When the girls and I hiked Naches Peak Loop Trail two days ago, it became apparent towards the end that I wasn’t feeling like myself. Nausea, weakness and an overall feeling of yuckiness hit around the last half mile or so. Elevation? Heat? Dehydration? I thought it might be a combination of it all but discovered late last night and very early this morning, it wasn’t any of those things.

I landed myself in the ER early this morning with what was my 4th and final gallbladder attack. My 4th in ten years, my first and most severe in 5 years after altering my diet to keep from having surgery. I endured pain from about 10pm until 5am, when my husband had enough of my stubbornness and made me go to the ER. Despite knowing that I was having a gallbladder attack, my first three attacks were not treated in the ER. They gave me pain meds, no tests and sent me home. To say I am a little weary of the ER and being heard, is an understatement but off we went.

Sure enough, I was having another attack. This time, unlike the others, it wouldn’t go away or subside. It just got worse. After finally being listened to by ER staff, pain meds (which were complete heaven after that pain I had been in) and an ultrasound that showed my gallbladder looking like a sack of marbles, it was determined that my gallbladder would have to come out. Lucky for me it wasn’t an emergency surgery situation, so I was able to choose when I would go. No interruption to an upcoming trip but I would have to be very careful about what I ate and not over exert myself. That means hiking is out for the rest of the summer.

Bittersweet news. I was happy to finally have someone listen to me and get answers but it also means limiting the rest of our summer and that kills me. Just when I am getting started, I get pulled back again. I cant complain too much though. I still have my health and it will be even better post surgery. I will just continue to focus on the positive and what I can still do and we will go from there! On to the next!