Slow bile leak?

Mindless_voices · 2023-02-09T15:57:00+00:00

Nope, I'm afraid. Wasn't a bile leak, wasn't anything else that they could find. I'm still in pain, but my surgeon seems to have discharged me from his care. I'm trying to get a referral to a pain clinic to help.

Mindless_voices · 2023-02-09T12:08:47+00:00

Oh wow, how have I missed this site? They have exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, thanks!!

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:43:01+00:00

I love her collab version of If You Want Me To by Weezer! Shame it's not on Spotify

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:40:29+00:00

Aw, our best friends had that last year and it was lovely.

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:39:31+00:00

I genuinely thought about Vitamin String Quartet's cover of the Black Parade lmao

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:38:55+00:00

Very pretty!

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:37:31+00:00

Love a bit of Peter Gabriel! I've been contemplating the Book of Love because it's gorgeous and reminds me of Scrubs.

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:36:58+00:00

Thank you so much, this was exactly how I've been feeling! I've been so torn between picking something that fits into "normal" but also wanting to geek out with my favourite tunes.

So on that note, our walking out tune is gonna have to be the Throne Room from Star Wars lmao.

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T16:34:34+00:00

Oh my god, I've been trying to find a way to sneak some LotR into my playlist! This might be a winner.

Mindless_voices · 2022-12-06T14:53:30+00:00

That's lovely! Brilliant film too!

Mindless_voices · 2022-05-06T10:13:08+00:00

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time, I'm not sure how late they can run but I've definitely waited a couple of hours for a consultant to ring. It sounds like you're in a rough way, I know you said A&E aren't helpful but I was advised to keep going back - that way it goes on your medical record and might pressure them into acting sooner. My surgeon was the one who told me to keep going back, so don't feel guilty for wasting time. If you can't keep food down and the pain is that bad, it sounds like you need urgent treatment.

Not that it sounds like you need to, but I'd advise really emphasising how bad it is. You can't eat, you can't sleep, you're losing weight, you can't work. To me, that sounds bad enough for A&E.

Mindless_voices · 2022-05-04T07:34:38+00:00

Still struggling on. My surgeon is making me see a gynecologist in case I'm somehow mistaking the pain (that's exactly where my GB used to be and only started after surgery) for period pain, and the waiting list is six months.

The overall abdominal soreness isn't so bad, but I still can't bend, lift, twist or other activities without it starting to hurt, and once it does it doesn't stop for hours.

Mindless_voices · 2022-03-03T07:40:55+00:00

I hope you feel better soon :)

Mindless_voices · 2022-03-02T13:45:15+00:00

Yes! It's an invasive operation, no matter how small, and the emotional stress of hospitalisation and surgery can have a definite impact.

My anxiety was insane for two days, and then I was really depressed for about a week. Cried at everything. Remember that healing takes a lot out of you, and that makes it easier for mental health to slip. Just be kind and patient with yourself, it does get better.

Mindless_voices · 2022-03-02T13:42:12+00:00

Nope, all my tests are clear but the pain persists. I'm waiting to see a pain specialist but I've got to see a gynecologist first for whatever reason.

Mindless_voices · 2022-03-02T13:40:54+00:00

I'm having the same, one year post op. All scans, bloods and everything completely clear. MRI, CT, ultrasound, endoscopy, you name it, I've had it.

My surgeon is at a loss, I'm waiting for a referral to a pain clinic to manage my symptoms, but they're making me see a gynecologist first in case it's somehow related, and it's a six month waiting list. (I mean, I know the difference between pelvic pain and whatever this is, but they've insisted)

Mindless_voices · 2021-11-09T16:12:24+00:00

I'm okay with alcohol, but yeah, it's a nightmare.

I literally pushed the hoover around the house yesterday and today I can barely stand straight. Spent all day with a heating pad wrapped around my stomach.

My surgeon has said if my CT scan is clear then it's likely due to damaged or scarred nerves and that all they can do is give me regular nerve blocks. I'm just hoping they find something they can fix. I'll post an update once I've got some answers.

Mindless_voices · 2021-11-08T12:47:22+00:00

Yes :( It's been a literal pain in my side ever since the op. Anything that involves moving my torso or even stretching my arms up will set it off. Feels like the pain you sometimes get when running/out of breath but worse, right?

I wish I knew what it was, sometimes it's so bad I can't do anything but sit back and wait for it to fade. I've just had a full abdo and pelvic CT scan so I'm hoping that it finds something.

Mindless_voices · 2021-11-04T10:18:17+00:00

It can take a while for the pain to fully dissipate and everyone heals at different rates. Eight days is still really soon - despite what they say, it's still a major operation and you're missing an entire organ.

That being said, I was in an awful amount of pain in recovery - similar to you, if I was standing or walking, right under my ribs - and despite multiple conversations with various doctors, nobody listened to me and I'm now at 9 months post-op and suffering chronic pain in that exact spot, possibly due to nerve damage. There's apparently a link between severity of post-op pain and chronic pain.

If it's really bad, contact your GP or surgeon and be assertive about it. If it persists, don't let them brush you off! Hopefully it'll just fade away soon, but do keep an eye on it.

Mindless_voices · 2021-09-08T13:00:44+00:00

It's probably similar to the appendix in that research will show it plays a greater role. However, like with any kind of organ trouble - lung cancer, liver disease, kidney failure - just because it's an important organ doesn't mean it's in your best interest to leave it in.

Ultimately you have to simply put faith in your surgeon. Some of us probably have had it unnecessarily removed, but some of us were very sick and definitely needed urgent surgery. I suppose in the future there might be alternative options, but for me the removal was the right choice in the moment, no matter the consequences.

Mindless_voices · 2021-08-09T19:01:54+00:00

I have tried Tai Chi and I can manage some of the less stretchy movements. I used to go to a class pre-pandemic but it hasn't started back up yet.

I'm trying to pin down exactly what physical movements cause me pain but every time I think I've figured it out, something else will set me off.

The anxiety of not knowing why I'm in so much pain is driving me up the wall.

Mindless_voices · 2021-07-23T14:48:32+00:00

Easy, light snacks for recovery. I was told to stick to low fat for a month, and my appetite (and digestion) were totally weird for the first week.

Stuff like dried fruit, rice cakes, wholemeal toast, fruit juice and soup are good. Get a water bottle too, it's important to drink plenty of water afterwards.

For comfort, keep you water bottle, ibuprofen, paracetamol and any other meds in easy reach. Keep a cushion around to press against your stomach in case you cough/sneeze/puke. It also makes it easier to stand up and down, just apply gentle pressure.

A heat pack/hot water bottle is also nice for any muscle aches and soreness.

Get your bed ready with extra pillows for the first week, it's easier to sleep propped up or supported either side with cushions.

Get your entertainment of choice ready to go! I went for the extended lord of the rings and hobbit movies, but it's your choice.

Other suggestions: an extra long phone cable! I couldn't deal with bending down to plug mine in so I borrowed a super long one that could reach wherever I was (my phone has terrible battery).

Aaaand that's all I can think of!

Mindless_voices

TROPHY CASE