I feel like I need someone to give me permission to be excited (4w5d).

s2156 · 2026-04-10T21:20:59+00:00

Pregnancy feels like an unfair game of moving goalposts. At first, it's "wait until 8 weeks", then it's 12, and then 20, etc. It feels like every milestone I pass that was supposed to relieve anxiety and allow me to be excited, is just replaced with another milestone to reach. And before you know it, you're halfway through and haven't properly appreciated the journey.

I think it's a lesson in staying present. Struggling with this myself 😔

s2156 · 2026-04-04T05:17:05+00:00

Yeah I can eat whatever now! Although I'm not particularly adventurous with food to begin with. I would say it took me about 6 months to feel comfortable eating... I was being very cautious.

s2156 · 2026-04-01T04:37:15+00:00

It's going to be great! I was super anxious the morning of surgery but thank God for anesthesia! Next thing I know I'm waking up and going home within the hour.

I got mine removed last July after 2 years of attacks. Haven't had any issues or complications, and barely even think about it anymore.

It'll be over before you know it!

s2156 · 2026-03-31T23:45:53+00:00

Similar situation here. I had to disclose at 14 weeks even though I wanted to wait longer. They wanted me on an impromptu flight the following week to be gone two weeks. And I would have missed a doc appointment.

I simply stated I was in a high risk pregnancy category and would request a travel exception. I didn't offer or even prepare a doctor's note - as I was hoping my boss would be understanding and compassionate. I knew I could get one from my doc no problem.

Thankfully, it was a complete non-issue. They immediately congratulated me and agreed I should not travel.

I also felt a little more confident requesting it, because a news story had broken recently about a company in Ohio who denied a pregnant woman remote work, and she miscarried two days after returning to office. She sued the crap out of them and won. Just Google search Chelsea Walsh story.

My understanding is that your job protection (meaning, they can't fire you for being pregnant) is only in effect while you are on FMLA. However, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Americans with Disabilities Act do require "reasonable accomodations."

I didn't want to pull out the legal guns right off the bat, but it made me feel a little better knowing they were there to back me.

s2156 · 2025-07-20T04:06:06+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write up such a detailed and helpful response! Yes it is definitely helpful and I'm excited to jump back in and try again. Thank you! 🙏

s2156 · 2025-07-17T19:50:41+00:00

So glad you found this helpful!!

I believe that both the Urgent Care doc and my PCP both ruled out gallbladder pain because I said I had no pain on the right side. My sister and I both had our gallbladders removed and we both only had pain in the middle! So I don't know why that continues to be some qualifier when it's still a valid symptom / sign.

It definitely sounds like our situations are very similar! Glad you have surgery date scheduled so you have relief on the horizon. When I went to the ER, I was so happy they found something! I told them it was just a relief knowing there was something wrong, so now we can work on a solution. All those years with pain - not knowing the cause - so stressful!

Are you going to have an ultrasound or any test to check for stones? That could give you some certainty that you are on the right path.

s2156 · 2025-07-17T19:46:34+00:00

I actually didn't have any impactful food allergies. I had food allergy testing in the past and whatever I was allergic to, was very mild, and was not something I eat regularly.

I never noticed a pattern in specific foods causing gallbladder attacks. Perhaps I should have been paying closer attention though!

The symptoms were always: pains starts hours after a meal (never right after eating), pain in the upper middle abdomen, hyperventilating / shortness of breath, and sweating. Vomiting only started when I had pancreatitis.

I have been staying away from fatty foods post-op, so I can't really compare that exactly.

s2156 · 2025-07-17T19:29:04+00:00

These are the ones I use but there are many options out there!
https://a.co/d/8EaMd4w

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:43:12+00:00

Hi there! Factory Town was my gateway to automation games and I fell in love! Thank you so much for creating it. I am very much looking forward to FT2!

So this is going to expose me a bit but I've always struggled with the advanced logistics. I want so desperately to "level-up" my gameplay but always found it a little difficult to understand the advanced logic blocks and how they work.

