I've just had my Gallbladder removed AMA!

[TVDFan]

As the title suggests!

I had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday and I'm stuck in bed bored.

AMA

What were your symptoms when you were ill? How long did the operation take? Hope you feel better soon!

Are you going to keep it in a jar on your mantelpiece?

What were your symptoms when you were ill?

I had been suffering with flare up attacks for 3 years before finally getting the surgery. I could have 3 or 4 attacks in a week for a few weeks then go a few months with none.

The attacks themselves is a gradual pain in my abdomen that spreads to my back and shoulder getting worse and worse. To me, the pain was worse than childbirth. Just an intense continuous pain for hours.

How long did the operation take?

I was put under about 10am and woke up in recovery just after 12pm so no more than 2 hours. It was keyhole surgery.

Are you going to keep it in a jar on your mantelpiece

Haha I wish! I did want to keep it to take it into school to gross out my pupils with but it was sent to pathology to be checked 🙄 I'm assuming it's been binned or incinerated now 😅

Oooh this is timely.
I'm booked for a scan in Jan but I'm convinced I've got a gallbladder issue.
Just this morning I had to abandon a class because I had a pain starting mid abdomen spreading all the way round to my back on the right, up into shoulder at the back and my jaw at the front.

How long are you going to be recuperating for, have they said?

Happy gallbladder free Christmas!

I'm on the list... Have you been advised to change your diet now it's been removed?

Were you across from me in the ward? I had my appendix out on Wednesday and the lady opposite me had her gallbladder out at about 10am

I’m also a teacher!

Is it a teacher thing?

I'm on the waiting list. Obviously varies throughout the country, and probably worsened by covid but how long did you need to wait?

Another gallbladder-free teacher here!

I'm a teacher too!

Ok I lied I'm a mental health nurse

Oh, I've got another! (For either of you!)
Did you have like a "gallbladder hangover" after an attack?
Now, after this morning, my abdomen just feels yucky, tender, unhappy.

@Spidey66

I'm a teacher too!

Ok I lied I'm a mental health nurse

What does your gallbladder actually do? Do we need it? What symptoms did you have?

@londongirl12

It's useful but not essential. It sits close to your liver. One of the functions of the liver is to produce bile, which breaks down fats. Once it's produced, the bile goes to the gall bladder, which sends it round the body after eating. Without it, the liver produces, stores and releases bile, though in a slightly different manner.

How long are you going to be recuperating for, have they said?

Between 1 to 2 weeks I was advised, but the way I'm feeling today it will definitely be at least 2.

Have you been advised to change your diet now it's been removed?

Nope a doctor didn't even come to see me after the surgery. I have no idea how the surgery went or anything. I was told by a nurse to take it easy and change my dressings in 48 hours after a shower and that's about it.

I asked if I was OK to have ice cream because my throat was so sore and she asked another nurse who said it would be OK.

Were you across from me in the ward?

Maybe!

How long did you need to wait

Was diagnosed via and ultrasound 3 years ago. Finally got a referral in June 2019 - Had the op this week. I do think covid did delay things slightly, I'm just relieved it wasn't cancelled!

Did you have like a "gallbladder hangover" after an attack?

Yes - I would feel very heavy and tender afterwards.

Often as you get older your gallbladder produces small stones. Usually it's not a problem and if they're picked up during a scan for other things, they don't normally treat it, but might keep an eye on it. However, the gallstones can get caught in a duct which causes severe, intense stomach pain.

The pain can last a couple of hours then ease and you might not have any further issues for weeks or months.

With me, I had about 5 or 6 episodes over 18 months to 2 years. On a scale of 0-10, with 0 being none and 10 being severe, they've mostly been round 6, but on a couple of occasions were about 12! I had a severe episode in the summer, when my husband dialled 999, but they were really busy and when I was triage an hour or so later it had eased and I cancelled it. I then wondered myself if it was gallstones and asked my GP if it could be looked into. I was sent for an ultrasound which confirmed I had what is called a "porcelain gallbladder " which basically means calcification and scarring, usually caused by excessive gallstones. It can sometimes mean cancer, but if you have that you're normally in your 80s, with jaundice, unexplained weight loss and come from a central American or Asian background, none of which applies to me.

Are you fully recovered OP ?

I'd say I'm 90% recovered. I'm still exhausted but mostly pain free My only issue now is I've started to have really itchy feet and legs!

Recovery a little longer than expected then . Is the itching connected !?

I’m waiting a call to discuss removal of mine ...

Isn't itching a sign of liver problems? Are you sure you're ok?

No I don't think itchiness was to be expected but then again no doctor came to see me after my surgery so who knows 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I've read that about the liver but it only affects me in the evenings and at night.

I would try to have a word with my GP if I were you OP .

Would definitely mention it to GP. I was jaundiced last week and was only really itchy at night.

This is an interesting read for me. I expect to have gallbladder problems when older, as my Mum did and she passes all the good stuff on to me. :)
Can I ask how old you are? Also did you have issues with wind and bowel movements being really stinky? This seemed to be one of my Mums major issues.