now here's some good news for those who ignore their gallstones the first time they start hurting : if you're lucky (like me) your gallstones will manage to move down the cystic duct and almost clog your common bile duct. this will of course cause severe back and abdominal pain, nausea and headaches. the pain escalates after any kind of non-liquid food, sometimes leading to momentary lapse of the senses.

when you helplessly run out of your supply of vicodins from that last time and admit yourself to the er of your local hospital and they call your name 'shortly' within the next three hours, they will take an ultra-sound, get some blood samples and urine tests, in which they not only find blood cells but also symptoms of mild infections. they inform you that you're not leaving the hospital anytime soon and that the surgeon will see you tomorrow for a potential surgery.

now here's the best part : when they see you sweating in pain and struggling to breathe, one wise pharmacist walks in with the most teeny tiny needle in her hands, and she pokes it into your hand through the iv. within less than a minute you feel relieved, then your muscles all relax, your whole body floating. you can't help smiling. you close your eyes and enjoy the blissful calmness, you open your eyes and see faces coming and going, every one smiling.

i had an all liquid lunch with a chocolcate pudding as a dessert, i could feel the pain as i was swallowing the last few spoonfulls of pudding, and it started : the excruciating pain and the sweats, rolling on the bed i pushed the nurse button, and asked for my pain killer. within a minute another smiling lady walked in with the magic needle in her hands, and voila. i am in heaven once again.