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Original poster

Gall Bladder removal - pls help me decide

98 replies

Tupperwarefan · 23/05/2023 18:00

Hi
I started having gall bladder problems shortly after the birth of my little girl 10 years ago. I had the most intense pain, about 5 times over 2 years and then the severe pain subsided. But, over the remaining years, I have had periods of what can only be described as soreness and a feeling of being bruised, where my gall bladder is.

Fast forward to recent months, after a few weeks of what I thought was gastritis thanks to a stressful time at work, I have had 4 attacks of severe pain, over a period of 5 weeks. I've had a scan and my gallstones have multiplied and I have been recommended that I have my gall bladder out.
The problem is I am so scared! I'm not afraid of the op, but I am afraid of long term life after. I have read about post gall bladder removal syndrome and how it can cause D&V decades later. I have read about Sphincter of Oddi, terrible gastritis, uncontrollable weight gain and many other awful symptoms. Some people wish they had never had it done. I have also read about faecal incontinence (although rare).

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. The surgeon didn't really put my mind at rest about these things and I am very, very nervous.

Can anyone who has been through this (maybe a long time ago?) please help to reassure me? I am on a v low fat diet, am losing weight that I can't afford to lose, and am so miserable. Thank you

OP posts:
user1471517095 · 23/05/2023 18:18

Good Grief, what have you been reading? As usual with these things nobody bothers to post how great it was afterwards. I had mine out 10 years ago and it's been easy, no pain making me pace up and down and roll about in bed, no worrying what will set it off. All I have is 3 tiny little scars that are virtually unnoticeable.

Snozzlemaid · 23/05/2023 18:21

Had mine removed in 2016 and had absolutely no problems since.
I can eat whatever I want again now.

I would undoubtedly do it again. It's such a relief to have it removed and never have to suffer another biliary colic episode.

The keyhole op was quick, in and out the same day.

Snozzlemaid · 23/05/2023 18:23

I have never heard of anyone regretting it or of anyone with the problems you list.

If you're suffering biliary colic episodes you will give anything to get rid of it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
mynameiscalypso · 23/05/2023 18:24

Those side effects are extremely rare. Gallbladder removal is such a common op and has a very high success rate. I found that my overall health was much improved by having mine out, not just the attacks not happening anymore which would have been enough in itself.

Fluffy40 · 23/05/2023 18:24

Had mine out 15 months ago. Very quick recovery and am able to eat whatever I like. Good luck, it’ll be fine.

LindorDoubleChoc · 23/05/2023 18:25

I think I've been one of the unlucky ones in that my digestive system isn't totally reliable post gall bladder removal (I need to empty my bowels sometimes quite urgently, usually within half an hour of eating lunch - so at least that's predictable). Sorry if TMI. But this is infinitely preferable to the horrendous pain of a full-on gall bladder attack and the severely restricted diet I was on in the 6 months waiting for my op. From what I can gather most people have no issues at all.

MargaretThursday · 23/05/2023 18:25

Get onto the weighting list asap.

I know someone who despite episodes lasting over a week of excruciating pain, had to wait 15 months. She is only a couple of weeks post-op but looks so much better already.

mynameiscalypso · 23/05/2023 18:25

I should also add that I had mine out 8 years ago and got married - and partied all night - 3 weeks after my op.

Ocularpatdown · 23/05/2023 18:26

I have the occasional bout of sickness post gallbladder removal where its mostly bile Im throwing up but still no regrets at getting it out.

HerMammy · 23/05/2023 18:29

My DD23 suffered for nearly two years getting passed from pillar to post until an A&E doctor diagnosed severe gallstones and infection, got it removed and has never looked back, she's adjusted her diet slightly, but it has literally changed her life.
Don't know where you've found these ridiculous stories.

Original poster
Tupperwarefan · 23/05/2023 18:30

Thank you so much. I know I need it out - my 4 recent bouts have had me pacing around in pain and it has been awful. It's been a while since I last had the intense pain as I am now on an extremely low fat diet but I can't sustain it. I have no idea what to eat!

