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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Gallbladder removed?

28 replies

wineoclockthanks · 21/03/2016 20:09

Has anyone had their gallbladder removed?

Any tips please? How long does it take to recover? Will things be any different afterwards?

Thanks

OP posts:

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vicarc123 · 22/03/2016 06:58

Initially felt so much better. Even lost weight with exercise regime. The problem is that you will feel confident about eating again so don't blame the surgery on any future weight gain! The only thing is softer stools. Overall no big change.

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mercifulTehlu · 22/03/2016 07:00

Marking place. Waiting to have mine removed atm!

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nexttonormal · 22/03/2016 09:06

I had mine removed yesterday. Arrived at hospital and midday and was in theatre by 2pm and back on the ward at 4.30. Eating biscuits and drinking tea by 6 and discharged at 7.45pm.
I am still very bloated and sore from the gas they inflated my stomach with, but so glad it is out. Not eating much yet and still have a very dry mouth and throad but it is passing slowly.
I was very anxious about the surgery but the staff at the hospital were brilliant and I was very well looked after.

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/03/2016 10:48

I had mine out 2 years ago. I was off work for 4 weeks afterwards as I had a slow recovery but apparently was because I'd had pancreatitis and my gallbladder was inflamed. There's quite a lot of things I can't eat now and I get very bad indigestion but at least I don't have the pain from gallstones any more!

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CrispyKipper · 22/03/2016 11:08

I had mine out in November 2015. Mine was a complicated removal and op took 4 hours and 3 day stay in hospital. Complete recovery took about 5 weeks although I was up and about within a few days.
Weight gain after its removed is common, although if you stick to eating healthily you will be fine. I've lost 1.5 stone since November.
I now suffer with regular constipation, my consultant advises drinking more water and activia yoghurts. Usually people who have it removed suffer from very loose stools.
I wake up with trapped wind in my chest but it's so much better than the 5 years of hell I suffered before it was removed.

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mercifulTehlu · 22/03/2016 13:34

Hmmm. Good to hear your surgery went well, nexttonormal. Other posts are a bit discouraging because I am basically symptom-free as I seem to be able to manage mine with diet. I had one big attack a few months ago out of the bpue and have only had the odd twinge since. Admittedly it's pretty annoying having to eat so low fat, but if I'm likely to have to carry on doing that after the surgery, I'm wondering what is the point of having the surgery.

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nexttonormal · 22/03/2016 15:42

Have the surgery - your stones will continue to grow and form so will need to come out eventually anyway. I had one large stone, and managed it well for 3 years but was desperate to have it removed. Not everyone has to stay fat free afterwards -I have several friends who have had theirs out who can eat anything they like now. It just takes time for the body to adjust. The more you read on the Internet the more you will worry about it. I just went with the experiences of friends and family and hoped for the best. It is still very early days for me - it's only been out my body for 24 hours - but I no longer need to worry about attacks or the risk of complications with the pancreas.

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whatevva · 22/03/2016 15:49

There are risks with getting pancreatitis if you don't have it removed. Not recommended

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Groovee · 22/03/2016 16:00

I had mine removed in 2010. It took 13 days to feel normal because I got constipated due to pain relief. Life has been much easier since then.

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hugoagogo · 22/03/2016 16:01

I had mine out a year ago.
I was very sore for nearly a week, then nearly back to normal after two or three.
Looking back I was still a bit weak for a couple of months.
I can eat whatever I like (but then I could before) a couple of coffees in a row can send me running to the loo, but that's about the only side effect.

My advice- have the op, take the drugs and don't rush around too soon afterwards.

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wineoclockthanks · 22/03/2016 17:56

Thanks - I know it needs to come out but it's always nice to hear other experiences!

We can be surgery buddies mercifulT

OP posts:

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CallousAndStrange · 22/03/2016 20:48

Very glad I had mine removed, been fine since though gained back all the weight I lost . The worst part of recovery was that because I was in so much pain, they gave me one of those morphine clicker things, where you can give yourself a dose whenever. It was lovely at the time, but when I came out of hospital I had proper withdrawal symptoms which no-one had warned me about. So just be careful of the free drugs and you'll be fine!

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ToastedStoat · 22/03/2016 21:02

I had mine out last year after having some God awful attacks! I was admitted for about a week before the surgery because I developed pancreatitis and it was all a bit scary tbh, I'm very glad I had the surgery.

Felt groggy and woozy immediately afterwards, but I had a 6 week old baby and two other children so had to get on with it. I had tramadol the day I had it out but after that I was OK on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Took a while before I could move about normally, a couple of weeks I think, but I wasn't in agony, it was just a bit ouchy if I stretched the wrong way or something.

A year on I do have softer stools (sorry) and weirdly, I find if I don't eat breakfast my lunch will go straight through me rather dramatically. Generally fine if I have breakfast though. I'm lucky in that I don't have to avoid all fat like some do post surgery.

I had the surgery done keyhole and just have four small scars now.

Good luck!

