I had a scary night. I awakened at about 3:25 this morning with a pain on the right side of my abdomen, radiating through to my back. I tossed and turned a bit, but realized it was getting worse.
I got up. I went to the bathroom. I felt nauseous. I started to have difficulty breathing. The pain was crushing. I wondered, am I having a heart attack? Unable to lie down again, it was so excruciating, I paced a bit, and finally, unwillingly, called my best friend and 911. I coughed until the ambulance arrived (I read that somehwere... the crew confirmed to me, it's the right thing to do if you think you're having a heart attack).
They were all at the house in a matter of minutes. BFF had the job of waking Petra without scaring her to death. Quickly the EMT's (whom I LOVE. A shout out to EMT's. Woohoo!!! You guys rock.) determined it was not my heart, which was in a nice, normal sinus rhythm, though ticking along at 120 beats per minute (my blood pressure was so high I have blocked it from my memory. The diastolic was 90.). They took me to the hospital, where a lovely doctor (who looked like she might need to leave to go to the prom) quickly diagnosed a gall bladder attack. An ultrasound confirmed that I will need to have it removed. Fortunately, the pain passed (likely, a stone passed) and I was released. I need to follow up by calling the surgeon... now, I guess.
I've been sleeping for a couple of hours at BFF's place. Petra is in school, where I imagine she's somewhat the walking wounded (having been roused before 4 AM to accompany Mom to the hospital). I'm still a little shaken... the minutes waiting for the ambulance, the minutes driving to the hospital... I wondered if they were my last.
Thank God, they were not.
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12 comments:
Holy cow! This just happened to another of my dear ones last week.
He had it out and is recovering nicely. VERY happy that the pain stopped; he said it was pretty bad.
I'm sorry this happened to you, Mags--glad it's diagnosed, tho, and that treatment will fix it.
Healing prayers underway, and a BIG hug (maybe BFF could stand in?).
:-) CG
OMG! how awful and scary for you! I am so sorry, and so grateful it is "only" your gall bladder. My sister had hers out this year; she was back on her feet in a few days.
You will be in my thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
Yikes! I had my gall bladder out a few years ago after many digestive problems and several small "attacks" from the gall stone pain. The docs never could figure out the digestive problems, but they probably were attributable to the gall stones and related stomachy upset.
So sorry to hear about this, but the surgery shouldn't be too bad. It's outpatient (at least, mine was) and I was back at work within a week.
Prayers for healing headed your way.
My golly, how scary!! So glad help arrived quickly.
Oh geez, I am SO glad they were not your last moments!
Get it taken care of!
Oh whew, Mags, how scary! Glad you are okay -- gall bladder trouble is bad, but not deadly, and people live just fine without their gall bladders. My cousin who is my age (mid-fifties) said goodbye to hers about 20 years ago.
And yes, EMTs rock!
I echo the oh wows! Wow indeed!
Glad they konw what it is and that you will be OK. Call or e-mail if I can do anything for you.
That's scary! My husband had laproscopic gall bladder removal, and it was pretty easy. Good luck!
oh dear... could THIS be part of all your other issues of late??? if your gall bladder has been malfunctioning...
so sorry for the scary night. pray you avoid another attack and get help soon!
I am so glad you're okay! How frightening!
Hope you are feeling better, Mags. Don't try to do too much, too soon. Continued prayers for health and healing headed your way.
OHHHH SISTA SLEDGE!!! I just read the first three lines and knew!!!!been there...it's awful.
First you THINK you're gonna die, and then the pain is so bad, you're afraid you're gonna live!
blessings and moui prayers!
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