[at-l] One Month Ago Today

[Jan Leitschuh]

Holy crap, Artie!
What does "peculiar" feel like?
I've sometimes wondered about my gallbladder, being such a cheese-eater.

You sure didn't act peculiar that day ... well, any more than normal, such as normal is.
;-)

>[at-l] One Month Ago Today
Art Cloutman Art at crystalacresnh.com
Tue Sep 18 15:13:12 CDT 2007

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I headed to Rutland, VT to attend the Long Trail Festival and see 
Jan's presentation.  The traffic was very heavy particularly through 
North Woodstock, VT, but i made it on time to hear most of Jan's 
talk.  Then Jan, Suz , Rick and I went into town for a nice dinner at 
an Italian restaurant.  Back at the fairgrounds I set up my tent then 
walked around talking with hikers, a local cop, and listening to 
music.  The next morning plans had been made to ride up to Stowe to 
hike to the summit, Chin, of Mt. Mansfield.  When I awoke in the 
morning, I went down to the Twelve Tribes' stand for a big breakfast. 
I was feeling kind of peculiar but I took down my tent and went to 
find Jan and the rest of the gang.  Stumpknocker drove Mrs Gorps car 
with the addition of Jaybird and Scarecrow.  Jan rode in my truck 
with me because I was going to return to NH directly from Stowe to 
save about 2 hours of driving.  We drove up the scenic auto road to 
the vistors center in one car then walked 1.5 miles to the chin for 
some great views.  I was still feeling kind of strange.  Not my 
normal talkative upbeat self, but I really needed some time with my 
hiker friends.  Monday morning when I woke up at home I felt 
terrible.  Maybe it was the lack of sleep and change of diet over the 
weekend.  I took it easy.  I was better on Tuesday but relapsed on 
Wednesday.  Thursday I had chest pains so it was off to the emergency 
room of Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia.  The staff there 
was wonderful.  I just a few minutes it was determiined that I did 
not have a heart attack.  The following morning they did an ultra 
sound scan of my liver and gallbladder.  The liver look fine but the 
walls of my gallbladder were thickened and the gallbladder appeared 
collapsed.  We scheduled more tests for the following week that 
confirmed my gallbladder was not functioning.  So, Thursday 9/13/07 
it was taken out laproscopically.  I now have three holes in my 
belly, one directly under my belly button.  All are held closed with 
metal staples.  It was quite an experience for me because even after 
65 years I have never spent a night in a hospital.  I had never 
experience an I.V.  The night in the hospital after surgery I refused 
any pain killers.  I was discharged the next morning after a 
scrambled eggs and bacon with toast breakfast.  I was back at home on 
Crystal Lake before 11 A.M.  At 2 PM I took a little walk - didn't 
tell my wife.  Next Day I walked about 1 mile round trip.  Yesterday, 
I walked 2 miles and today I walked 3 miles.  On Monday 9/24 the 
staples come out.  Maybe after that I can get out on the trail for a 
day or two.

-- 

Life is Good!!!
Art Cloutman