Guess where?

[Captain Kidd]

Take a look at my pic. Guess where I am. Yep . Hospital! And not as a pastor but as a patient. Had a severe attack of some kind after church Sunday night. Went to ER. Turned out my gallbladder was shot. Had it out this morning.

Too bad. I was planning on attending the Glen-L Gathering Friday and Saturday. That's a no-go.

Oh, well. Til next time.

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[Wolverine]

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Roland of Macatawa]

Best Wishes, to be healed enough to go sailing again soon.

[Spot]

Best Wishes, to be healed enough to go sailing again soon.

What he said! 

[Frank B.]

Hey, speedy recovery from this.    My wife Sheri runs the hospital visitation ministry for our church. If you had been in our area when the GB attack occurred she would be on it. 

[Wayne Howard]

Hospitals are no fun. I had to lie there and listen to a guy in the hall moaning about how he couldn't take it anymore. Then my doctor walked in.


Get well soon.

[Charles Brennan]

Dale, I feel your pain, because I have. Mine came out in 1993.

Two Caveats:
1) Your organs have had a lifetime of sloshing around and fitting into place and now suddenly, there's a gap creating a strain, on organs that used to lay against each other.
So even well after recovery, you need to be careful anytime you do anything that strains the core.
Feels weird the first time it happens, but once you're aware of it, you will be able to "feel" how much to back down, until everything inside there, starts being Good Neighbors again.

2) Surgery, even laparoscopic surgery, is STILL surgery.  Take your time healing.
Did mine on Friday and was back at Choir Practice, the following Wednesday.
One of our more elderly choir members had mobility problems and the row she sat on (strictly defined by our Nun, Choir Director!) gave her problems leaving after practice, or on Sundays. 
To help out, I used to move the Yamaha 6-foot Baby Grand Piano (it was on castors) over, to allow her to simply stand, get her cane and limp away.
So after practice, and WITHOUT THINKING and mostly just from long habit, I moved the piano. 
WOW!!  I saw COLORS!! 
I didn't need a slowly spreading crimson stain on my shirt, to realize that I had fewer functioning stainless steel staples, than I had arrived with. 
Had to stop off at an ER on the way home, to get them re-attached.
The ER guy was so indignant at hearing what I had done, he refused me a local anesthetic while re-stapling me. 

Pretty sure you have a healing incision right where most EVERYTHING you do, derives mechanical leverage.
Like the difference between a tumbler of iced tea, versus a Dixie cup of iced tea.
Yeah, you can feel the difference in torso strain, that much.

Feel better, be careful, and don't be as Dumb as ME!! 
Charles Brennan

[Riley Smith]

Oh yeah, I remember that pain and sweating big drops while feeling it. I'm glad you're doing well. They had to slice me open and CB is NOT kidding. Don't strain for a LONG time. Mine was worse because it was more extensive than the usual band aid and it took me six months to begin to feel ok.

[Doug SC]

Yes taking it slow and easy can be the hardest part. I have a love hate relationship with hospitals. I love the care you get but hate being there. Looking forward to you sailing again. Oh and listen to taking it slow.

[Captain Kidd]

Update. Into 4th night at hospital. White blood cell count jumped from 13000 to 19000. Pumping me with antibiotics.

Thanks for all the advice. I had laparoscopic surgery but it's still surgery. Most pain is from the gas they use to inflate your body cavity turning into acid. It HURTS!

[Doug SC]

"It Hurts!" Oh yeah that does. I experienced that from a different medical procedure. To describe it as uncomfortable is an understatement. Hope it doesn't last very long.

[Krusen]

You have my greatest sympathy.

I have only been admitted to a hospital 2 times, and in and out 2 more.

The only pleasant time at the hospital is to see your newborn child for the first time.  Wife may see that a little differently...

[Jim B., CD-25]

Dale, sorry to hear what you are dealing with.  I had my gall bladder out back in the "dark ages," (1974) when it was a big cut.  What Riley said about 6 months for "getting back to normal" is right on, and I was 50 years younger back then.  Laparoscopic surgeries later for an emergency appendectomy and prostate cancer.  I can attest that the laparoscopic is less "outer trauma," but what happens with your innards is as traumatic as the big cut, and it takes time to heal.  Allow yourself that time.

Sending good wishes for a smooth recovery.  Time in the hospital sucks, even if you are getting "good care."

[Riley Smith]

I had outpatient that turned into a couple of overnighters. And yes, I WILL remember that nurse forever telling me, "Hey, you gotta walk yourself to the bathroom" and turning and leaving before I knew what was happening. No wonder they call it Slinging Liver and not Singing River. The only OTHER time they've managed to capture me was when I had amnesia.... and I don't remember that LOL!

[Captain Kidd]

White cell count came down. I'm home!