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Original poster

Gallbladder knackered

77 replies

Bouffalant · 09/09/2019 12:11

I've felt short of breath, dodgy stomach and like I've broken a rib quite a lot recently.

Just had a doctors appointment and apparently it's a dicky gallbladder. Awaiting a hospital letter for scan and blood tests. But doctor says the usual best course is to remove the gallbladder.

Anyone been there? Is it horrible?

OP posts:

Dowser · 09/09/2019 12:14

You could google liver flush and try to save it

Ted27 · 09/09/2019 12:21

I had my gallbladder out in June, day surgery, no problems. Had 4 weeks off work, and had to be careful for a few more weeks. Now fully recovered, back in the gym, digging on the allotment, much better than living with pain, jaundice and feeling ill every day

Original poster

Bouffalant · 09/09/2019 12:28

4 weeks off work?! Really? I thought it would be a couple of days. Blimey.

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General health

Bearfrills · 09/09/2019 12:31

I'd be wary of any sort of liver cleanse or flush, there is little in the way of science to back up how safe or effective they are.

I'm having my gallbladder out next month. Its being done by laparoscopic surgery, there is a small risk that it'll have to be converted to open surgery but my consultant has said that while he cannot guarantee it wouldn't happen it would be unusual. Laparoscopically it will be three small cuts just below my right handside ribs and one above my belly button, they'll be glued shut after. He reckons I'll be down in theatre and recovery for around an hour to an hour and a half then back to the ward where I can have a nap, he wants me up and moving around then something to eat, something to drink, a wee, and home. I'll apparently be home by tea time. I've got to eat a bland diet for two weeks afterwards and then can eat what I like. I'm not to lift anything heavy for two weeks, kettle yes but toddler DD no.

He did say I don't have to have it out, it's not compulsory by any means, but that it's better to have it out now while I'm relatively "young" (38) and the risks of both surgery and recovery are lower, he also said it's better to have it out now as a planned surgery while it's in a stable/non-inflammed state than several months or years down the line as an emergency surgery because it's become blocked and I'm in lots of pain.

I'm shitting myself over having a GA and in case I get an infection afterwards (I had sepsis a few years ago and its bit an experience I care to repeat) but I figure that even though this is a big deal for me because its surgery, for the team looking after me it's pretty much nothing. They do this day in, day out so they know what they are doing and therefore I'm in experienced hands.

Bearfrills · 09/09/2019 12:34

I was told that most people are functionally recovered after two weeks, give it take, and to listen to my body as it'll very quickly tell me if I'm overdoing things. My consultant has said to get up and walking as soon as possible and to keep moving every day but within reason, not to take to my bed but equally no five mile hikes.

LellyM · 09/09/2019 12:41

I had my gallbladder out about 8 years ago and was off work for 2 weeks (could honestly have gone back after 1 week but wasn't allowed to carry anything heavy).

Since then I feel fine. I can eat a normal healthy diet and the pleasure of being able to eat food without risk of vomit is amazing.

If yr GB is knackered them best to get rid - I had a colleague who didn't and he ended up with pancreatitis and is now a diabetic as his pancreas died.

CreatedBySombra · 09/09/2019 12:43

I lived with gallstones for nearly 2 years after diagnosis with careful diet management (which also lost me 4 stone in the process!).

But when they kicked off again no about of careful eating could keep it under check, so they removed it under keyhole surgery. I honestly didn't realise how ill I was (aside from the pain attacks) just because of my gallbladder. Having it removed was like an epiphany.

My recovery was lengthy...but in all honesty I tend to have the worst outcome for pretty much every medical scenario so that didn't surprise me. I was back to normal after 4 weeks.

A colleague of mine had hers removed at the same time and she was back in work after just a couple of days so recovery is a very personal thing.

If it's bad and they offer to take it out get yourself on the waiting list.

DIKateFleming · 09/09/2019 12:50

I had mine out 4 years ago, best thing I ever did. No more pain, no diet issues and other tummy issues. I was off work 3 week, don't regret for a minute

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 09/09/2019 12:53

Best thing ever. No more pain. But do ask for post gallbladder surgery advice.I didn't get it and I think you do need to make sure you are eating the right things.

ShippingNews · 09/09/2019 12:53

Had mine out a few years ago . In hospital for one day / night, then I had about 2 weeks off ( but only because I'm a nurse and do some heavy lifting - if I'd been in an office job I'd have been back in a week at most , since I felt fine.)

I eat a perfectly normal diet , and have been in great health since then. I'd highly recommend having it out - living with it is a pain ( literally).

Original poster

Bouffalant · 09/09/2019 13:04

I'm actually quite excited about having it out now, sometimes the pain feels like I'm having a heart attack, and I get a dodgy tummy really easily.

Can ignoring it cause constant low level tiredness/feeling shit? I've been feeling generally rough for a while and hadn't really considered that it could be GB related.

