Who Needs a Gall Bladder Anyway??

Last thursday night after watching the Mariner's loose,and eating a bag of kettle corn, I went to Cabelas and had a buffulo burger. I usually don't eat red meat, but I figured this meat was so lean it would be OK. I've had them a few times in the past. When I got back to the motor home, I finished off a subway sandwich. Shortly after I had severe heart burn. I was about to ask the kids camped down the road to take me to the hospital when the pain went down to just below my rib cage. That's good, Heart pain doesn't move around like that.

On Monday, after watching the Mariner's loose again, eating a bbq chicken wrap there, I went for a bike ride. Then I picked up the motor home at the Mercedes dealer where I had them do a check up, change oil, etc. After that, I passed a Boston Market and since I hadn't had one of their diners in years, got a turkey diner. It was a lot of food and I didn't finish it. Wouldn't you know it, right after I got the same heartburn but not as bad as before.

My original plan was to be home in time for Easter, but with this heartburn thing going on, I decided to skip Tuesday's game and the other areas I was going to visit and just head straight home to get myself checked out.

This is just outside Page Arizona. On my "Life's Goals" or "Bucket List" is a hike through Antelope Canyon just outside of town. It's a photographer's paradise. Next time I'm in the area maybe I'll make it.

Tuesday night I camped at Bryce Canyon. Lots of snow there. No hiking as there was about 4 feet of snow on the ground. The temp dropped to 11 degrees.

The original plan was to get some good sunrise pictures of Bryce Canyon but I decided to leave around 6 am and not wait for sunrise which was just before 8am there. I got an EggMcMuffin at the first McDonald's I came across.

Just outside Paysen UT I suddenly got this severe stabbing pain just below my ribs on the right side. I pulled off the freeway to catch my breath and then had the gps lead me to the nearest hospital, which was about 10 miles away. It was very difficult getting from the motor home into the ER.

To make a long story shorter, after lots of testing, I was having a gall bladder attack. The only solution was surgery. The doctors said I could hold off having the surgery if I could handle the pain with pain pills until I got home. So that's what I did. I stayed the rest of the day in the Walmart parking lot about a mile from the hospital, loaded up with pain pills. My daughter, Christine, arrived from Seattle around midnight. She got a ride from the airport to where I was from a friend who happened to be in the area attending a wedding. What a great friend as I was over 90 miles from the airport. We took off in the morning. I am so lucky to have such great kids. There is no way I could drive myself. The pain was too intense and I was looped on the pain pills.

Interestingly the pain went completely away just outside of Missoula, MT around 6pm. One minute it was there, even with the pain pills, the next minute it was gone, as if by magic. Weird! I haven't taken a pain pill since.

My daughter, Michele, the nurse, arranged for me to see a surgeon the next day, Friday. Tuesday morning I'm schedule for surgery. Fortunately Teresa, my other daughter who lives in the area, is a teacher and is on spring break so she will take care of me. Did I mention that I have great kids!!!