~FlutterBy~ invited 66 users to read this post 1 year, 4 months ago.
Really sorry to hear about your medical troubles and the passing of your dog. I believe that we will see our beloved animals in the afterlife!
As for the diagnosis . . . it is gallstones. Standard treatment is removal of the gallbladder. If the doctors simply removed the stones, they’d reform and you’d have to have surgery again and again.
The surgery is simple and performed laparascopically–three tiny incisions, and the gallbladder is typically pulled through an incision made in the navel. Recovery time is very quick.
Let us know the results of the tests and tell your fiance to get ready to take care of you for a short while!
Hey FlutterBy, I am so sorry to hear about your illness, as well as losing your dog. I can understand how harsh this feels and you must be feeling quite low. Please stay strong (I know you are) and know that you are thought of warmly. I wish you a very quick recovery. Please let us know how you get one. Take care darling. (((Hug)))
Hello, Sweetheart….Wow…It sounds like this has been quite the week for you and your family…:/
I am so sorry for Titan…I know how terribly hard it is so lose a member of the family as important as a PET….They are our best buddies, or family member, our special soul mates….And we love them just as we do all of the other members of our family…May God help to rest his soul, and yours, at this time….
As for your health…geeze….that is alot to go through.
I’ve been dealing with a serious heart problem for the past few weeks…but on the mend…hopefully.
It really does sound like gall bladder to me…But, I’m not a doctor…I’ve just tended to family who had the identical symptoms…They are on medications now and are doing much better….
That is what I wish for you as well…
Good health and many years of happiness….
Please keep us up on whats going on in the world of FlutterBy…:)
Please try not to worry too much ok?
Take it easy…..Sending LOVE and gentle HUGS….Cara
Wow try to take thing slow. That is a lot to get put on your plate in three days. So did your dog ever get the whole pit bull treatment? I know people are usually afraid of the looks of Staffordshire Terriers.
@ c.j - thank you and I will pass the message onto my fiancee. He is understandable very low in spirits and it’s hard for me & my son, as we have never seen him like this. Yes, I believe we will be seeing Titan again, too.
My fiancee doesn’t even know yet that I opened this letter from the hospital and read what I read. He is in too much pain as it is with this passing.
I have heard that it is microscopic surgery, but in saying that, I have never gone under for anything, and never want to, so if this is stones, and there is another way out of it, such as dissolving them by internal means, I WILL be doing it this way. I will not be having it removed - regardless. This is just my feelings on this - not religion based or other - I believe all our bits and pieces are to remain, intact. Your thoughts mean a lot to me. X
@ mls - thank you darling friend. It means a lot to me to have your support, too. X
@ Cara - Well it sounds like we are both over the hill and had it :) I am sorry to hear about what you have been going through with the heart my dear friend. No wonder i haven’t seen you around here! My thoughts are with you lovey… and thank you too, for your kind words. I caught your hugs and I feel your love, always. X
@ Dr.R - Oh yes, people would take one look at Titan and walk the other way. His looks were fierce, but his heart was big with love. Typical staffy - loved people more than other dogs. X
@ FlutterBy get well soon,
my prayers are with you Heather. Will hope for the best Love to you all
God Bless I am here if you need me
@ fatb.2 - thank you darling. I will don’t you worry about that. Just another couple of pot holes in the road that get in the way. X
@ Inh - Thank you my dear friend. Means a lot to me to have you by my side…as I am with you. X
Hope you start feeling better soon. I know what it feels like to be sick and how scary it can be to not know why your body is doing the things it is and be left questioning what is wrong with your health.
@ DP - Thanks mate, it is scary. One day at a time, hey. My partner kindly told me when we were off to emergency, “well you are getting old Heather” :) LOL
Hope you pick up soon, too. X
Sorry to hear about your dog and your health issues. Losing a companion like a pet is always difficult and health issues have a way of wearing us down.
Hopefully you have an effective non-surgical option available to you, but if you do have to have surgery I wouldn’t be too worried. Medicine these days is very advanced and things hardly ever go wrong these days. I think every member of my immediate family has been under general anaesthetic for surgery at some point without any issues.
I’m sure you and your family will get through this bump in the road. I’m praying for you and your family too.
