After The Op

[poliphilo]

That was a long day. Ailz had the operation in the morning and was transferred to the High Dependency Unit in the early afternoon. The infection was so bad that they couldn't do keyhole sugery, but had to make a big incision so they could look around properly. I assume they took out the gall bladder entire, but no-one has actually explained it to me yet. The main thing is that she's out of pain (out of serious pain, I mean) and is at last able to get some proper sleep (she was so short of sleep before the operation she was hallucinating (a giant rabbit, a Russian woman playing the violin.)

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Comments

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I'm also sure they took the gall bladder out--it's not a partial thing AFAIK. Especially if it's infected, they just yank it. I was borderline for doing it laparoscopically for the same reason, severity of infection, but he went ahead and did it anyway, and I was really glad. I recovered quickly (though not in 24 hours--that seems barbaric).

I also agree with Jackie that the longer recovery time is because of the incision. It'll be okay--in a week, she'll be better and in a month it will be a bad dream.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Apparently there was nothing left of the gall bladder- it was simply rotted away. they had to take part of the liver too.

But I'm told livers grow back. Amazing things!

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

The gangrenous gall bladder seems to be fairly common. The good thing is, they took it out. If they don't remove them, they can kill you.

Yes, livers are pretty amazing things. The regeneration thing is cool--that's why you can donate liver tissue fairly easily. If someone is a match, your tissue can regenerate both in you and them.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this goes without saying, but I am thinking of you all the time.

I really do think these sorts of things are much harder on the partner. My ET's mom is going through a similar sort of thing, but his parents have been married for 65 years, and it's been very tough on his dad.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

It's the powerlessness that is so dstructive. the first day she was in hospital I had a whole lot of littel jobs laid out to keep me occupied, but the second morning I'd run out of jobs and I just fell apart.

I'm a whole lot better now- and so is she.