OK, so I look like I'm about to deliver quintuplets ("there will be a little swelling") and my abdomen looks like a relief map of the Applachians ("and perhaps a little bruising") but the score is now Gallstones:0 Judi: Won.
I wasn't exactly prepared for the surgeon to call a no-huddle blitz.
But, as the blur of the last few days comes softly into focus, it was likely to only call that could have worked out this well.
I'd put things off too long, the situation was bad and admitting me directly from the surgeon's office limited my options for talking my way out of it.
I loved the fact that his instructional gall bladder diagram was laminated and well worn, and that when he said "we started doing this procedure laproscopically about 18 years ago" he was not talking in the royal "we."
The guy had been there and he knew his stuff. If he said "now," it seemed like a darn good idea.
I scrawled several pages of notes for the office on the back of the Privacy Act Statement in the last moments before surrending to chemical comfort. Then the whole list of other things that were essential to write down or get straightened out immediately dissolved in the I.V. drip.
I vaguely recall hearing something in recovery about things taking longer than expected because of the size of the stones (the surgeon said something later about them coming out with Titlelist imprinted on them, but he was that good I forgave him the bad joke).
The nurses and aides were careful and caring. From admission to discharge, the staff was friendly. It was everthing I didn't expect.
And would have continued to put off if given the choice. There are things in life I will fight ferociously to have my choice about.. but, for me, gallstones are now a moot point.



Copyright 2005 Judi Griggs