ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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On Surgeries, the Unexpected Nature Of

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From Ilona

Hi guys,

Unfortunately, I had a very severe pain attack at 6:00 pm on Tuesday. By midnight, it didn’t get better, so Gordon drove me half an hour to Ascension Seton. They admitted me, gave me morphine, did an MRI, by 7:00 am I had my surgery consult, at noon they wheeled me into the OR, and by 1:00 pm my gallbladder was out. 

The surgery was laparoscopic, and I was on my feet and walking to prevent blood clots at 1:15 pm. Gordon escorted me as we did laps around the recovery room. They discharged me around 5:00 pm. 

I am home. Our daughters have been amazing through all of this, and Gordon has taken the best care of me. The pain had been severe, and I am very beat up, physically and mentally. I am here, but I will be behind the scenes for the next couple of weeks. Mod R will be posting my posts for me while I am recovering. Sanctuary is finished, so the next chapter of Roman will be up as scheduled. 

PS Mod R: Please check the admin post on Sanctuary next. I’m sending Ilona all our love.

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Comments

  1. Feel better. My wife had the same procedure. Ask about your diet. Certain foods may cause issues.

    • My dad had his gallbladder removed when I was too young to really ask good questions, but for some reason, I seem to remember that he couldn’t have as much bacon after he had it removed. It might have been that he couldn’t have any bacon but who can go totally cold-turkey on bacon?

      It’s also possible that as young as I was I made an association between the surgery and the bacon that didn’t exist. If you are supposed to avoid bacon after having the gallbladder removed, then you have my deepest sympathies.

      • I could! Bacon and ham have been on my “absolutely not” list since 1984. Fresh pork is Okay, though. There’s something in the curing process that I am either allergic or sensitive to that causes great, generic pain, and I can’t have NSAIDs (for god’s sake don’t mix them: permanent intestinal problems) nor can I get Tramadol.

  2. Oh no! Wishing you the speediest and most boring of recoveries. With lots of wonderful tea that stays the ideal drinking temperature, cozy couch spots with perfectly plumped pillows, and fun TV shows / video games to help the time pass.

    • So well said. +1000

      We all hope you make a speedy and complete recovery. Wishing you health in all forms. Sending good energy for healing!

      Sending good wishes and energy to whole family: care-givers need caring too.
      Thank you for all you do.

  3. Take time for your recovery, health is way more important than anything else

  4. Sending you speedy healing thoughts, rest easy and feel better soon
    🥰💜🩷💜🥰

  6. Sorry to hear, but glad it was identified and taken care of quickly, with a safe, swift procedure. Stay comfy, enjoy your tea, and leave everything to the very competent Mod R & Gordon! Maybe pix with you and your fur babies?

  7. Yikes! Heal fast. My mom had hers out and afterward realized that she’d probably been having issues from it for years, so hope this helps long-term with making you feel better.

    • So scary! Hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself! My doctor had me suffer for six weeks before they removed mine. The upside was I lost 40 pounds because I couldn’t eat any fat. It took about six months for me to be able to eat (mostly) normally. Beano was a huge help at first.

    • Oh dear! I’m sorry this happened to you, wishing you an easy and quick recovery! ❤️‍🩹 💐

  12. Hoo boy, surprise 😅 Hope you’ll have a smooth recovery with zero complications 🤞Get well soon!

  17. Aaaaugh. I’m so sorry.
    What a nightmare for the whole family!
    I am wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

  19. I hope you feel better quickly but still take all the time you need. It’s never good to try and rush yourself through recovery from any surgery, small or big. Let yourself have the time you need and try not to pressure yourself to get better too quickly, just let your body do whatever it has to. Best wishes from London.

  20. I will hope for a speedy and symptom free recovery for you. Relax and play some games and/or knit!

  21. Oh my! Please take as much time to rest and recover as possible:-) Let your family coddle you- love is the best medicine!

    Best wishes!

  22. Sorry to hear you had to go through that, but it sounds like things are better on this side of it. Glad you have people who take (good) care of you.

    May your future hold a boring recovery as you loll about with tea, knitting, video games, etc.

  23. Wishing you a speedy, pain-free recovery and a chance to relax and enjoy life at a slower pace for a bit. Get well soon!

  24. Oh no! Wishing you a speedy recovery! ❤️‍🩹 It is ALL about you now! 🙏🏻

  25. I’m sad you had such a hard time but glad that you got the care that you needed.

    Best wishes for a complete recovery, mentally and physically.

  26. Get well soon! That must’ve been terrifying. I’m so glad they diagnosed you quickly x

  29. Hoping you feel better soon, and enjoy a speedy recovery and lots of relief. Kudos to your family for getting you help so quickly!

  30. Oh, Ilona, I’m so sorry—and so grateful you got taken care of so quickly— and that Gordon and your family have taken care of you so much! Rest and recover and be well—swift healing, Ilona!💜💕💜

  31. I had a gallbladder attack that sent me to the ER for Demerol. The pain was awful. My cat was very solicitous and tried to comfort me. 🤎

    I had mine removed laparoscopically later, and made a full recovery. I hope your recovery goes just as easily as mine did. Best wishes!!

    • when i had my gall bladder removed, my dog tried to cure me with her love.
      except my dog is a big dog and her love was waaay too heavy!

  33. Surgery! No matter what kind, it’s a marathon. Lots of best wishes as you recover, since it takes time – time – and more time. We love you and wish you all the best naps, hot tea, and feeling comfortable as soon as possible.

  34. It is such a blessing to have people who love you, in your life, at times like this. So though gallbladder surgery has become fairly common, it is still a scary experience to have to go through on your own. Hopefully, you will have all the healing and rest time you need. Best wishes for healthy recovery

  35. Best wishes on a good recovery from the emergency surgery. May the body organ removal (oops that sounds odd but true) help alleviate some of the body pains you had.

  36. I had my gallbladder removed this past fall under painful circumstances, and found that small, low fat meals were my friend. Honestly, it feels so much better now. Those gas bubbles can be brutal, though. Be sure to keep something for them on hand. I hope you heal soon!

