What a week...

Beside my daughter having her cancer surgery, I ended up in the hospital for 2 long days with was first thought I needed my gall bladder removed. Woke up in the middle of the night in serious pain in my chest opposite side of the heart.
I went to the emergency room and they admitted me and started giving me morphine. The said I was going into surgery, but after 3 tests decided at this time it wasn't needed. I got out last night, still feel lousy, but would rather be home than in that noisy place. Back to bed for me for a couple more days.

Just go ahead and get the family doctor visits out of the way now. Lol. I hope you all get to feeling better.

I hope you are doing better. Right front chest is an odd spot for pain. No doubt you know the right back chest area refers liver and gall bladder pain.

About 6 months ago I had sharp, intermittent left chest pain. Tried to see my PCP but of course there's no availability. I went to the walk in urgent clinic and the dr is unable to diagnose the problem but recommends I go to ER if it gets worse.

Later that day I'm in severe pain, can't breath deep without pain, barely able to drive to the ER, they give morphine IV but severe pain persists, run tests, do an MRI, and everything is negative. About a week later I experience a pop in my left rib cage and the pain instantly goes away. It was a common problem (slipping rib syndrome) that's easily resolved -  even a chiropractor could've solved it. Two docs and all the tests and MRI solved nothing. The medical industry focuses on using expensive equipment (so they can pay them off) and otherwise practices defensive medicine. Now I know better if it happens again.

Get better Rich!

Hope you get better.
Remember, when things seem the darkest....there's always alcohol.

When it rains it pours .... hang in there Rich and hope you're feeling better.

Today I'm trying to find a good GI doctor that accepts my insurance.
Since I had a fight with my primary doctor, I have been using my father in law for advice and office visits. He is again on vacation but insists that I have my gall bladder removed. I would rather have someone who is running some tests than someone who is listening to my problems over the phone make that decision.
At least I'm on my feet today and told work hopefully Friday I will be back. Less than 1 month to summer vacation so I'm trying to hold out surgery till then if possible.
My wife thinks since the hospital let me out, everything is normal and I should be up and working now. I don't think so.

They ran a sonogram on me when I went to the ER for mine, took it out the next day, and it was almost too late.

My brother fought it for over a year, they finally found a stone in the tube that runs from the gall bladder to the liver. First two hospitals done pretty much what you describe, but one finally sent him over to a bigger, better hospital where they found it.

Its by far the worst pain and sickest I've ever been.

Diseasel wrote:

I hope you are doing better. Right front chest is an odd spot for pain. No doubt you know the right back chest area refers liver and gall bladder pain.

About 6 months ago I had sharp, intermittent left chest pain. Tried to see my PCP but of course there's no availability. I went to the walk in urgent clinic and the dr is unable to diagnose the problem but recommends I go to ER if it gets worse.

Later that day I'm in severe pain, can't breath deep without pain, barely able to drive to the ER, they give morphine IV but severe pain persists, run tests, do an MRI, and everything is negative. About a week later I experience a pop in my left rib cage and the pain instantly goes away. It was a common problem (slipping rib syndrome) that's easily resolved -  even a chiropractor could've solved it. Two docs and all the tests and MRI solved nothing. The medical industry focuses on using expensive equipment (so they can pay them off) and otherwise practices defensive medicine. Now I know better if it happens again.

I had a friend in high school that missed a few days and then when he comes back he said he was in severe pain and couldn't find anything wrong. Then one doctor sat behind him and told him to lift both arms up as far as he could and then breath is as deep as he could and exhale repeatedly. The doctor ran one hand down each side of his ribs and then pushed in together. He had a rib on each side that had slipped. He said he was told to not lift anything for a few days but that was all he needed.

Had mine taken out a few years ago. The surgery and recovery was far less painful than the bladder stones. On a side note, after it is removed, well, you need to know where the bathroom is anytime you eat a grease meal.

Good luck to you and your family, prayers sent.

I have an appointment with a GI doctor the day after memorial day. I am leaning towards problems I have had in the past with my colon. It has been 6-7 years since my last colonoscopy so I am due for one. Also I have not been careful at all which foods I have been eating. The night I had the attack, I ate way to much peanut butter, a favorite of mine.

I ended up going back to the hospital and having my gall bladder removed. I had another attack. The doctor said it was shot, and really had to come out and he didn't see that in the tests. I have a drain tube until Tuesday. The surgery staff and room nurses kept insisting that I take morphine for pain. I refused as that stuff only makes me more sick and binds me up.

Stay within stepping distance of a shitter for the foreseeable future. especially if its anything remotely greasy.

Ive gotten to where I've pretty much eliminated fried foods.

It takes a few weeks to get over the surgery, but it makes you feel 100% better.

Glad to hear it was finally resolved!

Thanks guys. I hear you on the greasy food part. My colon hasn't taken well after having a resection about 8 years ago. My problem is I like to smoke pork and make pulled pork and ribs. I have been trying to watch what I eat, but now I really have an incentive.

Its the processed fast foods or just eating out that kills me. Regular meats I smoke out arent a problem.

I smoked a couple of briskets and various meats today...

That looks really good. I have to get my smoker going.

Glad your feeling better!

Up and moving better today. I was able to get the drain tube out this morning (that hurt) and unless something happens I don't have to go back to the doctor.
I stopped by the Board of Education today and they told me not to worry about coming back to work with 2 weeks left until school gets out. They didn't want me to take a risk and said my confirmation for coming back next September should be in the mail today or tomorrow.

Thats all great news.

Finally put together the smoker I bought from Cabelas yesterday. I had the same model before but after 6 years and a hurricane it was time for a new one.
Midnight I put on put 2 pork shoulders on and smoked them for 14 hours. I'm letting them sit and allow the juices to flow back into them. Sorry no pictures. I'm hoping my stomach can handle the pulled pork. My wife hates rub, so this time I smoked them plain, the aroma is killing me, can't wait to eat tonight.

Sounds good. I let mine sit until they are almost cool before shredding them up. The fat separates better that way.

How is your daughter doing?

I usually let them sit at least 2 hours before pulling them apart. Even after throwing away as much fat as I could, my stomach bothered me all night, and I ate a lot less than normal to see how I could handle it. Next time it will be better. I will do a rub as in another week when my wife will disappear to Georgia for most of the summer. I will likely go down for a week, and then down to FLA to her mothers for a week.

Thanks for asking about my daughter. She came over on Sunday, is feeling pretty warn down. Last Friday they put the chemo tube in her chest which goes up to her neck. It is very uncomfortable. They are starting chemo in two weeks for a six week period. After the baby is born, they will start the radiation. Long drive for a quick pinpoint x-ray. She is overwhelmed right now and feeling depressed naturally so, but that is due to all the doctors appointments and pain she has. She still has all the stitches from surgery . She is convinced she will beat it, so that is a positive. My current wife is not her mother, but upon leaving our house Sunday told my daughter if there is anything we can do, call no matter what time of day it is. My wife lost her sister to breast cancer 7 years ago.

Her being convinced she will beat it is great! Its also great that yall are so close and of course supportive.

My wife had breat cancer when she was 18 but luckily after treatments and whatnot she was able to beat it. She also beat it without surgery but she says she wants to get tested for some gene that greatly increases your chance of getting it or getting it again. If she has it she wants to have both of hers removed.

Getting both removed was my daughters first choice, but the surgeon said that at this time why put you through more trauma while you are pregnant. After the baby is born and she has healed and strong, if she wants, she can have the other one removed.

I haven't asked if she has the gene, but her grandmother died at 38, same age of my daughter from breast cancer.