OP posts:

Andishouldhavegoneforducky · 09/09/2019 13:05

I had mine out about 6 years ago, I've never looked back as the pain was horrendous towards the end, the slightest thing would give me an attack. I was signed off work for 2 weeks after my op but after a couple of days I was feeling ok. My DH said when they brought me up to the ward it was like looking at a different person as I had a funny colour about me before it came out and my face returned to a normal colour.

Well worth getting it done OP as once the GB is knackered it really needs to come out. I have a normal diet now and can eat fatty foods without feeling I'm going to die.

queenofmycastlex · 09/09/2019 13:06

I had mine out this year and it’s the best thing I’ve done! I had horrendous attacks and it was also playing havoc with my liver. As soon as it was removed I felt better and had more energy. And I can now eat whatever I want without fear!

Surgery was keyhole, very quick easy recovery. Got home the same day.

Nat6999 · 09/09/2019 13:17

I had mine out 8 years ago, it was very inflamed & stuck to my liver. I went in hospital at lunchtime, theatre at 1.30pm back in bed before 3.00pm & was home watching the soaps by 7.00pm. I was up & about the next day & drove the same afternoon. By the weekend I was reasonably well, went out for the day at a sports event & doing the school run by monday, 6 days after my op. You will be a bit bruised, get some arnica tablets & start taking them as soon as you come back from theatre, plus some ronnie deflatine & peppermint oil capsules for the gas they pump inside you in theatre. I hardly needed any painkillers, compared to the pain of gallstones it was nothing.

CreatedBySombra · 09/09/2019 13:18

Can ignoring it cause constant low level tiredness/feeling shit? I've been feeling generally rough for a while and hadn't really considered that it could be GB related.

Honestly in my experience yes. I couldn't believe how much better I was once I'd recovered from surgery. I felt like a completely different person.

Ted27 · 09/09/2019 14:57

It's still a significant operation even its keyhole, your recovery will also be impacted by how difficult your op was and how ill you were before. No way was I ready for work after two weeks. I was probably ok after 3 1/2 weeks but as I work three days a week, it was 4 weeks for me. The incisions do heal quickly but you need to be very careful about putting too much strain on the wounds internally and giving yourself a hernia.

Original poster

Bouffalant · 09/09/2019 15:32

Thanks for your replies all, the doctors don't tell you much!

How long did people generally wait for their referral? I've got a holiday and family wedding coming up before Christmas then my own wedding! I'd love to feel better by then!

OP posts:

Bearfrills · 09/09/2019 15:48

GP referred me and I saw the consultant six weeks later (mid-August) and was able to choose when to have it done (mid-October). He could have gotten me in much sooner but I wanted to get the DC settled back in school and needed to match it up with DH taking leave.

BritInUS1 · 09/09/2019 15:55

I've had mine out too - 12 years ago, best thing I ever did.

Keyhole, sore afterwards but not unbearable. You definitely need time off to rest

ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave · 09/09/2019 15:56

I had mine removed 8 years ago, following some really awful pain and vomiting episodes, always after eating too much chocolate!

I had keyhole, and was up and cleaning floors a couple of days later. Properly up and at it at 10 days or so. I would caution a pp who drove the day after though. Although I could have done, I wouldn't, and would caution that if you have an accident and your insurance finds out you have just had an op, you could be in big trouble.

msmith501 · 09/09/2019 15:58

The pain of gallstones was so bad I had the gall bladder out. Keyhole surgery under local (I watched on camera - two holes: one for camera and light and one for instruments). Immediately felt soo much better and two weeks off although o felt normal after a week. The dentist seems much more fuss.

DoraleeRhodes · 09/09/2019 16:09

I had mine put a couple of years ago, was very straightforward. In surgery at 9am, home by 230pm. Signed off work for two weeks, but felt fine after one really. Was back to my usual routine, including running, by four weeks.

DoraleeRhodes · 09/09/2019 16:10

I was on the waiting list for five months

Wolfff · 09/09/2019 16:13

I had mine out about 18 months ago, after years of pain and discomfort. I was in surgery at 8.30am and went home before 1pm - keyhole surgery. Was off for one week which in believe is standard. Was made to feel guilty by my GP for not going back sooner!

IdClimbHimLikeATree · 09/09/2019 16:13

I've had mine out at the beginning of this year and would definitely do it again. The flare ups started out being ten minutes or so but started becoming very regular and very prolonged.
My only complaint about it is that I've eaten all the stuff I didn't used to be able to and have gained weight so I need to sort that out. And if I eat something fatty like fish and chips I get diarrhoea quite soon afterwards. But that's all something I can predict and control by not eating fatty food.
The pain was unbearable and nothing I took or did would help.
And yes mine was keyhole, I have four incisions. I was off work for two weeks, could have gone back after one week.

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