  37. I’m so glad the surgery went well. Wishing you a good recovery. Take your time and let your body heal.

  40. My sister freaked her husband out 30 years ago when she had a sever gall bladder attack in the middle of the night. He said he was okay until she started telling him where their insurance was, where their wills were, and what he should do for her funeral while he was driving her to the emergency room.

    Luckily everything went fine and she was also home minus her gall bladder by the next day. Not that she wasn’t in serious pain, but he was the one with the lingering trauma.

      • Stone pains of any kind are not fun. I had a kidney stone a few years back. Luckily, I did not need an operation, but I needed heavy painkillers until it went away.

        Take care and take your time to recover, Ilona.

  41. I hope you feel better soon! Gallbladder’s can be a real pain! Mine plus the bile ducts are going to be cut from my body in the near future and I’m not looking forward to it. Take care of yourself and rest. The horde can wait patiently as you recover

  42. Sending positive thoughts your way! Hopefully recovery will be uneventful and swift! Hugs to you and your family.

  44. I hope you recover quickly and easily. Be sure to treat yourself well and take all the time you need for recovery. Glad this is behind you now!

  45. Sending all good wishes for a speedy recovery. Please rest and let yourself be spoilt.
    🙏🏽💪🏼🫶🏽

  46. Feel better m, Ilona. Surgery is rough on the body. You need copious amounts of rest 😊 Enjoy some good reads and allow Gordon and the kids to spoil you for a while.

  47. My dad had this happen, and I had to take him to the hospital for it. I am so glad to hear they were able to get you taken care of so quickly and that you are on the mend.

  48. wishing you a speedy and uncomplicated recovery!

    I just had my gall bladder removed in february. for me, after the first three days, the pain got a LOT better to where tylenol/ibuprofen was enough. i hope the pain lessens for you as well. i have so much sympathy for you. gall bladder attacks are SO PAINFUL! and all surgery sucks, even if it is laproscopic.

    i encourage you to be gentle with yourself while healing. my brain was kind of spacey long after the prescription painkillers ran out. i had a hard time reading or paying attention. i watched a lot of mindless tv.

    my doctor encouraged me to avoid fatty foods entirely that first week after surgery, and that was rough. no chocolate! i got very discouraged reading the amount of fat in everything. like i couldn’t even have toast with butter because butter is 11 grams of fat in 1 tablespoon. and olive oil is 14 grams of fat in 1 tablespoon. i could have toast with jam though. and applesauce helped when my stomach was upset.

    after that first week, i had my follow up appointment with the surgeon and it went well. he told me to very SLOWLY and GRADUALLY add the fatty foods back into my diet. well, having missed all the good fatty foods, i jumped right back in, and paid for it with a stomachache that lasted for hours. after that i listened to the doctor and aimed for meals with 5 grams of fat or less. eventually i made it up to 10g of fat, then 15, and now (two months later) i can handle an occasional meal of up to 20 grams of fat at one time. (GIVE ME ALL THE PIZZA!!!) (also, the serving size on a frozen pizza is 1/5 of the pizza. who the hell cuts their pizza into fifths?!!? nobody! nobody does that! that is a ridiculous serving size!)

    the surgeon also recommended smaller, more frequent meals. and that has helped as well in avoiding the stomachaches. he said most people do return to normal after a while of healing. that our bodies adapt. but in the beginning it is better to baby our newly healing bodies and allow them extra time.

  50. Feel better! At least you won’t a growing fetus pulling your scar tissue!! Mine was removed 29 years ago when I was 20 weeks pg.

    Get lots of rest!

    • Girl, I feel your pain—I had my appendix removed while I was pregnant-_-
      Unfair, right?! Pregnancy and serious surgery, simultaneously? Oof!

      • Sheesh! I thought severe stomach flu while pregnant was bad (plus vomiting from baby hormones too). You guys win!

  51. Praying for quicker recovery.
    On the bright side, you don’t have to worry about gallbladder surgery anymore.

    Take good care of yourself

  53. Sending prayers, love, good vibes, and hugs. Take all the time you need to heal both mentally and physically. Life takes it’s shots, but the horde is behind you.

  54. Many healing vibes your way, Ilona! Keep up with that walking, it really does help.

  56. Sending you all the well wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you feel you can take this time to truly rest. The BDH will be here, and will wait patiently, so please don’t worry about us (no matter what anyone says). Take care.

  59. Dearest Ilona,
    wishing you all the best for the recovery!
    As a person without gallbladder myself I know your pain. I got rid of it already in my early 20s after pain all my life. It’s been 15 years now and have never had similar pain again except for labor with my 2 children.
    Heads up, this should have been the worst and it’s only getting better from here!! Fingers crossed!

  61. I feel for you. I had mine take out when my last baby was 3 months old and I had many pain attacks before they finally took it out. This is so painful, you have all my sympathy

  62. I’m so sorry you had to experience such pain. My mother had gallbaldder attacks while she was pregnant with me (66 years ago) and had to be taken in for surgery as soon as I was born. She called the pain, “the pains of the damned.” I hope you get feel better soon!

  65. Oh no, I’m glad the surgery went okay! I hope you have a swift recovery. I remember not having much of an appetite several days afterward, so you might feel the same.

    I’m much better now and sort of wish I had gotten the surgery sooner. I recall being afraid that if I went to the hospital, they wouldn’t believe me, since I get calmer the more pain I’m in and a doctor I went to about it in the past thought the pain was all in my head.

  66. I had my gallbladder out in December. It is unpleasant, but it gets better. Be sure to take any and all antibiotics you were prescribed, getting an infection during recovery is very unpleasant. Now that my recovery is done, I have no problems from not having a gallbladder.

  67. So glad you are okay.
    Bravo to Gordon for taking such good care of you.
    Get better, please, and don’t worry.
    When you are well is soon enough to go back to work.
    (Unfortunately?) The BDH will be here when you return to the trenches.

