Mini-kvetch session
I had a point of annoyance this morning that I just want to complain about. It's not a major thing, but it was a bit of a mind screw.
I went in to have my gall bladder removed last week because of a mysterious growth that they'd been tracking on it. Aside from the growth, I'd had no problems with the gall bladder - no pain, no sign of stones, everything was fine. But the doctor said the sonogram showed that the growth was a full centimeter, that it had doubled in size since when they first spotted it last year, and had to come out and be examined for cancer.
So: I take a week off from work, interrupt my workout routine, and get the surgery and wait one week for the results of the biopsy.
Today, I go in to the doctor's office. I wait in the doctors office for 1.5 hours - loooooong wait. When I finally get in, I find out:
1> There's no sign of cancer in the gall bladder. Yay!
2> The reason that there's no sign of cancer in the gall bladder is because there's no tumor. Nothin, nada zip, making the surgery unnecessary. Boo.
3> He then mentions that they found over 20 gall stones in the gall bladder of varying sizes, and that even though I hadn't had any symptoms I might have needed the gall bladder removed eventually anyway.
Yay? Boo? Hmm. Yaoo?
Ah, well. Though the surgery seems unnecessary right now, along with the 6 weeks I have to stop lifting weights thanks to it, I suppose I should just be grateful I've been spared the potential pain of those gall stones kicking in...?
Not knowing how to react to this, I guess I'll try and find the positive.
I went in to have my gall bladder removed last week because of a mysterious growth that they'd been tracking on it. Aside from the growth, I'd had no problems with the gall bladder - no pain, no sign of stones, everything was fine. But the doctor said the sonogram showed that the growth was a full centimeter, that it had doubled in size since when they first spotted it last year, and had to come out and be examined for cancer.
So: I take a week off from work, interrupt my workout routine, and get the surgery and wait one week for the results of the biopsy.
Today, I go in to the doctor's office. I wait in the doctors office for 1.5 hours - loooooong wait. When I finally get in, I find out:
1> There's no sign of cancer in the gall bladder. Yay!
2> The reason that there's no sign of cancer in the gall bladder is because there's no tumor. Nothin, nada zip, making the surgery unnecessary. Boo.
3> He then mentions that they found over 20 gall stones in the gall bladder of varying sizes, and that even though I hadn't had any symptoms I might have needed the gall bladder removed eventually anyway.
Yay? Boo? Hmm. Yaoo?
Ah, well. Though the surgery seems unnecessary right now, along with the 6 weeks I have to stop lifting weights thanks to it, I suppose I should just be grateful I've been spared the potential pain of those gall stones kicking in...?
Not knowing how to react to this, I guess I'll try and find the positive.
What they might have seen as a growth was a shadow from a gallstone or mass of gallstones. I have had gallbladder attacks (even with no stones) and believe me, even with the pain of surgery and all the issues around having had it done, you have been spared significant pain. There usually isn't much pain from gallstones unless one gets stuck in the cystic duct or you get a large buildup of sludge (yeah, it's called sludge). And with that many, your chances of an impaction were pretty high.
I know this has been a mind mess for you. Just try to remember that medicine is so inexact as much as we'd like to think it's good science. It really never can be because each person is different... same but different.
Since you came through it well, I'd say work to the place of being good with it... maybe even grateful. Of course, I'm not the one who got cut open so easy for me to talk.
I know this has been a mind mess for you. Just try to remember that medicine is so inexact as much as we'd like to think it's good science. It really never can be because each person is different... same but different.
Since you came through it well, I'd say work to the place of being good with it... maybe even grateful. Of course, I'm not the one who got cut open so easy for me to talk.
"When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge." -Tuli Kupferberg
Speaking for myself, I see it as a yay.
Most people have gallstones. Most just sit there and don't bother anyone.
A few of them, comparatively, cause gallbladder inflammation and attacks and believe me they are horrible to experience.
The worst pain is from stretching a tube and trying to "pass" a gallstone or kidneystone is agony.
So. for me it would be better that the offending organ be removed preventatively since they were in there anyway. (i tried to get my surgeon to take my GB out when I had my lapband done. He wouldn't.)
jude
Most people have gallstones. Most just sit there and don't bother anyone.
A few of them, comparatively, cause gallbladder inflammation and attacks and believe me they are horrible to experience.
The worst pain is from stretching a tube and trying to "pass" a gallstone or kidneystone is agony.
So. for me it would be better that the offending organ be removed preventatively since they were in there anyway. (i tried to get my surgeon to take my GB out when I had my lapband done. He wouldn't.)
jude
Its a yahoo. Trust me - I lost most of my preop weight because my gall bladder attacked me and I could only keep down a couple protein shakes a day for the two weeks before and two weeks after my GB surgery. Lots of pain, and lots of nausea. Better that it be gone. One of those big rocks got stuck in the bile duct and it woulda HURT!
"be willing to sit in the middle of the fear and fucking feel it." Lady Raven
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/gay_lesbian_bisexual_transgender
VSG 12/9/08 Highest 278, then lost #30 preop Goal 126
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