Gallstones

First Attack

        

     
       I will never forget the first attack of pain. I was nineteen at that time and had no idea that I had stones in my gallbladder. There was intensifying pain in my  upper right portion of abdomen going through the center abdomen below breastbone. There was also pain in my back going to the shoulders.  That time I thought it just an ordinary stomach pain that will come and go. After the first attack I became paranoid with the pain. I noticed that the attacks happened after I've consumed too much fatty foods.

How I discovered it was gallstones

       It was 2009 when I  found out that the pain I am experiencing for how many years was gallstones. The pain was unbearable at that time and decided to have check up. The doctor requested  for a whole abdomen ultrasound.  The ultrasound confirmed that I have tiny stones in my gallbladder.  I consulted a gastroenterology doctor  in a hospital near our place.  My GI doctor prescribed medicines to dissolve the gallstones.  He explained that there's no assurance the gallstones can be dissolve through oral medications.  His suggestion is to have a surgery.
     Without assurance, I continued on prescribed oral medicines for months and months. Tried also herbal thing and drunk gallons of apple juice as many suggested to help dissolve the gallstones. From time to time I visit my GI doctor with a recent ultrasound for a comparison.

my ultrasound 2014 and 2015

         I celebrated every time there's changes in measurement of the stones but frustrated every time I had an attack.  Depressed and tired of the pain, I decided to let it go via surgery.

My Decision to Stop the Pain

        Tired of the pain, finally I made a decision to remove it via surgery. My doctor asked me what type of operation I prefer. There are two types, open surgery (open cholecystectomy) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.  I preferred the last one. 

        

January 2, 2017 admitted for the operation

     What I can remember during my operation was I was admitted a day before my scheduled operation. Surgeon, anesthesiologist and my GI doctor gave me briefing of what is going to happen on the procedure. A night before the operation, the surgeon put marks in my abdomen  where they will have incisions.  There were four tiny incisions in my abdomen. Incisions not open cut is the best thing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. 

   

my gallbladder removed via laparoscopic cholecystectomy

biopsy of the gallbladder and removing of the stones for remembrance

the foreign objects in my body for two decades

          Stayed in the hospital for three days. Two decades of pain is now over.  After three days in the hospital I was discharged with take home medicines.  Recovery at home is fast. Soft diet for a week then go back to regular diet. I was advised to have a follow up check up after a week.  If you have gallstones better decide early to remove it. Don't wait for years like what I did hoping  for it to disappear. Thankful to God for His sustaining grace for years I had these gallstones. Thankful too for His provisions.  In the Philippines, you will need  more or less 100,000 pesos for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thankful at that time that I have health card as a beneficiary of my husband. 

Well built

After the super typhoon Yolanda struck the Visayas region, images of shattered homes and washed out places was seen in places where the super typhoon landed. I was reminded of a Bible passage in

<sup>Luke 6: 46-49

46</sup> “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Those who trust in God is like a man who built his house in a solid foundation. Storms may come but it will not ruin the house. How many times our faith will be tested by so many storms in our lives.  So many winds of anxiety and hopelessness.  Sometimes the trials are unbearable and will drag us to give up. The Bible passage is a very good reminder for us to really put our trust in God. Lean on Him as our strong tower and do not depend on our own ability to survive.

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

          I've heard this poem from the  preaching illustration by Christ Commission Fellowship Pastor Peter Tan-Chi.  I was touched by this poem. 

Now I can see!

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
   John 9:1-7 (NIV)

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

        Many times in the Bible I read about the many miracles Jesus did.  How He healed the many, raise the dead and feed thousands.  Now what's new for me? God's word never lacks new revelation.  Today, my eyes were open to what Jesus' actions and the blind's response which is in verses 6 and 7.   In verse 6, Jesus did His part by putting a mud with saliva in the blind's eyes and commanded him to go to the pool and wash. Now, I ask myself why Jesus have to do this and not simply heal the blind instantly as what He did to many.  
  
1. The  main reason of the thing is to display the work of God-- that people will see the power and authority of Jesus and believe in Him as the Mesiah or Saviour of the world. 

2. It's a test of faith for the blind man. Jesus want to see if the blind man will believe and obey him.  By this scenario, I was reminded of man called Naaman in the Old Testament where Elisha instructed him to wash seven times in the Jordan river for him to be healed of his leprosy.  At first, Naaman doubted and with his pride refused to do it but later on obeyed and was healed.  

3. The act of  compassion for Jesus for the blind man and the act of surrender of the blind to the authority of Jesus over his sickness and of his sin.

MESSAGE:
Things happened for a reason. Jesus healed the blind man to display the work of God and in another way the blind man was healed because he believed and surrendered his life to the light of the world.

PROMISE:
Jesus is the light and those who walk with him will never be in darkness.  Darkness of present life because of consequences from sin and darkness for eternity because of God's punishment.

COMMAND: 
Go!  
We must do the work of God.

WARNING:
No specific warning but beware not to walk in the light.

APPLICATION:
- I am thankful to God for every revelations from His Word.  I will keep in mind that things happens for a reason and the reason behind is always to display the work of God and glorify Him in my life.  
- I will humble my self before Him and be sensitive always to His voice. 

Antipolo Star Resort

Last April 17, we had our fellowship swimming with our family friends at Antipolo Star Resort.  It's the newest resort in Antipolo which offers saltwater swimming pool.

    What makes this resort unique is the overlooking view.  It's like an open window facing the Rizal's lowland and the sierra madre mountains.  So refreshing!

Though at this time this is the only swimming pool, we enjoyed it and for the first time had a dip in a saltwater swimming pool, .  I appreciate  the presence of friendly lifeguards around the pool area. 

The comfort rooms are clean and designed artistically.  The only problem was that they have toilets rooms and only one shower room. Ang result...haba ng pila sa shower room. :-)

In general, naging maganda at nag enjoy kami dito.  Maybe next time mas mapaganda pa nila ito at mas maraming pools na :-)

My Report in ASL 1

Assessment of Learning report from Mirasol C R

Cornelius

My devotion for  tonight is in Acts 10:1-8

I was blessed with a man named Cornelius.  He showed an exemplary character of  what a true believer of Christ should be.   Here are his good examples:

• He and his family are God fearing
• Devout to the work of the Lord
• Giver to the needy
• He prayed to God regulary

The characteristics of Cornelius showed his genuine relationship with God.  His closeness to God led him to  greater things:

• Cornelius prayers and gifts to the poor became a memorial offering before God.
• Cornelius became God's instrument in spreading the Word of God to the gentiles. 

 MESSAGE:
1. God does not look on the nationality and status of life of a person to do greater works. He looks at how a person do things that pleases Him.
PROMISE:
God remembers our prayers and act of worship to Him.
COMMAND:
No specified commands, but I should stick to the examples of Cornelius to be God fearing, faithful to the work of the Lord, generous and prays regularly.
WARNING:
No specified warning.
APPLICATION:
I was blessed and challenged by the examples of Cornelius.  I will pray to God that like Cornelius,
-I will teach my children and my whole family to be God fearing.
-I will be faithful to the work of the Lord.
-I will continue to be a channel of His blessings to those people who are in need.
-I will commune to God daily