Gallbladder surgery- wwyd?

[BlueAbacus]

Hi all, I have had two crippling abdominal pain episodes in the last ten days, the most recent one was so painful I called 111 and ended up in a&e. Bloods fine (no inflammation or infection) but diagnosed with gallstones after ultrasound. Doc said they won’t go away and it’s low fat diet or surgery, basically. He advised the NHS waiting list is very long for non emergency surgery right now for obvious reasons, and luckily I have the option to go private due to work health insurance.

My question is, what would you do?

General anaesthetic and surgery terrify me, equally so does this pain (albeit intermittent) being a constant part of my life. I have started reading about diet control but it seems haphazard and in my own, very limited, experience, the night I ate a pizza last week was not the night I had an attack! Obviously I can see the benefit of having it out when I am well and it’s not infected and hasn’t got critical, but it feels a bit like I’m making the choice to have elective surgery.

Not sure if it’s relevant but I’m 35, 2 young children, mildly overweight (just lockdown and postpartum) otherwise fit and healthy.

Any experiences or thoughts would be much appreciated.

I would get it done it wont getter better
Had mine out years ago was no big deal key hole surgery 1 day in hospital recovered very quickly

Like you I was terrified but went for it (first surgery for me). I suffered agonising attacks for over ten years and couldnt face the rest of my life having them.

Whilst waiting on the day, I met my surgeon who commented he much prefers to take them out earlier rather than as an emergency as its much harder and more serious.

I was in and out on the same day.

My mum was diagnosed a few years later as an emergency she was in hospital for nearly two weeks as they needed to stabilise her prior to surgery and then post recovery.

I ended up in a&e/surgical admissions for 5 days as it became pancreatitis which can be dangerous. I would get it done, they don't shrink or go away.

I had mine out privately. It was very straightforward and a quick recovery. Given that there's no other option other than trying to minimise attacks (and mine were totally random) and there's always the risk of complications, it wasn't much of decision for me.

Get it done as soon as you can. I put mine off as I was pregnant (they still would have operated) and my next attack was awful. A gallstone got stuck in my bile duct and I ended up severely jaundice.

Obviously I can see the benefit of having it out when I am well and it’s not infected and hasn’t got critical, but it feels a bit like I’m making the choice to have elective surgery

Give it time. You'll change your mind IMO.

Oh definitely get it done! I delayed mine which in hindsight was daft. Huge relief once it was out!!

Get it done. Low fat dieting didn’t help me at all. I couldn’t work out what triggered mine so I had it taken out. I never left home without huge quantities of medication to help with the pain. It was a relief to get it taken out.

I would get it out asap to prevent pancreatitis.

I've had it done too and it was no fuss. Life changing difference though. Go for it!

I had mine removed, best thing i ever did. It started with chronic pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and went on all night. Had a few days where I was ok then the same happened again and a few more days then another attack. I saw a dr who booked a scan to check for gallstones but a few days later I had another attack that was so painful I couldn't speak and was doubled up in pain. The person I was with phoned 999 as they thought I was having a heart attack. I spent a week in hospital on antibiotics and anti sickness meds then my gallbladder was removed. It burst during surgery so I had more anti biotics as a result of that.
If you have the option get it done. Even though mine burst during surgery 10 days later I was back at work.
Hope this helps.

Get it done as soon as you can and when it’s not inflamed. I ended up seriously ill with pancreatitis a few years ago, caused by gallstones. I’d rather give birth to a two-stone baby than experience pancreatitis pain again.

Have it out.

You can't do the low fat diet forever - I did it while waiting for surgery and while it's nice to lose a lot of weight it's basically no fat at all ever and even then you sometimes get an attack.

No-one can live on grilled fish and steamed veg alone for the whole of their lives.

Have you had a GA and surgery before? Tell the drs/nurses you’re worried. Get it done and get your life back.

I put up with it for 14 years and by the time it was removed it was huge and nearly had to be open Surgery. Don’t be me. It was absolutely fine. Went to surgery around 5pm, back home by 10pm. My first anaesthetic too, so much better than expected.

Do it! Would rather give birth then have gall stone pain! Had mine out a few years ago, surgery was easy to recover from and never looked back. In the mean time, I found buscapan and codine life savers xx

Thank you all, this is so so helpful and reassuring. Consultant is calling me on Monday and I will say yes to the surgery and get it booked it. Fingers crossed for no more attacks in the meantime.

I echo PP.
I was petrified of having it out, I ended up having it out as an emergency in the end as I developed pancreatitis.

I've had 14 major surgeries, all under GA, getting my gallbladder removed was one of them.

Having it out was glorious, back to my old self immediately, the constant agony and sickness was gone. It's a very simple surgery, you should be home the same day, and recovery is easy. A bit sore for a couple days but then back to normal aside from heavy lifting. 100% get it out.

Get it done before you have another attack. I was in hospital for two weeks to stabilise me before they could operate.

Get it done. I ended up being admitted to hospital after I got a stone stuck. I went yellow as my liver wasn’t working properly.

My dh left his for various complicated reasons. Admitted after collapsing. His gallbladder had become infected, was going gangrenous. He had post op complications and liver damage. Ended up having 3 months off work.

I'd get it done personally.

I'd get it done.

I'd get it done too, you will need help with the DC for maybe a week or so afterwards.

I had the surgery in August. Super delayed because of Covid. The attacks for me were so frequent and so painful I was suicidal.

Ask if you can get some codeine prescribed in case of an attack and as soon as you feel one coming on take a buscopan.

Scrunched up on the floor of the shower with a boiling shower pointed at my back was the only way I could cope with it.

When elective surgery resumed I was moved up the waiting list because I had been hospitalised so often. So if you feel you need to go to hospital for stronger pain relief just go, don't be a hero.