Best of luck heather. x
@ AS - Thank you my Aussie mate. Appreciate what you’ve said here. I guess if it comes to it, i may have to go under the knife (?) Just see what doctor says about other options first. Will keep you all updated, X
I’m so sorry to hear about Titan. I’m sure you have a lot of happy memories of fun times with him.. and I hope that those memories will bring you comfort through the sad days.
I also hope that you’ll soon be well again. I often think that it is the “unknown” that we fear most when it comes to our health. For that reason, do not be afraid to ask lots of questions. Whenever a worry or question pops in your head, write it down on an index card or post-it before bedtime. Take all of your post-its/cards to your next appointment and have the doctors and health carers address every single one. No matter how small or how trivial they may seem. Try to take a friend/partner/supporter to your appointments too. Ask them to be your second pair of ears and to take notes. It is so easy to forget something we are told, but having back-up can be reassuring.
Life is full of ups and downs. But remember that each trial serves to make us stronger and allows us to understand those around us more fully too. Going through bad times does bring good into our lives, believe it or not. Though that may be hard to see at the time.
Take care, rest and get well.
I’ll keep the teapot hot for you.
Much love.
Mums x
Gallstones.
Symptoms By Mayo Clinic staff
Gallstones may cause no signs or symptoms. If a gallstone lodges in a duct and causes a blockage, signs and symptoms may result, such as:
Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen
Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone
Back pain between your shoulder blades
Pain in your right shoulder
Gallstone pain may last several minutes to a few hours.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.
Seek immediate care if you develop signs and symptoms of a serious gallstone complication, such as:
Abdominal pain so intense that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position
Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
High fever with chills
Causes
It’s not clear what causes gallstones to form. Doctors think gallstones may result when:
Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your liver excretes more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve, the excess cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones.
Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Bilirubin is a chemical that’s produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders. The excess bilirubin contributes to gallstone formation.
Your gallbladder doesn’t empty correctly. If your gallbladder doesn’t empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated and this contributes to the formation of gallstones.
Preparing for your appointment
Start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner if you have signs or symptoms that worry you. If your doctor suspects you may have gallstones, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the digestive system (gastroenterologist) or to an abdominal surgeon.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there’s often a lot of information to cover, it’s a good idea to be well prepared. Here’s some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you’re taking.
Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For gallstones, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
Are gallstones the likely cause of my abdominal pain?
What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
What kinds of tests do I need?
Is there a chance that my gallstones will go away without treatment?
Do I need gallbladder removal surgery?
What are the risks of surgery?
How long does it take to recover from gallbladder surgery?
Are there other treatment options for gallstones?
Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow more time to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:
When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
How severe are your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Gallstones Self-Care at Home
After a diagnosis of gallstones, the patient may choose not to have surgery or may not be able to have surgery right away. There are measures the patient can take to relieve the symptoms to include:
intake of only clear liquids to give the gallbladder a rest,
avoid fatty or greasy meals, and
take acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) for pain.
Call a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen or if new symptoms appear. Abdominal pain with vomiting, fever, or jaundice warrants an immediate visit to a doctor’s office or a hospital emergency department.
Oh, and I also offer my prayers. I want you well and back on your feet. Laying down you are upsetting the current balance of the earths 18.48637 degree turning axis. We can’t have THAT now can we…??
Im really sorry about your dog, my dad recently got rid of the dog i have had for 12 years…I know how you feel
My thoughts and prayers are with you, girlfriend! Life has a way of tossing us a few curve balls now and then. You’ll hit them out of the park! Gallbladder trouble is not going to stand in your way! You’re tough and you’ll be fine again soon. :)
I’m so sorry about your dear pooch. I know he was a much loved family member and he will be greatly missed. I have no doubt that animals have souls. Maybe he is still with you..you just don’t see him. Who knows? I know he will always be with you in your hearts.
