So it looks like I'm going to need surgery

adymarie

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The doc is sending me to a general surgeon, specializing in Endoscopy. I have an appointment on June 7th. According to the results of my ultra sound I have a 39 mm (about 1.5 inch) gallstone, a 4 mm kidney stone and a slightly enlarged spleen. I need time off for surgery like I need a whole in the head. I wonder if the new doc is going to have to put me thru a bunch of tests first. I wonder when/if I will get the surgery. I guess I will have to wait and see what the doctor says, right now it is only my GP saying I need my gallbladder removed.

Now I'm grumpy and in pain. Before I was just in pain. Urgh!
 

leli

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Sorry to hear that! Hopefully, you'll feel so much better after the surgery that it makes the missed time worth it. I know it will be a struggle to make ends meet and get everything done with those two little boys at home, but you have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of your family in the long run! Sending vibes your way.....
 

gailc

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Good luck with the surgery-you will feel much better afterwards even though it have been hard with the 2 little ones. Good luck.
 

theimp98

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i am sorry, But the one thing is, you know that afterwards, you will feel much better
 
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adymarie

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Originally Posted by calico2222

I'm sorry to hear you need surgery. But remember, this is your health and if it will get you feeling like yourself again, it will be worth it! Does your job offer paid sick leave?
I have a few days of sick leave accumulated, but used alot before Derek was born due to some issues I was having with the end stages of pregnancy. If I am off for only a few days I have it covered, anything more is without pay or vacation time. I can't see the surgery happening really quickly, so we will see what sick time I can accumulate between now and then.
 

trixie23

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I've had plenty of endoscopies and a bravo surgery (a capsul that sends ph levels to a pager...it is pinned to the inside of your esophagus and not fun), I've also had kidney stones! You poor thing you? What surgery are you having out of curiosity if you are seeing an endoscopy specialist (they are digestive specialists)? Are the breaking up your stone, removing your gall bladder? Either way I am sending you some get better vibes, and after it all is done and over with you will feel much better! Having bad health issues blows (I have many myself so I know)... Hang in there, be strong, and I will be wishing the best for you!
 
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adymarie

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Originally Posted by trixie23

I've had plenty of endoscopies and a bravo surgery (a capsul that sends ph levels to a pager...it is pinned to the inside of your esophagus and not fun), I've also had kidney stones! You poor thing you? What surgery are you having out of curiosity if you are seeing an endoscopy specialist (they are digestive specialists)? Are the breaking up your stone, removing your gall bladder? Either way I am sending you some get better vibes, and after it all is done and over with you will feel much better! Having bad health issues blows (I have many myself so I know)... Hang in there, be strong, and I will be wishing the best for you!
I believe I will have to have the gallbladder removed, I'll find out for sure when I speak with him. I get kidney stones often (this is probably about my 13th time if I'm counting correctly) - they call me a stone thrower. Honestly - I'm used to them by now.

Thanks everyone for the support.
 

trixie23

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Wow you got me beat on the stones! I had them once and past at least three (that I caught)! they are extremely painful! Isn't there something they can do to manage this better (are the calcium stones or caused by dehydration)? I know that once you get them you are more suspeptable to getting them again! Im sorry about your gallbladder, have you had issue with it before or is this your first stone! It's weird some doctors don't feel the need to remove it and some do! A girl I knew got gallstones frequently yet they wouldn't remove it????? Im wishing you the best and hopefully you can get these matters under control!
 
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adymarie

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Originally Posted by trixie23

Wow you got me beat on the stones! I had them once and past at least three (that I caught)! they are extremely painful! Isn't there something they can do to manage this better (are the calcium stones or caused by dehydration)? I know that once you get them you are more suspeptable to getting them again! Im sorry about your gallbladder, have you had issue with it before or is this your first stone! It's weird some doctors don't feel the need to remove it and some do! A girl I knew got gallstones frequently yet they wouldn't remove it????? Im wishing you the best and hopefully you can get these matters under control!
I really need to drink more, but since I usually pass them easily the doc tends to leave them be. I have had this current gall stone for at least 3 years, but it has only just started causing a lot of pain so that is why the remove it. Most people (I think the stat is 80%) have gallstones in their life, but never know it. It is only removed usually if it is large 9mine is) and causing pain (mine is)
 

trixie23

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Aww stay hydrated... I got my stones back in the day from binge drinking all the time... I think, they never told me the results from testing the stones... I know two were white and one was black and big/jagged! Im sorry about your surgery, I know of people who have had it done and recover quite quickly... It will be nice to get some relief!
 

