February 13, 2005: Hello and Thank You!

I'm back, obviously, short one gall bladder and a lot of bile.

Sheryl... who is out at the market... made me promise not to go on line the minute I was home, but she had read me many of your comments in my narcotic stupor and I couldn't relax in my own bed until I had expressed my thanks (or taken a Vicodin). I don't want to sound maudlin, but I was deeply touched by what you all said. This is an amazing new world we are living in with amazing connections.

More tomorrow when I am (I hope) more sensible. And, yes, I saw a photograph of my own gall bladder before it was sent off to be recycled. And, no, I'm not going to post it. I've always believed a writer is only as good as he is willing to share himself honestly with his readers, but some things can go too far. Suffice it to say my gall bladder was not my "good side" and was an onery sucker. It took a while to get out, nearly three hours, but it's gone. Before I go, a special shout out to my surgeon, Dr. Eiman Firoozmand (yes, an Iranian-- Cedars Sinai Medical Center is the true United Nations) who managed to keep my surgery laparoscopic despite all.

Comments

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Roger, welcome back!

It is an amazing new world, isn't it, of such deep and friendly connections without physical contact?

I hope your recovery is not so much speedy as solid. Take it VERY easy and don't be afraid of being called a wimp. :)

Posted by: WichitaGirl at February 13, 2005 5:19 PM

So glad to hear you are back. All the best!

Posted by: Katherine at February 13, 2005 5:20 PM

I’m glad that you are back---and Eason Jordan is gone. The new media kick butt. In the long run, we should usually prove victorious. It was only a short time ago some people were ready to throw in the towel:

“To Eason or Not To Eason?

Although he wishes he were wrong, Gerard says that Easongate is effectively over. The MSM is stonewalling on the Davos video and there is nothing we poor bloggers can do.”

Posted by: David Thomson at February 13, 2005 5:22 PM

Quick! Log off! I just heard a car pull up!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at February 13, 2005 5:23 PM

Hi Roger--

I take it your "recycled" gall bladder might end up in Dean-o, Barbara Boxer, Ted Kennedy, or Ward Churchill should they wear out their own bile containers?

Posted by: Connecticut Yankee at February 13, 2005 5:50 PM

Wonderful!

So now do you get to play the convalescing husband role and get waited on hand and foot?

(I was actually able to pull it off once for about a day . . .)

Posted by: Skookumchuk at February 13, 2005 5:51 PM

Welcome back! It is an amazing old world, isn't it? It surprised me how concerned I could be about someone I've never met - and in a personal way, not in the distant way one might feel concerned for a famous face. I don't participate in much discussion here, but I have come to rely on you as a voice of reason and considered, thoughtful, moderate opinion - as though you were a good neighbor that I talk to every day. You were sorely missed, and I'm very glad that whatever kept the surgery going for that long, you were in very good hands. Take it easy and heal yourself! We'll be here when you feel better. Best wishes to your family.

Posted by: socalgal at February 13, 2005 5:52 PM

Post the photos! Full disclosure!

Posted by: Charles Johnson at February 13, 2005 5:58 PM

The next time anybody tries to tell you Tom Friedman of the NYT is a reasonable voice on the left, Quote them this!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at February 13, 2005 6:00 PM

Wonderful news!! Roger is back. Three cheers for Dr. Firoozmand. May the Simon family take some deserved rest and here is wishing Roger a steady and full recovery. We'll all be here when you get back to full strength, so don't feel rushed. In some things the blogosphere is infinitely patient.

(I trust it was agreed that the good doctor would leave you a tad of gall and bile to direct at the mullahs and reactionaries when occasion warrants.)

Posted by: mongai at February 13, 2005 6:08 PM

Sorry, Charles, I tried that already. Apparently Roger is embarrassed by that peace symbol tattoo he got on his gall bladder at Woodstock...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at February 13, 2005 6:14 PM

I thought that maybe the shock of being elevated to the level of the MSM by the LAT may have triggered something. Good to know it was something fairly ordinary.

Posted by: Neo at February 13, 2005 6:15 PM

Welcome home, Roger. As someone who has undergone abdominal surgery twice and has the scars to prove it, I am glad you got the laparoscopic treatment. Kudos to Dr. Firoozmand.

