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   datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 03:02:00 JST datarama

   I'm having my gallbladder removed tomorrow. I've been told that the procedure itself is pretty much routine, but also that I can expect to be in quite a bit of pain the next days and that I'll probably need morphine.

   So I've stocked up on comic books / "graphical novels"; that's probably around the level my brain will be able to handle.

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 03:24:48 JST datarama

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly Laparoscopy if they can, but sometimes they have to make a larger incision (typically if there's a very large stone in there, or complications happen). I'm not terribly worried.

     But I know from experience that I don't handle opioids very well.

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 04:15:33 JST datarama

     in reply to

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly Also, what I hear from people is wildly variable! A family member of mine was out of work for two weeks (though she was a kindergarten teacher, which is quite a bit more physically demanding than being a computer toucher), and I also know someone who got knocked out for over three weeks.

     A former colleague was on his bed for a month ... and another was fine after three days.

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 04:31:33 JST datarama

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly I don't really worry about it - I'm pretty sure I'll be in good hands. :-)

     (as long as the pain isn't as bad as an actual gallstone attack, I'll manage.)

     Have you had any issues post-removal?

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 04:48:22 JST datarama

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly Good to hear!

     I've been told that some develop digestive issues, but "avoid fatty food or you'll get diarrhea" is still better than "avoid fatty food or you'll be hospitalized in excruciating pain". :-P

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 04:56:27 JST datarama

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly My last attack sent a stone through a bile duct where it did a bit of damage, causing a nasty infection that put me in the hospital for a few days. The attack itself lasted for about 8 hours and they couldn't control the pain with anything short of intravenous morphine.

     0/5 would not wish on my worst enemy.

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     datarama (datarama@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 10-Apr-2024 05:05:56 JST datarama

     • Matthew Lyon

     @mattly Mine have been absolutely terrible. I've had three. The first I also thought was a heart attack; the second one had me crawling around the floor crying (my previous reference point for "terrible pain" was diverticulitis). But neither of them had complications beyond the pain.

     The third one *did* cause complications (full-on bile duct infection), which is why I'm having it removed.