  68. Very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Make sure that you take the time that you need to rest and recover. You have all been through a lot.

  71. Get better soon! I hope it’s all behind you! ❤️❤️❤️ (sending hearts, if the blog transforms them into something else). My father underwent three surgeries from Christmas till march, so I feel for your doughters. Be well and recover and have a beautiful spring, and Happy Easter festiveties, or it passed in US already?

  72. Rest, take care ,put as much time in taking care of yourself as you do satisfying our habit. The horde can wait and survive

  78. So sorry for the misery you endured! That is a nasty affliction. Sending all the good and restful vibes your way while you recover. ❤️

  79. So glad Ilona was able to get the surgery quickly and start her recovery. I had that surgery back in the early aughts and was amazed at how quickly I rebounded.

    My mom’s gall bladder surgery was prior to laparoscopic so she was in the hospital for days and in recovery for a month. Yech.

  80. Oh you poor thing. Thats all miserable but I will hope your recovery is as fast as you were able to get in, get help and get out! I love and appreciate y’all so much. Feel better soon!

  81. Get well soon ❤️.
    Get plenty of rest.
    Be patient with your recovery.
    Best wishes.

  82. Gosh, Ilona, that was terrifying for you … thank the Powers that Be for modern emergency medicine! Now you need to let the healing really take place, both for your body knitting itself back together, and for your sense of well-being to settle back over you in comfort and contentment. It’s so good that you have Gordon and the Kids, and your furbabies to help you reground and regroup. It’s lovely that Sanctuary is completed, and you can really rest. Smiles and peace to you!

  85. Get well soon with no complications. Let the family (both human and furry) spoil you rotten while you’re recovering.

    The Horde will be patient and fluffy during this time.

    Pssst…Mod R, love the spring avatar you’re sporting right now. 🙂

  87. I’m so sorry for you and your ex-gallbladder and so very glad you’re ok. My thoughts are with you as you recuperate, take care.

  88. Take time to recover fully!!! Your health is the most important thing to focus on right now.

  92. Feel better soon! Watch the fat content of foods as not having large amounts of bile to help digestion can lead to steatorrhea. Hugs!

  94. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Take care of yourself and make sure you get the rest you need. While this surgery is much less invasive than it used to be, your body has still suffered a significant trauma so listen to it if it says something is too much.

  95. So sorry to hear! You just keep concentrating on getting better. Glad you have Gordon and the kiddos for support. Hugs!!

  101. You’ve certainly had a rough couple of months. As my brother says, “we’re not getting older, we’re adding new features.” Sending you good wishes and thoughts for a speedy recovery–with no more new features. Please take all the time you need to heal; the BDH will be patiently waiting for House Andrews return to us. Meanwhile, ModR will keep us in line.

  103. When I was home with knee surgery, one of my bosses told me to “do a marathon of The Sopranos.” Which I did.

  104. Feel better soon! I know how much gallbladder attacks hurt, had mine out a few years ago. Wishing you a speedy recovery! 🙂

  106. Oh no! I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but very happy that it was promptly and deftly managed. I hope this helps you’re overall health and you heal quickly. 😻😻

  107. Best wishes for you and your family to recover from a stressful event and for you to heal well. Take care.

  109. Facebook didn’t post this for me to read. *sigh*. As I was reading the next blog I realized something was seriously missing. So searched and found this.
    So glad you were able to avoid the huge incision for surgery. That is a big step towards healing! And walking immediately after – another huge step to a faster recovery.
    Sending mental hugs and kisses (they don’t hurt) and hopes for a speedy recovery!

  113. I’m glad you got it out so fast!
    (Because of staffing issues at the VA, it took me more than a year to get mine out and 4 sever attacks and a septic infection and a week in the hospital. Before the surgery.) after the surgery, I was fine in hours. haven’t had any issues since. .

    feel better! stay safe!

  115. I am sorry that this had to happen as an emergency. After my gallbladder was removed, I refused all pain medication because the pain after surgery was so much less than the pain I had prior to surgery.

    Wishing you a speedy and easy recovery!

  117. Sending lots of love & healing energy your way!! Here’s to a smooth & speedy recovery. Also sending good vibes to your family, it’s scary for a loved one to need surgery no matter what kind. Glad you have a great support system and are on the road to recovery.

    Take care of yourself. Work, the Horde, etc. will all be there when you’re back to feeling 100%. 🙂 Hugs (gentle of course).

  119. Sending (gentle) hugs and healing thoughts your way. My husband had his gallbladder removed 3 years ago, and his health has improved remarkably since.

  122. Get well and pain free. Take a second Monday and if you have special glasses, check out the eclipse. Hopefully something to do that won’t stress you.

  125. Oh no! I’m so sorry! I hope all your favorite things bring you comfort as you recover. Please focus on yourself and your healing.

  127. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Rest, recuperate and be kind to yourself . Work can wait , your body needs to heal . Sending all the best .

  128. I am so happy you got timely care.

    As a Canadian, I read the timeline and shuddered to wonder how long it might take in Canada … even to just get the first MRI and consult … let alone …

    So glad you got access to timely and thorough care.

    Please keep writing about your health experiences, both because we want to cheer for you (and pray for you), and also because it is good to hear what is possible …
    to have an idea of what can be done …
    and to hear that it is not all depressing wait-times and missed chances, like we hear too much of here …

    Wishing you all the best for your healing.

  129. Been there. Done that. The pain can be excruciating but recovery time is really not too bad.

    Don’t know if your doctor said anything about digestive enzymes (mine didn’t) but they really do help once you start eating regularly.

    Get well soon!

  130. Sending empathy and all healing vibes. I had seven attacks before they figured out what was wrong and took out my gallbladder – the pain is excruciating. The first time we went to the ER the doctor told me I had gas and that I should get some metamucil. I’m still bitter about it. Glad you had good and observant care and that of course Gordon and the kids are taking exceptional care of you. You already eat so healthy – it’s true that too much fat or too much fat and alcohol can be hard to process but I don’t think that will be your problem!

