Medical Updates

Whill · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 2:37 pm Post subject: Medical Updates

I went to the emergency room Friday night and stayed in the hospital until last night. My first ever ER visit and hospital stay. (I should have stayed overnight for my adult tonsillectomy in the 90s, but went home anyway.)

First, some background. A couple months ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with what I think was a gallbladder attack. Extreme pain centering on my upper abdomen on my right side (near bottom of rib cage), and a feeling of a very bloated stomach. My wife said drink some apple cider vinegar. I choked that nasty stuff down and it seemed to work as I returned to normal after a while. I had another attack a couple weeks ago just like the first one, in the middle of the night. Again, I drank the ACV and it seemed to help eventually. I remembered I had a greasy double cheeseburger from Culver's for dinner the night before, so figured that was the culprit and decided I wasn't going to eat those any more.

Friday I had a Mod pizza and pop for dinner, and I had the attack that night before going to bed. This was more painful. The ACV did nothing. And while after that I vomited so my wife took me to the ER. They gave me three subsequent narcotic pain meds and only the third one offered any minor short-term partial relief. They admitted me to the hospital so I could get tested. And before they could admit me, I got my first covid test so they knew which wing to take me too. I had to wait for another hour in ER for the covid test results and the good news is I do not have covid. The ultrasound machine operator was off until the morning so I could only get cat-scanned. It didn't show any gallstones. They did find a trace amount of blood in my pee. My blood pressure was spiking and they said that is common for extreme pain, but just to be sure they gave me an EKG and more good news, there is nothing wrong with my heart. They tried a couple more narcotic pain meds that night with very little relief. It was impossible to sleep.

In the morning they told me that the tests I got did not find anything helpful with the gallbladder issue but they did end up finding two other issues while they were looking. They found that I have a small kidney stone in my right kidney, and they found a small aneurysm in an artery that goes to my bladder (I think). I have to make an appointment with a urologist for those or maybe just the kidney stone (not sure but I will ask that specialist and go from there). But these issues are just future things that need dealt with and not my current problem. They said I will probably need to get a stent for my aneurysm.

Yesterday the abdomen pain lessened a bit and I was still bloated and nauseous somewhat but my appetite started to come back. So yesterday afternoon I asked if I cold eat and they took an hour to decide I could have a "clear liquid" diet and brought me a menu. I ordered vegetable broth, orange jello, lemon Italian ice, and apple juice which took a while to come. I "ate" very slowly to make sure I didn't get sick again, and watched part of the last Hobbit movie. The only caffeinated beverages they had for me to choose from were black coffee or hot (black) tea with no additives, which I hate and I'm sure would've made me vomit again, so I didn't get any caffeine. I got a caffeine withdrawal headache but didn't tell the hospital because I wanted to go home (where I could drink my usual morning beverage, hot green tea with no additives).

Also, my son was very upset about me being in the hospital. I asked if I could go home and they took a long time to decide that they would discharge me after a further hour and half of observation. I tried to rest some more but couldn't until they finally discharged me. And the hospital already had flu shots and offered me one, so I got that on my way out. It's nice to reduce my chances of having flu-like symptoms and worrying if it is covid or not plus who wants the flu anyway?). My wife and son picked me up and we went home. I tried to eat some stale goldfish but stopped. I dozed off and on, until I went to bed for the night and slept very well.

My stomach pain in tolerable today. I'm still a bit nauseous so have eaten very little, but my stomach feels a little less bloated today. My headache has decreased (I'm slowly sipping my green tea), but now my body is bedsore from all the time spent in hospital beds this weekend. So the bottom line is, they didn't do anything in the hospital for the apparent gallbladder attack except for minor pain management, and it looks like I just need to eat better to prevent these attacks. If they continue I guess surgically removing the gallbladder is an option because there is some recovery time but you don't absolutely need it to live. But going to the hospital revealed two other non-urgent issues that can now be addressed before they become problems. Once I feel better, I'm sure I'll get to the point where I can say this was all a good thing. Getting old sucks.

https://www.healthline.com/health/gallbladder-attack

EDIT: Everyone please feel free to talk about your own medical updates, whatever you are willing to share.
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MrNexx · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:14 pm Post subject:

Health and luck, Whill.
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cheshire · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:20 pm Post subject:

Oh wow. I am so sorry. I hope you continue to get better.
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Grimace · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 6:30 pm Post subject:

That's rough. I hope you continue on your way to better condition. Honestly, I'm wary of all of the "tests" they like running at hospitals. It feels just like a money grab considering so many of them turn out "inconclusive" or "can't find anything wrong".

Xain Arke · Line Captain Joined: 19 Sep 2010 Posts: 989

Oh no, dude that sucks. Glad you are feeling a little better and I hope that you get back to full health soon.

Ray · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:41 pm Post subject:

Hope it resolves itself without surgery, and you recover quickly!

RyanDarkstar · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 8:11 pm Post subject:

Feel better, Whill. Last year was my first time in the ER (I had Bell's Palsy), so I sympathize. Hopefully everything works out for the best.
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Whill · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:17 am Post subject:

Thanks, everyone. I successfully ate chicken soup for dinner. Since Saturday, due to my failing stamina I've had to make a few willpower checks to not vomit. I had to use a character point one time.

Straxus · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 3:58 am Post subject:

Sounds like an awful experience, glad you're feeling better. At least, you probably earned a few character points from the experience, so now you can raise some Knowledge skills

All the best!

Phalanks Balas · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:09 am Post subject:

I wish you to heal fast Will.

Take care
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griff · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 9:36 pm Post subject:

Heal up buddy. God bless you
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Whill · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 11:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks, everyone. Got an x-ray today in advance of my first urology appointment next week. I have been very careful on what I eat, how fast I eat, how much I eat, and when I eat. I've probably already lost a few kilos since Friday. I'm still having periods of queasiness and minor pain. Taking it slow and easy.
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cheshire · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 2:34 pm Post subject:

Hang in there, friend. Thanks for giving us an update.
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Xain Arke · Line Captain Joined: 19 Sep 2010 Posts: 989

Good luck Whill, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Whill · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 10:14 pm Post subject:

I've been slowly introducing foods into my diet. But I am on my way to finding my new norm, because the old norm can never be again. I recommend to anyone to not eat too much pizza. The last gallbladder attack was some of the worst pain I've ever felt. I felt almost no relief from five different narcotics pain meds.

Today I had my first urology appointment. They are going to schedule me for what they are calling "surgery" but they don't have to cut me open for this procedure. They will put me under and send electric shocks to my kidney to blast the kidney stone to dust so it passes. Sounds fun.

Regarding the aneurysm on my bladder artery, the urologists is referring me to a vascular specialist for that. They will call me soon to schedule that appointment.

And unfortunately, my brother's cancerous mass that got removed from his bladder last year grew back this year. They took it out again, but now he has to get chemotherapy in hopes of preventing it from coming back again.
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