Take it easy and don't overdo the blogging. Unfortunately, the UN and MSM will still be here when you get back.

Posted by: Yehudit at February 13, 2005 6:44 PM

Glad to have you back, Roger--you've been missed. But don't try to do too much too soon. This is a time to indulge yourself, so take full advantage of it. Pretend you are a Victorian heroine convalescing from the vapors, and just wave a white hanky at us occasionally.

Posted by: vexedTXn at February 13, 2005 6:52 PM

Welcome back Roger, and may your healing go well.

Vicodin probably isn't the best way to blog, but we'll look forward to whatever lucidity allows.

Posted by: John Lynch at February 13, 2005 6:56 PM

Congratulations, and welcome back.

Posted by: Dishman at February 13, 2005 7:05 PM

Welcome back. Glad to hear it all went well.

Posted by: Retread at February 13, 2005 7:20 PM

Roger

Good to see you back. Glad to here it went well and take easy for a few days

Posted by: Joachim at February 13, 2005 7:38 PM

Roger, you only had to undergo a mere gall bladder operation. We had to go cold turkey while you were away. Do you know how hard it is to get through a day without your blog?

Welcome back, we missed you!

Posted by: Richard Nieporent at February 13, 2005 7:39 PM

Roger, Welcome back! Glad that you're headed toward recovery. I'm sure your family is quite relieved. Blog when you're ready. We'll talk amongst ourselves till you return.

You didn't happen to run into Eason Jordan while you were in the hospital? Apparently he had something removed within the last couple of days too.

Posted by: Barry Dauphin at February 13, 2005 8:02 PM

Rog:

I should go all medieval on you, quote Hippocrates or Aristotle on the bodily humours and worry that losing your gall bladder might inhibit your righteous choleric against the vulgarians.

But instead, a heartfelt 'get well soon'...please. For my sake! Habit has me--like some crazed monkey in a Skinner box--clicking on your fedora icon at the top of my browser bookmark bar twenty times a day. Where's Roger?
Need...a...fix...bad...nothing...new...to...read....help. (Where'd I put MY vicodin.)

Posted by: John© at February 13, 2005 8:05 PM

Roger - it's cool that in the midst of a narcotic stupor you could "feel the love". I do hope that experience isn't quite like hearing yourself eulogized while lying in a casket after eating some bizarre paralyzing seafood!

Anyway - I'm so happy to hear the surgery went well. Listen to smart advice. Rest up! (and quick - hide that computer before Sheryl gets home. She might get the mistaken impression that you're an addict or something)...

Posted by: Caroline at February 13, 2005 8:14 PM

Glad your operation went well and happy that you will soon be blogging again. Just don't rush it -- your health is most important.

Posted by: Michael Babbitt at February 13, 2005 8:14 PM

Vicodin probably isn't the best way to blog....

Party pooper.

Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) at February 13, 2005 8:15 PM

I don't know about Vicodin, but when I was on morphine, I detected no cognitive impairment (other than being slowed down) and others around me didn't either.

Welcome back. It sounds like a tough operation, or you would have been back sooner.

Now, who was it that made all the money betting when Roger would return....

Posted by: John Moore ( Useful Fools ) at February 13, 2005 8:19 PM

Great to hear from you....and to have your digits tap dancing their magic message once again. [you did come away with all your digits didn't you?]

As you and I both know from recent experience, medicine in a free and industrious US of A is a miracle. My primary cardiac surgeon seven weeks ago was a genius from India!

Posted by: Wallace at February 13, 2005 8:26 PM

Roger's back(!!) and convalescing brilliantly, no doubt. We're all so glad the worst part is over, though they say it takes a while to recover from the red Jell-O and purple juice they serve you on lime plastic trays...

Posted by: charlotte at February 13, 2005 8:30 PM

Welcome home. Never before have so few given so much for so many--the gall stones that is.

Posted by: Old Dad at February 13, 2005 9:02 PM

Roger, I hate you. I have a minor stroke this past week and you have to go and trump it with gall bladder surgery. You are so inconsiderate.

So, you get to see the stones? I've heard of cases where the beasts where 'bout as large as the gall bladder itself.