  131. Sending you best wishes for a full recovery. That must have been so worrying!

    Leave us to ModR and take care of you!

  134. Well, at least the surgery was kind of predicted (in Blog Entry “Why No Novels, Cousin?”) so that might help out with people asking “oh no why did this happen” for more details than “LIFE” 😀

    Hopefully Ilona recovers quickly! Hopefully it doesn’t delay the super secret project. Super glad you were looking out for us with Roman — BUT we would have waited with love in our hearts

  136. Sorry to hear about the pain attack! Happened to both my father and brother that way too. No one in my immediate family has a gallbladder anymore though. Guess it’s just our luck (aka genetics), haha. Mine was preplanned due to gallstones and I was able to get a pic from my surgeon though. Two golf balls, prevented me from eating anything other than saltines and chicken broth for a couple weeks until the surgery.

    Hope you recover well, and know that even if you can’t eat certain things right now, usually your body adjusts over time. Everyone recovers differently and I’m sure your doctor has spoken to you about that though. I was just really disappointed in how many things I couldn’t eat right away (dim sum!) but after a few months my body readjusted and I don’t really have problems with anything anymore.

  141. Oh No! I am so glad you were able to get quick and responsive care.
    Sending you loads of healing energy for a fast and complete recovery!

  143. Sending you all love and healing energies for Ilona! Emergency gallbladder eviction happens. Sounds like everyone is taking excellent care of you. Relax and heal.

  147. Feel better! The Horde will wait. Maybe not wholly patiently, but we will wait. 🙂

  148. Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery. Please let the people and critters who love you take care of you; right now you dont have to do anything except heal 💖

  149. I had my gall bladder out (but they had to do it “the old way”— not laparoscopically) and I was exhausted a lot for the weeks right afterward.

    I was told that if they had been able to do it laparoscopically, the recovery time would have been significantly shortened, so what I HOPE this means is that you will feel much better very soon!

    Sending you only the best, most positive thoughts!

  152. Oh no! How scary. So glad you seem well on the way to recovery. Hope your healing goes smoothly! As much as we all want to read more from you and Gordon, your health comes first!

  153. Hugs, Ilona. Been there. Done that. Didn’t even show ANY interest in the t-shirt.

  154. Sorry you had to go through that, and wishing you a speedg recovery! had to get mine removed about 20 years ago now, oatmeal in the mornings often helps, and just being aware of where the bathrooms are for about 30min after you eat. one small bright side is you won’t really need to worry about constipation ever again.

  156. Prayers and best wishes for an uneventful recovery! Hope you are feeling better soon! Thank you both for your hard work which we enjoy very much!

  158. Glad it was quick and you’re already recovering! Hope there’s less pain overall and speedy all is well!

  160. Same thing happened to my husband – it’s scary as it is happening. I hope you recover soon. Don’t jump back into things too soon.

  162. I hate you had to go through an emergency surgery but now it’s time to heal. Please follow doctor’s orders to rest and let your body gradually get back to normal. I had my gall bladder removed 20 years ago after my first pregnancy caused gall stones. At this point, I mainly remember being so tired and trouble sitting for long periods of time at my desk.

    Many wishes for a full, speedy recovery.

  163. I hope you feel better soon! I’m glad they got you right in and got you taken care of!

  164. Take very good care of yourself.

    I think you will be sore for a while, but the issues that meant you needed the surgery should be pretty much cleared up – that’s how it went for my friend who recently had hers out.

  165. Wishing you a pain free, quick recovery. I couldn’t lay down for two weeks after I had my gallbladder out. Thank goodness for recliners.
    Take it easy.

  166. Glad you are recovering. I thought I was having a heart attack when same thing happened to me. Don’t miss the gallbladder a bit. Wishing you well.

    • Same here! I felt like something evil had been taken out of me, was so light and happy after the pain finally receded.

  168. So sorry you went through that but that was actually the best way it could have gone! Unsolicited advice from a PT, keep moving (slowly but surely, basic activities, NOT crazy exercise), you really will feel better faster. Don’t begrudge the pain meds either, if you can’t move around because the pain is too much you will slow your recovery. Hope you feel better soon, take care.

  171. Wow, hope your recovery is as speedy as the surgery! I’ve spoken to several people in the last couple weeks who told me “all of a sudden I’m falling apart!” March was certainly an “interesting” month for me, hopefully April will return to my normal status.

  172. Been there, had that, definitely not fun and takes longer to recover than they tell you.
    Get well at your own pace, love from Oz

  174. My husband had his gall bladder removed years ago. High fat foods are not his friend. I hope you heal quickly.

  175. So very thankful for Gordon with a cool head and surgeons with great skill! Rest, reset and know that all of your readers are flooding the gates of heaven with prayer for your health, thanksgiving for your family and wisdom/patience for Mod R because she has to deal with the Horde.

  176. Oy! Gallbladder surgery. Best wishes for a healthy recovery! Sending gentle hugs!!
    💚💛💜❤️💙🧡💖

  181. That is a fast turnaround from surgery to walking! Take all the time you need for yourself please to heal!

  183. I wish you a complete and painless recovery. Take your time. Being healthy and getting back to it, is very important ! We can be patient!

  185. Best wishes on a speedy recovery. Relieved the surgery went smoothly. Thank you for Roman and all your fantastic stories.

  190. Take a vacay and don’t stress. We understand and you have a fabulous Mod.

    Recover and enjoy your kids pets and and hubby.

  191. Unexpected events knock the wind out of our sails. I’m very glad this was resolved quickly for you. Your family is very supportive and caring. Rest and recuperate.

  192. Oh no! Prayers! Glad you are out of the hospital though. Thanks for Sanctuary and hope you heal quickly and painlessly.

  193. I’m so relieved that you were promptly diagnosed and treated! I had mine out after 22 years of misdiagnosis and Goddess only knows how many attacks. My son was also misdiagnosed and sent home only to return 2 days later for emergency surgery. It seems like something that is all too often missed.

