Don't eat while you read this...

I told Brody the week before my gallbladder removal that he had to be an extra good helper because I was having surgery. He said, "Don't worry Mommy, you won't die." I don't have a clue where he got such an idea. I wasn't the least bit concerned about the simple out patient surgery until he said that. The next day he said, "Mom, you're going to get your gall-glitter out and you'll have to lay in bed for weeks and weeks and weeks." Okay Brody...sorry I even mentioned it.
Needless to say, I was relieved when I woke up from surgery on Wednesday, December 16th in quite a bit of pain, but was told that the surgery was a success. I was sore the next two days but felt well enough the third day to go to Costco with Brian and the kids and start my Christmas shopping (I know, I procrastinated.)
Early the next morning I woke up in agony. My stomach was as big and hard as a watermelon and I was sick! Percocet wasn't touching the pain and after a few hours I made Brian drive me to the ER where he wheeled me in while the security officer watched the three kids in the car. By this point I was yelling in pain and couldn't walk. I spent all day Saturday in the ER where I had a CT scan that showed swelling but no fluid in my stomach and near normal labs. The nurse was rude to me because I kept crying in pain. I was given a prescription for pain killers, discharged with a diagnosis of gastritis and told to drink Maalox and see my surgeon Monday. Sunday was a blur and the pain was controlled if I didn't move and kept taking heavy medication. When my surgeon saw me Monday afternoon he immediately admitted me to the hospital. I had a HIDA scan Tuesday morning that showed a bile leak. That afternoon I was rushed away to the operating room once again where a gastroenterologist placed a biliary stent in my common bile duct to repair the leak. I woke up in pain again but was told everything went well and I should start feeling better. That was the most painful day and I threw up green bile everywhere. Even the nurses had looks of terror. I've never been so scared. I didn't know so much foreign looking and smelling stuff could come out of the human body. It was horrible. The pain was horrible. I thought a lot about my brother who was nearly torn in two in a tragic car accident that killed his sweet wife and baby, lost his leg, and spent months in the hospital. I thought about my other brother who snapped his neck in a motocross accident. My mind wondered to many different friends and acquaintances who had suffered and succumbed to cancer. I thought about the suffering Grandpa Great and BB went through their last couple of years and what a wonderful release it must have been for them when they finally passed away. I also thought about my Savior in Gethsemane. Suddenly my pain felt insignificant.
It looked like I would spend Christmas alone in the hospital. I was shuffling along in the hall pushing my IV around on Christmas Eve morning and started talking to an older gentleman who was visiting someone. I told him how bad I wanted to be home with my kids and I was pushing myself to walk so the doctors would let me go home that day. He asked my name. After I told him, he said, "Kelli, I'm going to pray for you so your kids can have their mom home tonight." Many prayers were offered on my behalf and I was discharged from the hospital at 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve. It was the best gift ever!!!
Brian had to take over completely at home. He did a wonderful job!!! He got Christmas all ready and learned how to give Rachael her three daily doses of medicine, do dishes and mop. He is still willingly doing chores while I recuperate. I have to have my stent removed in a month and I'm still quite weak and sore. I read in a medical journal that a bile leak feels like acid being poured onto an open wound. I don't disagree. The bile was poisoning me. This complication only happens in about 2% of gallbladder surgeries but I'm not angry. I needed to be more thankful for the good aspects of my health. This trial has made my marriage and family stronger and I am a better person because of it. Thank you Brody for the "heads up". I had no idea my simple procedure could turn into a life threatening event.
I'm also very thankful that my dad is healing from his total hip replacement that he had done two days before my surgery. He ended up beating me out of the hospital! I wish I could have been there to help.
Happy 2010 to all!!!