My grandmother is in the hospital.

[Akoto]

For a week, she had been complaining of being in pain. She was vomiting repeatedly and suffering diarrhea, couldn't keep any food down. The doctor told her twice that she just had a really awful flu that was going around, never even ran any tests on her, even though she had to be dehydrated by today. Tonight, she called us and could only say that she was in terrible pain and needed help. So, we rushed over and called an ambulance to get her to the hospital.

It's now midnight and I can't sleep. I guess the problem is actually gall stones, and she has to have surgery. They're already prepping her.

I'm so nervous for her, and really angry at that doctor for not giving her the proper attention a week ago. :mad:

[Maddy McCall]

1. Hope she gets a good diagnosis...

and, if it's gall bladder problems, that she can get the surgery and recuperate quickly.

Sending out big ol' Mississippi vibes. :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

2. Good thoughts for your grandmother.

And I would be angry too.

Hope your grandmother does well in surgery and has a speedy recovery.

[VenusRising]

3. Gall stones make you feel like you're dying.

I went through the same thing with the doctors diagnosing me. All I can say is that the surgery shouldn't be too stressful. I was out of the hospital the same day as my surgery.

Good wishes and vibes to your grandmother.

Love and hugs to you.
:hug:

[Kali]

4. I went for a year and several trips to ER until they finally figured it out.

If there hasn't been a rupture, she should be out pretty fast an on her way to feeling much better very soon.

Gall stones can be excrutiatingly painfull.

[deadparrot]

5. I can emphathize.

My grandmother broke her hip on New Year's Day, and has been in the hospital or a nursing home ever since. After recovering from her hip surgery, they also discovered gallstones. Apparently, they make you lose your appetite, so she's been dropping weight like crazy, she's fighting depression after being in a home for 4+ months, and she's scheduled for surgery on May 8th or so. She's gotten so frail lately, I'm terrified for her. :(

PM me if you need to talk, because I feel ya. :hi:

[u4ic]

6. Good vibes to your grandmother, Akoto

I hope her surgery is successful, and she has a quick recovery. :grouphug:

[Heidi]

7. While you're worrying for your grandmother,

don't forget to take good care of _you_, Akoto. :hug:

[Akoto]

8. Update: Situation is not good.

The problem was worse than expected. I guess it has been going on for a while.

Her gall bladder was so full of stones that it began to rot, and adhered to the wall of her colon, which rotted in turn. She also had some clots which moved into her legs and cut off circulation. She has sepsis, as well.

She's been in surgery for four hours, with another two to go. The doctors have cleared out the clots in her legs, but they don't yet know whether she'll be able to walk. The surgeon was candid in saying he wasn't certain if she'll survive.

I can't put into words the anger I'm presently feeling. If the general practitioner had just done one blood test, she would've seen the sepsis before my grandmother was on the brink of death. :mad:

[dropkickpa]

10. Oh god.

I am so sorry. Your anger is totally justified. Sending good vibes to your gramma!

[VenusRising]

11. Hugs and may good vibes to your grandmother.

I'm so sorry that you and your family have to deal with this. I would not be against punching the GP right in the mouth for this.

I hope your grandmother recovers quickly.

:hug:

[dropkickpa]

9. Good vibes for granny

And gallstone vibes to the doctor. Idiot. The symptoms of a gallbladder attack are SOOO distinctive, there is no excuse for missing (or dismissing) them. Had mine out 4 1/2 years ago (lived with the symptoms for 2 years because I didn't know what they were, thought they were bad gas since they started when i was pregnant). As soon as I finally went to the ER, the doc at the tiny podunk hospital in my gramma's hometown said "Gallbladder" immediately after hearing the symptoms.

Hopefully she has a speedy and relatively painless recovery like I did (able to pick up 50lb dogs in 15 days).

[bertha katzenengel]

12. Have you seen the doctor? Exercise restraint*; your Grandmother

needs you with her.

She'll be in my thoughts. :hug:

* I'm projecting, I know. Me? I'd at least kick that doctor in the nuts - unless it's a woman, in which case I'd slap her silly and knock her on her ass and try to break a couple of ribs.

[bertha katzenengel]

13. inadvertent double-click

[MrScorpio]

14. My hopes and prayers are with you and your family

May she get well soon

[Akoto]

15. Another update ...

My grandmother made it through the surgery. The surgeon at the hospital called to let us know what was going on.

They cleared the blood clots, cleared the gall stones, and removed the gall bladder. They also repaired the damage to her colon. She's on a respirator and, I gather, a mess.

She is far from out of the woods. The surgeon basically said that she had survived the surgery, and she would now have to survive the repercussions of the surgery.

:cry:

[VenusRising]

16. Akoto, I'm so sorry.

This has been a terrible mess. Please take care of yourself and get some rest.

More vibes to Grandma.

:hug::hug::hug:

[dropkickpa]

17. Sounds no too terrible

Hopefully with that nasty little bugger out of there they can get the sepsis under control and cured.
:hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

18. My thoughts, prayers, best wishes and positive vibes to your grandmother

And to your family:hug: :hug: :hug: I'm so sorry that this is happening and my best wishes for a comprehensive and speedy recovery for your grandmother

[marzipanni]

19. If she's in ICU for a day or two after surgery she'll probably have a nurse

who has 2-3 patients and she will have much attention paid to her, but familiar faces and concern are always beneficial. After that, if someone from your family can be with her a lot it would be good, because in many hospitals the patient:nurse ratio is high and you will be those extra eyes watching, and hands helping care for her.
Sending healing thoughts :hug: