I'm Baaack - with Many Thanks to well wishers after my near death surgery

[symbolman]

Today is the first day after my surgery for a potentially deadly gall bladder that I've had the energy to post and THANK EVERYONE for the Well wishes, Song Lyrics, Support & and great Advice! I was bowled over by the response after demobabe posted that I'd been run to the ER via the Meat Wagon after an incredibly painful attack, which now thankfully I'll never feel again since they ripped the Alien from my abdomen :)

We were shown photos of the operation by the doc, as Spicolli the Surfer said in the Ridgemont High school morgue tour, "ah! Gnarly Dude!", and he showed me years of scar tissue, indicating that the sucker could have dropped me anytime in the last four years or so.. Been low energy/sick and didn't even Realise it (no health insurance sure helped there), and I could feel the difference as soon as I woke up from the doc rolling around in there with his laproscopic weedshacker - so I think I'm going to be able to hit the ground running as soon as I can, well.. Run.. :)

Put down the Fried food and Move Away from It! Believe me you Do Not want to experience that organ waging war on you, gall bladders especially show little Remorse :) (And yes I'm still on drugs, does it show?)

Very happy to be among the Living and with all my friends here, all your posts kept my spirits up through the process, and I'm filled with gratitude, again..

Thanks!! Thanks and more Thanks to All!

Aloha & Mahalo!

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Good to hear you and aloha to you too

[monmouth]

You were greatly missed and am very happy you're on the mend...Do

ya want french fries with that???? Just kidding, taboo stuff for me too....

[villager]

2. Are you accepting after-the-fact well wishes!?

Glad to have you back! ;-)

[sazemisery]

3. WooHoo! Welcome back. Glad you are OK.

We were worried about ya.

[EOTE]

4. Great to have you back!

Hope you recover soon.

[merh]

5. who are you again?

:hide:
























It is good to see you :hug: glad you are feeling better. :loveya:



:yourock:

[Karenina]

6. You stay alive and well, old fart

or I'll fucking kill you! :hug::loveya::hug:

[symbolman]

67. Kill me?

You and what army of bladders? :)

I think the Gallic Bladders were bad boys..

[Karenina]

123. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

:rofl::loveya::rofl:

[lunatica]

7. Hey! Good attitude!

[sonias]

8. Welcome back symbolman!

Happy that you are on the way to recovery.

Keep getting stronger, but take it easy too. Pace yourself.

:hug:


Sonia

[Adelante]

9. Welcome back

I am glad you're doing better :hi:

[truedelphi]

10. Such very good news. Glad that you are on the mend

And thank you for insisting we all avoid the fried food.

Now pass along some of those :-) drugs. It's not polite to not share!

[uppityperson]

11. Glad you are feeling better and relax in the fun for a while

[roguevalley]

12. symbolman, I am so happy for you. its amazing how much tar

builds up in a gallbladder. you take care and get well. the world ain't the same without you there shaking it up. HUGS!

[TahitiNut]

13. You've got a lot of gall.

Oh. Wait. Not any more! :silly:

Welcome home!! :hi: :hug:

[Fireweed247]

14. glad you are feeling better

we need to make sure everyone gets the health care they need...



Meeting Tomorrow on Single Payer-DEMAND Not-For-Profit Health Care!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5504210

[meegbear]

15. w00t!

:hi:

[mmonk]

16. Wonderful. The sun came up today. Glad you are here.

[Richard D]

17. Best wishes for a speedy full recovery

And even better wishes for going past recovery into new states of good health and wellness!

[annabanana]

18. SO glad to hear from you, dear..

Glad you are on the mend..

[eleny]

19. Welcome back....

They sure are ugly things. My surgeon asked if I wanted to see it and I declined. :D

Do take the baby steps and get lots of rest. But you know all that. Every day it gets batter.

It's so nice to see you back here!

[tekisui]

20. Welcome back!

[Hekate]

21. Aloha Aikane! I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend! The place hasn't been the same ...

... without you.

:hug: to you and Demobabe.

Hekate

[kestrel91316]

22. Congrats! Isn't laparoscopic surgery simply amazing??

[bridgit]

23. Good News!!

:bounce:

[Tikki]

24. Nasty little cretins, aren't they (Gall bladders/stones)....

And they can be downright painful...and you are correct...dangerous.

Glad you are on the road to recovery...
Glad you were able to have the laparoscopic surgery...
Mine was the old fashion cut open and yank out..longer recovery.