    I was so happy to get rid of mine that I found it easy to cope with recovery and I hope yours goes smoothly too. As people have said already, you have to take care with high fat foods.

    Here’s to never being doubled over in pain again!

  197. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery! I’m sure your family is diligently researching all the nutritional and other things that can help long term. Be well and thanks as always for your transparency.

  199. Oompf! I feel that pain. Had similar experience, but it is good to hear laparoscopic worked. For me it was a bit worse infection (aggressive – throw in some necrosis on gallbladder) and they had to cut me open fully (nothing like getting your innards washed).

    I know the diet journey afterwards is very personal and differs from person to person, but I do mourn that I can not eat wheat products, pork or anything fatty/oily. Beer is a no go as well 🙁

    I have discovered that I like whiskey tho…. that’s good 😀

  201. A frightening experience for you all. I am so sorry you had to go through this. Sending you warmth, comfort, light, peace and a sense of space. Hopefully some of the unshakeable malaise you’ve been suffering from will now pass. A couple of years ago a colleague in her twenties felt her sense of wellbeing was transformed (in a positive way) after recovering from this surgery. I hope that’s how it is for you.

  203. Praying for a more peaceful recovery for you where you can sleep well, read all the books you want and just rest.

  204. Hugs and rest…prayers for a smooth recovery and for your family!

    (My dad had his removed the same way several years ago his recovery went well!)

  209. I pray you have a swift recovery! I had to change my diet after my gallbladder surgery, please check with your doctor and dietitian to see if you will need to modify yours.

  210. Take care Ilona. Sorry this happened but grateful it appears to have been successful.

  213. Zen hugs to you and your family! Sending healing energy your way and best wishes for a speedy and easy recovery.

  216. Ilona, I just saw this and am glad they were able to do the laparoscopic surgery…you’ll heal much faster. I had mine done this way 15+ years ago, healed quickly, and have not had any problems since (not even dietary restrictions.)

    I’m sending all kinds of healing, loving vibes your way. Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery, and lots of peace and rest in the meanwhile. 🥰💕💕

  217. Well of course even the horde will behave.
    We will not complain.
    We will send you our best wishes, healing energy O whatever each one believes.
    You get well, rest or exercise, concentrate on your well-being, and we will support you.
    Because the horde loves you.

  219. So sorry that your gallbladder quit working properly! Wishing you a speedy recovery. My 30 yo daughter just had hers out 2 weeks ago after suffering 3 years of pain. By the time she decided to have it out, it was severely inflamed. There was only one gallstone of “impressive” size (per the surgeon). Fortunately, they were still able to do laparoscopic surgery to remove it. It’s amazing what they can do these days-hers was robot assisted for precision, and she only had 4 small incisions in a line across her middle. They superglued those, so no stitches! She’s had worse cat scratches. She is so happy that there is no more pain, and I wish the same for you.

  220. Omg, both sad and happy for you! You had to have surgery, but you came through like a champ! Be kind to yourself during your recovery period, it will take a bit to feel normal again.

  221. So sorry to hear about all the pain you’ve been in, and that you needed surgery. Wishing you a complete and uncomplicated recovery, with better health and vitality ahead. Please rest and take care of yourself! Wishing you well, Claire

  222. I hope you have a smooth recovery; glad you got that sucker out! Gallbladder/pancreas pain is indeed the worst.

    I procrastinated too long before getting mine removed, so I had a return hospital trip to finish the job, so to speak (sparing everyone the details). I’m eating pretty normally now, just have to pay attention to timing of meals.

    Take it easy and let Gordon and the Kids spoil you!

  223. I am so very grateful to hear that you’re already back home and recovering there instead of being stuck in the hospital. You have my continued prayers.🙏🏽

  224. Get well soon! I had complications after mine and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. Hope all is well.

  225. Wishing you a speedy recovery! I had this happen. Not fun, but oh so much better after!

  227. Sorry for the pains!! Glad you listened to your body and got in quickly with the help of my fav hero, Gordon! Rest and heal, only good vibes being sent your way, Ilona, for a speedy recovery, hugs!

  228. I hope this solves your problems. You have been a trouper pushing through many physical issues for many years. Get a Groupon for a fancy hotel in Houston or San Antonio and have a completely personal weekend.

  229. I had this happen on a business trip. it’s the worst. I hope you heal up quickly and how very kind of you to finish Roman for us first! 😉

  231. Oh no! Feel better! My mom had to have emergency gallbladder surgery a few years ago, and the recovery was quite long. Take it easy while your body recovers and take care of yourself!

  232. I’m so sorry for your scare! And relieved there was a solution that could happen right away. Sending you good thoughts for a smooth recovery. Take care of yourself and don’t worry about us — we’ll be here whenever you’re ready. Thanks for thinking of us all (which is pretty amazing in itself). All the best, Ann

  234. The good thing? It was caught in time. Hope you have a speedy recovery and take all other things at your pace.

  235. I’m sorry that you needed intervention and delighted that it’s been addressed so that you can heal.

    The only times I ever noticed mine had gone was on major feast days. Christmas,Easter and such were enlightened. I could no longer eat 3 plates of the wonderful stuff without having a shorter and somewhat lesser “gall bladder attack” because the gall bladder that kept the extra digestive juices for those indulgent occasions had been removed from the system.

    My experience was that I began to feel the improvement in under 48 hours.

  236. I had my gallbladder out two years ago! I’ve never felt pain like it other than when I had a kidney stone. It was awful. You will feel so much better now that it’s out. Hugs!

  237. I wish you an easy and full recovery. I’m glad you have your family members taking care of you so well.

  238. Wishing you a speedy recovery! I remember being totally frightened watching my dad keel over while walking, due to the severity of gall bladder pain. (He had surgery right after too.) I do remember he was much better after recovering from surgery; he hadn’t realized how bad things had gotten until he was pain free. Sending positive thoughts to you and yours!

  242. Ilona, please take care of yourself( I know you have wonderful help and that’s awesome)and I hope you get well soon. Having something out can be traumatic- but it can also be a relief. You may be pleasantly surprised that many of your other problems will dissipate or become more manageable. Fingers crossed. All the best in your recovery. Cheers!