starryeyedtiger

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Originally Posted by trixie23

I've had plenty of endoscopies and a bravo surgery (a capsul that sends ph levels to a pager...it is pinned to the inside of your esophagus and not fun),
Oh i had one of those Bravo PH monitors too! My readings were off the chart (i have severe GERD). It felt weird everytime i ate or swallowed something- but it was only for a few days and worth it as it gave the doctors an exact idea of what was going on with me so that's good
Oh yeah- and ady. pleaes don't worry about the endoscopy
i've had several as well as upper scopes. I have IBS (same things as a spaztic colon), Gastroparesis, Lactose Intolerance (but i can have SOME dairy- it just depends on what it is), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (makes me insulin resisitant), Severe GERD (the ONLY medicine that works for me is a double dose of Zegarid 2x a day -nexium, prevacid, prilosec...none of that stuff works on me!), A small Hiatial Hernia as a result of the GERD (but it doesn't bother me at all)

i can not have surgery to fix the GERD as it will make my Gastroparesis (delayed stomah emptying) worse if they tighten the spinchter to the esophagus/stomach area). The Gastroparesis makes the IBS worse because it takes a while for my food to disolve- so when it finally does it causes almost a dumping syndrome (how my doctor described it) -very painfull -it causes a lot of cramping... that coupled with PCOS - man you have no idea what that time of the month is like
it's horrible! So my point would be - for me, there's not much they can do- they can't give me medicine for the IBS because it will make my Gastroparesis worse...and so on and so on. There's not much they can do for me so i just have to watch what i eat for the most part and i only really takes stuff for my GERD. If your doctor is giving you the option to have an endoscopy and FIX your gallstones- honey- do not worry!!! you are going to be just fine! And be glad that you are able to be a good canidate for that surgery as some people are not able to have surgery to fix things and just have to live with it. Besides- that one week of work you miss- it will be good for you to recover and heal up in
Good luck!
i hope all goes well! And please- no worries! You'll be asleep the whole time and the only thing you will even remotely feel will be the iv when they knock you out (and that's not so bad if you have a good iv nurse
) i'll be thinking about you!
 

whiskerynature

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Originally Posted by adymarie

I believe I will have to have the gallbladder removed, I'll find out for sure when I speak with him. I get kidney stones often (this is probably about my 13th time if I'm counting correctly) - they call me a stone thrower. Honestly - I'm used to them by now.

Thanks everyone for the support.
Did they do any work-ups to find out why you keep getting stones? The mother of a friend of mine had multiple episodes of kidney stones and they finally figured out that her parathyroid glands weren't functioning properly.

Good luck with the surgery!
 

trixie23

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Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

Oh i had one of those Bravo PH monitors too! My readings were off the chart (i have severe GERD). It felt weird everytime i ate or swallowed something- but it was only for a few days and worth it as it gave the doctors an exact idea of what was going on with me so that's good
Oh yeah- and ady. pleaes don't worry about the endoscopy
i've had several as well as upper scopes. I have IBS (same things as a spaztic colon), Gastroparesis, Lactose Intolerance (but i can have SOME dairy- it just depends on what it is), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (makes me insulin resisitant), Severe GERD (the ONLY medicine that works for me is a double dose of Zegarid 2x a day -nexium, prevacid, prilosec...none of that stuff works on me!), A small Hiatial Hernia as a result of the GERD (but it doesn't bother me at all)