Get better, and take some advantage of the wife. It's an insult if you take too great an advantage, but it's also an insult if you don't take advantage at all.

Posted by: mythusmage at February 13, 2005 9:11 PM

Wow.That was fast !!
Glad to hear that everything seems to have gone perfectly,and that you are able to post even while a little 'spacy'.
Take care and get well ------ we all can't wait for Roger to once more be in the house.
Just not the same without you.

Posted by: dougf at February 13, 2005 9:11 PM

glad to know you're doing Ok.

let us know when you can laugh again...:)

Posted by: bkochba at February 13, 2005 9:14 PM

dear roger:
remind me to tell you my vicodin story--two days of narcotic stupor and ludicrous behavior at JFK airport trying to get to Cairo after my flight was concelled. note: found out later that I am allergic to vicodin. can't wait to read your posts! heh.
so glad you're back and recovering. our community has missed its sage tho we have hung together.

Posted by: ms anne at February 13, 2005 9:20 PM

Roger,

Welcome back. Take care ...

Posted by: VietPundit at February 13, 2005 9:37 PM

Three hours!!! Mine was bigger than they thought, but there's no way it took more than an hour and a half.

Glad you made it through. You'll be up and around in no time, but the hurting while you laugh thing might hang around for a couple of weeks. It will be difficult with a 5 (6?) year old around.

Bless you and your family.

Posted by: kynna at February 13, 2005 9:51 PM

Thank the Lord you're back! Take it easy for awhile now...you deserve it.

Posted by: Macker at February 13, 2005 10:28 PM

Good grief, they sent you home after one day? Treat 'em and street 'em...

Take it easy. No sushi, no pizza, no coffee, no wine...see you, I'm gettting hungry.

Glad you're on the mend!

Posted by: PJ at February 13, 2005 10:35 PM

it's great to have you back, Roger. Your blog is a truly pleasant place to visit, and I do so every day..
also, and I don't like to be TOO gruesome here, but now that you are home and functioning well, maybe you can answer this:... do they remove the stones only or do they take out the whole gall bladder, and if the latter, how does this work with a laproscopy? An Andrew Sullivan gore fest is not necessary, but a clinical description would be nice. (I must admit that I have spent the past 2 weeks immersing myself in a series of True Murder books, so this kind of question seems logical. If it isn't, just say so.)

Cheers! to you and your family.

Posted by: heather at February 13, 2005 10:37 PM

Roger,Good to see you out and about, and you have an alibi for the Eason Jordan defenestration.
Nice to see your gall bladder has gone to set up its own blog,BladderBlog,I hope it links with Dennis http://dennisthepeasant.typepad.com/

Posted by: PeterUK at February 13, 2005 11:09 PM

I don't know about Vicodin, but when I was on morphine, I detected no cognitive impairment (other than being slowed down) and others around me didn't either.

Should have asked for more morphine. I told you the oral stuff was no fun.

Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) at February 13, 2005 11:23 PM

Roger:

Just be thankful you did not need follow up care. You might have had someone like me coming to your home to take care of you. If you know what I mean.

Posted by: Terrye at February 14, 2005 2:35 AM

Mine was removed a couple of years ago. My wife tells the story of her sitting in the recovery room with me, waiting for the happy stuff to wear off. A nurse pops in the door, says to my wife, "He's cute, is that your husband?" Yes was the reply, and with that the nurse proceeded to get up on my bed and give me a big hug.

My wife was surprised, but laughed about it. When she told me about it later, I was upset, the nurse hadn't even left a number!

Anyway, welcome back, have a smooth and non-stressful recovery. Like all of your other fans, I certainly miss your insights.

Posted by: Ed Poinsett at February 14, 2005 4:12 AM

Good news! Glad to hear things are going well and hope to be reading more from you very soon.

Posted by: Denise Olson at February 14, 2005 4:28 AM

I am glad you are on the way to recovery. God bless.

Posted by: Navy Mom at February 14, 2005 5:30 AM

Glad you're back!
Take it easy, and be well,

Posted by: Fausta at February 14, 2005 5:58 AM

Wow, Roger. What some people won't do for a little extra attention!

Looks like your weekend was a bit more eventful than mine.

