Tuesday May 22, 2012, after waiting 25 months my gall bladder & biliary tube & bag were removed. It is a great relief! Now I don't have to cover the biliary with a plastic zip lock bag & use an elastic band to hold it in place. The first shower I took after the installation was aided by a male nurse. He used Saran Wrap to wrap my abdomen / back area with multiple layers of tangled wrap. It didn't keep anything dry! Then being afraid of scalding me, he used only COLD water. I quickly announced I'd had enough and just reach me some towels & take me back to my room. I resorted to sponge baths the rest of the time in that facility!! When I got home, I designed the bag ensemble. It worked considerably better. I must admit I took lots of sponge baths as well. I have cleansing cloths for my private areas so sponge bathing works well. Whenever I'd be hospitalized I'd request a zip lock bag and the aides were amazed how well they worked.
The gall bladder removal and biliary tube 7 bag went smoothly. The doctor was able to do it labaroscopically in less than an hour! When the surgeon talked to Hampton he said I was remarkable and that I'd go home shortly. All along he'd recommended that I plan to spend a night due to my various ailments. When he talked to me, he said you'll be going home soon. I asked if I didn't need care and he said "No." Fortunately I do not have pain. I took pain medicine on schedule so as to not let pain get ahead of me. I've learned that is the very best way to resolve pain issues.
Three weeks Hampton & I spent a week in the Shenandoah Valley. It was very relaxing. We enjoyed a nice visit with Wes & Bettie Trindal. After a wonderful lunch at Sal's in Edinburg we watched the movie "The Conspirators" at Trindal's home. It is the movie made about the trial of Mary Surratt. She's the only woman hung in the USA. Bettie Trindal has written a biography of Mary Surratt. She gave an author presentation at Chantilly Regional Library back when I was president of Friends of the library.
We came home for six days then travelled to Virginia Beach. There we visited & enjoyed dinner with school friends of Hampton's who live there. Technically one could say Hampton & Sue went through school together--1st through college! He took a break in college so she graduated ahead of him. We also spent time with friends from Charlotte Hall, Md. They're at Virginia Beach the same week as we're there, yearly. They're having A G E problems as well. We could see improvement since last year. We celebrated his birthday with cake one afternoon while there!
My various physicians have recommended we travel whenever we can. They encouraged us to take these trips before settling in to have repair work completed. It does help one have a better attitude if you've had relaxation prior to working on your list of health issues. Someday I plan to go back to the urologist to address a bladder problem which I had in Oct, 2009. I had testing done to make sure it could be done. Pills were recommended but they do not help my problem so SOMEDAY I hope to have bladder repair work done.
I truly appreciate the prayers offered aroung the world in my behalf! I've been studying Priscilla Shirer's Bible Study on Knowing and Doing the will of God. I also recommend "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns from World Vision.
May God Bless each of us as we continue our Christian lives!!! My recovery will take a while longer!
Prayerfully,
Barbara
You can have all the things in the world yet you can't be happy. Despite the hardships in your life, you never failed to call Him for help.
ReplyDeleteInfo about mesh lawsuit, is all here.