my lovely gallbladder...

So if you are a close relative or friend of mine, you have undoubtedly heard me complain about my STUPID gallstones. I never had issues with my gallbladder until after having Allyson. I actually first discovered that I had gallstones in one of my ultra sounds while pregnant with Allyson. Well, my doctor warned me that some women have issues while pregnant, some never have any issues, but that the most common time women have issues (trying to pass the stones) is about a month or two after you deliver your baby. Well I kind of forgot about it and then a couple months after I had Allyson (after eating pizza) I had a gallbladder "attack" which was basically just a gallstone trying to pass. It was the most excruciating pain I had ever had (and yes, wayyyyy worse than child labor). It felt like someone was stabbing in the chest and it was hard to even breathe. Luckily, since my OB doc had kind of told what to expect if I had issues, I knew exactly what the pain was, so I waited it out (it last a couple hours). I  had this same pain one other time after having Allyson and then had no other issues and I went back to eating whatever I wanted. Well, I had heard that gallstones get worse with each pregnancy so I was more prepared after having Kilee and was really watching what I was eating (greasy foods is usually what triggers the "attacks"). I had no issues so of course I got braver and braver in eating my normal foods. Well, one night I had pizza again, and there it was! That lovely pain. So I went back to eating my strict diet. And then I would forget how horrible that pain is and eat something stupid again and have another attack. But then I started getting really bad indigestion and back pains (which was directly related to my gallstones) when I would eat ANYTHING. So needless to say, I started starving myself because I was scared to eat anything! And finally, enough was enough. I went into a specialist and she told me I had every classic symptom and that I was smart for coming in before something bad happened. (my mom and my sister both had to stay in the hospital several days because theirs got infected!) My appointment was Friday morning and I asked her when she was thinking she could do it (because I wanted it out yesterday!) and she said "I'm thinking as early as next week, maybe Thursday or Friday?" I said uhhh...can we do it any earlier? And she said the only other day she was at that hospital was monday and I said Monday is perfect! and she told me the only bad part was that she wouldn't be able to get me in till later in the day and I would have to fast the entire day. I told her I didn't care and that I was basically already doing that anyways since I was so scared to eat! The food fasting part really wasn't that hard but the no water KILLED me! Anyways, I checked into the hospital at 2:30pm on Monday and I was out of there by about 7pm. After the surgery my doctor told me that a ton of gallstones in there (she didn't say how many but I think I will ask her in my follow up appointment because I am curios!) and that it was a good thing I got it out in time (because I think it was starting to get infected). So today I am home resting....my tummy is VERY sore and I am walking like an old gramma haha. And I have some shoulder pain from the gas they pumped into my tummy during surgery and I didn't really get to sleep much last night due to my pain and the stupid pain killers! But from what I have heard, you are really only sore from a few days:) So now I am just hoping that I heal well and have no complications from internal bleeding or anything:) I am so HAPPY that I got it out though! I am mostly excited to eat pizza again...pathetic I know, but I haven't been able to eat the great-tasting foods for months now. And I am so grateful for modern technology...seriously, how did people deal with this stuff back in the day? Anyways, that's an update on me. My sister Ashley came down to stay with me for a few days while I heal and I am so glad and thankful she is so willing to help!