Over two months ago out of nowhere one night I thought I was dying in bed. To the best of my knowledge, I thought I was having a heart attack. We dialed 911 and the first responders came out and did an EKG. The pain was fierce so they went ahead and took my to the ER but come to find out it wasn’t what I thought at all.
My gallbladder was inflamed.
Every other night for two weeks straight I had the most horrific pains that lasted up to six hours at times. I did have a couple more ER trips, but eventually fought through the pains, and then my regular doctor was able to get me some help to hold me over as needed, so I could at least sleep.
So needless to say, September and October were hard months moving from the townhome due to mold, followed by these excruciating pains that felt like childbirth that never ended. All the sudden, the pains let up when November began, and it was almost as if they’d never happened.
I found myself wanting to slide backward on healthy eating, but I knew good habits were worth keeping so I continue to keep away from the drive throughs minus a couple times for a fish or Panera’s signature chicken breast.
My wonderful primary nurse has helped me a lot. She is located at a place I can only describe as a heavenly doctor’s office. Not your typical set up. It’s a little log cabin and hardly anyone is ever in there, just her and maybe one or two others at a time, and she prays with me too. She said the doctor there lets her operate how she feels led; to take her time with each patient, which is why she wanted to go into that line of work.
She has allowed me and others to meet her there on off times as well. I remember the first time I went in and you could hear a pin drop. The smell of the wood and seeing the old timey gadgets. I felt like I might see Doc Baker from Little House walk around the corner. I linked there so you could read his story. I love learning about others. Stories are powerful!
Upon testing me, they discovered a gallstone .6mm. I had prayed there would be none, but I can say I truly believe if there had not been one found, I would not have had made arrangements for them to remove my gallbladder because the pain had subsided, and I felt normal.
I made the appointment for about a month out to accommodate various things and work schedules, and so here I am Dec. 21, 2022 recovering from yesterday’s surgery that I am in fact thankful happened. The surgeon did say he was glad they took it out when they did because it was pretty infected and if these things are not dealt with can lead to other problems.
They took my blood pressure and the nurse said, “Wow, you’re not nervous?” I just told her I trusted the Lord. I had been through so much and at this point I knew He was completely sovereign–nothing caught Him off guard. If it was happening, I was safe in His hands.
I sang the anesthesiologist a few lines to Psalm 23 and we talked about church for a bit. It took them a few tries to find my veins which are typically good but from having to fast water I guess, it was affected. They wheeled me away from sweet hubby and on the operating table I said prayers while the doctors were asking me about where I wanted to “go away to” and of course I enlightened them with my cabin on a mountain scene, haha.
I did not take too well to the oxygen mask and had them hover it over my face instead, but soon enough I drifted to sleep and awoke thanking God I was alive. All of us who have undergone anything like this out of our hands can say, it reminds you just how fragile life is.
I wake up every day thankful, but this was another level of gratitude and focus within myself, which He has been dealing with me about on a daily basis. Because it’s easy to get locked in on the outside world and all the problems, which can suck the life out of the one He has given us. Not that we aren’t available and giving. That’s not what I mean.
Just making proper time to reflect and feed my own spirit with Truth, rather than always trying to find it somewhere else. The best days I have had lately are in the stillness with my Bible open, dogs asleep beside me, and the fire crackle in the background.
It’s the little things like that. Or like the nurse giving me her personal gallbladder experience. Or my hubs taking care of me and sleeping by my side on the couch since our bed is up too high. It’s the little things like people checking in, or knowing my dog is taken care of. Chloe is here, but Mr. Judah would have yanked me down the hill!
I think it’s about time for a nap. I may read some scriptures first, or after. To all who have lifted me up in your prayers, thank you.
I ask that you lift up my sister in Christ and pastor’s wife as she will be undergoing the same surgery tomorrow. Ask the Lord to cover her as she has had to undergo other health things with it, and we know and trust God, but still ask Him to keep his hands upon her and watch and guide the doctors.
Talk soon!
warmly, meg 