[JimmyZip]

I have A-fib.

Monday, while eating my favorite, onion rings, and drinking a 7-Up, I got the most serious pain just below my sternum. Despite my attempt to remain at my station and tough it out, (I am the supervisor, and manager so I try and set a good example) the pain sent my heart out of whack , and I passed out while trying to tell the admittance lady at the E.R. what was wrong with me. I have never passed out from pain before. It was quite an experience to say the least.
After some meds for the pain, my heart converted to sinus rythm.
Well today I went for an ultrasound and not only is it large, it seems to have some rocks inside.
I am going to go back up north (Oregon/Washington) until the 3rd of August for vacation/wedding.
Doc says until it gets taken out, if that is what needs to be done, I am going to be eating bland, small -sized meals.
Trying to keep the stomach working, but not stuffed, and they want to scope me to make sure it is only the gall bladder and not a worsening of my hiatal hernia.
Bummer.

But I did get confirmation on my targets and primers, so maybe practice this next month will take my mind off this somewhat.

PM me if you have had experience with gall bladder surgery. I want to know what to expect.

Jimmy

[GentlemanJim]

That does not sound like much fun to me

Take good care of yourself!
Prayers sent
Jim

[shootingchef]

been there and will never forget the pain. I had 33 stones and the average size was a gum drop. I was in the hospital for a week before they could operate because I was too manly to see a dr. for a LONG time, (I got real sick). the surgery was easy, the recovery took 2 days, 4 incisions, they pulled them out via the belly button. They did forget to tell me to walk around as much as possible following the surgery, as the gas they use to inflate your belly is trying to escape, if you lay down, it hurts, and it hurts bad. Good luck!

[G-ManBart]

A guy I know wound up in the hospital on a Friday morning, had it removed later that day, and was back at work on Monday. He was doing well, but asked for us to avoid making him laugh I'm not that funny, so my part was easy...lol

If I was in his shoes I might have taken a day or two off though...who's gonna argue with you right?

[CSEMARTIN]

Jimmy,

The causes of atrial fibrillation are:

High blood pressure
Heart attacks
Abnormal heart valves
Congenital heart defects
An overactive thyroid or other metabolic imbalance
Exposure to stimulants such as medications, caffeine or tobacco, or to alcohol
Sick sinus syndrome — improper functioning of the heart's natural pacemaker
Emphysema or other lung diseases
Previous heart surgery
Viral infections
Stress due to pneumonia, surgery or other illnesses
Sleep apnea

I've never heard of pain causing atrial fibrillation, but I don't know everything. And just when I think I've seen everything, I get surprised so I guess it's possible. Before blaming the pain, I would recommend getting your heart checked out--a-fib is nothing to screw around with.

Based on your symptoms, ultrasound findings and triggers, it sure sounds like you need to have your gallbladder taken out. Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. My average is just under an hour. An inflammed gallbladder usually takes much longer to remove safely, it adds risk and it increases the risk that the operation will need to be converted to an open procedure. You should ask your surgeon what his/her conversion rate is. You should also have your thyroid checked as well as an LFT panel (liver function test). Since you have gallstones (a.k.a. cholelithiasis), it may be necessary for you to have an intraoperative cholangiogram to rule out a stone in the common bile duct (a.k.a. choledocholithiasis). You also need a Chest X-ray and an EKG (if one wasn't done already). You also need to have your Cell Blood Count and Electrolytes checked.

Have you had any recent fevers, yellow or itchy skin? Are you on antibiotics right now? How was the diagnosis of a-fib made? What was your blood pressure when it happened? Did they check your cardiac enzymes (i.e., did they rule out a heart attack)?

Send me a PM if you have any questions.

[SDM]

G-ManBart, on Jul 17 2009, 01:27 AM, said:

If I was in his shoes I might have taken a day or two off though...who's gonna argue with you right?

Yeah, I would think having an organ removed would justify a couple days of sick leave.

[Hi-Power Jack]

JimmyZip, on Jul 16 2009, 10:46 PM, said:

I have A-fib.

Monday, while eating my favorite, onion rings, and drinking a 7-Up, I got the most serious pain just below my sternum.

