I had my gallbladder removed yesterday. Despite my apprehension, the procedure was rather painless.

Arrived at Chelsea Community Hospital Surgery Center at 8am (CCH is across the street from my house, so very convenient). Checked in, filled out paperwork, sat in the waiting room for a few minutes, and then they came to get me.

Had to undress, get comfortable on the bed, and get fitted with an IV. That was probably the worst part, as I’m not terribly vascularized, particularly on my left arm, and the nurse missed on the first try. I started to sweat and get pale, and was relieved when she found a site on the back of my hand that worked. My elbows are the best places to put IVs, and I’ve never had one in my hand. That said, this is the third time I’ve had an IV, and the second time I’ve been to the hospital for myself, so its not like I have a lot of experience with these things.

A visit from the anesthesiologist helped put me at ease — he told me how they would put me to sleep, and indicated that my doctor was the guy, bar none, that he would want to have doing any sort of procedure like mine. Chelsea Community Hospital is affiliated both with the University of Michigan Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, so the docs are experienced and up to date.

Alan came back, took my glasses and wedding ring (its titanium and gold, so if I had some major swelling on my hands could be a real problem getting off), and they wheeled me back to the OR. I remember looking around, chatting with folks for a minute, and then found myself back in the recovery room. It was really as if no time had passed, and I have no memory at all of any of the intervening two hours. I was most apprehensive about that part — would I wake up, feel something bad, get sick, etc. But they have a good cocktail of drugs to knock you out, painkillers for when you wake up, and to prevent nausea from the gas.

Alan came back in a little while and told me things went very well, although the procedure took a little longer as my gallbladder was “very inflamed” (probably due to secondary infection from the stones and it was good that we had it removed). I was discharged a little while later, and was back at home by 12:30.

I napped on the couch for a while, and woke up feeling pretty good. I was expecting to feel wiped out from the general anesthesia, but felt pretty normal, and was hungry enough to have soup, and some more substantial dinner a little while later. Surprisingly I wasn’t especially tired last night, and was mildly uncomfortable, both from the warmth of the weather and the soreness in my belly.

Actually the worst part is the big smooth patch on my tummy, which is somewhat incongruous given my otherwise hirsuteness.

I’ve been warned not to overdo it too quickly, but I am surprised at in general how well I feel.

I’m very thankful to live in a time and place that provides such good health care, and to have the privilege of having access to such care. For most times and places in the world this would not be the case.