I'm going to give some background and I'm just really reaching out for thoughts advice etc.
I'm 22 years old and have been healthy prior to this.
I've been having back pain on my right side for a several months, but ignored it as it was slight and I figured it was from the change of sitting so much at work . On 10/4/14 I started having serious abdominal pain. It was in my upper right abdomen as well as a lot of pressure under my sternum and under the right breast bone. I spent the day in bed hoping it would ease but the following day was just as bad with me laying in bed in a fetal position. No appetite and lots of naseua. At this point I was getting concerned and decided to go to urgent care. (Didn't have a primary doc as I just recently got insurance through my job, and being young and healthy, a primary doc didn't seem urgent)
urgent care took my urine and just referred me to the er. Drove to the er by which point the pain was almost unbearable. I apparently looked it because the doctors immediately gave me iv diualaded(sp) and started asking if I'd previously had jaundice. They took lots of blood and started running tests. Thankfully the pain meds kicked in pretty rapidly, and for the first time in 2 days I felt like I could breathe. I was in the er 10/5/14 6:30pm-11:30pm. At around 11pm the doctor told me they were aranging for transportation to the local hospital as I'd be needing emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. The meds and what felt like nothing but bile kept me very naseuas, and I threw up every 5-10 min. I was brought to the hospital and though the nurses were all amazing and attentive I didn't see a doctor untIl about
3am with no idea of the game plan. When I did see a doctor he just checked in about
the goals the nurses set up ( keeping pain below a 5, and keeping liquids down) and said we'd run some tests tomorrow.
I ended up being an inpatient for 7 days, only to still leave simply trying to manage my pain with meds with a referral to the local university's Gi team.
While an inpatient I had had an ultrasound, mri/mrcp, ercp w/ stent, xray, 2nd ercp with stent. And many many blood tests. After the 2nd ercp I ended up having pacreatitis with elevated levels in the 4ks which extended my stay...
The complications that led to both incomplete ercps were the fact that my gallbladeer is completely filled with stones and i have an abnormal anatomy where my cystic duct wraps around my common bile duct. The Gi assistant explained that they considered many options but unfortunately because of how the ducts wrap around they don't have an instrument small enough to get in there.
They referred me to the university gi's to from my understanding do lithotripsy, likely multiple sessions, to blast the stones after which they'll remove the gallbladder.
They sent me home 10\12\14 with percocet, valium, and promezathine. The percocet helps with the abdominal pain, the valium helps with my back, and last is for the nausea. I've been home since and earliest appointment the university had was Nov 10th.
I'm worried because my prescript
ion runs out in the next couple days, and the hospitals doctor is taking her time letting me know if she'll refill them just until I see the other Gi. Also I've been off work this whole time and that's stressing me out. I've applied for fmla but need a doctor to complete it, once again the hospital doctor is dragging her feet but its due prior the the Nov 10th appointment.
The doctors are pretty confused because I'm young, otherwise in good health, eat healthy, and tests are coming back good, they think it's all caused by the duct abnormality.
I just feel scrambled and exhausted, my thoughts and memory are so fuzzy from the meds.
Sorry feels more like a rant now. Its just annoying and I'm trying to wrap my mind around this... :(
Questions
Though I understand the gallbladder isn't a major organ, logically speaking it seems like if its already there maybe it should be. Any thoughts/reasons against having it removed?
What are some ways to keep motivated, get up and get things done? It seems like getting up and taking a shower or doing the dishes completely knocks me out.
Are there coping techniques to dealing with the pain? I try to take the meds only as the pain gets past the threshold of bearable so I can have somewhat of a clear mind at least some of the time.
Should I take my meds only once my pain gets past the bearable point or on the dosage schedules so it can build up against the pain?
Suggestions for that wonderful Gi soft bland diet, foods that are treating you good?
Thanks so much for any feedback
