Take a good look at me. OK, maybe I should have included a before and after shot. But don’t I look like I lost weight? No, I am not on any weight loss drugs. No, I am not doing CrossFit. I am still pretty inert. Cannot figure out what is different? No one can. My gallbladder was removed a few weeks ago. A gallbladder weighs about three ounces and mine was three times that size, so just like that I lost nine ounces! Impressed? Don’t be. I had to have it surgically removed, which is really not fun.
So let me tell you a story about a man named Jed! Oh, sorry, wrong topic. I will not be writing a story about the Clampett’s from The Beverly Hillbillies. (For the younger crowd who reads this, you really need to watch a few episodes just so you can meet the cast of memorable characters, Jethro, Ellie Mae, Granny, Mr. Drysdale and Jane Hathaway). For those who are familiar with the show, I guarantee you will be humming the theme song all day long. You’re welcome.
The discovery of my diseased gallbladder was caused by a migraine. I had a severe one that nothing was touching. Not rest, not meditation and not my prayer of ‘Dear God, Help me!’ So off to the emergency room I went with Carey. Twelve hours later, I still had a migraine, but they did a C.T. scan of my brain (I have one) and a C.T. scan of my abdomen. The team that worked on me in the E.R. at Missouri Baptist Hospital was kind, thoughtful and tried everything to make my head feel like it didn’t have an axe embedded in it. They even lent me a hair clip that I failed to
return. Oops!
The next day I talked to my doctor, Jennifer Delaney who should really charge me extra for all the weird stuff I ask her. She had news for me. The C.T. scan showed a large gallbladder. Now, I have put on weight but was unaware that it was all due to my gallbladder. She sent me to a surgeon who said my fat gallbladder needed to be removed, which Dr. Omar Guerra was happy to do in a week or two.
Carey and I arrived at 5:30 a.m. to get the party started. One little complication was that my labs were off. So, the very thorough anesthesiologist said, ‘Can’t operate!’ I just want to mention that I had gotten up at 4 a.m. to shower, and I blew my hair out! After a variety of discussions, it was determined that an infusion of potassium was needed, and I would be good to go. Oh, and by the way, Dr. Guerra was moving me from the first surgery of the day to the last!
Potassium levels normalized, and off I went. I remember nothing else! I was ready to go home the next day to my new way of eating: low fat, low carb, watch my sugar intake, no caffeine and no fried foods. What is left to eat? I am pleased to tell you all that healthy stuff I have avoided for 65 years! Peace my Peeps!