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.

Glad it's all over, @MiniCooperLover. It'll be good to be home, I'm sure. But make sure you rest! And remember that you're still full of anaesthesia, so you'll need those painkillers once the drugs wear off.

I don't understand what the surgeon is saying about the bubble of air/stone. If he's taken your gallbladder out, you shouldn't have any stones left - unless there's one in the bile duct.

Anyway, time for you to rest now. Thanks for updating.

He did the dye xray before they started and said he could see 'something' but wasn't sure which it would be but it was out of reach of his grabber so I'll have a blood test when I have my catch up in a few weeks. He didn't seem overly worried though so that's good 👍 Just did my paracetamol, husband has done me a small dinner and I'll do ibuprofen and then as soon as I get to see DS when he's home I'll be off to sleep 💤

@MiniCooperLover - ah, I see. It's good they'll check in a couple of weeks.

Hope you get a good night's sleep. I remember having to sleep on my left side for the first week. It always amazed me that I didn't turn onto the other side at all - so even in my sleep, I knew it was too painful to sleep on that side!

Hi there, didn't sleep badly but I woke a few Times (understandable) and took some paracetamol. I've woken up with a sharp pain in my left heel, I think that's what woke me up? I've kept compression socks on so I can't tell if my heel really feels hot or the socks are making my legs hot?

@MiniCooperLover - how's your heel feeling now? Do get it checked if you think it's hot or painful. Best to be sure. But, hopefully, you're feeling OK now.

Hi everyone, I’ve just posted a thread in general health about my suddenly very frequent attacks.

Hope it’s ok if I c&p it here

I’m feeling so so fed up 😢

I’ve had 6 attacks in the space of two weeks. Gallstones and sludge were confirmed back in the summer and I had infrequent attacks, but they’ve really ramped up recently.

I’m barely eating, and even my usual safe foods are causing a flare up.

I’m sick with it every time. I felt that niggling pain start around an hour ago, and I’ve just vomited. Last night was the same. I haven’t eaten anything since before midday 😢

I went to the GP last week, all my bloods are fine - except elevated WBC.
Not even on the waiting list for surgery until I lose weight. I have put on weight since losing my sister 18 months ago to pancreatic cancer (originally thought to be gallstones), but I can’t seem to shift it.

In so much discomfort right now, and trying not to let it show so as not to frighten my DD. I just want a cuddle and a cry 😢

Oh poor you I have gallstones for almost two years now..like you I need to lose weight although I was offered the surgery but told I was very high risk due to my weight. I've not had a massive attack since Sept 2022 but I get frequent niggles, nausea after eating, quite tender pains in my right side and back but no where near as bad as a full blown attacks. Because my attacks are so infrequent I can't recall what led to them no being so bad bi what I will say is when I had super bad attacks I took buscopan and it really helped! Like really helped. Maybe something to consider of you haven't tried I yet? I also joined slimming world recently to lose the weight so I can be in a better position for the surgery. They didn't refuse to do It just said o would b high risk due by size and BMI. They can't refuse you the surgery especially if it's going to eventually cause serious complications.

Hi @EpicSoundtracks - that sounds miserable. I'm sorry you're suffering so much.

A quick google suggests an elevated WBC indicates infection. Do you have pain in your abdomen and under your right ribs? If your gallbladder is infected, you need antibiotics. Did your GP say why your WBC was raised?

Even if it's not an infection, I think if you are at the stage of vomiting every time you eat, you should go to A&E.

I don't know how your GP can think it's OK for you to live like this.

@EpicSoundtracks - and I'm so sorry about your sister 💐

@EpicSoundtracks - and I second what the previous poster says about Buscopan. I took Buscopan with paracetamol and codeine to get me through the attacks. You can buy them over the counter or they can be prescribed.

My gall bladder was removed a few weeks ago via keyhole surgery. It was straight forward and apart from the wound at my belly button becoming slightly infected I have made a good recovery. I was offered a 'cancellation' after being on the list since April of last year. I was referred from A&E after a visit in March 23 due to a very bad GB attack which lasted hours.

Thank you everyone for the support.

My mum made me come to A&E at around 9pm - I’ve been admitted, and probably going to have surgery tomorrow! A CT scan has shown my gallbladder is very inflamed and I’m having IV antibiotics.

