R.I.P. my gangrenous Mirizzi syndrome gall bladder

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BackInTex · #1 Post by **BackInTex** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:18 pm

Went in to the hospital for a 1 hour out patient procedure on Monday to remove my stone invested gall bladder.

After 5 minutes the surgeon saw something he has only seen twice in his 20 years of removing gall bladders. My gall bladder was swollen and crushing my other organs and it had attached itself to the common duct. So instead of 1 hour he fully opened me up and took 2 1/2 to 3 hours delicately shaving my gall bladder out so not to damage the common duct that had become part of the gall bladder (Mirizzi Syndrome). The gall bladder was corroded, stones embedded in the wall, and clearly infected.

So when I came to and saw the rather large bandage on my stomach I asked "I'm not going home today am I?" Nope. I had to stay 4 days (just got home about 2 hours ago). So I have 9 inch cut with 21 staples angling across my upper stomach. Very cool.

The pathology results on the gall bladder showed it was completely dead and quite gangrenous. So all in all a good thing I had it taken out. Might have been a good thing to take it out 3-4 years ago, but because what should have been debilitating pain, to me was just a little discomfort the doctor never got the right information to make a proper diagnosis.

So I was pretty darn close to having some really really serious life threating issues, but just in the nick of time, I'm O.K. I'll spend the next week and a halve at home recovering. My body is pretty drained, but I feel pretty good.

Rexer25 · #2 Post by **Rexer25** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:26 pm

BackInTex wrote:Went in to the hospital for a 1 hour out patient procedure on Monday to remove my stone invested gall bladder.

After 5 minutes the surgeon saw something he has only seen twice in his 20 years of removing gall bladders. My gall bladder was swollen and crushing my other organs and it had attached itself to the common duct. So instead of 1 hour he fully opened me up and took 2 1/2 to 3 hours delicately shaving my gall bladder out so not to damage the common duct that had become part of the gall bladder (Mirizzi Syndrome). The gall bladder was corroded, stones embedded in the wall, and clearly infected.

So when I came to and saw the rather large bandage on my stomach I asked "I'm not going home today am I?" Nope. I had to stay 4 days (just got home about 2 hours ago). So I have 9 inch cut with 21 staples angling across my upper stomach. Very cool.

The pathology results on the gall bladder showed it was completely dead and quite gangrenous. So all in all a good thing I had it taken out. Might have been a good thing to take it out 3-4 years ago, but because what should have been debilitating pain, to me was just a little discomfort the doctor never got the right information to make a proper diagnosis.

So I was pretty darn close to having some really really serious life threating issues, but just in the nick of time, I'm O.K. I'll spend the next week and a halve at home recovering. My body is pretty drained, but I feel pretty good.

Wow. That's scary from this end. I'm glad your feeling better, and we'll add you to our prayer list.

mrkelley23 · #3 Post by **mrkelley23** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:41 pm

You're spitting m,e. Gangrene? And you just had a little intestinal pain?

No wonder your doctors keep trying to kill you -- you're making them look bad.

Seriously, it's hard to be upset with the lack of diagnosis -- this one would've been hard to figure, even with a lot more scans than you had. I'm glad they caught it when they did.

BackInTex · #4 Post by **BackInTex** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:56 pm

mrkelley23 wrote:You're spitting m,e. Gangrene? And you just had a little intestinal pain?

No wonder your doctors keep trying to kill you -- you're making them look bad.

Seriously, it's hard to be upset with the lack of diagnosis -- this one would've been hard to figure, even with a lot more scans than you had. I'm glad they caught it when they did.

Yes, my surgeon did councel me on giving pain levels to doctors. He said that if I ever get uncomfortable again that I could have acute appendicitis.

silvercamaro · #5 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:57 pm

No wonder you were feeling a touch under the weather (understatment!) I'm sorry you had to go through all that, but I'm glad you're home. Feel better fast, take care of yourself, and recover completely.

Then schedule that baseball game you missed.

kayrharris · #6 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:11 pm

Ouch! Glad you're OK and on the road to recovery.

Bob Juch · #7 Post by **Bob Juch** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:33 pm

We'll have to compare scars someday!

I'm glad everything came out (pun intended) alright.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #8 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:49 pm

I hope that you recover quickly and have no complications from the surgery.

JBillyGirl · #9 Post by **JBillyGirl** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:05 pm

Wow! That sounds like one hell of a gall bladder you had there -- gangrene and everything. Thank goodness they got it out in time. I for one am very glad you're still around.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #10 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:09 pm

Did they save the gall bladder for you to see?

a1mamacat · #11 Post by **a1mamacat** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:53 pm

Gawk!

Glad everything turned out for the best.

Rest, rest, rest...

