Gallbladder Surgery

Well they have finally decided it is time for it to come out. June 29th is the date; they have taken me off Enbrel on June 6th (last shot) apparenlty I can't start Orencia for 30 days after the surgery.. So I scheduled those infusions for July 31st every two weeks until September.

Not the type of cutting edge surgery, but is there anyone that has had gallbladder removed while their RA has been active and on these meds? 

Good luck, darlin'. Are they doing it laparoscopically? If so your recovery time should be a lot quicker than with the traditional incision!

Tess,

I had gallbladder surgery when Cole was only 6 months old - Ugh!  I was on Humira on the time; I just had to skip one dose for the surgery.  Everything was fine!  As far as surgeries go, it didn't seem to invasive.  You will do great, I am sure, but I will send good thoughts your way nonetheless! 

- Kati

thanks ladies, The surgery is to be done laproscopic so I don't believe the recovery would take long, except Ithought the same on my elbow and thattook 4 weeks longer than normal.  Than again I am not normal per se. 

I am still  unsure on why the Enbrel stopped working but the Doc won't start Orencia until 4 weeks after so I guess it is what it is..

With no meds until after the surgery and the weather this weekend and oh yea the Surgeon insisted I stop Celebrex also nothing for the swelling and/or the pain, is making Tessa a very miserable person these days.

I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks again for your support.

Not even Tylenol? (Even though for us, it's like a sugar pill...)

[[Than again I am not normal per se.]]

*KOFF*

Carolyn, I did go get tylenol don't keep it in the house due to my son and his liver transplant.  They didn't help a bit. 

Monday I broke down in tears and called Rheumy he is out until June 30th. So I refused to see anyone else because I had an attitude.  Didn't help me btw..by 5PM i was in such pain and in tears I called my primary...she made me come right over..she gave me a script for Vicodine and a quick fix of Predisone.  The two days of the 40mg of Predisone is helping some..but not with the extreme muscle pain I also have..though my wrists and hands feel better. But can't count on it lasting since I don't want to be on Steroids long term.  Just holding out till they will let me start my MTX and Celebrex.. (lets hope they work when i start up again). 

I have appt with Rheumy the day after my surgery and it is time to discuss LTD I can't keep this up with the muscle pain as well as the joint pain...I don't have a day with out pain anymore, and I am feeling sorry for myself..(okay i will breath and stop that).

July 31st I go for my first infusion of Orencia so only a few more weeks of waiting I guess.  Let's hope this works. 

I have 3 months worth of ENbrel in my freezer!!!!    Not sure what to do with it!!!

Put the Enbrel up on E-Bay , its liquid gold!  or donate it to someone without insurance...or hold on to it..  Wait a second, did you say in your freezer?  Why is it you freezer instead of refrigerator?

I am soooo sorry to hear about all the pain you are in.  I wish there was something I could do to help.   The steroids may not be such a bad thing for the short term.  July 31st isn't so far away    Feel better.

Beverly

Bev,

Thanks, if i typed freezer i meant FRIDGE...  I wasn't sure I could put it on ebay with out selling prescription drugs. I was wondering if there was anyone here or local that i could give them too.  I will find out in my next support group or ask my rheumy if he has any patient that is struggling financially that could use it.  Thanks for the idea and all the uspport.

Will keep you all posted.

Tess

[[[hugs]]] Hang in there, sweetie. You're allowed to wallow in self-pity for exactly five minutes. (checking watch, tapping foot)  Okay, time's up. [grin]

When my Dad died, Mom gave his insulin and syringes to someone at their church who uses the same brand. It's probably no legal, but IMO at least it didn't go to waste. What made me wince is that she gave the guy all the 1cc syringes - I could have used a box or two of those! All she has left are the 0.5cc ones, which don't help me unless I'm willing to draw and stick myself twice. Oh well. I still have enough of the 1cc's Dad gave me to last me a couple years.

Carolyn, I have a bunch of my uncles 1cc's let me know if you need some I can probably ship them to you.I know we shouldn't be posting those thingshere but, we have ot do what we have too to save money somewhere.

Well surgery came and it went.. apparently the surgeon wants to know why the ER doc didn't admit me onthe 25th of May.  My gallbladder had more than one stone it was full of stones and it was diseased and full of scar tissue.  He stated to my hubby that it was very close to septis. (which we all now is not good for a person with RA).   Now the docs are thinking that this could have been causing a lot of my problems and why the Enbrel wasn't working because it wasn't stronge enough to handle that type of disease in my body.  We shall see i start orencia at the end of the month. 

I have left the short term disability  papers with the Rheumy today to start the 13 weeks of Short Term before I can go to the LTD.  We shall see. I still would like to have some value to my life than just work.  I can only take working 12 hours a day and going directy to bed with out a personal life for so long.  I would prefer to feed myself then my 10 year old grandson feeding me.

thank you all for your support.

Tess

Can't believe the ER Dr missed all that.  Probably because you were not rolling on the floor and crying in pain, (because as creakies, we are more used to being in pain), the Dr. didn't realize how serious it was.  At least the gallbladder is out now.  The upside of course, is that now maybe the meds will work now.  Will you trial the Enbrel again, now that the diseased gallbladder is gone and it may work better, (or go straight for the Orenecia?)

Enjoy the short term disability, (as much as you can "enjoy" with post surgical pain), while you wrestle with decisions about LTD.  Trying to figure out the balance between enjoying life, and struggling at work is a question I battle more and more, as the state of the economy has made my so called "part time" work so much more demanding and draining.  My six year old has asked me if I would "retire" next year so I could be class mom and spend more time with him. 

Beverly,

I wanna retire and be class mom!!  Okay my youngest is 21 but still i can want and wish!!

After finding out that a lot of my company is being forced to go to central locations such as Iowa and Boulder they might force my hand. I work from home now and to move to a moist climate really isn't an option for me, and finding another gig where I have to go everyday not sure if I will be able to and walk etc.  So I might just og for the LTD and call it and see where I can help with the AF or another organizationthat can use me parttime. with out it causing too much on my body. 

Only time will tell..