I’m so glad my mum made me come in, and I don’t really know what to say about the GP!

I'm so pleased to hear this news! Well done, your mum 👏!

When you're up to it, you should complain about your GP. An inflamed gallbladder (aside from being bloody painful) can lead to pancreatitis and other nasty complications, so it should have been diagnosed and treated - or you should have been sent straight to A&E.

But, for now, focus on getting better. I hope you're on painkillers as well as the IV antibiotics. Try and get some sleep now.

And please come back and let us know how you get on.

@EpicSoundtracks I just seen your post from last night. I'm so glad your mum made you go to A&E. Hopefully the IV antibiotics will start working and you can have the surgery soon. I was going to second the pp who suggested Buscopan but you are now in the right place to get the treatment your GP should have referred for. I know GP's have an important job to do but ultimately it's the surgeons decision as to whether you should be listed for surgery. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you get on.

@EpicSoundtracks well done for getting admitted, I know it’s dreadful when you’re in so much pain but keep pushing to get your gallbladder removed. Good luck, I hope they operate today.

EpicSoundtracks, I hope the medications are helping. Will they operate if it's inflamed/infected?

I'm 4 days post surgery, day 2 and 3 were surprisingly rough. I think I'd downplayed it so much in my mind, almost in a 'oh it's fine, it's only keyhole (which people kept saying to me). Do not under estimate it at all!

I managed a shower y'day, should I have changed my dressings? Original ones from Wednesday are still on. Seem clean still and aren't peeling? Only one poo so far, should I be taking something?

Morning everyone, I had the op yesterday at 2pm-ish. Feeling ok so far, just tired and sore. Still amazed how quickly everything happened!

@MiniCooperLover I’m definitely going to pace myself and not rush to get back to normal. I bet that was the best shower ever!

Sorry to hear your wound got infected, but glad you're on the mend now. It really is such a relief once the operation is over.

I also had a gallbladder attack that went on and on. I thought I had a stomach bug and went to bed. By chance, a day later I had a blood test for something else and my liver enzymes were at 600 (normal score is 30). That's the only reason I was diagnosed. Until then, my attacks had been put down to indigestion by the doctor.

I hope your recovery goes well and that you're soon enjoying eating whatever you want without pain.

Take it easy. Day 2 and 3 were probably the roughest for me. I had gas pain up into my shoulder from the gas they put into you during the operation. Felt much better once that went.

Keep taking the painkillers. A laxative is a good idea, too. I was prescribed Lactulose (laxative) to counteract the constipating effects of the anaesthetic and opioid painkillers.

Tell the people who say it's 'only keyhole' that it's still major surgery!

I had glue to stick my wounds, so I don't know what you do about dressings, I'm afraid.

No harm in taking a laxative like Lactulose if you feel you need it. It's very gentle. I ate tinned prunes as well!

I still needed a lot of rest in that first week, but started taking one or two short daily walks as well.

www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/Files/RCS/Patient-care/Recovering-from-surgery/GWSGall_bladder_removal.pdf

This has useful advice and information about recovering from a gallbladder operation.

Thanks that's a very helpful article! Day5 post op here, genuinely can't believe how normal I feel every morning! No tummy ache, no desperate rush to the bathroom, going for a poo normally, such a relief 👍 Changed my bandages y'day, three of them look pretty closed but the belly button is still quite raw and fragile so I'll avoid tighter clothes a while yet.

It was first day back at work today. My gall bladder op was 19th Jan. I feel utterly exhausted! I managed to eat a steak last Friday which was my first red meat and all was well. I even had a glass of wine!

Hope your tiredness has improved. It's surprising how long it goes on for. Get your iron levels checked if it doesn't improve: mine were low because I was hardly eating in the weeks before my operation. Taking iron tablets made all the difference.

It's such a great feeling to be able to eat anything and drink wine without getting those awful pains, isn't it? I had two glasses of Prosecco last night and had no ill effects.

All sounds very good 👍. My bellybutton has taken about a month to heal, although I had a hernia in it repaired at the same time as the gallbladder op, so it maybe took longer than average. All the bruising has gone now, though, and it's looking OK (if not quite the same as it used to be).