TheConfessor · #12 Post by **TheConfessor** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:45 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Did they save the gall bladder for you to see?

It looked a lot like this:
http://www.pathguy.com/~tdemark/0049.htm

BIT, I'm glad the story has a happy ending. And an added bonus is that no one can ever again say you've got a lot of gall.

ulysses5019 · #13 Post by **ulysses5019** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:18 am

TheConfessor wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Did they save the gall bladder for you to see?
It looked a lot like this:
http://www.pathguy.com/~tdemark/0049.htm

BIT, I'm glad the story has a happy ending. And an added bonus is that no one can ever again say you've got a lot of gall.

That doesn't look too bad, except for the 5 cent ruler they found inside.

BackInTex · #14 Post by **BackInTex** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:23 am

TheConfessor wrote:
BIT, I'm glad the story has a happy ending. And an added bonus is that no one can ever again say you've got a lot of gall.

My wife says this proves that I was, as suspected, rotten to the core.

ulysses5019 · #15 Post by **ulysses5019** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:38 am

BackInTex wrote:
TheConfessor wrote:
BIT, I'm glad the story has a happy ending. And an added bonus is that no one can ever again say you've got a lot of gall.
My wife says this proves that I was, as suspected, rotten to the core.

LOL. Well she would know. Seriously, it was good that they caught this.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #16 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:25 am

Wow, Glad you still with us and almost over your misery syndrome.

geoffil · #17 Post by **geoffil** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:42 am

You must have a high threshold for pain. I am glad you are better. How long were you feeling bad before you got your operation?

MarleysGh0st · #18 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:52 am

BackInTex wrote: So when I came to and saw the rather large bandage on my stomach I asked "I'm not going home today am I?"

Whoa!

That must have been a surprise. Not quite as much of a surprise as the one Bruce had, which sounds like the direction you were headed if the doctors hadn't taken care of this.

I'm in awe of your pain threshold, to think that this has been developing for years!

nitrah55 · #19 Post by **nitrah55** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:53 am

Glad everything came out all right- literally.

You must have one high pain threshold.

Recuperate.

christie1111 · #20 Post by **christie1111** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:55 am

Thank you for checking back in with us.

Wow, it is probably better that you found out after you woke up and were okay.

Heal fast!

And listen to the doctor. If you have some kind of twinge, go check it out!

#21 Post by **littlebeast13** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:59 am

First of all, I'm glad to see that your problem was found and taken care of, and apparently in the nick of time too! I was wondering why you hadn't given us an update in a while, because I've actually been thinking about you most of the past week since I've had something bothering my stomach/lower gut for the past week (mainly just a nauseous feeling). I don't think I quite have anything like you just described (Since it seems too low to be the gall bladder, and on the wrong side for the appendix), but I was certainly curious as to what the final verdict was going to be on your condition.....

I have an appointment on the 4th, so maybe I'll find out what it is, or maybe it'll go away, or maybe I'll keel over before then and Ed will lose his Bored immortality....

lb13

ulysses5019 · #22 Post by **ulysses5019** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:11 am

littlebeast13 wrote:First of all, I'm glad to see that your problem was found and taken care of, and apparently in the nick of time too! I was wondering why you hadn't given us an update in a while, because I've actually been thinking about you most of the past week since I've had something bothering my stomach/lower gut for the past week (mainly just a nauseous feeling). I don't think I quite have anything like you just described (Since it seems too low to be the gall bladder, and on the wrong side for the appendix), but I was certainly curious as to what the final verdict was going to be on your condition.....

I have an appointment on the 4th, so maybe I'll find out what it is, or maybe it'll go away, or maybe I'll keel over before then and Ed will lose his Bored immortality....

lb13

Oh, and have them check that squirrel on the back of your neck while they're at it.

geoffil · #23 Post by **geoffil** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:47 am

LB,

I hope your feel better fast. I hate when doctors make us wait 2 weeks for an appt.

silverscreenselect · #24 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:52 am

TheConfessor wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Did they save the gall bladder for you to see?
It looked a lot like this:
http://www.pathguy.com/~tdemark/0049.htm

BIT, I'm glad the story has a happy ending. And an added bonus is that no one can ever again say you've got a lot of gall.

What a coincidence. That looks exactly like the last meal I ever ate on an airline. Sure is a shame higher costs deprive us passengers of treats like that.

#25 Post by **littlebeast13** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:53 am

geoffil wrote:LB,

I hope your feel better fast. I hate when doctors make us wait 2 weeks for an appt.

I already had the appointment as a followup from my last one.

If I wouldn't have, I probably would have to wait even longer.....

lb13

WWTBAM Bored

R.I.P. my gangrenous Mirizzi syndrome gall bladder

R.I.P. my gangrenous Mirizzi syndrome gall bladder

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