Stoned
April 27th, 2011 by John WolfeNo, I’m not talking about sparking up some Maui Wowie and Labrador in this post. 
If you’ve seen Cheech and Chong’s “Up in Smoke” you’ll get that one. The kind of stoned I’m referring to has to do with my gallbladder. The GI doctor found gallstones last Wednesday, which she felt were the primary cause of my recent upper digestive problems. So, I saw a surgeon on Thursday and was whisked off to the hospital the following day for the removal of that little bile secreting devil.
Five days later I’m gallbladder and gallstone free, but not entirely symptom free. However, there has been a drastic improvement in my condition (Thank goodness!). At least I can actually eat more than the four hundred calories per day I was limited to for several weeks. Now I’m just in rehab and recuperate mode, that goes for healing but also for adjusting my diet and getting used to what the body will accept since I’m no longer carrying that “pouch of marbles” under my liver.
You guys have all been so tremendous about showing support during this funky time for me health wise. I just wanted to let you know what was going on and thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.
April 27th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Get well soon. I had the same surgery several years ago and feel much better. I hated passing the stones. That was so painful.
April 27th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Poor lamb. That is extremely common. It’s something they don’t tell middle-aged folks about, but if they lose or gain weight, it can really piss the gallbladder off. Glad it’s gone and I know that over the next couple months, you’ll feel like a new guy. Take care!
April 27th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Oh, John, I’m so glad!!!!!!!!! Not glad that you had gall stones, of course, but glad that it was treat-able and you are on the mend!! I’ve been thinking about you so much since your last post and just hoping that the doctors would find what was wrong and treat it!! I really hope that as you heal and recuperate that the remaining symptoms will be gone! You deserve all the health and happiness in the world and I’m sending all the best thoughts your way for a fast recovery and perfect health afterwards!! Please take good care of yourself and know that I’m thinking about you every day!!
!!!!!! and a million, very gentle, hugs!!!!
April 27th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
That’s quite an ordeal you’ve been going through, but I’m glad to hear that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for you. Keep getting back to health, and we’re all here to support you, my friend. Anything I can do to help please ask.
April 27th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
This story is going to be right up your alley…MANY years ago, I was a clinical technologist working in a laboratory at a major hospital.
SOME gallstones are…dare I say…beautiful! People would keep them, polish them up, and make jewelry out of them…Swear to God, John.
I know it sounds a little macabe, but I’ve seen some gorgeous necklaces, bracelets, earrings and cufflinks made out of them. Weird, huh?
Glad to hear you’re on the mend. xoxo Donna in California
April 27th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Gallstones… ouch! That sounds like it sucked! Hope this means all the health funkiness is over with.
April 28th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Adsila,
Recently I’ve found myself encountering lots of folks who’ve either had the surgery themselves or else a relative of theirs has had it. Seems once the diagnosis came in, just about anyone I mentioned it to in passing had some stories of their own about it. Like Autumn said in her message, it appears to be quite common.
I’m not sure if any of my stones actually made it out of the gallbladder and into the digestive tract, but if they did, I was lucky in the fact they didn’t actually cause pain in passing. The majority of my stuff was intense, bloated pressure in the abdomen, waves of severe nausea and a fairly constant feeling of fullness. Weird, but I never actually had pain in the gallbladder itself, rather all of my pain referred directly under the sternum and to the left side of the ribcage.
Thank you for your well wishes. Glad to hear having yours removed made you feel so much better!
autumnforest,
Thanks, autumn! You’re absolutely right. I just found out how common this is and also about the weight loss and weight gain thing too. I used to be a bodybuilding fanatic, spending all of my twenties and early thirties trying to change my body in different ways. This always consisted of either weight gain, if I was trying to add muscle, or weight loss, if I was trying to drop body fat. I could easily make a thirty or forty pound swing one way or the other in a matter of a few months. No doubt this “bulking and cutting” approach eventually contributed to my gallbladder’s disposition.
