The culprit!

This is what has been causing me so much pain on and off for the last couple of years - gallstones. Luckily the attacks could be weeks or, more often, months apart but when they did strike I was often doubled up in agony and unable to do a thing.  They have lasted from 10-15 minutes to hours.

So this morning, a friend picked me up at 7am and dropped me off at Chase Farm Hospital for my operation to have the gallbladder removed.  When I was told I was first on the list I thought great - i'll be out nice and early. Anyway, down to the operating theatre and put to sleep (I always find it an extremely odd sensation - one minute you're wide awake and the next you're out for the count!). I was back in the ward by 10am and given a cup of coffee and biscuits.  Did the usual observations every so often and was told my blood pressure was a bit low.  Told to drink lots of water and to eat the lunch provided.  However, despite drinking and drinking, my mouth felt so dry and could only manage about half the tomato pasta meal I had chosen. Even the sandwich I had later on had to be swallowed with water to get it down. My blood pressure did improve as the day went on though and I was finally discharged at 5pm.  My son picked me up and is staying to look after me. 

The operation was done by key hole surgery, so I have four tiny cuts. Far less intrusive than the old method and a much shorter recovery time.  I was told not to lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks - so not outings with the camera backpack just yet! I'm feeling pretty good in myself - obviously a bit sore and tender as to be expected, but not so bad that I need to take the painkillers given to me.  (Hate taking anything if I can avoid it!).

The photo is of a gallstone - much larger than I was expecting as my daughter had her gallbladder removed when she was fourteen and her gallstones were a fraction of the size although she had several of them. They like to present the gallstones to you in a pot as a souvenir!!