Jimmy

I've had those problems, and started taking Prilosec (available OTC at the Walmart)
and cut way down on my intake of oil, grease, fat, ice cream, onion rings, greasy
foods, donuts, fatty meats, etc. and the pain is a LOT less often/severe. This may
not be entirely the same as your problem, but my Doc wanted to remove my
Gall Bladder a couple years ago (full of gravel) but this diet/Prilosec has postponed
my trip to the surgical suite, so far, I hope.

I'd give it a week on Prilosec and your new fat-free diet, and see if you don't feel
a whole lot better without the surgery.

Good luck.

Jack

[pskys2]

Mine was a single almost 2" in Diam., if I remember right it was huge!

The procedure went well, I was chasing livestock and fixing fence that afternoon, though I would recommend taking it a lot easier.

It was the reaction to the Oxycontin that floored me for 2 weeks. Luckily it did pass and I'm still addicted ONLY TO LEAD.

The only other thing with getting the gallblader out is it makes the trips to, and in, the John a lot quicker!

Get it out and good luck.

This post has been edited by pskys2: 17 July 2009 - 06:53 AM

[JimmyZip]

CSEMARTIN, on Jul 16 2009, 10:47 PM, said:

Jimmy,

The causes of atrial fibrillation are:

High blood pressure
Heart attacks
Abnormal heart valves
Congenital heart defects
An overactive thyroid or other metabolic imbalance
Exposure to stimulants such as medications, caffeine or tobacco, or to alcohol
Sick sinus syndrome — improper functioning of the heart's natural pacemaker
Emphysema or other lung diseases
Previous heart surgery
Viral infections
Stress due to pneumonia, surgery or other illnesses
Sleep apnea

Have you had any recent fevers, yellow or itchy skin? Are you on antibiotics right now? How was the diagnosis of a-fib made? What was your blood pressure when it happened? Did they check your cardiac enzymes (i.e., did they rule out a heart attack)?

Send me a PM if you have any questions.

The A-fib was diagnosed when I was 34. They think I had a heart attack, something about my enzymes? I came home from work one night, and my heart just stopped. The most strange sensation I have ever had. When it kicked on it was going haywire! They had the atrium in fibrulation, and the bottom was going at 220 bpm. can you say pressure? I was a runner for years and I FELT me heart stop! I was trying to catch my breath, but even though I was breathing, I felt like I was holding it. Very scary to say the least.
What they found was sleep apnea was the cause. I lost weight and had my septum straightened, seemed to clear things up.
I was on several medications for a couple of years. (coumadin, atenelol, and an anti-anxiety drug I can't recall now) They took me off them because I was doing so well. I had been drug free for some time until the other day. (2 yrs)
The itchy skin thing is kind of weird though. I have been itching alot around my lower legs lately. I thought it was a new soap we had in the house and stopped using it. I still had it a couple of times since, but not as bad.
My bp was not really high they said, and after they got the pain under control, things seemed to get back to normal, or close enough anyway.
Want to get better.

Jimmy

This post has been edited by JimmyZip: 17 July 2009 - 09:36 AM

[All-Gator]

About a year ago I experienced a sudden onset of A-fib apparently due to sick synus syndrom. Cardioversion cleared it up fine...although my cardiologist indicated that I should anticipate reoccurances. He said getting old ain't for sissies.

Also a friend of mine had his gallblader removed. He said his gallbladder was fine...he just had it taken out as a warning to his other organs.

A-G

[uscbigdawg]

Like some have said, A-Fib is an electrical problem and can be caused by many things. A lot of times, it's an imbalance chemically and "mechanically" synchronized cardioversion is a very effective means to rectify it in a clinical environment.

With regards to the gall bladder, my father had his removed about a decade ago. Laproscopic surgery is your friend. In and out in 2-3 days.

Rich

[JimmyZip]

Well here's an update.

An hour after I was last here, the pain came back with a vengence. Back to the ICU, heart monitor, cat scan, morphine, and here is what they think it really is. Diverticulitis. The doctors convened a meeting to look at my blood work, and urinalysis, and scan. They were sent the sonogram electronically, and all came to the same conclusion.
My hiatal hernia has not progressed. My gall bladder HAS NO STONES! (Yippee! The tech just saw things a little differently I guess.)
The doctor said that most of this is probably the results of being a hardcore alcoholic in my 20s and 30s.
I am now on an anti-bacterial, an anti-biotic, and pain meds. A clear liquid diet until there is no more pain.