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mercifulTehlu · 22/03/2016 21:06

Ok - good advice. I don't want pancreatitis! My dm had hers out at exactly the age I am now (and it was open surgery then!) and has had not a single problem since, so that's encouraging.

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snozzlemaid · 22/03/2016 21:16

Can I join. I'm waiting to have mine removed too. I have a telephone assessment next week and then I'll hopefully get a date.
Can I ask how long before you were ok to drive after having it removed by keyhole?

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Hoplikeabunny · 22/03/2016 21:31

I had mine out in September, and aside from minor complications from the surgery which meant an overnight stay and a morphine drip (rare so don't worry about that!), I recovered quickly and was back to work after two weeks. Weirdly for me, there are certain things which cause me to have awful diarrhea, but I cannot seem to figure out what they are, so am unable to avoid them successfully! This seems to be rarer as the months go on, but initially I had to be really careful.

I am really really glad I had the surgery. I had two years of just not feeling 'well' and not really being able to put my finger on it. I also had stomach pains at least once every day (usually multiple) and it was really getting me down. I couldn't stand for long periods, and had no energy. Literally as soon as my gallbladder was removed, I felt normal again, the pains stopped, and my energy returned. I've literally been given my life back! I don't think I realised until it was gone, how bad it was actually making me feel.

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Hoplikeabunny · 22/03/2016 21:32

I was able to drive after two weeks- I just made sure that my insurance company were happy, which they were.

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Metalhead · 22/03/2016 21:36

I had mine out about 10 years ago, took about two weeks to feel fully recovered from the keyhole surgery and haven't had any problems since. I still eat and drink anything and everything and haven't noticed any negative effects!

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NecklessMumster · 22/03/2016 21:40

I had mine out, 2 -3 weeks to recover, keyhole surgery, back to normal now, no problems, thank god for the nhs

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DairyingLass · 22/03/2016 21:56

I had a gallstone attack about a month ago ... I didn't know that's what it was then - very scary, omg the pain. The scan showed a 17mm gallstone and a little one. I thought my GP would tell me to have my gallbladder out but he has recommended a 'wait and see' strategy. He says a third of the population have gallstones and many of them are never even aware of it and I might never have an attack again. So ... I'm eating normally although avoiding too much fat and sugar and just trying to forget about it.

I'm not living in fear of the next attack, if it ever happens because he prescribed me Tremadol! Wow! That was the only thing that worked for pain relief - I keep it with me at all times in case it ever happens again.

I was interested in doing a gallstone purge and getting rid of them naturally, but I don't dare, what with one of them being 17mm ... too worried it would get stuck.

I eat lots of apples and take a glass of apple cider vinegar daily as well (v diluted) ... on t'interweb it says it promotes gallbladder health, whether that's true or not I've no idea but I figured it won't do any harm.

Good luck OP.

Everyone else ... just out of interest, how many weeks / months after your first attack did you have subsequent attacks? (Just trying to forearm myself with facts - sorry for slight thread hijack op)

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Flumplet · 22/03/2016 22:04

I had mine taken out as I was getting weekly attacks (sometimes more) then a stone got stuck in my bile duct and then my gallbladder kept getting infected. Quick recovery - back to work after 5 days and fine now - except I find that I get chronic diarrhoea if I leave too long a gap between meals (e.g. If i skip breakfast)

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ToastedStoat · 22/03/2016 22:08

I had mine averaging about once a month, I was pregnant at the time. I went to hospital several times and had all sorts of tests which revealed nothing before reading a thread on here about gallstones and thinking "that sounds familiar". Next time I had an attack and went to hospital I asked them to scan my gallbladder. Bingo! I got diagnosed and discharged with a surgery referral. The Doctor surmised it was probably brought on by the pregnancy. The next week I had another attack, despite having eaten no fat whatsoever (that was fun, with breastfed baby going through a growth spurt) that was the trigger of the pancreatitis and therefore being admitted for a week. Surgery on day 6, home on day 7.

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ToastedStoat · 22/03/2016 22:11

Flumplet so glad it's not just me with the leaving a gap thing!

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Hoplikeabunny · 23/03/2016 00:10

OH MY GOD- Toasted and *flumpet, you've just solved the diarrhoea mystery for me! I haven't been able to work out a trigger yet, but that's got to be it, leaving a gap/skipping meals. Thank you!!!

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snowfire1 · 14/12/2018 01:15

Hi replying to an old thread, I had my GB removed 3 months ago, recovery has been slow, I don't suffer from loose stools that much but I break a lot of wind if I eat anything with too much fats, been watching my diet fairly well though, what's worrying me is I feel my hair is very dry and can also feel some dry patches on my skin, backs of legs and arms, been reading online that the body can't absorb essential oils like omega 3 and 6 as well without the gallbladder, I can't take cod liver oil supplements like I used to because of the effects of taking anything oily or fatty, so now I'm worried that my body isn't able to absorb the essential nutrients I need, reading up online doesn't really help, just adds to the worry, GP is pretty clueless on this. any advice? thanks.