  244. My gall bladder put me in a 10 day coma, spread sepsis through my organs (because they couldn’t diagnose the problem for days before they took it out), and came very close to killing me. I am so glad it was much better for you – you and your husband are by far my favorite writers. I am sure I reread your books after moving out of IC and into a regular hospital room [memory is a bit foggy].

  245. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Just had mine remove in March 7 so I understand the recovery isn’t easy and lifting restrictions are not fun!

  246. Take very good care of your self. Treat yourself like you would if it was Kid 1 or 2. Here, dogs make excellent sickbed companions. Your mileage may vary 😉

  248. I hope you have a smooth and speedy recovery, but that you also take the recovery slowly, and when you have some energy back do some fun things before you get back to work.

    Lots of good thoughts for Gordon and the kids too, it’s terrifying when something like this happens, so lots of animal cuddling for every one!

  249. Glad to hear that things are improved from Tuesday. All members of House Andrews take care of yourselves. Your devoted Book Devourers are sending healing vibes and positive thoughts.

  250. I’m glad you were cared for so quickly and that you are on the mend with loving caregivers! Best of luck to you in your recovery.

  251. I had my gallbladder removed 6 weeks ago, so I know just how you are feeling. A month from now you will feel so much better. But there will be “bathroom issues” for a while (as in, stay close to one) depending upon what you can tolerate. Hugs and hope you feel better soon.

  252. Oh much empathy. and sympathy. and hugs. and love. and wishes for quick
    recovery. Take good care of you! So sorry for the pain. so exhausting.

    l0ve

  253. Hoping for only good things headed your way, Ilona! Lots of rest and healing and hopefully feeling better soon. Take care of yourself and don’t feel pressured to return to work too soon. I’ve never regretted taking time to take care of myself after illness or injury, but I sure have regretted going back to work too soon.

  254. Best wishes and restful thoughts in your general direction.. thanks for all the things, but right now take care of you!!

  255. Rest, pet a fur baby, relax, pet a fur baby, recover, pet a fur baby. Healing vibes to you. Good that you have your supportive family. You mean a lot to many people.

  256. My mom had the same issue in 2021. Be careful with your diet bc you can suffer from almost immediate diarrhea or vomiting especially with pork products. Sending all the positive healing vibes.

  258. Gallbladder attacks are *brutal*. Also, a thing of the past for both of us. Feel better soon!

  259. Speedy healing! The one thing I can recommend HEAVILY is to pay attention to the lifting limitations! My laparoscopic surgery was pretty textbook, but I found myself not realizing I was attempting to lift above the weight limit until after I was mid-lift.

    It’s still not severe, but I did end up one of the few who needed a small hernia repair a few years on down the line. So baby yourself, and you should be feeling much better quite quickly!

  260. Sorry for the pain and panic it induced – glad the recovery portion has started.

    Rest and rejoice in each other, and those out-of-body hugs y’all feel are from the BDH, with y’all in spirit.

  261. I have to limit screen time this week and next but wanted to send my best wishes to you for a swift and uncomplicated recovery. And thank you for Sanctuary on this blog.

  262. Ahh! Gallbladder pain sucks razorblades dipped in lemon juice! Hope you’re feeling better!

  263. So glad you & your doctors were already on the ball with this AND that you paid attention to your body. Glad to gear you are back on your feet & be gentle on yourself. Any gut wound is going to take serious time to heal and pushing it can give you other yucky complications. Also, if your eyes seem extra weird-that can also be from the anesthesia. Crossing fingers your eyes can completely reset soonest and unblur completely. Jedi Hugs as Captain Awkward says (virtual via the Force🤣) if you want them and to your awesome family of super heros. Hopefully Gordon can relax a bit too after being such a kickass rock!

  264. So sorry you had to deal with that pain. I remember that feeling 32 years later. Sending you healing energy. Probably you will have to make a life style change to low fat foods (unless you are going to be near a bathroom). The good news is you will eventually adapt. I no longer have an issue, but since I learned to just eat that way, I am not sure how long it took.

  267. Suggestions to aid recovery:

    1) Keep a firm throw pillow or large stuffed animal with you, and use it to brace your tummy when you need to cough, laugh, or sneeze. (A friend kept a stuffed sheep the size of a large infant in her lap for weeks after her abdominal surgery.)

    2) Drink kefir regularly to help restore your beneficial gut bacteria. The antibiotics I’m sure you’re on will have killed a lot of them.

    3) Try mixing 1-2 Tbsp of peanut butter, 1-2 Tbsp flaxseed meal and lots of ginger (chopped fine or powdered) into a serving of fresh, hot oatmeal. This will soothe your stomach, and leave you feeling full for longer than just plain oatmeal, so you don’t have to eat (and possibly disturb your sore belly) as frequently.

    I also stir enough sriracha or chili pepper flakes into the peanut butter to make a paste that does wonders to open my sinuses. If you add chopped vegetables of your choosing, you get something like a spicy Thai peanut vegetable bowl even if it’s with oats rather than rice.

    Thank you for the Roman serial, and I look forward to buying it.

  268. Been there, done that, have the surgical gown. (Grin)

    Seriously though, watch your fats. Since I had mine, I’m not able to digest fats very well. so I get turkey bacon instead of the real thing, very few fried foods, and if I eat them, it’s only a few. Size example is half a small order of Mickey Dee’s French fries for the whole day. After I healed up, I felt wonderful. Wonder Woman eat your heart out wonderful. I hadn’t realized how badly the gall bladder had had me feeling until it was out and I was healed.

    As a member of the BDH in good standing, might I suggest reading 2 or 3 books a day and breaking out some new knitting project to help you heal and to sooth your tattered nerves.

  271. So gla you are ok, Ilona! Very sorry you had this pain, but so glad they could take care of it very quickly and “relatively” easily. Be good to yourself, please!

  272. Glad everything went well and you are out of the hospital. I had my gallbladder out a few years ago, and felt so much better once I recovered.

