Gallbladder attacks advice PART 2, where heybwoss gets ready to celebrate

[dudsville]

In June 23 Heybwoss started the thread titled "gallbladder attacks advice". I don't know how to do links, but that thread helped a number of us through some really dark and scary times. Now heybwoss is finally getting her gallbladder removed this Friday! This thread is to have a space to check in about that, and for anyone suffering the awful physical and psychological pain and suffering while waiting to have theirs removed, for all those missing all the celebratory and holiday meals, missing the ease of simply eating when hungry, and simply missing the ease of enjoying eating without The Fear. Come on heybwoss 🥳🥳🥳

I've tried to link posters names but i can't work out how to do this.

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming - it's good that you're not having any painful attacks. Definitely cut down on fatty foods for now, then you might be lucky enough not to have any issues before your operation.

If it's in the family, it's highly likely you'll have problems in the future, so best to deal with it before you're really suffering.

I wish I knew why I developed gallstones. There's no history of it in my family and I haven't been on a radical diet (potential trigger) . When I asked the consultant, he just shrugged and said they don't really know.

@vinvinoandbrie and @Anotherdayanothernight - you are surgery twins!

You might find this leaflet about recovering after gallbladder surgery useful:

www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/recovering-from-surgery/gall-bladder/

I'm using it as a guide.

Went to bed early last night and fell asleep with my cat cuddled up against me. He's being an excellent nurse.

Slept pretty well. Took all my meds this morning (still on morphine) and they are working well.

The shoulder pain has gone 🙂. My abdomen is still sore and I'm still very tired, but as all I have to do is rest, this isn't an issue.

I'm still sticking to a low-fat diet.

Well done @Rarewaxwing sound like your recovering well. Still no word on whether my Gzp will refer back for surgery..I've got this horrible pain in my right side that's come back with a vengeance. I'm assuming it's my gallbladder because it's in the right place! Not excruciating just enough to wince every now and then!

@AlltheJays23 - that pain is certainly in the right place to be your gallbladder. I had all sorts of odd twinges and pains in the run-up to surgery.

@stargirl1701 - how are you feeling now?

I think you are doing better than me @Rarewaxwing

I was at GP OOH on Wednesday night - I have a chest infection so prescribed steroids for my asthma.

I have a weird rash on my abdomen.

I vomited today.

Needed morphine x2 last night for the pain.

I'm quite certain I won't be back at work next Thursday! I'll need an extension to my fit note. I haven't even tried the car test yet!

Oh, you really are having a rotten time. It sounds like there is a lot going on in addition to your gallbladder issues. Your poor body is taking quite a battering.

You should definitely have extra time off work. I hope you're able to rest. Do you have small children to look after? I'm lucky in that mine are young adults now. I wouldn't like to be convalescing with toddlers in the mix.

@stargirl1701 Oh you are going through it at the moment. As @Rarewaxwing says you need to take as much time off work as necessary. Hope you both feel better soon.

I’ve not had any gallbladder pain since I came out of hospital, hurrah.

But I think it’s coming on tonight 😭 Will they still be able to remove it on Monday if it’s flaring up?

My GP told me that if the gallbladder is infected and you need antibiotics, then the operation will be delayed until the infection is under control.

Hopefully, you have a grumbly gallbladder / biliary colic rather than infection. I hope the pain doesn't get worse. If it does, the hospital might need to do a blood test to check for infection.

Thank you very much indeed for this!

@vinoandbrie - how are you feeling today?

Feeling ok thank goodness! No pain this morning. I have a busy day today and then into hospital at 7am. Am really hoping that by this time tomorrow I’ll be gallbladder free and can start to recover, without fear of further attacks and infections!

That's great news! It'll all be over soon.

I still feel a wave of relief every time I remember that I've had the operation. No more living in fear of another attack 😊.

@Anotherdayanothernight and @vinoandbrie - sending good luck wishes to you both for tomorrow. My top tip: ask for a pre-med if you feel anxious!

How is you recovery going @Rarewaxwing

@vinoandbrie and @Anotherdayanothernight Good luck to both of you for tomorrow. You will soon be on the road to recovery.

Pretty good, thanks. My abdomen is still very tender and the bruising is spectacular, but the painkillers are working well. I had a hernia repair as well - not sure if that's made me more bruised.

I'm still feeling tired, but I went for a walk round the block this afternoon. A neighbour popped round later with a bunch of spring flowers for me, which was cheering.

How are you doing?

Not much bruising - more on my arms from blood samples and the three cannulas!

Missing food so I must be better! I've stuck to plain, low fat food. I've lost quite a few kg since the beginning of Jan, mind you!! I would really love steak and chips...

I'm phoning the GP in the morning to get an extension to my fit note.

Feeling hungry is a very good sign. I hope you get to try steak and chips soon. My last blood test showed I was anaemic, so I could do with a steak too. But, like you, I'm still sticking to low-fat food.

That's good that you're getting an extension to your fit note. Your poor body has taken quite a battering and needs a good rest! I hope work are understanding.

@Rarewaxwing and @ihaveayod thank you so much both, I am due at the hospital at 7:30am tomorrow so slightly nervous, have tried not to think about it, or Google it, too much! It's reassuring to read this thread and will keep you posted

Good luck @Anotherdayanothernight

The hospital just called and cancelled my operation, I am gutted.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that, at this time of night as well! That's not good as just to sort the logistics out with work etc is not easy, did they say why?

As soon as I saw the hospital phone number flash up so late on a Sunday I thought ‘this is not good news’.

The blood test I had done on Friday got rejected. I was worried (on this thread) about there being something wrong with the blood test. Well, something did go wrong. They made a human error at the hospital, and the blood was rejected and not tested because of this error. So they’re having to cancel. 😭😭😭