May you recover completely and quickly (in order of importance)...a Refuah Sh'laymuh.

Bruce

Posted by: Bruce W. at February 14, 2005 7:11 AM

Wow, Roger. What some people won't do for a little extra attention!

Looks like your weekend was a bit more eventful than mine.

May you recover completely and quickly (in order of importance)...a Refuah Sh'laymuh.

Bruce

Posted by: Bruce W. at February 14, 2005 7:11 AM

Welcome back, Roger! Mmmmm...Vicodin! I got that when I got my wisdom teeth out. Fun stuff! Didn't care about anything; happy happy!

Can you feel the love? Or is that just the drugs?!

Posted by: BeckyJ at February 14, 2005 7:13 AM

Roger:

Welcome back! Isn't Laproscopic Surgery is great.

But I have to know...How can you maintain your status as part of the VRWC without sufficent bile?

Posted by: jerry at February 14, 2005 7:27 AM

Roger:

Welcome back! Isn't Laproscopic surgery great?

I am concerned though. How can you maintian your membership in the VRWC if you don't have sufficient bile?

[may be a repeat post]

Posted by: jerry at February 14, 2005 7:30 AM

Glad you're back & all's well. Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

Posted by: Ben at February 14, 2005 7:31 AM

Welcome home--rest! then write!

Posted by: RogerA at February 14, 2005 7:51 AM

Glad to hear you're on the mend!

Posted by: Pat Curley at February 14, 2005 7:58 AM

Good to hear you are home again and beginning your recovery. We need Sheryl to get you set up in one of those old people's bendy bed thingies with your laptop. No excuses for not feeding our habit around here. Yaknow, once upon a time women working the fields paused just long enough to squat and give birth and then resumed working the fields. Having your gall bladder yanked out through a straw is insufficient excuse for 3 days off.

Posted by: Knucklehead at February 14, 2005 8:27 AM

Glad to see you made it out of the hospital in one piece - maybe missing a piece or two, but overall in one piece. Getting out of the hospital fast is half the battle.

Please rest, my good man!

Posted by: Percy Dovetonsils at February 14, 2005 8:36 AM

So this wife returns from her physical and her husband finds her upstairs, naked, admiring herself in the mirror.

H: "That the heck are you doing?" asks the husband.

W: "The doctor said I have the body of a 20 year old and, you what what, I think he's right!"

H: "Well, what did he say about your fat ass?"

W: "He didn't mention you at all."

Posted by: Knucklehead at February 14, 2005 8:36 AM

Welcome back, Roger! If you really don't want to laugh, don't look at Boxer's boxer shorts that were posted on Drudge. They're more like thongs, to annoy one in the arse! *giggle*

You have no gall to post your pictures? Sorry, couldn't resist.....glad you're back!

Posted by: LemonDrop at February 14, 2005 8:45 AM

Roger,

Please take time to recuperate without taking steps backward!

We love hearing what you have to say, but not at a cost to your healthy progress.

Besy Wishes.

Wil

Posted by: WilDaMan at February 14, 2005 8:48 AM

Welcome back, Roger! I hope that your recovery continues to go well. It's a pleasure to have one of the web's great gentlemen back with us.

Posted by: Silicon valley Jim at February 14, 2005 9:30 AM

Nice to hear that everything went well, Roger. You might want to stop following the news for a few days, just to keep down your bile production. Work on your next Moses Wine book instead. ;)

The choice is yours, of course. Meanwhile, here's hoping you have a speedy recovery.

Posted by: utron at February 14, 2005 9:59 AM

So glad it all went well, Roger. Welcome back!

Posted by: Franco Aleman (Barcelona, Spain) at February 14, 2005 10:13 AM

Welcome back Roger !!! Glad you pulled through OK ... am cooking home-made chicken soup on stove - wish I had virtual smell/taste-o-vision! I'd give you some!

Posted by: notthisgirl at February 14, 2005 12:40 PM

Oh my. I missed the whole thing. Hope your operation was videotaped! We demand its release to know the truth!

I'm sorry you had to go through it, Roger, but am delighted everything worked out (er, was excised) fine!

Posted by: Syl at February 14, 2005 4:35 PM

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