Last Friday I succumbed to modern surgery and agreed to have my gall bladder removed. Prior to Friday, the only time I have ever been systematically tortured in a hospital was during childbirth when I was much younger. Anything I suffered then healed almost immediately. To say I was naive in how quickly this old body would rebound from surgery now is an understatement. I honestly thought I would get up the next morning, perhaps sore and a bit slow, but able to tend to my animals and do normal things like walk up the driveway to get the mail. Luckily for me, my neighbor, who graciously agreed to tend to my animals, insisted on taking care of things because she was certain I would not be able to do so. She was right and I was wrong - I was very wrong.
It all went well and I am healing without complications. I stayed with my daughter for several days and was very thankful for the help and company. I have been home now for a couple of days and feel better each day. The only real task I do is to feed and water the animals. I do that very carefully and slowly, then shamelessly rest for the remainder of the day.
I am very thankful for the expertise and expediency of modern surgery. Everyone at the hospital was thoroughly professional and attentive. Even though I was somewhat afraid, I also had confidence that I would most likely survive without any horrible, life-altering complications. I do have to say that something will have to be terribly wrong for me to agree to surgery ever again. Though the doctors and nurses are knowledgeable and merciful, it is still a place of pain and torture. I do not know how long before I am returned to my normal strength and comfort, but I am still some days away from it.
I am glad that I have but one gall bladder to sacrifice on the altar of modern surgery!
