Things have changed quite a bit since my last post—mostly due to health challenges. I’ve been sick twice and out of the office for an extended period. I managed to return to work for a week, only to fall ill again, recover, and then experience a relapse that took me out once more.
I thought I was finally on the mend, but I spent an entire weekend knocked out by a migraine—only to be hit in the middle of the night by a gallbladder stone attack. That landed me in the ER, where they put me on morphine. Let’s just say… that was an unforgettable experience. I think morphine makes most people drowsy—but not me. Every thought that popped into my head, I had to say out loud. My poor husband was so annoyed, trying to get some rest in that uncomfortable hospital chair, especially since he had a business trip later that afternoon. As if trying to sleep in a hospital wasn't hard enough already. We finally made it back home, crawled straight into bed, and I eventually passed out from all the meds!
I followed up with my primary care physician, who quickly referred me to a specialist and confirmed that I’ll need to have my gallbladder removed. It’s been a few weeks since the initial attack. While the pain hasn’t been as intense as the first time, I’ve been managing a constant dull ache with medication.
I’ve been sticking to low-fat foods and eating plenty of fruits and veggies. I’m really nervous about having another attack—that pain was absolutely unbearable.
I’ve never had any major surgeries before. Having my tonsils removed as an adult was the worst experience I’ve ever had, and I vowed never to go through anything like that again. I’m comfortable seeing the doctor to manage my migraines and diabetes, but when it comes to anything else, it’s a hard no. I’ve refused all dental work since—no one is getting near my mouth again. The year I had my tonsils removed, I was also scheduled for an ablation, but the tonsillectomy was so traumatic, I ended up canceling the ablation procedure altogether.
Unfortunately, I can’t avoid the cholecystectomy. If I choose not to go through with it, I’ll be stuck managing the pain for the rest of my life—and it’ll likely get worse over time. While I could try changing my eating habits again, the truth is, it would be much easier and more sustainable to just have my gallbladder removed.
While the road to this decision hasn’t been easy, I’m choosing to move forward with the surgery so I can finally begin healing and regain some sense of normalcy. It’s a little scary, especially given my past experiences, but I know this is the right step toward long-term relief. Here’s to better days ahead—and hopefully, no more midnight ER visits!