(Gulp) Has anyone here had a gall bladder removed?
STOP NOW! ... if the very name of this organ is repulsive to you. I don’t blame you one
bit. This is the most disgusting organ that we have, at least for the majority of us. I
would not debase this thread by mentioning the function of this organ, if I knew what it
was. The gall bladder is not a happy topic, and Poet may even be cross with me for
bringing it up here. But for those of you with the stomach (heh-heh, my little
joke) to hang in there and bear with me .....
Seeing as you good people gave me so much help in dealing with my squirrel trauma, I
thought I would lay my life wide open here, and ask for helpful hints on this closely
related subject. My physician has recommended GB removal, and I see the surgeon this
week. I am always skeptical of doctors pushing operations in the slow summer months,
but they have you over a barrel when you really don’t understand what is going on under
the hood, so to speak.
GB removal used to be major surgery, but now it is supposed to be, well, so trivial that it
sounds like it is sometimes just done in the waiting room when the hospital is busy. They
now use a procedure called “laparoscopy.” The way I understand it is this: First, the
receptionist opens a small “incision” in your side where the doctor has marked a red “X.”
Then a surgeon comes along and just sucks the thing right out (I presume through a
jumbo straw. Boy am I glad I never went into medicine!). Then, while everyone holds
their noses, someone rushes to the nearest toilet and flushes the loathsome thing. Then
they cut up the straw and everyone picks a piece to choose who has to sew you up ... and
that’s it. You go right back to work, or, in my case, back to posting on the Sauna. I’m
not the greatest listener, but this is basically the way I understand it.
Okay, I made some of that up. Just trying for a bit of levity here. Hospital protocol
would never permit them to re-use the straw in any such manner.
Anyway, it does seem as if this operation is no longer any big deal.
But there is one thing that does concern me. My doctor says no one needs a gall bladder,
that it is a totally useless organ. She even intimated that my other, nearby organs will
function better after the GB leaves and they have more breathing room. In many respects
I’ll be glad to see it go myself, but I still worry a bit about this. It seems to me that
doctors say that about a lot of organs -- the appendix, tonsils, spleens, etc. No one needs
them. They are just taking up space. But doesn’t that make you wonder why all these
organs were put there in the first place? Just as fillers? That doesn’t sound like God to
me, Who overall created pretty coolly designed human bodies, as I am sure we would all
agree. I suppose it could have been so that our bodies would grow as tall as they do, as
we would all be much shorter if all of these bells and whistles had been left out. But am
I the only one who is not totally convinced by such explanations? I’m hoping that some
of you may have taken out your gall bladders in the past, and can give us (me!) the real
poop (whoops, poor word choice!) as to whether you’ve noticed any difference afterward.
I am sorry for all the technical jargon and for the somber tone. If I were to rewrite this, it
would be in a much more lighthearted vein. I promise that will be my approach for my
next operation. But right now, I just would like to know if anyone has had any
experience with the GB that they might be willing to share with me, while I still have
one. This will be the first organ I have ever given up, so for me there are psychological
issues, as well as sentimental ones. Pretty much like the squirrel in our bed. You people
helped me get over that one, and here I am counting on you so soon again.
In a clear display of the trust I have in my new friends here, I have elected to reveal my
whole body (gasp! screams!) in the Sauna. Even some of the inside parts, which tops
anyone else I’ve seen here. I’m hoping that some of you might be willing to share your
gall bladder experiences, or those of your loved ones, good or bad, for my benefit. Some
of you, who have more taste and decency than I do, may not want to respond publicly. If
you know anything that I should know, I would really welcome PM’s.
The questions I seek answers to are like, Is this procedure really as quick and simple as
they claim? Is the recovery really that fast? Are there after-effects that one should be
prepared for? Stuff like that.
Having someone physically invade your body is never, um, usually is no laughing matter.
So I do have some apprehension about this, and I sincerely will appreciate any help that
the fine and bright people on this thread may be able and willing to offer. And I don’t
mean this to be a one-way street. I will be willing and indeed eager to participate in
discussions of anyone else’s organs if you just ask. Thanks everyone!
Your friend, JC |