Thank you for sharing all of this with us, Heather. It gives your ‘Help’ family the chance to stand by your side and remind you that you’re far from alone. You are greatly loved! *hugs*
@ mums - thanks for popping by and bringing the pot of tea, love! Yes, these trials all make us stronger and bring us closer together. I shall take your advice with the questions for doctor. I often do this anyway, but with the way my mind has been lately, it was nice of you to remind me of this. When you get in the doctors room, it all seems to be forgotten the things you want to ask, so yeah, this is great! Thanks mums, you’re beautiful. X
@ so_co - well, that’s a lot of helpful information you have included here, thank you very much! Also, I want to especially thank you for the rainbow bridge for Titan. This, I really loved watching and it touched me very much :(
I accept your wanting to pray for me and don’t worry about the laying down too much, I have been quite the opposite and keeping busy. Today, I did tell myself to stop for a time, so I lay for some hours to sleep, but I needed this. It’s all emotionally draining. Love lots so_co and thanks again for all the input & prayers. X
@ Igkn - well thank you for coming here Igkn, I do appreciate your words too. I am also sorry for the loss of your dog. . . he did very well at 12 years of age! Bless you darling, and I am most proud of you for going to see Kelsey’s grave site btw, X
@ Kitten - You are so right - Gallbladder trouble is not going to stand in my way! No bloody way, it will! Yes, Titan was very much loved and we remember the beach walks/runs and the fun we had with him = memories live forever. Thanks for the hugs darling, you are a great comfort - always are, Kitten, X
Sorry for you, FlutterBy.
I had a cholecystitis with gallstones in earlier times. And since then I know that all kind of gallbladder diseases are very painful.
I assume, your docs start to treat it medicinally; cholesterol gallstones can be dissolved by special medication — with a bit of luck.
If not you have to have a cholecystectomy. But nowadays with Laparoscopy it wouldn’t be a big thing; I had a Laparoscopic cholecystectomy that time too.
Take care! I wish you all the best and full recovery!
♡
@ Mr.Z - Thanks love. I didn’t know you had this, too. It is quite scary when you’ve never had anything like this before….though I know people go through much, much worse than this.
Haven’t been to docs yet (avoidance perhaps and i don’t think they have the results in yet, well they didn’t yesterday - will phone ‘em tom.to see) Let you know, X
Oh my this sounds like a very bad week :(
Love and hugs I hope things get better for you soon.
Stay strong *hugs*
@ J - thanks lovey, I appreciate your love and hugs. Am trying to stay strong, X (you guys help me!)
I hope you feel better soon:(
It’s sad when we lose a loved pet, but he’s resting now.
Get lots of rest and keep us updated please.
@ Max - will do love. thanks for coming on w/well wishes. X
Oh man… :-(
We’re with you. Praying for you Heather.
Take care…
You are strong.
@ rcs - Oh thank you my friend. Needing prayers. Yes, I am strong.
There are days, though, like today, when I feel ever so flat, but coming here to hear from you guys, always helps me :) Love you random, X
omG heather i just got this invite, been busy. i do hope your ok, sending lots of hugs to you all. stay strong and positive. much love to you x
~FlutterBy~ wrote:
@ rcs - Oh thank you my friend. Needing prayers. Yes, I am strong.
There are days, though, like today, when I feel ever so flat, but coming here to hear from you guys, always helps me :) Love you random, X
You’re SO sweet! You don’t have a choice - you *will* get much better now. Sorry, I won’t allow any other thing. I normally don’t interfere with a lot of things. But I’m making an exception this time around…
I’m sorry to hear things are not going well for you. It’s difficult for me to understand this because my mind works differently, but I understand the impact on you so I sympathize =) I hope things get better.
D*mn! You’ve been dealt a nasty double-whammy there. Can only wish you my best and hope things get better. Losing your puppy is totally harsh, but the suffering was brief and, if there is a heaven, he’ll be waiting. Amstaff’s are outstanding dogs and I’d say to get yourselves another one to love and fill the ‘hole’ left behind. It will be a whole new adventure and children and puppies, well, they go together. Well, dunno what else to say. Get well soon.
Sorry I was away yesterday and today up to now.
I can see that every one so far has already said the things I would have said, and a pot of mums famous tea has helped to make things a little better.
It has been said that laughter is the best medicine, not sure myself if that’s true or not. Especialy if it hurts when you laugh. Might be worth a try though so here goes, it is a medical joke.
A former radiologist from Northern Ireland working at the Royal Belfast hospital tells that years ago, kitted up in leaden apron and gloves, he was conducting a radiographic examination of a woman’s abdomen.
Finding that her clothing was causing some opacity on the fluorescent screen, he remarked, ‘Would you pull down your knickers, please?’
The patient did nothing so he repeated the request. He then heard her say, ‘I’m so sorry, doctor. I thought you were talking to the nurse.’
