH!!!!!  WOOHOO!  I was terrified of that happening and it hasn't which is good.  Really going now.  Thanks again, Marge.  I will try not to lurk so much in the furture. Hugs, Janie

Janie: Glad to hear you are feeling better.  I've had a badly diseased gallbladder (mine was also full of stones), and I was sick for nearly a year because I was only 23 years old and in those days, the doctors didn't think of gallbladder disease in someone so young. It's a real hurtin' kind of pain, and I was a happy girl when mine was finally removed.  If you like cold, come to Colorado.  My sister keeps the air conditioner at arctic levels, and I sleep with four blankets on my bed at night.  Seriously!  BRR! I found after my gallbladder was removed, I tended to have lots of diarrhea if I didn't make sure to eat enough fiber -- the fiber soaks up the bile that drips into the stomach now that there isn't a gallbladder to catch it.  Not everyone has this problem, so you may not, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. Hugs, Kix

Thanks for the head's up on the fiber.  I will mention it when I see the doctor on the 15th.  After having constant constipation since my rny, diarrhea might be a welcome change! Hugs, Janie

Hello, I am so glad that you are feeling better and doing well since your surgery. I too have been constipated since surgery and have been doing the Milk of Mag like the docs told me to do. I have not been able to "go" on my own, but twice so far and it is a very uncomfortable feeling. I got an ultrasound in March for GB and I was told that I have "multiple" stones in there. I will be in Atlanta tomorrow for first check up since surgery and I will tell him about this. I am hoping for no more surgery right now but if he says for me too I will do as he says of course. Thanks for posting about this cos I learned alot from it. God Bless You.....see you later.....and oh yeah, thank you for all the help to me Before my surgery as well.....Renee

Try to up your fluid intake as well as you can try stool softeners.  Just make sure they do not contain a stimulant laxative.  Definitely mention your GB when you see the doctor tomorrow and good luck on the first post op check.  They told me when I had my wls that they would look at the GB and if it needed to come out they would go ahead and do it, but at the time it was okay.  Oh and I have now lost 15 pounds since GB surgery. Hugs, Janie