  273. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I clearly remember the gallbladder attacks, usually in the wee hours, rocking back and forth in bed groaning in pain. It felt like a wide belt cinched around my torso. I also had the laparoscopic surgery. WARNING: Don’t touch a grilled-cheese sandwich for about 3 months!
    But recovery for me went smoothly; and decades later, I’ve had no problems. I hope you recover swiftly.

  274. It’s great to live in a world where we can consign misbehaving (and not totally necessary organs) to the pit. I hope recovery is quick and easy. Take care!

  275. May your recovery be swift & pain free (or as pain free as possible):) Others have mentioned this, but diet becomes very important. There are foods that will be a problem if eaten; a sibling had gall bladder surgery in their 20’s & have had to mind what they’ve eaten ever since. Hidden silver lining is that minding the food intake usually means better health overall.

  276. I thought I was dying when I ended up in the emergency room for my gallbladder. Hope you have a speedy easy recovery.

  277. Just wanted to wish you a smooth, speedy and full recovery. You had a really serious health event happen to you! Well done to recognize how serious and address it in good time. We will all miss you but I’m so happy you will be well and be back with us again when you’re ready.

  278. Please, please, please, take care of yourself. We ( the Horde) love you and we want you ( and Gordon of course) healthy and happy. This is the way we may have a lot of more wonderful books for many years. I am reading (again) Inkeeper and I think more Kate after. I had to learn english to do this, because in Spain only had four Kate Daniels translated and I thought what the actual fuck… so I had to learn to read. Wonderful journey until now. Millions hugs very very gently to you.

  280. I feel your pain Ilona, literally. Had my gallbladder removed a year ago in December. My Mom & sister had theirs removed a few years before. They were doing great a few days later and back to their normal diet. I still can’t eat fat or I have pain. I lost a lot of weight and learned I had a lot of fat in my diet. I’m fine so long as I’m careful with the amount of fat per day. Hope you are getting lots of TLC and are up and at ‘em soon. Sending healing thoughts.

  281. Heal quickly. My son had a surgery also on the 4th for his lungs. Unfortunately we are still here as it is lung related. Take care and follow doc orders.

  284. Laparoscopic is at least the best way to get rid of it but surgery is still surgery. My mother had to do this within six months of my youngest sibling being born, it’s not an easy thing to deal with. Best wishes to you, take care of yourself.

  285. Thinking of Ilona and hoping your recovery time gives you deep rest and that you are feeling better soon

  287. May your recovery be peaceful and relaxing with wonderful movies to watch and delicious teas to enjoy!

  288. I’m so sorry you are going the of this! Sending you lots of love and wishing you a speedy recovery.

  289. Sorry you had to go through all that pain but happy the trouble making gallbladder is no more. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Follow orders, be kind to yourself, and we’ll “see” you soon.

  291. The only treatment we have, I’m afraid.

    Glad to hear the gallbladder is out, you evidently tolerated surgery well. Now, heal up!

  292. Take care of yourself lady. I worked 10 years as a nurse for a general surgeon and have seen many Lap Chole’s (that’s your surgery’s nickname).

    I wasn’t going to make any comments but felt I had to…. First of all and most important…Follow your doctor’s instructions. He/she would have given you post op instructions. Please follow those. I know people want to help but sometimes recommendations can actually cause problems. Listen to your doctor.

    I was then going to give you a whole bunch of do’s and don’ts, but i think that would make me a hypocrite. (LOL) Just take care of yourself and follow the doc’s instructions. You’ll be up in no time and feeling better (hopefully you already are). Hint though. Bran really helps with side effects of pain medication.

  295. Congrats on joining the gallbladder free group. My adult daughter went down the same road around 35 years of age. I (Dad) took her in a very fast drive in the middle of the night to meet a ambulance thinking she was having a heart attack, so yes, the pain is really bad. And as others have mentioned, watch your diet a bit. It settles down over time. One weird one is be stingy on fresh chopped or sliced onions, it may cause digestive upset. The up side is if anyone claims “How can you have the Gall to say that?” you can tell them you DONT!!

  296. Adding my wishes for a speedy, problem free recovery. Hoping all the good karma you and Gordon have built with your fabulous books and generous serials brings you a return to full health very soon but please take time to recover and enjoy some down time with your family. We will all be here when you are ready.

  297. It is very terrible pain. I had mine out over 30 years ago. You may find it takes a little time for your system to adjust, but you will get there. Eating fatty foods was very hard for my new GI system to adjust to, so going light on that might be helpful. Very glad you are OK, you will feel better.

  298. I came home from work one day,to find my husband dealing with acute, unending pain, begging to be taken to the ER. Yes, it was his gall bladder. I’m so sorry that you and Gordan, by extension, had to go through that. I never would have believed a gall bladder issue could cause that sudden onset and continuation of such intense, severe pain. It was very scary, for both of us as it must have been for you. My heart goes out to you both. So much to happen in such a short period of time. Continue to take care of you and each other. Your horde family is sending good energy your way. Family first!

  299. Sorry to hear you had to go through this. I had a similar experience, gallstones are no joke, very painful. Surgeon said they did these so often that it was a “bread and butter surgery”. Its been several years now and quite frankly I never miss having a gallbladder. So wishing you a speedy recovery and as happy an outcome.

  300. Oh my! I am so glad you are home and recovering after such a whirlwind of pain and surprise surgery. Good for Gordon and fam for being great support. My girlfriend had a similar experience with gall bladder surprise surgery and she is doing great, five years and no further issues. Of course you must follow the recovery directions and make some changes in diet, but (judging by my friends experience) the prognosis is very good. BIG HUGS and healing light streaming your way. XO Be well.

  301. I’m happy the surgery went well. Get well soon!! Take care of yourselves. We‘re sending virtue hugs & happy thoughts.

  303. I’m so glad you’re on the mend. I had surgery this week as well (planned), and am recuperating with the re-reading of Hidden Legacy series. 😀

  304. Oh, lord. Been there with the gallbladder pain. I’m sorry you had to go through that. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Absence of pain is a wonderful thing!

