Surgery FTL

You'd think with the Yankees making the post-season and a gorgeous weekend weather wise would make for a great two days off from work.  Well, normally that'd be the case, if there wasn't a trip to the emergency room mixed in to the equation. 

For the third time in 10 days, woke up with significant mid- to upper-back pain central to the spine, and radiating around the torso to the top of the chest.  Now I've had many a bout of kidney stones over the past 7 or so years, so I'm kind of used to the throbbing, aching sensation, but also knew this wasn't a kidney stone.  First time it happened I was way out on the Jersey shore and, by the time the wife got out to get me and get me back to the local hospital I visit, the pain had subsided.  So, didn't do anything about it.  Dumb move number 1.  Then, a week ago today, same exact thing - same pain, same location, same severity.  This time I go into the ER, but am diagnosed against a kidney stone even tho' I tell them it isn't that.  Released after the pain meds take care of everything, but without any real answers.  I'm supposed to call my primary care physician on Tuesday, but each day last week work got in the way, and I never make the call.  Dumber move number 2.

Then Sunday morning, you guessed it...same thing.  Pain, location, severity...all the same.  Fortunately, this time they get it right.  After the trifecta of tests (ultrasound, xray, and CT scan) they nail it to a gall stone.    Now I'm seeing my primary this afternoon, and then the gastroentrology surgeon tomorrow afternoon, but initial indication is the gall bladder will come out.  Needless to say, I'm phreakin' out more than a bit about it, where the procedures I've had in the past would fall into the 'surgery-lite' category - lithotripsy for the kidney stones, wisdom teeth removed ... all pretty benign.  But this, even lathoscopic, is a pretty big deal and will put me out of commission for a solid week.  However...I guess it's better than the mystery game I was playing before yesterday.  At least now there'll be a course of action and get it taken care of.

Still doesn't make it any easier.

B.