Hang tough...

Tikki

[peace13]

25. Too Cute!

Glad that you are on the mend. Peace, Kim

[October]

26. First I heard! Wow! Be well!

Sounds awful.

You don't hear of this so much!

We skip fried food mainly because we have to. My children and husband have Celiac Disease (cannot ingest gluten ).

Take care.

[tuckessee]

27. Good deal!

I'm glad everything turned out well. :)

[madrchsod]

28. glad you are back in the game.....

[pacalo]

29. Good news & welcome back!

And thanks for giving this fried seafood/chicken lover pause about fried foods.

I hope you have a speedy recovery, Symbolman!

:hi:

[Love Bug]

30. Welcome to the No More Gallbladder Club!

You're going to be surprised how much better you feel once you heal up. Mine was removed in '05 and except for the occasional "haunting" by the ghost of my gall bladder (read: time in the bathroom because I ate something too greasy) I feel perfectly normal.

[ourbluenation]

33. I'm a member too. Nothing like the fresh hell of those last few attacks.

It took me 36 hours to push a very big boy out. Au Naturel. I'd do that 1,000 times over rather than having the gall bladder nightmare. Lived with mine for 5 years thinking I could stave off further damage with a fat free diet. It worked for most of those five years, meanwhile I was quietly cooking another grape sized stone and then the thing came back with a vengeance. Imagine ripping open your chest cavity and pouring battery acid in.

So glad you all are feeling better.

To every one else...pay heed to any pain on your right side under the ribs. There is no cure. Get the thing out, asap.

[Love Bug]

93. I didn't get that far

I had my second attack in Easter night 2005 (the first attack two weeks prior didn't last very long and I thought it was gas). After three hours bent over in pain I drove myself to the hospital. My BP was 195/120 and they hustled me to a bed. After awhile on a morphine drip, the attack ceased and my BP fell. They wanted to remove the GB that night, but I talked them into letting me go when I promised to see a surgeon the next morning. I did, and my surgery was scheduled two weeks later, because we had to wait for the ginkgo biloba supplements (they are blood thinners) to get out of my system. I spent that two weeks scared to eat anything because I didn't want to have another attack. Luckily, I didn't and the surgery (laparoscopic) went fine.

[DemBones DemBones]

118. Gallbladders are sneaky, though.

I had the classic right side pain but Mr. Bones had pain in the middle of his body, over his stomach. His was infected and he was one sick puppy. Now our home is a gallbladder-free zone. We eat whatever we like without problems. YMMV.

[ananda]

34. My mother had her gallbladder out..

.. when I was in college and lived
another thirty five years just fine
without it.

And I don't remember her watching her
diet much, either.

AND her surgery was the old invasive kind.

With bandaid surgery it's even better because
you're not down long.

Well done!

[symbolman]

31. Hey! No funny stuff!

Yer killin' me! I wish I was kidding.. :)

The only good part in post op was when I handed my morphine drip button to my 4 year old son and told him than every time he pushed it an Angel got their wings..

You guys are too much :)

[joeybee12]

32. Good News! Welcome back!

:toast:

[NanceGreggs]

35. Well, now that you're up and around ...

... I can put you back on Ignore!


Only kiddin' - glad you're on the road to recovery!!! :hi:

[Lugnut]

36. Welcome back!

I'm glad to hear you're feeling much better.

[Mother Of Four]

37. ...

:hug:

[omega minimo]

38. .

:hug: :cry: :bounce:

[npk]

39. Good to have you back

:toast:

[yowzayowzayowza]

40. Wonderful!!!

Take care!!!

:bounce:

[malaise]

41. Welcome back Symbolman

:grouphug:

[MADem]

42. How wonderful that you came through in good nick. I confess I don't know much about

gall bladders. Apparently when they attack, they mean business!

[Cha]

43. Glad you're a success

story from your grueling gallbladder experience, Symbolman!

[tosh]

44. Happy you're back

and happy you called the sick wagon (that's our local name for the meat wagon) when you did.:hi:

[Octafish]

45. Truly great news!

The quicker you feel better, the faster we will, too, Symbolman.

[Fire1]

46. Such good news! Glad you're back and well!

:hi:

[glitch]

47. Glad to see you made it through the ordeal and are already feeling better.

I used to take the digestive system for granted, now that I am over 50, and after having watched my mother die of pancreatic cancer, NOT SO MUCH. :hug:

[spanone]

48. great to have you back!!!!!!

