From your friends at SurveyorConnect, we wish you a Merry Christmas, albeit belated. We hope you all had a great holiday with family, friends, pets, or whomever or whatever you celebrate with. 🙂
Sorry for the lack of fanfare here. I wanted to do something really cool but things just didn't go the way we planned. Some of you on Facebook may already be aware that I took Angel to ER on Christmas Eve. Turns out she has gall stones, something she's been dealing with for nearly 3 years. But everytime we went to ER previously, she would pass them before the scan would catch them and of course that gave the insurance an "out". She has seen at least 4 different doctors who all wanted to take her gall bladder out, but the insurance would always turn it down for lack of evidence.
Well Merry Christmas to her because this time they caught the stones in the act. There wasn't just 1 or 2 or even 5 -- they counted 11 and said that there's probably more but they can't see all of them because there are so many hiding behind one another. A surgeon was contacted and between him and the ER doctor, they said it's definitely time for the gall bladder to come out. There's no denying it now and they said that once it starts generating stones like this, there's no stopping it. Eventually, the gall bladder would become infected and cause all sorts of problems.
So surgery is still pending, but very promising at this point. One wouldn't normally wish for surgery, but in this case, she's been hoping for a long time. This would be the best Christmas present for her (and me, for that matter). We should find out today when this will all take place.
Merry Christmas!
Wendell
I have been tempted to complain, about failure to log in. To comment about "Where is the new web site" to do all sorts of things.
But, I did not need any assistance. Everything is kinda smooth here.
I did see that Angel was in great pain. We did pray for her.
We know you must be very busy.
So, I did not bother you. (Even though I had nothing to bother you about)
And, a very merry Christmas to you, and yours!!!!
Thanks for providing a forum.
Nate
Dang!! Nothing like Christmas in the hospital. At least now they have a proper diagnosis and can proceed to take that sucker out. The way they do that now is very non-invasive and much easier on the patient. Tell Angel I said "Git 'er done and get outta there!!".
The recovery period is much shorter now and she will not have that pain again. It's a good thing.
Besides, she's got to be well by April so y'all can make it to the Carlson User's Conference. 😉
Better be-lated than be-nevered.;-)
Being in the hospital on Christmas can't be good. However, my sister happened to luck out a few years ago when she had a major heart attack on Christmas Day. She ended up in Menorah Hospital near Kansas City with a building full of people who have no reason to take off for Christmas. That is quite likely what saved her life.
We send our best wishes out to Angel.....and you. One thing about gall stones is that they can be a various sizes. My sister's were like miniature BB's while my grandfather's were closer to golf ball size. Both of my parent's gall stones were closer to the size of a pea or grape. So far I have had no problem with my gall bladder, but, family history strongly indicates my day is coming.
Best wishes to you and Angel for Christmas and New Year! And here's to a speedy recovery for Angel.
Tyler & Louise
We are currently jumping through all of the insurance hoops -- surgeon has to have referral from primary care doctor, primary care doctor won't refer without an in-person appointment, etc. What if she were dying? Do we still have to wait until the 30th to get the referral appointment? Does anyone really care? Do I hear a Pink Floyd song in here somewhere?
I doubt we'll make the Carlson conference, but it certainly would be fun. As it is now, I'm already set to speak, sponsor and attend a conference on Maui in mid-February (not surveying related). Then in July, we are planning to attend the ESRI conference per our recent crowd-sourcing campaign. It's looking to be a busy 2015 and we haven't even got there yet.
Wendell and Angel-
Our thoughts are with you both.
Happy Holidays from North Aboyne Farm.
Huggs and Handshakes,
Alexandra and Derek
PS-
On a personal note, after my mother had her gallbladder out in her mid 70s, you could not keep her down she was so energetic up until her mid 90s.
We send both of you best wishes, not just for the season, obviously. Speedy recovery, take good care.
Mooshe & Henry
Thinking about you both. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Aloha, Angel and Wendell:
We pray for a very smooth surgery. Hope the Hawaiian sweets helps to keep both of you smiling! 🙂
"Do we still have to wait until the 30th to get the referral appointment?"
Go to admissions and speak with a supervisor, they should be able to circumvent this requirement.
Best wishes!
Our best wishes to you and Angel. Please tell her we are thinking of her.
Vicki has been there. It was miserable leading up to the surgery, but the actual surgery was easy.