i can not have surgery to fix the GERD as it will make my Gastroparesis (delayed stomah emptying) worse if they tighten the spinchter to the esophagus/stomach area). The Gastroparesis makes the IBS worse because it takes a while for my food to disolve- so when it finally does it causes almost a dumping syndrome (how my doctor described it) -very painfull -it causes a lot of cramping... that coupled with PCOS - man you have no idea what that time of the month is like
it's horrible! So my point would be - for me, there's not much they can do- they can't give me medicine for the IBS because it will make my Gastroparesis worse...and so on and so on. There's not much they can do for me so i just have to watch what i eat for the most part and i only really takes stuff for my GERD. If your doctor is giving you the option to have an endoscopy and FIX your gallstones- honey- do not worry!!! you are going to be just fine! And be glad that you are able to be a good canidate for that surgery as some people are not able to have surgery to fix things and just have to live with it. Besides- that one week of work you miss- it will be good for you to recover and heal up in
Good luck!
i hope all goes well! And please- no worries! You'll be asleep the whole time and the only thing you will even remotely feel will be the iv when they knock you out (and that's not so bad if you have a good iv nurse
) i'll be thinking about you!
LOL you are as messed up as me... I have Acid Reflux, Bile Reflux (not so known), Gastritis, Hiatal Hernia, Colonic Inertia (colon doesn't function on its own), MVP, and an unknown breathing problem! Unlike most people who have the bravo done I had to take my two doses of Protonix before the surgery...My acid reflux is so high that they wanted to test to see what it was with me being on medication (usually with that surgery they don't have you take your meds)! Digestive surgeries aren't always sucessful and can cause further complications therefor i don't consider it an option! I will admit the bravo surgery was quite uncomfortable and more painful when it started to come off the esophagus wall then when it was just attached! Endoscopies are a breeze, usually the sedation causes amnesia (though you are able to function and follow directions while under it, you just wont remember) unfortunatley I woke up in my last endoscopy and my last colonoscopy (no amnesia for me that time I remember it all)... LOL it was interesting! I did not wake up for the bravo surgery, eating was not fun, it hurt whenever food passed the capsal! I have been through alot this past year with procedures and over 40 appointments so my heart goes out to ady and I hope she gets better asap! Sorry for the hi-jack btw.
 

starryeyedtiger

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Originally Posted by trixie23

LOL you are as messed up as me... I have Acid Reflux, Bile Reflux (not so known), Gastritis, Hiatal Hernia, Colonic Inertia (colon doesn't function on its own), MVP, and an unknown breathing problem! Unlike most people who have the bravo done I had to take my two doses of Protonix before the surgery...My acid reflux is so high that they wanted to test to see what it was with me being on medication (usually with that surgery they don't have you take your meds)! Digestive surgeries aren't always sucessful and can cause further complications therefor i don't consider it an option! I will admit the bravo surgery was quite uncomfortable and more painful when it started to come off the esophagus wall then when it was just attached! Endoscopies are a breeze, usually the sedation causes amnesia (though you are able to function and follow directions while under it, you just wont remember) unfortunatley I woke up in my last endoscopy and my last colonoscopy (no amnesia for me that time I remember it all)... LOL it was interesting! I did not wake up for the bravo surgery, eating was not fun, it hurt whenever food passed the capsal! I have been through alot this past year with procedures and over 40 appointments so my heart goes out to ady and I hope she gets better asap! Sorry for the hi-jack btw.
sounds like we both have digestive issues
and i agree- the food passing the bravo capsuel was the worse!!!! i was soo glad when that thing fell off
by the way- have they tried giving you Creon? you might ask about that.

oh and ady- my niece, Terri had her gall bladder removed completly after complications when she had her first baby, kaitlynn. She recovered very quickly and only have 3-4 tinsy tiny little pin point incisions on her abdomen (one was through her belly button - if you have your belly button pierced- it will totally hid it when it's healed.) with a little mederma when you get the ok- those tinsy scars will be gone in no time if they're able to to laproscopic surgery!
my niece recovered soooo well and had no more pain after the surgery was done
she was much happier too without having to live in all that pain!
Good luck! i hope all goes well!
 
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adymarie

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Thanks for the support everyone. It actually sounds like I have it easy compared to some of you!

Hey Starryeyedtiger, do you take Metformin for your PCOS? My PCOS caused a lot of my fertility issues. Metformin really helped.
 
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