Monday, July 13, 2009

Recalling the days before the operation


It was 1135 am when I woke up in the recovery room. There was a nurse beside me holding my hand and keeping a piece of plastic still in my nostrils. It was an oxygen tube. I saw her rolled a piece of cloth and asked me to hold it firm against my upper right abdomen. I didn't feel any pain. I am alive. I have survived. I closed my eyes and let myself sank into a deep sleep.
I remember to be in front of my immediate supervisor last Friday. I was telling him that I need to be away from work for a month since I have to undergo a major operation. The pain really convinced me to decide this time. I was not sure if the money I have on hand would be enough, but just the same, I have to do it. I also talked to my staff leaving instructions. I knew then during the meeting that I will still report for work for two more days before the operation. But I was wrong. I went ot my doctor in the afternoon of the same day. After the check-up, she advised me to return that same day to be admitted to the hospital. No matter how much I haggle for the dates, she was determined to have me admitted the same day. She explained that I need to be prepared for the procedure. Two days would be needed for that. I complied. I wanted to live. I want to live...
I went home to tell my family about it. I went to the mall to buy things I would be needing. I pack the necessary things I would be needing for the five-day stay in the hospital.
8 PM, June 19, I was back to the hospital. After the usual admission procedure, the nurse showed me to my room. Gladly, though the room was made for two patients, I will be alone tonight. My youngest sister was with me. Different things were going around my mind. I was not really sure what will happen. The doctor explained the procedure in one of my check ups. It sounded so easy but fear was there. The nurse came to give me IV and gave further instructions left by the doctor. I had high fever. I was chilling though the aircon unit was off. The nurses brought a drop light to warm me.
I was glad I decided to be admitted. That Friday night was like a hell to me. The pain was killing me. I cried the whole time and I was begging for pain killer. Glady I had two kinds of pain killer. The one was Novaine and the other I forgot the name. The effect of Novaine in me was good for an hour only. Then there went the pain again. After an hour, the nurse gave me the other pain killer which really calmed me down and let me sleep for more than four hours.
The following day was different. Still no food. I was in IV and pain killers. The doctor came and discussed with me the results of the laboratory test. The operation would be on Monday morning. She said I need to undergo further preparation because the lab test results showed that the infection really set in.
Later that day, I transfered to another room. Then another doctor checked on me for clearance - my heart, my lungs, and other aspects before the operation. Friends from school and office visited me. Later that day, I was sedated again since the pain was bugging me again.
I wonder how could I have managed the pain should I not agree to be admitted to the hospital earlier. I do not know.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

the stones that almost killed me

the stones that almost killed me they were plenty

after several days, now I have the courage to see them and to feel them. These are the stones that lived in my gall bladder and almost killed me. They infected my gall bladder. They blocked my common duct which brought too much pain to me for several days. But now they are out from my system, but I no longer have my gall bladder.

Without a gall bladder, I know my lifestyle will be different now.