Gall bladder op tomorrow

[Sportsman]

Welcome back Steve.

Rest and good food (and a good Doctor) are the order of the day.

Be well.

[Ken L]

I've been away for a couple of datys so thuis is my first check in in a while. Glad to hear that you're getting over things and seem tio have been let home for christmas.

[Vagabond]

Only just found this as we have been in Tasmania and out of range until this week.

 

Glad to know that in spite of complications you are on the mend.

 

Very best wishes from Norma and me.

[Steve Burke]

Firstly, thanks for all the good wishes.

 

I was allowed to go home for Xmas provided I went back on Friday to see the surgeon and have the drain tube removed.

 

I don't know whether the surgeon expected me to be still in a wheelchair, but he did a double take when I literally breezed into the ward!

 

In fact I've made such good progress that he doesn't even need to see me for a follow up in outpatients. Best of all, he says I'm so fit that I can cut 2 weeks off the recovery time!

 

The only major pain left is a long strip where they had to sever a load of nerves to deal with one of the adhesions. This is very sensitive to the slightest touch, but should repair itself before too long.

 

I feel I walked into the hospital on Friday as a patient and walked out as a convalescent.

 

Roll on 2014!

Edited December 29, 2013 by Steve Burke

[John S]

Good to hear you're out and on the mend Steve, great stuff

[Newt]

Very good news Steve. Thanks for the update.

[JV44]

Steve glad to hear you are on the mend was it keyhole or a big cut??? I ask as when I had my Kidn ey op I went for the latter for some medical reasons I won`t go into hear and the scar tissues still hurts but only when I stand in a certain position [normally spraying/rollering ceilings and that hurts just for a second] where they cut through muscles/nerves I spouse but a reminder of the op on a weeky basis....nowt wrong with that either. .

Hoping your recovery continues apace and pain free steve

[Steve Burke]

Steve glad to hear you are on the mend was it keyhole or a big cut??? I ask as when I had my Kidn ey op I went for the latter for some medical reasons I won`t go into hear and the scar tissues still hurts but only when I stand in a certain position [normally spraying/rollering ceilings and that hurts just for a second] where they cut through muscles/nerves I spouse but a reminder of the op on a weeky basis....nowt wrong with that either. .

Hoping your recovery continues apace and pain free steve

 

It was supposed to be keyhole but there were multiple complications so the op was converted to open surgery with one large and one small cut.

 

Firstly, there was a lot of pus, so there was a new infection that they didn't know about (one much worse infection had been sorted during a stay in hospital in September). Secondly, there was a large stone trapped right at the top of the bile duct, and presumably this was what caused the infection. Thirdly, the gall bladder was stuck to several other organs. Fourthly, in cutting away these adhesions the bowel became perforated. Luckily this was in theatre!

 

Yes, there's still pain, but nothing I can't cope with. The main pain now is where they cut through nerves, presumably to unstick the adhesions. This pain is very similar to shingles, that I'm very familiar with! However I'm assured it will get better before long.

 

These complications were supposed to delay my recovery but, as I posted earlier, the surgeon was astounded that I was ahead of schedule rather than behind.

[Steve Walker]

Sounds horrible, Steve, but it also sounds as if you are making an exceptional recovery!

[Leon Roskilly]

Glad to hear it Steve