Then, around three years ago, I went vegetarian and that also contributed to more weight loss — so I was probably primed for g.b. problems due to many of my dietary practices.
Camile,
Thank you, my friend! That is so kind of you, Camile. You rock! I so appreciate the fact you’ve been concerned and thinking good thoughts for me. I’m hoping the recuperation process will eventually eliminate the remaining symptoms, too. While having the gallbladder out has immediately gotten rid of the pain I had under the sternum and in the left side of my ribcage (even though the g.b. is on the right side, mine was referring to the left side), there’s still pressure and a feeling of fullness (when the stomach’s practically empty) that kicks in as the day goes on.
I’m going to try taking digestive enzymes with my meals to see if that helps. I have read about some folks who said it took two or three months post-surgery to get their eating to return to normal and to have a general feeling of well being again. Others say they immediately felt 100% again, so it’s really an individual process I guess.
Again, I can’t thank you enough, Camile. You’re awesome!
Paul,
Thanks, man! Yeah, I’m keeping my eye firmly fixed on that light. I so appreciate your kindness, Paul. Thank you very much. One thing you can do for me, if you don’t mind — eat a little extra food for me, especially anything containing chocolate.
Donna,
Great to hear from you! Thanks for sharing that story. While it may sound strange or macabre to some, I get it. Especially after dealing with the darn things, it would be cool to see the stones put to good use… something beneficial.
Thank you for being so kind.
Damian,
Thanks! There’s still some funkiness going on, but I’m sure hoping it eventually resolves itself as I place more distance between myself and the surgery. I appreciate you checking in and hope you’re doing great!
April 28th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
John I`m so happy to here that you found out what was wrong and took action right away. I know you must feel a bit down but just think , you`ll be back to normal (abi normal that is) in no time. It will just take a bit to get used to the new diet.. Get well and Hope to hear from you in better health next time.
April 29th, 2011 at 5:28 am
Glad to hear that you are on the mend. Take it easy and we look forward to another fall with you and SEASON OF SHADOWS.
April 29th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
guess I’ve been out of things as I wasn’t aware you were having so many health problems. so, I’m so glad to hear you are doing better! sending good healing thoughts and a big hug your way.
April 29th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
ssflipo,
Thank you, my friend. Everything fell into place perfectly allowing for that quick action to be possible. I usually think of that as a sign from the Universe telling you all systems are go. While sitting in the surgeon’s office for my initial appointment, a cancellation came in for surgery the following morning, otherwise I would have had to wait a few weeks. So everything worked out very well.
Yeah, just peacefully going with the flow of my body and adjusting slowly to dietary changes — not rushing anything. Speaking of diet, if you happen to get a hankerin’ for chocolate, please eat a few extra pieces for me. If you and Paul are both doing that, maybe I’ll absorb a little through some long distance form of osmosis.
Ethan,
Thanks, brother — much appreciated! I look forward to fall and celebrating Halloween with all of you guys as well.
pam morris,
That’s very kind of you, Pam. Thank you so much. It’s great hearing from you. I’ll take all the healing thoughts and hugs I can get. Thanks again! Hope you’re doing great.
May 1st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Awesome man, very happy your feeling better.
May 1st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Matt C.,
Thanks, Matt! It feels really great to be feeling better.
May 5th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
That was my problem I had mine removed last year. I can still feel a burning sensation, were my scars are, after eating a spicy meal. I have a scar in my bellybutton and 3 smal ones under my right ribcage. It gets better over time.
May 5th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Barry Huddleston,
That’s pretty much the same places my incisions are located as well. I haven’t really tried anything spicy. I’m keeping my food bland and almost entirely organic. The awesome thing is I’ve been able to increase my portions every day. Thanks for sharing about your operation, Barry. Sorry to hear you had to have yours removed as well, but I’m glad to hear you’ve gotten better.