  305. Ouch, I hope you recover quickly! I had gallbladder surgery in 2017 after going to the emergency room twice for inexplicable extreme pain. Felt SO much better after it was out. Sometimes I still have trouble with really fatty food, but you can get pills with dried replacement bile and they work pretty well.

  307. Usually by the time it needs taken out you have been sicker than you realized for a long time. It took me a really long time to feel better after gallbladder surgery. I was tired for a long time- and then I felt fantastic!!!! Made me so, so much better and healthier. I hope you recover quick and feel like superwoman.

  308. I am so sorry for you and your family, medical emergencies are scary. I hope you have an excellent and speedy recovery. Just the release from the pain must be a relief.

  310. In my head I see this:
    News: Ilona had to have urgent surgery
    BDH: Sends love, advice, more love and more advice
    KD: ‘Keep fighting’
    NB: ‘I need to come around and check she’s telling the truth’
    DD: ‘Come to Gertrude Hut and we will care for you’
    Me: when I had my gallbladder out, the surgeon said ‘don’t believe what others tell you, you can eat whatever you want’. Best Surgeon Ever!

  311. I’m so sorry this happened to you, and so thankful that you are okay. Good vibes for a speedy recovery.

  312. I’m so sorry to hear about that Ilona, gallbladder pain can be excruciating. I had my gallbladder out about 5 plus years ago, so it’s perfectly fine not to be back 100% for some time.

  314. Oh no. I’m late to read this news and I really hope Ilona is well on the road to recovery.

    I too am part of the gallbladder free society and can confirm the pain from the attacks was…

    …so bad I thought I was having a heart attack…

    … so bad I would pass out on the bathroom floor, with my face smushed on the floor and my butt in the air as it’s the only position that helped… and then I would “come to” and throw up…

    …worse than my first experience of child birth, where the epidural only took on one half of my body…

    …much worse than my second experience of child birth, where the anaesthetic wore off before they finished stitching me back up from a c-section!

    Life will be so much better without it! Unless perhaps you are of Hong Kong Chinese descent where apparently a very small % of the population have the ability to regenerate a removed gallbladder. Like what?! I think my surgeon told me this odd fact to make me feel better.

  316. I am so sorry! I just saw this and it seems like you are already on the mend. Please take care. (4/9)

  318. oh no, I missed this post, I how that the recovery goes well and that you feel better soon.
    xx

  321. I hope you are doing better. Somehow,, I missed this so my well wishes are kind of late but I hope they find you feeling much better

  322. I can’t believe you were walking so soon after surgery. The doctors can do amazing things these days. I’m glad your surgery went well and I’m sending warm wishes for a speedy recovery! 💐

  324. My sympathies on the surgery. A suggestion for your comfort from someone who has had many surgeries in case you haven’t tried it. Get one of those freezer plastic ice pack things, wrap it in the softest old towel you have so you don’t frost burn your skin and use it to numb things up a bit if you have a long day and are feeling twinges of discomfort even this far after the surgery. I’ve found it helps and I hope you do too.

  325. I am sending all the good healing juju your way! Rest, knit or crochet, watch some good movies or TV and most importantly take good care to follow doctor’s instructions. (I suck at this!)

  327. I had my gall bladder removed after a trip to the ER with excruciating pain. It felt like someone had reached in and grabbed my intestines and twisted them. (Right side of the body). I went easy on the fats for a few months after. Can’t say I miss it at all.

  328. Only learned about this today! I’m glad to hear the surgery went well. I wish you a speedy recovery and healing ❤️‍🩹!

  331. I am so sorry. I too had an emergency cholecystectomy and all I can tell you is that it does get better. If your gallbladder has been bad then you probably couldn’t stand as much food or fat as 10 years ago anyway. It was slow, but over 3-4 years my fat and food tolerance did increase. Don’t believe them when they say it only takes a year. It has taken longer for everyone I know. Also, know that pills like Prilosec can make digestion worse, not better, so if your doctor has you try them, give it a try but after a trial maybe try without them too.

    I wish for you an excellent recovery.

  332. Hope you’re feeling much better now! I had my gallbladder out a few years ago and was surprised at how quickly I healed. (I’d had major abdominal surgery several years before that and it took 3+ months to heal.) Laparoscopic surgery is definitely better. As others have recommended, go easy on the fat intake. I can eat anything now but try to monitor how much fatty food I eat. If I overdo it, I pay for it. Feel better soon!!! You deserve some pampering by your family. (We need a magic wave to hit so Doolittle can heal you quicker.)

  335. so sorry to hear about your surgery. please take care of yourself. Sorry have been dealing with the loss of mom and haven’t been checking the site.

  336. So glad you’re healing quickly! Just wanted to mention that if a GLP-1 agonist is part of your new diabetes medication regimen, then it’s possible the GLP-1 agonist (e.g., semaglutide, etc.) could have contributed to the gallbladder issue since that is a known side effect. With the wide adoption of these medications (though largely safe), it’s good to make sure all side effects are reported to the FDA so they get an idea of how likely this side effect truly is, especially in women over 40, since it seems that it’s most likely in this group.

  338. Best wishes for a speedy recovery! It is important that you look after your health!

    The free fiction added was delicious – of course it made me want more – ignore me! Looking forward to the future for when it comes. Focus on your own needs!

  340. Sorry for all this but you have Gordon and the girls to help you recover. They are going to do great and so are you. Rest and let them take care of you. The BDH is sending you love and healing energy.

  341. Feel better soon. Had the same surgery a few years ago. Having to sort my diet was and still is not fun. No more hot salsa for me. 😢

  342. As you make your recovery, be sure to avoid fatty foods as much as possible. Otherwise you will be enjoying the bathroom while everyone else is enjoying the evening. Eventually you will be able to eat some fatty food but everyone’s recovery is different. Have both a daughter and a husband who have had gallbladder surgery. It does get better. Just give it time and be kind to yourself.

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