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[Historic NY]

49. Glad your back I know a lot about a bad "hot" gall bladder...

the pain will go away soon. Ah fried & fatty food well they don't like you so much even with it out. Your system will eventually adjust to its new life.

[Spazito]

50. Welcome back!

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Peacetrain]

51. Welcome back... and speedy recovery!!

[supernova]

52. So good to see you feel like posting, SM

:D

:hug:

Here's to a speedy recovery and your getting out to exercise as soon as you feel up to it. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[JeffR]

53. Glad you're OK.

And don't worry, pretty much everyone else has been on drugs the whole time you were away. Just pick a random thread. You'll see it.

[Arugula Latte]

54. The gall of that gall bladder of yours!

Glad you showed it a thing or two! Glad you're back! :bounce: :hi: :fistbump: :toast:

[cpompilo]

55. The unmitigated gall...

So glad you're ok - enjoy the drugs!

[ColbertWatcher]

56. Good to have you back ...

... and am hoping for a full recovery!

[SeattleGirl]

57. Hooray!!! So glad you are feeling better, and that the doc got

that "gnarly dude" outta there!

[mike_c]

58. welcome back and best wishes for a fast recovery....

I figure if I challenge you to a race now, I might win.

On yer mark! Get set! GO!

[Stinky The Clown]

59. You should have the little bastard dried and strung on a leather thong to use a talisman to

scare the shit out of any evil beasties that might ever come your way.

[alfredo]

60. Make it into an ocarina

[symbolman]

66. Oh Christ but that's funny!

You must have seen the photo, that's exactly the shape of the Damned Thing :)

[alfredo]

75. I paid attention in my biology classes. The teacher was cute.

I'm glad you're still with us.

[blm]

65. heheh.....you mean as a 'symbol' dontcha?

.

[Stinky The Clown]

71. Hahaha .....

http://instantrimshot.com/

[Joanne98]

61. Glad you feel so good. makes me want to have surgery!

:hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

62. Congrats on a successful surgery!

:hi:

[Catshrink]

63. Welcome back!

Glad you made it through okay.

[derby378]

64. YO!!

Welcome back, man! :applause:

My wife went through something similar a few years back. It was really scary, but she made it through. I can't envision my life without her - and thanks to 911, I don't have to.

[JerseygirlCT]

68. Glad to read you're doing well! nt

[G_j]

69. yay!!

good to hear!
:applause:

[VOX]

70. Way to go, symbolman -- you are going to enjoy a long and healthy life...

Take it slowly, but a steady course of exercise is your best bet. As it's been said, There's nothing wrong with being an old guy; but there's something *very* wrong about being an old *sick* guy. By curbing our negative behaviors (overeating, eating the wrong foods, couch potato-ism, etc.) each of us can have quite an impact toward pushing back the serious medical stuff.

Good job! :toast:

[Ishoutandscream2]

72. You are a class act. So glad you're doing better

You take care of yourself.

[Bobbie Jo]

73. Long time no see....Welcome Back!

:pals:

[H2O Man]

74. Good to see you

back here again.

[MagickMuffin]

76. Good to hear from you and that you are feeling better

May I offer you a cherry-peach-blueberry smoothie! This is a low fat non milk smoothie, I use soy milk for this recipe. Easy to make a less than 5 minutes. YUM.

I have made this in a food processor, blender, and a smoothie machine. I use frozen fruit, a little bit of sugar (less than a 3 Tablespoons) and soy milk. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Six Reasons to Eat Blueberries

Any way you buy them - fresh, frozen or dried - blueberries are packed with nutritional power. If you need any reason other than their taste to snack on blueberries, keep these nutritional vignettes in mind:

1. Anthocyanins – the pigments that make blueberries blue - are potent antioxidants: A half cup of blueberries provides the antioxidant power of five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli.
2. Berries are a healthy, low glycemic-index carbohydrate, an especially good choice for diabetics.
3. Blueberries are a source of vitamin C, important for a healthy immune system.
4. Blueberries offer two grams of fiber per one-half cup serving.
5. Blueberries have shown promise in addressing the effects of aging: animal studies have shown improved motor skills and a reversal of age-related short-term memory loss.
6. Blueberries may have health benefits ranging from preventing cancer and defending against urinary tract infections to protecting the brain from stroke damage and reducing heart disease risks.

