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.

That's good news @Rarewaxwing, I do always wonder why they don't do both ops at the same time but maybe that's too much.

@ihaveayod - yes, halfway there! Can't wait for this to be behind me.

@MiniCooperLover - I read somewhere that doing both procedures at the same time was less effective. Sometimes stones were left in the bile duct.

I had an email off the General Surgery secretaries at our local NHS Hosp to say it's April at a minimum due to backlogs before they'll even be able to generate a date for me so realistically it's May/June time. I've got private care through my DH's work so I've bitten the bullet and had a referral with them and they've given me the go ahead to have an apt with a consultant and talk it through so that appointment is next week. Someone on here was private (from memory), I'd be interested to get some feedback about how long they waited, etc. if they were able to let me know. Thanks

@MiniCooperLover - I'm going private. DH took out private care with Vitality two years ago and it's been invaluable. We've rarely had anything wrong with us, but have had several health issues recently and been able to avoid the waiting lists. We're carers for two children with SENs, so really need to be on good form.

I got an appointment with a consultant within three weeks (interrupted by Christmas). The ERCP was booked for 6 days after my appointment with the consultant. My gallbladder removal was booked for the end of January, but I had a bad attack the other night, so the consultant said he'd bring it forward.

I was told it's a six-month wait for gallbladder surgery in our NHS hospital.

Just catching up with you all on here. You have my sympathy 100%. Horrible problem to have and horrible waits.

I know private isn't always an option, but i was able to do it. My nhs wait was going to be over a year, and that was after the consultation and diagnosis. My attacks were severe and happening every couple of weeks, recovery took a few days each time, i lost a lot of weight, and basically i was just scared all the time. It's so weird to think how my surgery is now 5 months ago, and how I wouldn't even be halfway through that nhs wait.

I may now have pcs, post cholecystectomy syndrome, though. I'm awaiting a scan. If it's that then I've read it can be temporary so I'm not too anxious.

Good luck everyone.

@dudsville - I'm sorry you have PCS. Is that the thing where you have to rush to the loo every time you eat? I'm worried I'll end up with that, but I have no choice and have to have the operation. If it's BAM, I know you can get effective medicine for it.

I know the NHS situation is awful, but this brings it home. A friend of mine went to A&E every time she had a bad gallbladder attack, but was given painkillers and sent away again. I think it took six months to a year before she got the op. It's not right that people are suffering like this and put at risk of infection.

I'm uncomfortable again this evening and scared it's the prelude to another attack. Feeling achy and bloated. Also really tired all the time. I'm taking paracetamol, ibuprofen and Buscopan to ward off an attack.

Hm, maybe it's not PCS if that's the main symptom @Rarewaxwing. I thought i was having kidney pain but GP scanned them and they seem fine. Then the pain came up where the gb would have been, and although it's constant it's worse when I've had something fatty. So I'm taking paracetamol and buscopan daily. They really help manage it though so it's nowhere near as severe as gb pain, just weird to still be popping pain killers daily. I really don't understand pain, this notion of referred pain. So confusing. And with PCS my surgeon warned me about it, said some people experience this but they don't know why... and I want to know why this is an unknown! I mentioned the possibility of it to my gp and she'd never heard of it, so now I'm having a further scan and tests "to make sure nothing untoward is happening". It's still 100% better than life before my gb was removed!

@HeyBwoss - urgency is just one of the symptoms. What you describe does sound like PCS. How miserable, especially when you were expecting to be pain-free by now. I'm glad the meds help. Hopefully, it is temporary.

Have been awake most of the night with gallbladder pain. It's all across my middle and under my rib cage. My back aches too. I'm taking paracetamol, ibuprofen and Buscopan, but nothing seems to be working. I was trying to avoid codeine because of its constipating effects, but that's next on my list. I wish the pain would stop.