Bruce and Vicki
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Take care of Angel and all is ok here at your website. No grinches have been around
Wendell and Angel,
Our best to you and your family this Christmas Season (Yes, it is still the Christmas Season).
Our Prayers will be with you both on the up coming surgery.
Joe and Jean
> "Do we still have to wait until the 30th to get the referral appointment?"
>
> Go to admissions and speak with a supervisor, they should be able to circumvent this requirement.
>
> Best wishes!
:love:
My fingers are crossed that everything goes well. I had my gall bladder out several years ago. As far I know I never had any gall stones, but the thing was all infected and not working by the time of the surgery. I was getting referred pain as a dull back ache and heartburn which triggered an ultrasound.
Recovery was reasonably quick, but I remember it was quite hard to get up for a few days. I stayed in a chair for two days (including sleeping)! I had to evenly lever myself out with both hands or have someone else help me up with both hands to keep from twisting my torso.
TMI, but my doctor prescribed cholestyramine post-surgery while I was adjusting to being without a gall bladder.
Melita
Merry Belated Christmas>And an Early Happy New Year!
To you and SWMBO, Wendell, and thanks for the site! I'm glad to hear that recovery is upcoming for Angel.
Dtp
Thanks Everyone!
> Aloha, Angel and Wendell:
> We pray for a very smooth surgery. Hope the Hawaiian sweets helps to keep both of you smiling! 🙂
Thank you for those chocolates, Yogi! I'll have to thank you in person in Feb. :angel:
Thank you all for the warm wishes, prayers, thoughts, concerns, etc...I truly appreciate it. Still VERY tired, sore, and bruised up from all of this but glad I'll be able to eat a cheeseburger again one day! In-N-Out Burger in March! :whistle:
It's a good thing it came out. I had 11+ stones in there, plus some in the ducts. The ducts and some other tubular tube in me was blocked up and that was why I had 11+ pounds of fluids on me. Doc got in there and told me he "Cleaned out all of the gunk and goop" and removed all ducts. He took pictures of my gall bladder. They sliced it open and it definitely was full of stones. They looked like fish eggs. 😛 :-/ :-O B-)
Apparently I gave everyone at the hospital quite a laugh. I kept trying to bribe the nurses to take me home for $50.00. When that didn't work I upped the price to $100.00. I tried to bribe my friends that were there waiting for me to come out of recovery as well. I was begging for my mom to come and beat them up. I kept asking the nurse why would she let such a place kick me in the ribs? I chewed out Wendell for letting them "kick me in the ribs". I had an allergic reaction to something they gave me and I was itching all over plus in extreme pain. I tried to get out of the recovery bed to go home but they doped me up again with something. I was then offering M&Ms to everyone and yelling at Wendell to NOT let them feed me anymore M&M's. Told him give them to my niece. Then they tried to feed me jello. Oh boy... I told the nurse there BETTER not be vodka in this jello. (Anyone that knows the jello shooters story knows why!) Wendell and friends bust up laughing. I start crying and tell them "ITS NOT FUNNY". More laughter...even nurse is laughing. Funny, I don't remember ANY of this. All I remember is I couldnt see anything, but I could HEAR them laughing. I don't remember anything else but waking up and feeling like my guts were split in two. :-/
Wendell could tell you more. His version is always much better. I think he enjoys these "free entertainment" post surgical episodes. I'm glad no one filmed this! :-O
> My fingers are crossed that everything goes well. I had my gall bladder out several years ago. As far I know I never had any gall stones, but the thing was all infected and not working by the time of the surgery. I was getting referred pain as a dull back ache and heartburn which triggered an ultrasound.
>
> Recovery was reasonably quick, but I remember it was quite hard to get up for a few days. I stayed in a chair for two days (including sleeping)! I had to evenly lever myself out with both hands or have someone else help me up with both hands to keep from twisting my torso.
>
> TMI, but my doctor prescribed cholestyramine post-surgery while I was adjusting to being without a gall bladder.
>
> Melita
Exactly!! I could not get rid of that back pain no matter what I did. That and the groin pain and then stone passing pain = I was tired. :-/
I was in my armchair most of the day yesterday, but today I've been in bed. Everything started getting blurry for me last night and today the room was spinning so...my bed seemed like the safest place to be. Twisting = Ouch! Amen for fluffy pillows. 🙂
Get you rest for a quick recuperation.
Take care of yourself Angel
