Hi Everyone :D

Hi everyone!

Yes, I am still around, and YES, I am still happier than ever! New developments though, I had Gallbladder Surgery last Friday. I had been having so many issues with side pain, back pain between my shoulder blades and just below my right shoulderblade.. Some nausea and just a general feeling of Ick... My Ulcerative Colitis has been in remission now for some time without meds and I am positive it's because I am genuinely happy.

I posted this in the Irritable Bowel forum but I wanted to share my surgery experience here just in case any of you guys are facing the possibility of having your gallbladder out... I did some research online... BIG MISTAKE... I almost chickened out because of all the horror stories I found... My experience was quite the opposite...

Here is what I posted in the other forum here on Healingwell.com:

Hi Again!

Well I went ahead and had the surgery last Friday and I must say..... I FEEL BETTER!!!!! I still have some right sided pain, but heck, it's only been 5 days so I am guessing that I'm just still healing from the procedure. I had Keyhole surgery and so I have 4 incisions on my belly, most are just a little poke, except the one above my belly button which is about 1 1/2 inches long. I had outpatient surgery so I got to come home the same day and I was feeling well enough that evening to eat a few crackers and have some apple juice. I have had NO nausea since the surgery and other than some residual pain I am pretty sure I can tell that it was the right thing to do. No more twinges, no more shoulder pain, no more back pain.... (well maybe a little back pain, but again I think it is because I am still healing.)

The surgery itself was EASY PEASY... they drugged me up with plenty of versed so I didn't really care what they did to me LOL... Waking up I would say was the hardest part... General anesthesia is so weird.. You are lying there completely aware of what's going on, but you can't move or even speak or open your eyes for a few minutes. I'd say it took me about 10-15 minutes before I could lift my head up and communicate with the nurses... Since I knew what was going on I found it not that unpleasant, I just realized I was waking up and just tried to relax until my body started working again... LOL.. My fabulous husband was there with me and they moved me to a private room to recooperate once I was good and awake. After about 2 hours I was able to sit up and move pretty good so they let me get dressed and sent me home. I have had NO liquipoopie or anything so far, and it was the 4th day (yesterday) before I could finally go poopie. I have been eating pretty nonfat, but I did splurge today and had a pop tart LOL... So far so good and for dinner I had a little bit of Tuna Casserole, maybe only 5 bites but it sure tasted good...

I had read so many stories of people having massive D after this surgery but for me, so far, I've been normal since yesterday. I am eating very carefully though as to avoid upsetting my system and after a few weeks I'll slowly reintroduce more foods back into my diet to see what happens.

Overall I'm very glad I had the surgery and have no regrets. I just hope other people getting ready for gallbladder surgery can find my post here because I was so terrified and now I am so thankful I went through with it!

:D

Your story has been one of pure inspiration. Good for you for doing all the things you have done to make your life great. :)

Susie!! So glad to hear from you. Sounds like you are doing really well...as notsosicklygirls said, I remember when you were in a totally different place. You sound happy and what a great thing that is. Take care, and keep smiling! Carol