@dudsville sorry to hear you are still suffering. I’m also waiting for a scan post surgery. I often feel pain where my gallbladder was and often have to urgently run to the bathroom. I don’t seem to have any consistent triggers food wise but if it happens it’s always after the first meal of the day.

Hi everyone, sorry to see lots of people are still in pain and waiting. It's so hard. @Rarewaxwing I hope the attack has eased off by now, I found a hot water bottle as hot as I could stand helped ease some pain (or maybe just a different pain distracted me?!) I hope you get your surgeries soon!

Sorry to hear some are suffering after surgery too, it does feel never ending sometimes! I'm mostly ok so far, but definitely feel it if I eat too many fatty foods. I get an ache where my gallbladder was and become extremely windy and uncomfortable. I also feel really really sick. But probably a good reminder for me to reign it in a bit!

I hope you all get answers soon

@HeyBwoss - thanks. I ended up taking paracetamol with codeine and that seems to have helped. I just have a background ache now.

I chased up the surgery and it's been brought forward to 24th.

It's my birthday today and I'm celebrating with codeine and rice cakes 😆!

@Rarewaxwing Happy birthday. I hope your symptoms improve soon so that you can celebrate your birthday. Hopefully you will be able to have something a bit tastier than ricecakes.

@ihaveayod - thank you. It's not one of my best birthdays, that's for sure.

I might move on from rice cakes to sliced, cold chicken later 😂!

Aw I laughed at your birthday codeine and rice cakes! I had a very sorry gallbladder birthday, I'd actually been to the SAU the night before with new symptoms and i was just back home and feeling sorry for myself (and learning that codeine didn't help me and also made me really itchy). It was a warm summer's day and I was irritable! Hope you can do something nice today, and if not hope you can celebrate after it's all over!

Happy birthday @Rarewaxwing I hope your day has improved. Definitely have a late birthday cake when all this is over!

@HeyBwoss - thank you! It's been a funny birthday. I just don't care about it this year, but my two boys made / bought me lovely cards and my DH bought me flowers (which means he must be worried about me 😁).

I've been wondering at which point I should seek medical advice. I feel ill all the time now, but I don't have any of the symptoms of an infection: no temperature, bad stomach or jaundice. I just have ongoing, grumbling pain (including backache) and feel crap. If the symptoms escalate, I'll see a doctor.

Did anyone else feel like this?

I'm in th same boat..I've had gallstones for 18 months now. I always feel tender and sore, get random stomach aches, sickness and the pain radiates to my back. I've been to the GP loads and likewise no signs of infection so nothing they can do.

Sorry just read uve already had yours out @Rarewaxwing

@AlltheJays23 - no, I still have my gallbladder. I had the stones removed from my bile duct first. Gallbladder removal next week.

Your symptoms sound so similar. I'm sorry, it must have been awful that there was nothing the GP could do.

So it's a matter of gritting one's teeth and counting the days till surgery.

@AlltheJays23 - do you feel really tired too? I feel exhausted. But my iron levels are a bit low, so that might be a separate issue.

@Rarewaxwing I came out in sympathy with you today (twice). Feel pretty rough now but the pain has eased off considerably. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you (and me).
@AlltheJays23 I went to the GP last week due to gallbladder attacks 4 days in a row. Nothing they can do unless there is a fever or jaundice, although she did say she would write to the surgeon to expedite my surgery.

I was down for surgery last year but it kept getting postponed and then they roved from the list. Luckily I don't get super bad attacks anymore. Just the odd tenderness and uncomfortableness. The GP said because I don't get really bad attacks anymore then I may not even need the surgery so I don't know what to do really.

@ihaveayod - I had just decided to see my GP tomorrow, then saw your post. I thought the GP might be able to prescribe a stronger painkiller at least. Think I'll give it a try, unless I'm feeling better. It's awful that the GP couldn't do anything for you. I'm assuming he/she has never suffered gallbladder pain!

I'm so sorry you've been suffering today too. I hope the pain stays away now.