I have the best excuse for not updating…

Previously I wrote about my hospital stay here. This was back in April and I was popped on the waiting list for an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy which was supposed to be done in May …

Fast forward to the end of May where I found myself back in hospital. The doctor who would have done my surgery was going to be away but said that the surgery would definitely be a go for the 9th of June. So, I was in hospital until the Saturday and then I was off until the surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery is the easier option and a lot less invasive where, at most, you’ll have to take a week off work and take it easy for a wee while. Four incisions are made and the gallbladder and stones are whipped out. There is a 1-10% chance that during this surgery they may have to go to an open cholecystectomy – meaning they have to cut you open.

Guess what happened…

So I wake from what was supposed to be routine surgery to find out that they had barely started the laparoscopic surgery when I started to bleed and they had to go straight into the open surgery…apparently my gallbladder had begun to go gangrenous and, according to my nurses and surgeon (who were brilliant btw) it was the most stones that they had removed from a gallbladder. One of the stones was also stuck in one of the ducts…according to people I’m bloody lucky to be alive. Of course, when I woke up, I began to apologise profusely to the nurse for causing any trouble. I apologised for the fact that my gallbladder had tried to kill me…

I managed to lose a lot of blood but, luckily, didn’t need a transfusion though it was close. I’ve been off work for two weeks and start back on Monday but can only work half days. The doctor and nurses originally recommended taking three days off but I need to build up my strength because I’m still going to America in a couple of weeks. (I’ve been cleared to fly so there is no worry there. It will be four weeks after surgery that I fly so I’m good.)

Anyway, I just thought I’d do a quick update. I’m doing really well though I’m too bloody stubborn for my own good. I have overdone it a couple of times and given myself a fright but I am feeling so much better than I have in a long time. The professionals believe that I’d been growing those stones for some time which could explain my general ill health and lethargic nature more readily than stress. It might also explain several other things, health wise, that had been getting me down for at least the last year or so.

I’m tender and have a 22cm scar from the middle of my chest to my lower side but I’m no longer attached to Bert the Bile Duct Drain (check my instagram for more images). I have trouble getting comfortable but, like everyone keeps reminding me, it’s barely been two weeks since surgery.

So that’s why it’s been a little quiet on the blogging front…

Peace and pancakes,

Jaime

P.S. This is surgery number 19 if anyone is keeping score…