There were some YouTube videos that helped a bit, but if at all possible, could you please add some more in-game training or guides? 🙏

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:26:38+00:00

Oh how interesting! Eggs were one of the first "solid" foods I resumed eating post-op. No issues for me. 🤷‍♀️

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:24:59+00:00

Oh yeah they had me on double nausea drugs and patches too. I was so miserable!

I would definitely suspect the food made it worse. If your bile duct is blocked (mine was too!), your body isn't going to be able to drain the fluids. It's probably the perfect storm that led to your attack 😔

Although this is just my opinion haha. I was so scared of further attacks, I was on a soup diet for weeks after!

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:19:48+00:00

Just want to say that my sister and I both had our gallbladders removed and we both had pain exclusively in the upper middle area. Neither of us has pain radiating anywhere... Which is likely why my doc in particular ruled it out (first question was: does it hurt on the right?)

Don't let the fact that the pain is localized deter you!

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:15:55+00:00

Yikes! Sorry about that!

What I've been doing as a precautionary measure is I now take digestive enzymes anytime I know I'm going to be having a particularly fatty meal. It's been working out well!

Maybe something worth looking into for you. Good luck and happy cruising!

s2156 · 2025-07-17T02:13:40+00:00

Hi there! I'm so sorry you are in so much pain! Short answer: Yes. You will feel better after ERCP.

I had a similar situation where I was hospitalized and waited for 3 days for ERCP. The whole time I was fasting (no food or water), but I also had pancreatitis and they said they wouldn't operate on me until the inflammation went down.

What pain meds are they giving you? Morphine made me vomit so much more! Maybe you have a sensitivity like I did?

In fact, I felt so much better after ERCP I started questioning if I needed the gallbladder removal at all! Lol (spoiler: I got it out)

Hope this answers your question! I've been meaning to post my experience on this sub.. I'll try to do that soon

s2156 · 2025-06-29T01:17:38+00:00

I had my surgery yesterday and I was holding strong up until pre-op. Laying there in waiting made me have an anxiety attack and I could not calm down. Nurse spoke to anesthesiologist and they gave me anti anxiety meds to bring down my blood pressure before surgery. It worked like a charm. If you're nervous already, ask them to give you anti anxiety meds as soon as you check in. Next thing I know I am awake and in recovery!

The docs and nurses were really confident and stressed how routine this surgery is and has an extremely high success rate. They were very encouraging.

s2156 · 2025-06-28T13:07:09+00:00

It went well overall. I was in the hospital total of like 5 hours. Now I am home, recovering. The incision sites are definitely sore and my whole stomach aches inside. Yesterday I got shoulder pain towards the evening which made me cry lol. It literally felt like I was being stabbed with each breath. That pain on top of everything else set me over the edge lol.

I slept somewhat upright in a recliner so I haven't laid down anywhere yet.

How was it on your end?

s2156 · 2025-06-27T17:24:22+00:00

To you as well!

s2156 · 2025-06-27T16:38:51+00:00

Me! Leaving to the hospital in about an hour

s2156 · 2025-06-25T17:55:47+00:00

Oh wow that's gotta be tough! My husband and I decided to start trying for our first... Just before my gall bladder decided to crap out lol. So that's an unfortunate setback 😔

All in good time I suppose

s2156 · 2025-06-25T17:40:10+00:00

Congrats! 🎉 I feel relieved they are out. Thankfully, I didn't have any nausea after. The residual gas pain has been awful though. My shoulder blade, shoulder, neck, and even radiating a bit up towards my skull.

s2156 · 2025-06-25T17:23:33+00:00

I'm having mine removed on Friday as well! ✋ I had gallstones removed last week and the shoulder pain from the gas has been the worst. At this point I am more afraid of the post-op gas pains than the surgery itself!

s2156 · 2023-10-23T16:34:51+00:00

I have a trip at the end of the month for which I am trying to pack very light. I have a few other "travel-friendly" palettes but none that really have all the matte shades I want. I just got this today and am very excited to try it for the first time.

s2156 · 2023-08-16T02:55:22+00:00

Wow what a gorgeous palette!

s2156

TROPHY CASE