Gall Bladder removal - pls help me decide

[Tupperwarefan]

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

Had mine out 7 months ago after a several very painful attacks, reduced liver function and a week in hospital. Best decision ever. I think I have SOD but doesn't bother me day to day.

I had mine out in 2015. Continued to have attacks, and pretty sure it's SOD (though the constant reckons we don't have SOD in the UK...).

Thankfully I know my attacks have been primarily caused by opiates (common in SOD). Haven't had an attack in 3 years since I figured it out, and now live a very normal life, apart from some mild gastritis if I eat too many tomato/onion based meals (and junk 🤭). I have always wondered if the opiates were the cause all along, but I'll never know!

I had mine out in 2016. I feel so much better now! The attacks were horrible!

I had mine out over 19 years ago and have no issues. I do have IBS now but I don't know for sure if that affected it or not.

I can eat and drink normally. I was in a lot of pain, having an attach a month until a stone got stuck and I ended up in constant pain for 10 days before having operation (it was brought forward by 3 weeks). It was the best thing I ever did.

After suffering several years of excruciating pain and like a pp being dismissed as being too young to have gallstones they landed me in an ambulance (I genuinely thought I was going to die) as the stones became trapped in my bile duct, had become infected and was in first stage pancreatitus. I'd spent so much time on low fat diets, fearing everything I was eating, rolling around in agony when I was having an attack that when they finally took it out my life began again.
Although any surgery isn't fun, and it took me several weeks not to walk about looking like a question mark, the RELIEF!!! OMG the relief. This was over 20 years ago and I haven't had any of the hideous things you've read about, I also don't know anyone amongst my fellows who've had the surgery, what I do know though is that if I hadn't had it there's a very real chance I wouldn't be here now. Your life will be much improved.

It was diagnosed symptomatically - investigated initially after a faint, following taking codeine. Symptoms were classic in that it can be induced by morphine and its derivatives - no-one seems to know why there is this connection. I have not had further surgery - as far as I am aware it is only treated surgically as a last resort.

I think you need to remember that it is vanishingly rare - the chances of you getting it are near zilch. I was just unlucky.

Don't have SOD in the UK - hmmm. My consultant would disagree! What does he/she think is so special about the UK!?

Great thread thanks OP. I'm on the waiting list to have mine out. I've found a lot of other stuff comes with the gallbladder flare ups, I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this - fatigue and joint pain mainly, as well as persistent gastritis. I might have to run to the loo after gallbladder removal but I already do anyway so that makes no odds!

I’ve had mine out and never looked back. The worst bit was just the two weeks post op…just pain/recovery from surgery but on the plus side the lying in bed for two weeks doing nothing helped! Absolutely no complications from surgery or long term issues. Good luck!

First of all - stop with the internet searches. All you'll find are the awful cases - which are rare. You won't find the vast majority whose lives are transformed - pain free, able to eat as we wish.

Second - have the op. I was discharged the following day, felt a little sore and tired for about 10 days and then as right as rain.

I did gallbladder surgery. The vast majority of patients have no issues afterwards .

I thought it was just coincidence but my IBS pretty much stopped after my gallbladder removal too.

I do know someone who regretted it, but that is rare.
I am being monitored for this as I only get irritation. The consultant said that those who most benefit don't really have any choice as they keep getting severe attacks.
Have you tried to manage it with diet?

@Mischance - I have no idea. He just wouldn't accept it was a thing. Said "we really don't go in for that kind of diagnosis in the uk". Whatever that means! Nice to meet a fellow SOD'er though - we're a rare breed ;)

Thankfully, I read up enough about it after continuing to have horrendous attacks, then cottoned on I'd had them after having codeine, morphine and even Imodium.

One of my worst attacks was after having exploratory gyno surgery. I told the anaesthetist that I couldn't have opiates and was even give a medical bracelet. Woke up in agony. I'd been given a synthetic morphine, and it still caused the attack. It amazes me it's not taken more seriously 😞

I had mine out in Feb this year and I am so so relieved. I hadn't suffered for long at all, symptoms only appeared during pregnancy and I actually had 'silt' in my gallbladder rather than stones. I was lucky enough to get a cancellation slot as I was prioritised due to young baby and breastfeeding (although not actually sure why?!)

I was home within 4 hours of the op, I could only have paracetamol due to said breastfeeding so I did struggle a little with the pain for a few days but to be honest the trapped wind was the worst bit. Perk of having a baby in the house was that I had plenty of gripe water to hand - that stuff really does work! I was chugging that at 3am and it was a miracle. But that is a really irrelevant point.

No food I have to avoid, no issues whatsoever. I was worried about having it done and having issues with needing the toilet more often etc but it really has made no difference whatsoever.

Do it!

These babies were what was lurking in my gallbladder! Op was super simple, easily recovered within 2 weeks, I can eat anything I like with no problems whatsoever.

Step away from Google and book your operation!

I had mine out at 25 and have had zero side effects in the 20 years since. The most painful bit was the referred shoulder pain. Had to be back at work asap due to exams coming up and managed it a week after surgery with no issues, just didn’t do any heavy lifting for a while.

I actually lost weight afterwards as I wasn’t constantly munching on toast or crackers to settle near constant nausea.

One of my colleagues had really pad pain due to the constant drip
of bile into the gut post bladder removal but it settled a couple of weeks after surgery.

For everyone I know that has had it done, the benefits have far outweighed the risks.

I had mine done 15 years ago. I have had issues afterwards – it’s horrible being sick as I don’t seem to have enough bile and my vomit is quite thick and hard to expel, and I definitely have some of the digestive problems, mostly needing the loo quite urgently if I eat greasy foods – BUT these are absolutely nothing compared to the pain of the attacks! Get it out asap, it was such a relief once I did. I did have some “phantom gallbladder attacks” but they were easily managed with Buscopan and I haven’t had one for a decade.

I had NO IDEA until I read this thread that it can cause issues with opiates! I can’t take them at all, they cause awful chest pain and make me faint. How interesting!

I felt so well as soon as my gallbladder was removed- it was infected so I’m glad I made the right decision as they left the choice up to me- I had no hesitation as I couldn’t keep going to hospital in agony in the night with young children at home worrying about me- go for it you’ll be so glad you did!

Interesting - chest pain (on the right and up through my oesophagus and back) is the main feature for me. The ambulance guys ruled out a heart problem but very astutely asked me whether I had taken any meds before it happened.

After surgery I said that I could not take opiates and did not want codeine, which they gave me anyway - I spent a night in dreadful pain and could not get anyone to take it seriously.

I now have a back condition which means I am in constant pain - I have been offered opiates, but have to use paracetamol only - and grit my teeth!

I'm the same but with diarrhea but I was told I could die if I didn't have it out as I'd had pancreatitis. There are a couple of things that I can't eat now and some food gives me acid indigestion but that's a lot better than the alternative!

Since mine came out several years ago I have been feeling really sorry for anyone who still has a gallbladder as one day they MIGHT have an attack! That’s how awful it was!

I can’t eat avocados now but other than that am better than new.

Totally glad the gallbladder has gone.

Had mine out and a few friends have too with none of the issues you describe.

I was underweight due to a limited diet and in pain. Op was a no brainer.

I just had one but it was a big bugger and had completely blocked my bile duct