LAVH: Surgery rescheduled due to emergency gallbladder surgery

Hi Ladies ~

I need some advice and words of wisdom. My visit to the castle was scheduled for May 17th. Unfortunately the Sunday before my surgery (May 9th) I was rushed to the hospital due to upper abdominal pain and uncontrollable throwing up. This was pain like no other pain I ever had - in the ambulance I got two shots of morphine that didn't touch the pain.

After some tests in the ER, I was admitted to be observed overnight. In the morning, I found out that the tests (xray, ultrasound and CT scan) showed that I had gall stones and that one of the stones migrated to the pancreas causing acute pancreatitis. After another day of tests, it was decided that I needed to have my gall bladder removed to prevent this from happening again. At this point I was really upset because I had been waiting so long for my hysterectomy that I was afraid that my hysterectomy would be canceled.

My GYN and GI doctor both concurred that I needed to have this surgery first. Everyone assured me that it was an easy surgery that would be done through a scope and that I would be home quickly. My GYN did reschedule my hysterectomy to June 14th (after grieving this for a bit I did agree that this was for the best).

The first that I remember when I was coming to in the recovery room was the pain of a huge incision yup they had to open me up due to complications with my pancreas. So I now have a vertical incision that is ten inches long from my belly button up.

I'm finally home after 18 days in the hospital and facing my hysterectomy on June 14th. I have a few concerns. First of all - my kidneys had issues after the gall bladder surgery - any one have kidney issues after their hysterectomy? Second, I left the hospital very anemic. I've had problems with anemia in the past and I have a really hard time with iron supplements. I'm currently taking liquid pediatric vitamins in my apple juice. Any other ideas out there to improve my hematocrit levels? I am on a limited diet (4-6 small small meals due to my pancreas squishing my stomach). Will the doctor still proceed with the surgery if I'm borderline anemic?

Should I go for the surgery in two weeks or should I try and reschedule? The surgeon for my gallbladder surgery cannot believe how strong I am - she first thought that I would spend a week in ICU and I only spent 2.5 days. Then when I was transferred to a regular room she though I would be there for a minimum of three weeks - and well I was out in two weeks. She is leaving it up to me and my GYN but I need your support ladies ...

Help

I've had kidney stones my whole life. Things got better after my hysterectomy believe it or not. My hemocrit was monitored closely and I see my Nephrologist every 3 months. I had him talk to my ob.

The most important thing is for you to talk to your dr and talk about your concerns and not wait until the last minute-it's always tough to talk during pre-op. Talk about pros and cons. Do you think you're ready for a major surgery? Is your body ready for another surgery? Are you mentally prepared? Sounds like you went through a lot. I had my appendix removed 3 months before my Hysterectomy and my doctor had to examine me to make sure everything healed properly.

Hugs and prayers!

I think I would talk to my doctor to discuss the pros and cons of having the surgery or waiting. Tell your gyn your concerns about the anemia and also just having major surgery. You may want to postpone it for a little bit to let yourself heal. I think only your surgeon and you can make this tough decision. I had two knee operations about 10 years ago spread out about on month. They were not major surgeries so I was doing well until my gallbladder became inflamed about three days after my second knee surgery. I had to have the gall bladder surgery as it was about to burst but my recovery was really long from it. They planned to send me home the day after the surgery and instead I ended up being there for a week and a half. It was a lot of stress on my body so it is something to consider. Like I said, only you and your doc can make the call. Hope you feel better and try to pamper yourself. You sure deserve it. Sending hugs.

Thank you Idteacher and Zenyatta ~

I get to see a doctor from my primary care clinic on Wednesday (my primary care doc quit - and didn't tell any of her patients). Then I see the gall bladder surgeon on Friday for post op appointment. I think I will bring up all my concerns up at my appointment on Wednesday - a fresh medical outlook will be good.

Thanks for the kind words. I really need them today.

Wow...I am sorry to hear about your emergency gallbladder surgery. I hope that you are recovering alright and feeling better. If it were me, I dunno if I could handle another surgery so soon. But that would be something you and your doctor should discuss ...are you ready mentally and physically to face another surgery?

Sending you

Best wishes to you! I understand exactly what you are going through. I also had pancreatitis a little over a year ago due to a gallstone lodging in the pancreatic duct. I was in the hospital 4 months initially and then another month off and on, had 6 surgeries (4 to get rid of the necrotic pancreas tissue, 1 that removed my gallbladder and half of my colon, and one that closed up my open abdominal wound with a skin graft), sepsis, 4 hospital acquired infection, kidney failure (was on dialysis over a month but the kidneys are ok now), lung failure (they are ok now also), an ileostomy that hopefully is temporary, blood clots in each leg, was fed intravenously a total of 5 months (even after I was at home). It was a nightmare but I am doing well now, except for the pesky endometrial cancer diagnosis I recently got. I will be having operation #7 June 30 for a hysterectomy and a possible ileostomy reversal. I am so glad you did get the gallbladder taken out so you don't have to worry about pancreatitis again. It is a horrible illness.

Wow NYLLRAP!! My surgeon told me that I could have gone down the path you did ... yikes. Please take of yourself.

I think I'm mentally ready for surgery. I just want to make sure my body is physically ready. So that is something I will ask my doctors at my coming appointments.

Thank goodness for FMLA and a good boss. I think I'll be out another 4-5 weeks.