I do realy hope you get better soon and that life does the same as well.
@ Siren - thanks mate, we got your love darls, X
@ rcs - I am hearing you loud and clear and thanking you from the bottom of my heart. I have faith… Love to you my friend, X
@ DS - thank you DarkSnow, X
@ Wils - Will put a pic of Titan up so you can see our boy…it’s not the same without him around :( i get dinner ready and where is he? Go to bed and where is he? Come outside, where is he? Just so strange. Well, my partner and i have talked about getting another one, but he does not want to & I understand.
We may get a puss in time - when we are all ready to fill this void left. In the meantime we have our beautiful budgies, Zena and Max, X
@ thep - I will get better. I will go on your website later today to look at some beautiful pictures! This always is lovely to do. Last night I sat on the beach and watched the gorgeous sun go down - what an amazing sight it was :) - colours of gold and orange/red X
In the meanwhile, maybe this album will help. http://ottmarliebert.com/rose/
Under the Rose. (Rahim AlHaj, Ottmar Liebert, Jon Gagan, Barrett Martin). I know Ottmar Liebert is a flamenco guitarist.
Take care… :-)
random - I just listened to “Under the Rose” the first piece and was blown away… simply stunning. What a gift you give to me and all to listen to!
Ironically, I am about to take my son to the nursery (as he ask for some way of remembering our Titan) to choose a rose to plant in his memory!…and now you give this. You are beautiful, X
(not sure how to put a picture on here of our dog - if anyone wants to explain it in the simplest terms pls do so - they are as jpeg. thank you)
~ UPDATE - phoned doctors to see if they have results from hospital for the Ultra sound, but not as yet - ‘no news is good news’
Hi flutterby,
I am sorry to hear that you have been having a rough week, I agree no news is good news, when it comes to doctors. My condolenscens for Titan. I hope you get all well soon, and get all the stuff sort out. Health is always the most important thing! my prayers are with you, meanwhile if you want to talk I am here!
Nocturnal
My dear friend I am so sorry this is coming to you so late..
First this loss of your Titan, he sounds like a awesome loving friend, I also believe that our pets are waiting for us and stay close to us even through death. I only have had one pet from her being a baby to dying and I had to put her down by myself, it was life incredibly hard as any loved one. Please be comforted in just knowing that he had the most incredible life with you and so much love and attention, he had a home because of you and never knew neglect. You made him happy to his last moments and he did not know that he was going to die, so he knew no fear at all. Peace is his now and he will watch over you still. I found this link..http://www.recover-from-grief.com/pet-death.html, you might want to look at.
I know that you must be afraid and full of worries about your health, I am so sorry for this load on your shoulders all at once. Please take care of yourself, eat whole foods,drink lots of water, walk, sunshine and lots of hugs from your family and rest. It sounds like other people on here know enough about this to have given you really good advise on what is ahead of you.
I know that God is good and HE is in control, I love you and pray that you will be given the absolute best care and have a fast recovery and feel back to yourself in no time.
Please know that you are in our hearts.
Be well, much love and light
In His Agape
L
~FlutterBy~ wrote:
(not sure how to put a picture on here of our dog - if anyone wants to explain it in the simplest terms pls do so - they are as jpeg. thank you)
You cannot post here pictures directly.
The easiest would be to upload it (for free) on a site like http://imageshack.us/
And afterwards to write here the given link.
Zirbel wrote:
~FlutterBy~ wrote:
(not sure how to put a picture on here of our dog - if anyone wants to explain it in the simplest terms pls do so - they are as jpeg. thank you)
You cannot post here pictures directly.
The easiest would be to upload it (for free) on a site like http://imageshack.us/
And afterwards to write here the given link.
Also, you can’t embed pictures in replies, but you can in posts.
I think :P
Jalex wrote:
Zirbel wrote:
~FlutterBy~ wrote:
(not sure how to put a picture on here of our dog - if anyone wants to explain it in the simplest terms pls do so - they are as jpeg. thank you)
You cannot post here pictures directly.
The easiest would be to upload it (for free) on a site like http://imageshack.us/
And afterwards to write here the given link.
Also, you can’t embed pictures in replies, but you can in posts.
I think :P
That’s correct. You can embed it in posts, shouts and profiles — but not in replies.
