laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Just a fancy word for getting your gall bladder removed. I have written down as many details as I can remember so if you have a weak stomach consider this your forewarning.

My roommate dropped me off at Alta View Hospital at approximately 6:30 am. After checking in the nurse called me back and took my vitals which included taking my blood pressure, checking my weight and taking a little sample tube of blood from my arm. She then ushered me to a patient room where I could change into the lovely open backed hospital gown. After laying down on the bed waiting for the orderly to come get me, I tried to relax and not think about what was about to happen to me. All too soon the orderly came and wheeled me into the hallway next to the room I would have the surgery and left me there. It was a little uncomfortable just lying on this bed with people walking by, not knowing exactly when the anesthesiologist was going to come talk to me.

I saw my doctor arrive and he chatted with me for a couple of minutes before he had to change for the surgery. After speaking with the anesthesiologist they wheeled me into the operating room and I moved over to a narrow operating table covered with a green sheet. The anesthesiologist put an IV into a vein on the underside of my left wrist. The nurse was asking me about my hobbies and then my head became heavy after the "fuzzy" medicine was administered. They placed an oxygen mask over my mouth and nose and I was gone after about 30 seconds.

As I began coming around I could hear the nurses talking. One asked me my pain level but being still groggy from the medicine, I was unable to do much more than hold up 2 fingers. I really couldn't feel much but did feel a little bit of pain. They stuck oxygen tubes on my nose and told me I needed to breath. It seemed stranged to me because I thought I was breathing so I tried to take deep breaths. Soon enough they wheeled me into a recovery room and I remember passing by a clock and seeing that it was 9:30 at this point. I could tell I had been transferred to a wheeled bed. My throat was extremely dry and was hoping for water or ice. Luckily the nurse asked me if I wanted some ice chips because I was still unable to talk. She handed me a cup with ice and a spoon but I just sat there holding it in my hand because I couldn't move my arm. When she came back she helped me by putting some in my mouth. Slowly I began to be able to move again and talk. I told the nurse I was a bit nauseous so she said she put some more nausea meds in my IV. I asked for some soda crackers but they didn't taste very good so I only ate one. I was also grateful when they finally took me off the oxygen because I remember it not smelling so great.

It really helped when my friend Brianna came because it got my mind more active because I had someone I knew to talk with. The poor thing though had to witness me throwing up all over myself. It was amazing how far you can actually get vomit to go. It was all yellow and watery and I think that from my half sitting up position, I reached all the way to my feet. I asked her to go get the nurse and they came quick as a flash and had my blankets and gown changed in probably 60 seconds. I did feel a little better after that but it was at this point I realized how scratchy and dry my throat felt. I avoided the crackers and just crunched some more ice and sipped on some water.

After I was feeling a little bit better they brought me my stuff and I had to get dressed. Let me tell you it is a bad idea to wear jeans and t-shirt when you go to get surgery. I didn't even worry about putting my bra back on. After I got dressed I had to quickly sit down again and puked a little more into the blanket. I remember trying to avoid getting in on my clothes and was only mostly successful. They came back later with a wheelchair and as we waited for my friend to pull up the car, I attempted to make small chat with the girl who had pushed my wheelchair. She didn't seem very happy and I was probably annoying her saying really stupid things.

Luckily I have been able to control the pain. I just hated being nauseous all day from the anesthesia. Throughout the rest of that day I couldn't help but think about how much I was like my mother. She was always saying funny stuff and making small chit chat during her illness. I also just thought of those last days when she couldn't speak but was able to suck on a sponge soaked in water. I really hated it that people were planning her funeral arrangements while being in the room. I knew that she could still hear even though she couldn't speak. When I was coming off of the anesthesia I could hear everything being said around me I just couldn't speak yet or move. This whole experience makes me miss her so much and wish she could still be around!