I write this as I am beginning to feel the morphine wear off. How junkies can do that crap I have no idea. I just about tossed when she gave it to me, and she did it very slowly.

But my targets arrived! I am so jazzed! I have enough gear now to practice live-fire like I practice dryfire! And, my primers should be here on Monday.

So now I will go to bed for the next couple of days and get better.
CSEMARTIN, they saw no problems with my liver, or kidneys that they could tell off the bat. I asked. They said this will be with me the rest of my life.
Oh well. So you who are in your 20s, and think you want to make a career out of drinking, take this to heart! It will eventually catch up with you!
Cool thing is how technology made ti possible for the docs to share info today. They talked to my internist, my GP, and my cardiologist!
Good thing we have good insurance.

Now to bed!

JimmyZip

[CSEMARTIN]

JimmyZip, on Jul 17 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

here is what they think it really is. Diverticulitis. The doctors convened a meeting to look at my blood work, and urinalysis, and scan.

Jimmy,

You're a bit young for diverticulitis. What did the CT show? Did your doctors go over the CT with a radiologist? You're home already?

Did your doctors mention getting a HIDA scan to rule out non-stone related gallbladder trouble (i.e., biliary dyskinesia or acalculous cholecystitis)? Your symptoms are pretty textbook for gallbladder trouble. I certainly wouldn't count it out just because the US didn't show stones.

No offense, but I don't have a lot of confidence that an internist and a cardiologist are going to figure out what is going on in your belly. It's time to get a surgical consult.

Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Chris

[JimmyZip]

CSEMARTIN, on Jul 17 2009, 06:50 PM, said:

JimmyZip, on Jul 17 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

here is what they think it really is. Diverticulitis. The doctors convened a meeting to look at my blood work, and urinalysis, and scan.

Jimmy,

You're a bit young for diverticulitis. What did the CT show? Did your doctors go over the CT with a radiologist? You're home already?

Did your doctors mention getting a HIDA scan to rule out non-stone related gallbladder trouble (i.e., biliary dyskinesia or acalculous cholecystitis)? Your symptoms are pretty textbook for gallbladder trouble. I certainly wouldn't count it out just because the US didn't show stones.

No offense, but I don't have a lot of confidence that an internist and a cardiologist are going to figure out what is going on in your belly. It's time to get a surgical consult.

Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Chris

Chris,

You were correct! I went to see my GP, she had a surgeon review all of the data, and look at the CT, and sonogram with a radiologist. THe gall bladder will be coming out next month, and I do not have diverticulitis. I feel like I have been on a seesaw. But, it feels good to know that they thnk they are on the right track.
On a bad note though, I thought they had talked with her the other night, when they had reviewed my case, they had not. It seems i was led to beleive things that were not true.
On a positive note, the "stones and sludge" along with the GB will be removed sometime late August. I have been told no fatty or greasy things into my body until then. Do you have any suggestions on diet that will get me through until then? Please PM me when you have time.
Thanks Chris, JZ

[JThompson]

Damn Jimmy,

Get that stuff taken care of ASAP!

[CSEMARTIN]

JimmyZip, on Jul 20 2009, 07:51 PM, said:

Please PM me when you have time.
Thanks Chris, JZ

You're very welcome. PM sent.

[Greg Bell]

Jimmy,
Both my wife and mother have had theirs out, they were both miserable, couldn't eat or sleep. Both were glad to get it done with.

[Vulture]

I had this same problem a number of years ago and i hoped it would go away like everyone else. of course it didn't. My liver enzymes were off the chart as well as blood in my urine. Never go to a urologist. I still have nightmares about the wicked witch, a turkey baster and a Propeal pocket fisherman. But anyway, i could actually feel it comming on, slowley building up until i was doubled over on the floor. Scared the daylights out of my wife. This went on for more than a year until my wife said "your going". One thing i found was if i drank a soda sometimes it would calm down my gall bladder and the pain would go away. Surgery was easy, i didn't even take pain pills after. I took it easy but didn't need any pills. You will be glad when it's done, but it's not a hard road.