Thanks again - I knew someone on mumsnet would be along to talk a bit of sense

OP posts:
NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 23/05/2023 18:31

Thing is, for every person who still has issues afterwards, there are hundreds of thousands probably who don't.
Gallbladders don't get better once they're diseased. You aren't suddenly not going to have the problems.

OrlandointheWilderness · 23/05/2023 18:34

Had mine out 2008, not a problem. My mum had hers removed ten years ago, not a problem. I know a fair few people without issues too!

Mischance · 23/05/2023 18:35

I have SOD. I had my gall bladder out many many years ago and the SOD did not kick in for a long time. SOD episodes are rare events and I have medication to prevent this. So, as a problem, it is far less than the gallstones. If yours are multiplying you should get rid of it as it will create problems for years to come. Even if by some unlucky chance you did get SOD (and it is very rare) it causes far fewer problems than gallstones.

OrlandointheWilderness · 23/05/2023 18:35

I would add - I wish I'd had a diagnosis and removal before a large gallstone travelled down my pancreatic duct.

Original poster
Tupperwarefan · 23/05/2023 18:36

What tends to trigger the sickness @Ocularpatdown Is it anything in particular?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tupperwarefan · 23/05/2023 18:38

@Mischance How did you get a diagnosis of SOD? Did you need another op?

OP posts:
identifyingasmrblobbytoday · 23/05/2023 18:42

I had mine out 2 years ago, it was great! No problems, got some glorious morphine, home that day.

No problems at all since then, I can eat anything.

I was in a lot of pain for 2-3 days post op but they send you home with a pile of codeine. The worst thing about the whole experience was the mega constipation from the codeine the week after.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 23/05/2023 18:43

Have you had a good look at the potential negative consequences of not having the operation? You really should for balance.
I had mine out years ago and initially I couldn’t eat fatty food and if I did I needed to be very close to a loo. That all cleared up relatively quickly and now I can eat anything. I have put on a lot of weight and I’m aware of the weight gain supposed connection. I believe some people take bile salts to counteract the weight issue but I’m vegetarian so choose not to.
The operation and recovery for my keyhole surgery was really easy, I can no longer distinguish the tiny scars. I put my operation off until I got jaundice, I found looking at my Simpson yellow self the kick in the backside I needed but that was stupid of me in retrospect.
Good luck! Xx

OrlandointheWilderness · 23/05/2023 18:43

@Mischance - I'd never heard of SOD before. I've been having horrific attacks of pain for 4 years, so bad I can barely breathe and definitely can't move. They usually result in me being violently sick and the pain is centred under my ribs. I'm desperate to know what is going on as the doctors are useless (I've been waiting for endoscopy for 18 months.). This could fit.

Starlightexpress122 · 23/05/2023 18:46

My DH had his removed 6 years ago. The lasting symptoms he has is feeling gassy and heartburn.
You'll have a better quality of life.

TheIsaacs · 23/05/2023 18:48

Agree with others, no regrets since having mine out. Occasionally I get a sort of bloated feeling in my upper abdomen but that’s only if I’ve eaten very fatty food. No other problems at all and certainly none of the agonising pain that would make me pass out, be sick or feel like I was having several heart attacks for days in a row.

Original poster
Tupperwarefan · 23/05/2023 19:36

Thanks for all the positivity everyone. It's really helpful because I know I need it out. I just need the courage.

OP posts:
Tinkerbyebye · 23/05/2023 19:51

I had mine out about 5 years ago and have had absolutely no issues

Wishihadanalgorithm · 23/05/2023 19:55

Had mine out in January after having severe pancreatitis. I was told I needed the gallbladder out ASAP or it would kill me fairly quickly. No discussion, taken out a couple of days later and I’m fine.

I don’t get the worry TBH. It’s a very straight forward procedure and incredibly common. Just think, no more pain!