March 23rd, 2021. That was the day I was to finally get my gallbladder removal surgery. As per hospital guidelines, I was quarantined for two weeks, Got COVID tested and did not eat anything after 11 pm on the 22nd. I was to check in to the hospital at noon. They called me at 9 am. Surgery cancelled. ?
August 26th, 2021 I got the call. My gallbladder removal surgery would now be on September 15. No COVID test was required this time but everything else remained the same. I impatiently waited for the day praying my surgery would not be cancelled again. Gallbladder attacks are no joke. I would rather be in labour.
September 17th rolled around and I watched every moment tick bye holding my breath hoping that phone did not ring with another cancellation. The call never came.
Surgery Time
I was so nervous at the hospital. I asked my husband numerous times if we could go home. This man never says no to me. Well, he did on this day and reminded me how much pain I am in when I have an attack. I needed this gallbladder removal surgery. It was not an option. The surgery went off without a hitch and by 9 pm that night I was home in my own bed.
It wasn’t easy being bed-bound. I thought this would be an “easy” surgery and by Monday I would be back to normal life. Oh, how wrong I was. We had to contact my husband’s work to ask for a full week off to care for me.
The Recovery
Monday was the election. I was stuck in bed, bored and lonely watching the numbers coming in. I decided to hop on Instagram and do an IG live. My good friend Sarah joined me and we spent 2 hours talking about the election, politics, military life and so many other topics I can’t even remember. It turned out to be a great evening even while stuck in bed. Thank you internet and social media.
I guess my moms’ dog knew how lonely I was up in my bed recovering from my gallbladder removal surgery. He usually never comes upstairs but he did every day and would lie right beside me without touching me. It is so strange how animals always know when and how they are needed.
It took me about a week to start feeling like myself. It was 9 days post gallbladder removal surgery that I was finally able to shower on my own. I am now at 13 days and at about 95% feeling good. I need to sit in shorter spurts and bending sideways is a no non. My incisions are mostly healed and 3 of them just look like cat scratches. They say it is 4-6 weeks for a full recovery. I am looking forward to getting the clearance from my doctor at that point to get back to my workout program.
To My Family
I could not have recovered from my gallbladder removal surgery without my family. My husband was at my beck and call. He slept on the couch to not risk making me uncomfortable. My children were super helpful and were always checking on me. My mom was also there any moment that I needed her and we would not have survived that first shower without her. My dad and step-mom made sure I had my dad’s homemade chicken noodle soup to aid in my recovery. My mother-in-law brought me a big bag of goodies. I truly felt taken care of and loved by every single member of my family.
To my family I say….. THANK YOU!