Sorry to hear. I'm certain all will be well. The bright side is that you'll weigh even less without your gallbladder.Quote:
Originally Posted by B-side
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Sorry to hear. I'm certain all will be well. The bright side is that you'll weigh even less without your gallbladder.Quote:
Originally Posted by B-side
Heh. I actually thought of that yesterday. The more I'm reading the more I don't want to get this done. I'm not experiencing pain anymore, but the stones are elevating my liver enzymes, which may be why the doc wants it removed.Quote:
Originally Posted by soitgoes...
Funny, I just grossed in my first gallbladder by myself today. No stones, though. In the specimen container there was a little baggie that I was confused about, so I asked the resident what the heck it was for and she said they put it over the gallbladder so they can slide it out of the laparoscopic hole more easily.Quote:
Originally Posted by B-side
stop reading. i know it's hard, i think i have a lot of the same issues surrounding hypochondria as you, but reading only ever makes things worse. i can't remember ever looking something up online, reading about it, and thinking 'oh, i feel better now.'Quote:
Originally Posted by B-side
Understand the apprehension, but you said it yourself, the surgery is very routine. You don't want those stones getting loose and blocking your bile or pancreatic ducts, either, those surgeries would be worse. Best to go through with this minor surgery now.
Think of it as a preventative means more than a curative one.
I would recommend at least getting a second opinion before getting any surgery routine or not. I was told by my doctor that surgery was the only option to fix my back and now after having surgery and still having back issues I've been told by every other doctor/chiropractor/specialist that my back surgery was unnecessary and should have been worked on by other methods.
I had my appendix removed. It was the worst experience of my life.
Not bad advice, but there's really no other effective treatment for the elimination of gallstones. It's either you live with them and risk complications like infection and biliary blockage, or have your gallbladder removed. Is it necessary? No. Like I said above, it's a wise preventative measure. If you have existing gallstones, though, you can essentially bank on developing more with time.
The other thing that's different about the gallbladder case is that the surgery guarantees that there will be no more gallstones. Your back surgery didn't have the same cut and dry results.
Was it emergency surgery because of a rupture?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dukefrukem
Or a scheduled op for something like appendicitis?
There are alternatives to cholecystectomy, but they aren't good. Ursodiol is a medication you can take to dissolve the stones, but it's frequently ineffective and takes months or years to work and generally has to be taken for life. There's also shockwave lithotripsy, but recurrence is high and about half of people wind up needing surgery anyway. If you're having complications from your gallstones, surgery is the best option for you.
Yeah yeah, that's why I said effective. And Ursodiol only works on cholesterol stones, doesn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by amberlita
Oh yeah, I knew what you meant. But he seemed nervous about the surgery and sometimes it's reassuring to actually know what the alternatives are and to understand that you aren't just getting blown off by your surgeon so they can get you under the knife. Here's what's left and the options really aren't good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky
And I really don't remember about the Ursodiol, but that sounds right.
Heh ok, your intentions were pure this time...I thought you were trying to prove me wrong.
I don't have to try to do that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky
Hey, why don't you stop being a dickhead and come get a job at the CDC, Dr. Infectious Disease? Atlanta's a good time.
Don't be silly. Only movie stars work at the CDC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky
Pretty awesome gift for a kid:
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I think that's going to be one fat kid.
Putting the word 'nourishing' on a can of Coke is a really horrible message. Neat idea, but not great parenting.
I would have pointed out the gun range voucher first, but yeah.
Ha! Good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by [ETM]
Man, technically I didn't really accomplish anything, but I felt so productive today. Had a very nice alone time saturday.
Woke up, showered, ate a tofu bagel, then walked to the vegan juice bar 2 blocks away and got myself a breakfast smoothie and a veggie patty. Stuffed the patty in my bag and leisurely walked 3 miles in the sun around the park to my comic shop while enjoying my smoothie. Picked up this week's comics and chatted with the girl who works there for a bit, then I said goodbye and walked another couple of miles to the public library, snacking on my veggie patty while walking. Grabbed Saga of Swamp Thing Book One off the shelf at the library and had quiet reading time. Finished the book, put a Charlie Huston novel on order and checked out American Vampire Vol 1, then walked home to an empty apartment. Made myself soup for dinner, put this week's pile of comics next to it, and read some more. Mmmmm, me time.
Now I feel really lazy for being on my laptop. Supposed to meet up with my roommate to hang out after she gets off work at 1 AM, but maybe I'll head out now and spend this lovely evening rescuing orphans or something.
Are you vegan now or something?
Yes, only vegans eat fruits and vegetables.
That's a bit different than fruits and vegetables.Quote:
Originally Posted by number8