Look for organic blueberries at your local produce stand, and toss some in a salad, on cereal, as a snack, or make a blueberry pie. If fresh organic blueberries are cost prohibitive, substitute with frozen or dried blueberries - all three forms provide health-protective benefits. Keep in mind that dried blueberries are a concentrated source of sugar, so enjoy them in moderation.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP02838/Six-Reasons-to-Eat-Blueberries.html

If you need ideas for low fat cooking, don't hesitate asking me as I do quite a lot of cooking using low fat recipes.

[opihimoimoi]

77. The Mighty Mikey Returns from the Dead...welcome back....we need everyone to fight

the GOP...you know...thse lost in the jungle dudes...

But...recover before coming to the ramparts to help load cannons....

The GOP soldiers keep on coming....and they keep using BS Crap...it don hurt but it sure stinks up the place...

Hurry back to the Fray...

[AwakeAtLast]

78. Glad to hear you're better!

I had the same surgery in '03. You won't eat the same way again, especially the fried foods!

My gall stones were caught before they got too bad, but the attacks I did have were frightening to say the least. Keep taking your meds and take it easy! Even though it was laproscopic, it's still surgery.

:hug:

[Stephanie]

79. Nice to see you!

Glad to hear you're on the mend. :hi:

[eppur_se_muova]

80. Post-crisis well wishes, Symbolman! Time to read up on the gall bladder ...

Now, I'm sure you're all aware that this week is national gall-bladder week. So as sort of an educational feature at this point I thought I would acquaint you with some of the results of my recent researches into the career of the late doctor Samuel Gall, inventor of the gall-bladder. Which certainly ranks as one of the more important technological advances since the invention of the joy-buzzer and the dribble-glass. Doctor Gall's faith in his invention was so dramatically vindicated last year, as you no doubt recall, when, for the first time in history, in a nation-wide poll the gall-bladder was voted among the top ten organs. His educational career began interestingly enough in agricultural school, where he majored in animal husbandry, until they caught him at it one day.

Whereupon he switched to the field of medicine in which field he also won renown as the inventor of gargling. Which prior to that time had been practiced only furtively by a remote tribe in the Andes who passed the secret down from father to son as part of their oral tradition. He soon became a specialist, specializing in diseases of the rich. He was therefore able to retire at an early age. To the land we all dream about, sunny Mexico of course. The last part of which is completely irrelevant, as with the whole thing I guess, except, it's a rather sneaky way of getting into this next type of popular song which is one of those things about that magic, and romantic land south of the border.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/In-Old-Mexico-lyrics-Tom-Lehrer/BF42016E6067F5C748256A7D002513E7

[CreekDog]

81. Now you will have to come here for your bile

:D

[bigwillq]

82. Welcome back!

:hug:

[pleah]

83. :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Waiting For Everyman]

84. So cool to see a post from you again, symbolman!

Very glad you're feeling better. :)

[The Straight Story]

85. Very glad to see you back to your crazy old self

:)

We missed you. Whoever you are... :rofl:

Take care of yourself. DU is a better place with you around.

[Kaleko]

86. Hey, hey. High fives!

And double hugs for extra good vibes, Symboldude.

[PA Democrat]

87. Glad to hear that you are on the mend!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

88. Welcome back brother :)

:hug: :fistbump: :loveya:

[Richard Steele]

89. Nice to know you're still with us. This place wouldn't be the same without you. K&R

[sandnsea]

90. Glad you're well

Just be careful of future weight gain, which can happen after gallbladder surgery.

[midnight]

91. Glad your feeling better.

[midnight]

92. Glad your feeling better.

[GreenPartyVoter]

94. Hey! Glad you are ok! *hugs*

[MilesColtrane]

95. Dude.

:fistbump:

[underseasurveyor]

96. ***YAY***

:bounce:
Welcome back amongst the living:loveya:

[FloridaJudy]

97. Welcome back!

And enjoy all those good drugs while you can still get 'em!

[ClayZ]

98. Glad you are feeling better!

K and R

[mod mom]

99. Wishing you the best of health!

[symbolman]

100. Thanks again one and all

So great to see all your faces, hear your voices, the humor, advice, & shared pain.. Gonna go back to to the couch cave & finish recouping :)

It was also heart warming to come to in a world with an articulate, caring, intelligent President again, we all worked so hard to get those Traitorus bastards out of our White House.. Means even more now that I'm a short drive from DC, as I wanted to be whole enough to potentially pull an AnnaMarieCox scene when feeling better, heading into D.C. often, attending events, Twittering Live, capturing video, pestering Obstructionist Asshats and well, Reporting.. From where I sit with the technology at my command there's no reason I can't Be a Wash Correspondant :)

We also owe A LOT to williesgirl here on the DU, an Amazing Person who pulled our flesh from the fire, who we love lots..