That’s why I wrote to write here the link (the full URL).
~FlutterBy~ wrote:
random - I just listened to “Under the Rose” the first piece and was blown away… simply stunning. What a gift you give to me and all to listen to!
Ironically, I am about to take my son to the nursery (as he ask for some way of remembering our Titan) to choose a rose to plant in his memory!…and now you give this. You are beautiful, X
~ UPDATE - phoned doctors to see if they have results from hospital for the Ultra sound, but not as yet - ‘no news is good news’
Wow. Thanks for letting me know it served for something more than intended. Life gets quite beautiful because of such things…
I hope the doctors will come by and tell you they can’t find anything wrong with you… I’d love to hear of such a thing… Take care…
aww heather! :[ im glad to see that youre alive! sounds like youve had a rough week! and i know the feeling where you have something bad/stressful going on, and then your pet is having problems too! i came home to our 16 year old german shepard seizuring in the back yard, and took him to the vet only to realize he died in my back seat when i was driving him :/ im here if you need to talk! ♥
Yes first thing in the morning and just as the sun is going down can give beautiful breathtaking views.
I find beauty where ever I look and go.
Titan was beautiful, still is and always will be. Your love for him/her will still give you much pleasure as time goes by. Titan is still there for you in your thoughts.
If you believe in God and a religion, then chev.jame’s first reply to you post tells it as it is, you will be meeting up again. After this mortal life has passed.
I am glad my humble website gives you some pleasure, this in turn gives me pleasure, so thankyou for giving me the pleasure.
Sorry to hear that! So often it seems things come against us all at one time!
I’m glad you’re staying positive. Best wishes!
Hi FlutterBy. I had no idea Titan was an honorary Eagle member of the Boy Scouts….
Sweet!!!!
Sending love, hugs and prayers to you H.
I too just receive this invite. I am so sorry you are not feeling well Flutterby. The gallbladder gives out a terribly painful attack and doesn’t ease up. It is better to have it out because there is no cure. The surgery is usually out-patient and you will be going home in the afternoon providing it was a morning surgery. Very little discomfort.
So sad about Titan, I look at my dog Bette and she means so much to me so I know what you and your boyfriend are going through. They are always so trusting and loyal and fill our lives with joy and happiness. Hugs.
BTW Heather.. Titan was a beautiful dog, judging from your avatar, and is still beautiful in memory and wherever puppies go when it’s their time. Hope you and your family are hangin’ tight.
You can buy some relief by using a heating pad over your right side just by the lower part of the ribcage. I have used this before and it will thin out the bile and help it to pass into the digestive track. It’s certainly not the cure though, as you well know.
Hi all, I just wanted to shout out a big HELLO to you all and let you know how things are currently.
My partner is still grieving, in his own way, and coming to terms with the loss of our boy. He has been making a dvd and putting together some photos to make a sort of collage in his memory. My son and I went to the nursery (same day as random put up the ‘Under the Rose’ song) and my son picked out a beautiful red standard perfumed rose called “Mr Lincoln” and we have it potted near Titans kennel.
It has been close to 2 weeks since his passing (not long, I know but still I miss not having a four legged friend) I have been looking on the net at local shelters and am going to buy a cat or kitten in the next couple of days. This will not replace Titan, but at least fill that void and make our house a ‘home’ again. I have seen a real little beauty at a shelter - he is 14 weeks old and is actually crossed with Oriental, so if any of you have one of these breed of cats, could you let me know what your findings are with them. I have read about them and it reads they are vocal but this one (maybe bc it is a cross) seemed to be very docile and placid.
My health - well, as i got tired of waiting for these Ultra sound results to go to my Dr from the hospital, I went to see the doctor who was just as surprised as I that they are taking so long, so he sent me today to another place, which will have the results within 1-2 days. I hold some hope, though I do know I am unwell & can accept that, but nothing is definite until I get the facts.
Main thing is, I have had no more attacks. Also, I have cut back on coffee/milk, which is BIG for me. I only have about 4 cups a day now (prior was up to 14!) and not with normal milk - I am having ‘rice milk’. Amazing difference, there, to my stomach :) My diet has taken a turn, too. I eat even less meat than I ate before and am making healthy salad “wraps” (rather than bread) and still drinking lots and lots of water.
Thanks for all your replies and kindness, Much love, Hx
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