So, it’s been a while since my last post. There has been a lot going on. I had my telephone consultation with the surgeon in May who informed me that I would definitely be having my gallbladder removed. There was absolutely no debate whatsoever about just taking the stones out. After I had described all of my symptoms to him and given my most recent episodes and experiences with the NHS, he was absolutely adamant that the whole thing was coming out. Yikes, okay. Well that should stop the episodes completely so it’s definitely the best thing. He said that the surgery would be in around three months’ time so that would take us up to September but obviously it would be COVID-19 permitting. I’ll be honest, I figured September was supremely optimistic and if the surgery happened before Christmas, I would be extremely impressed. At the end of the day, I knew at that point there was light at the end of the tunnel and it would be over soon so I could handle whatever episodes were to come.
Well, knock me down with a feather but at the beginning of July, I got a phone call from the Surgical Pre-Assessment Team to book me in for my pre-assessment on 12 August, with a view to having my surgery at the beginning of September. Wowser. I was not expecting that at all. The surgeon was right with his estimate of three months and I seriously underestimated the NHS being able to meet that estimate. Go, NHS. This could all actually be over by Christmas. As much as I was now getting nervous about having surgery during a global pandemic, I was actually getting excited too. The possibilities after this was done. Being able to live a “normal” physical life again without the great cloud hanging over my head of when is the next episode going to come. The dream of being able to get in the car without having to take a whole “kit” of stuff with me just in case I had an episode whilst out driving was also disappearing and looking like a reality, given a bit more time.
I’d had an episode on the M25 on the way to see my parents for the first time this year on Father’s Day in June, after lockdown restrictions had been lifted. Throwing your guts up on the hard shoulder of the M25 isn’t the most pleasant of experiences I have to tell you, especially when a Police patrol car pops up and thinks you’re hungover and wants to give a breathalyser test! Trying to explain to two very lovely Police officers that you haven’t been drinking but you have gallstones, in between throwing up, is quite tricky I can assure you but they were very lovely and once I had finished being sick, rinsed my mouth out, brushed my teeth (yes, I have a toothbrush and toothpaste in my “kit” in the car), I obviously passed the breathalyser. Even though I had very carefully explained to them that I’d had a gallstone “episode”, they were still insistent that I take the test. Wow. I wonder if they’ve had someone try to use a gallstone “episode” as an excuse before? Anyway, they went on their merry way and I continued on to see the folks. Just as an aside, seeing my folks for the first time in six months was absolutely fabulous. Mum said that it was the most animated Dad had been for months and it really boosted my mental health as well, just to see them. There was no hugging, it was still socially distanced and there was a lot of hand washing going on but just to be in their company in person and not via Zoom was just fabulous.
So, progress was being made and it would soon all be over. However, there will still some bumps in the road ahead that would make me question whether I would even get to have surgery and if it was all going to be worth it.
Living The BPD Life 