We all keep each other going, proud to be a member of the Family here, sometimes more than my own :)

Good to be alive, even in these Interesting Times, and good to know you All :)

And I can't wait to show off my scars at the beach this summer, tell all the kids while pointing at my laproscopic belly dents, that "me & TuPac was like brothers..", how I threw myself in front of him to Save Rap, but they still got 'em.. :)

But they DIDNT get Me, baby, Still Alive & Well.. Gotta go play that song now..

Aloha & Mahalo

[bdamomma]

101. Welcome back and a speedy recovery to you.

[HillWilliam]

102. Good on ya and welcome back, bud!

Good to read you again. Keep on getting better!

[mntleo2]

103. When we heard, we were all praying for your recovery

Please know you are very important to us. You are a pioneer in making the media accountable. As someone who was an admirer of Andy Stephenson, the loss of his voice leaves a giant hole to this day, as would yours. Take care of yourself and know we are here and we care.

Cat In Seattle

[Jackpine Radical]

104. Some people will do damn near anything to get good drugs.

:party: :bounce: So, welcome back--we've missed ya! :grouphug: :bounce: :party:

[Bossy Monkey]

105. Hello, hello, congratulations on your recovery, welcome back, &K&R n/t

[gort]

106. Welcome Back

You were missed

[flyarm]

107. Wishing you a healthy recovery!! Glad all went well and that you are still among us

and feeling well enough to post..now go get back in bed and take care of yourself!!

Sending Hugs and love and wishing you a peaceful recovery!!

Couldn't be happier hearing that all went well!!
fly

[Daphne08]

108. Welcome back, symbolman!

[kentuck]

109. Welcome back, old timer!

:-)

[City of Mills]

110. Oooh sounds like fun!

Just got back from an endoscopy this morning, looks like i'm heading down your path...it most definitely is not fun!

I'm glad they nuked the sucker for you, maybe now you'll be able to resume a normal life somewhat, especially after your body adapts to not having the little angry bladder.

It's amazing how much pain that thing can cause you, as well as how much energy it steals...glad you're through the worst of it! Good luck for the remainder of your recovery!

[Divine Discontent]

111. Yay! good for you man!

best wishes and long life,

Divine Discontent (themartyred)

[Hubert Flottz]

112. I feel your pain!

That same kind of hurtful alien is lurking in my belly as I type. This thing is even more disagreeable and nasty than the douche bag of liberty ever dreamed of being.

Let us know if you're still alive and well in the days to come, so I can decide if I want to have this offensive organ plucked out of me and pickled.

[lonestarnot]

113. Holy crap! I didn't know you were ill!

:hug: :grouphug: So glad you are better! :loveya:

[TygrBright]

114. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Glad to have you back! n/t

[knowbody0]

115. you are indeed a gnarly dude!

welcome home, baby

[williesgirl]

116. About time you started posting again! We miss you here daily and need you to get better and keep

those eyeballs on DC. Rest well and get strong again. Talk to you later.

[TuxedoKat]

117. Welcome Back!

and glad you are feeling better. My niece just had that surgery last fall (only 22). In her case it was partly hereditary - her dad and his mom both had to have their gall bladders removed too.

[hootinholler]

119. I didn't know you were down...

Glad it worked out for you! You sir are a treasure around here.

-Hoot

[SalviaBlue]

120. Glad to hear you're recovering well. I have been there/done that.

I had my gallbladder out about 10 years ago.

I only had a few gall stone attacks before I had the surgery. Thanks to the whole laproscopy deal, it was pretty easy... I can't imagine living for years with that kind of pain. I'm happy you can put that behind you now.

[mzmolly]

121. Welcome back.

Glad you're feeling better. ")

[Carni]

122. Best wishes!

Glad you're ok!

What an ordeal that sounds like! :(

[DinahMoeHum]

124. Glad to hear you pulled through..

What are friends for, anyway?

:hug:

[Javaman]

125. Glad to have you back! rest and get well soon! :)

peace.

[myrna minx]

126. I'm so glad that you're on the mend.

:hi: May you have the speediest of recoveries.