long-version

Long version:

Thursday, February 26

Thursday started innocently enough with my usual morning mocha as I sat in front of my computer writing. For an extra treat, I added Adam’s Mountain Cafe Cinnamon Tea, a nuclear-powered black tea. Shortly thereafter, I felt a sharp burning in my “stomach”, or so I thought. But over time, it spread to my entire abdomen, with associated bloating and distention. I took two doses of Pepto Bismol and ate some yogurt. The pain grew to a level 10, and I was afraid I’d pass out from the pain. My wife drove me to the closest ER, Grandview ER (UC Health) on North Nevada.

But along the drive, the pain passed, and within a minute or two, dropped from 10 to 0 – about a 45-minute episode. We arrived at the ER, sat in the car while I decided it was a one-time thing, then returned home without going in.

 

Friday, February 27

Friday morning, the same thing happened. No Cinnamon Tea this time. Nevertheless, I took a double dose of Pepto Bismol and ate some yogurt. We drove to Grandview ER again, and I was admitted. After about 20 minutes in the ER, the pain passed, dropping from 10 to 0 – about a 60-minute episode.

A CT scan showed gallstones. Ultrasound showed an inflamed gallbladder with some wall thickening. The ER doctor on duty, Dr. Michael Pallini, referred me to Memorial North Hospital (UC Health), though I told him Penrose Main was “in network.” He feared his referral would be ignored there and, after consulting with Dr. J. Clay at Memorial North, arranged for me to be admitted directly. We drove to Memorial North Hospital, and I was shown to a room there. Dr. Riley (night surgeon) spoke with me. With staff preferring a full-day shift, surgery was scheduled for the following morning.

 

Saturday, February 28

Saturday morning, I met with Dr. Tim Rush, anaesthesiologist, and then Dr. J. Clay, surgeon. Following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, I was returned to my room. We agreed I’d stay the night to make sure my digestive system was working properly. I had a light dinner and got about 3-4 hours of sleep.

 

Sunday, March 1

Sunday morning, I was discharged and prescribed Celebrix with no lifting above 20 pounds. (I was planning to fly to Seattle this coming Friday to visit the grandkids.) I was warned about the danger of popping the sutures in my abdomen, resulting in a hernia.

Sunday afternoon, at home, I bent over to pick up my pants and felt a pop. I took a shower and got about an hour of sleep. When I woke, the wound above my belly button was red and swollen with some pain.

We returned Sunday evening to Memorial North Hospital, this time to the ER. The ER-duty Dr. C Hinton said the CT scan showed a “popped fascia” opening in my abdominal wall above my belly button: wound dehiscence.

Note, about 3 years ago, I had surgery to repair an umbilical hernia, at the same time as I had a laparoscopic appendectomy.

Upon consultation with the night surgeon, Dr. A. Pal, she discussed with me her two options:

1. Open the wound; if there’s no infection, then close without superglue, but apply “stuffing” to keep the wound open and use staples.
2. Open the wound; if there’s infection, extend the cut further, and add more sutures.

 

Monday, March 2

Monday morning, Dr. Pal performed the surgery (6 hours after I’d eaten a soft-boiled egg) after consulting with Dr. Heffner, an anesthesiologist. No infection was found, but some of the sub-fascial “fat apron” was exposed through the fascia, but no intestines were exposed. She cleaned that up, restitched, stuffed, and stapled. A bandage was applied above it. She met with my wife to debrief.

I was returned to my room and got about 3-4 hours of sleep. Small breakfast of ham and cheese omelet, Cream of Wheat, and prune juice.

Dr. Hannah Flory did morning rounds. She explained what had happened in surgery (as I was still out when Dr. Pal went off duty). Instructions:

  • No lifting >15 lbs for 4 weeks.
  • Incentive Spirometer: Inhalation cylinder
  • Staple removal in 7-10 days at the clinic: March 11

 

I was sent home wearing a brace (girdle), told I could remove the bandage over the wound in 24 hours and shower, no need to replace the dressing.

 

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Abdominal bandage

I’m not flying to Seattle.