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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just have my gallbladder removed privately if I can afford it?

156 replies

MoveYourArmsLikeHenry · 13/09/2014 18:16

I have been suffering from gallstone pain for several years, only finding out the cause earlier this year. I went to see the consultant a month ago, feeling relieved that the ball is rolling and something may be done to stop these awful pains.

The consultant doesn't want to remove my gallbladder :( he wants me to lose weight to control it, which is fair enough, have been trying for a month now. And also said I'm am very young (nearly 26) for gallstones, surgery isn't necessary right now, let's try losing weight and improving overall health first and review you again in 6 months.

All well and lovely. Except I am still having these godawful bastarding pains :( even if I am not having an attack, the right side of my back feels like someone has struck it repeatedly with an iron bar, nearly everyday and I can't take it anymore :(

Wibu to say sod the 6 month review, I am in daily pain, and see about having it removed privately? I feel like because I am fat and young they are just fobbing me off but I cat bear the agony of it any more.

OP posts:
ArabellaTarantella · 13/09/2014 18:19

Surely he is just suggesting the easier option of losing weight, as a full blown gallbladder operation can't be pleasant at the time, nor after?

Ididntseeitsoitdidnthappen · 13/09/2014 18:19

Tbh id lose weight to lower the risks of surgery if nothing else. If you're struggling ask for advice from your GP but a gallstone diet is a very healthy one and if you eat small portions of it you should lose weight, if you're not again you need to speak to your doctor.

I know it's not that easy - I'm 4 stone overweight - but it really will improve your quality of life irrespective of the surgery

missknows · 13/09/2014 18:22

If you switch to a virtually no fat diet the attacks will rarely occur- if at all.

fun1nthesun · 13/09/2014 18:22

Have you tried completely giving up fat and spicy food? They are supposed to be the cause of the pain. A very low calorie diet has also been proven to help massively.

I know a few people with complications from gall stone surgery, and I would think this is why doctors tend to avoid it.

Sorry you are in so much pain Flowers

0898 · 13/09/2014 18:23

They seem reluctant to operate on me also. My consultant told me that they'd only take it out if it got infected.

Presumably you're on a low fat diet anyway, as processing dietary fat is a prime culprit of gallbladder flare-ups? So you'll shift a bit of weight anyway

Original poster
MoveYourArmsLikeHenry · 13/09/2014 18:25

Thank you everyone. I have been following the diet that has been recommended to me, it's going well, but I am still having gallbladder attacks and pains and it's making me miserable :(

OP posts:
fun1nthesun · 13/09/2014 18:26

IM trying to remember what it is that you can drink that will dissolve them. It was something disgusting enough to make me boak but I can't remember what!

fun1nthesun · 13/09/2014 18:27

Oh yes pints of oil or something Confused

Ididntseeitsoitdidnthappen · 13/09/2014 18:27

Go back to them and ask for further recommendations then.

It's crap. But it should help.

I've now forgone onions, garlic, tomatoes, citrus fruit and most fats in order to help my stomach pain and it has worked.

I hope you get it resolved soon

furryleopard · 13/09/2014 18:35

I had my gallbladder out when I was 28 - I had been following a low fat diet and was still having regular attacks. It was the worst year of my life, there was no suggestion by my surgeon that he wouldn't take it out. I was overweight but not excessively and my surgeon asked me to lose weight for my operation so I lost a stone and a half, I didn't drink alcohol prior and tried to be a bit healthier. Maybe you should go back to your GP and ask for further advice?

velocity1 · 13/09/2014 18:39

I had my gallbladder out when I was 18. I had stopped eating all the supposed trigger foods, but I was still having attacks that had me crawling around on the floor in pain. It was supposed to be keyhole surgery, but because one of the stones moved I ended up with a lovely looking 'zip' down my front Smile

There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion before you make a final decision, then if you do decide to have the op, you go in fully informed

Original poster
MoveYourArmsLikeHenry · 13/09/2014 18:41

Thank you everyone. I feel like my gp is sick of seeing me regarding this issue Grin but I guess it's his job.

So I guess, er, I'm BU?

OP posts:
SenatusPopulusqueRomanorum · 13/09/2014 18:42

I got gallstones at 21 after losing lots of weight on a very low fat diet.
Fat doesn't trigger attacks for me. However they always come back when I am losing weight.

Are you so overweight that abdominal surgery would be risky? If you aren't, I would at least get a second opinion.

PersonOfInterest · 13/09/2014 18:44

My Dr told me that many people have asymptomatic gallstones. Which is why they're reluctant to remove gallbladders. In case you have gall stones but they aren't the cause of your pain. What she said was, "lets not rush into removing anything, only to find that wasn't the cause of your pain".

I do see her point. My pain has mainly gone now.

Sorry, its so horrible being in pain all the time (I know) but is it possible its something else? Is it related to anything else? Do IBS medications help?

YouHaveBeenOutbid · 13/09/2014 18:46

No you're not! I have just had mine done privately. Like you I was in almost constant vpain despite a virtually fat free diet. I'd recommend going for a private consultation. You're under no obligation to go thru with the op and a second opinion can't hurt. Good luck. It's miserable I know.

livsmommy · 13/09/2014 18:48

I had mine out when I was 25 after suffering the attacks for two years. In the last three months or so before I had my op I lost around 2 stone although I wasn't particularly overweight to start with, because I was afraid to eat, but even eating very plain bland foods by that point I was in constant pain and having attacks all the time, mine was v inflamed when finally removed. I didn't meet any resistance to have it removed though despite my age (they do run in my family) and my op date was actually moved forward because I was a weekly visitor to my gp in agony not able to cope and even went to a & e a couple of times. My advice would be to keep seeing your gp, make them aware of the pain you are in and make it very clear you would like to go on the waiting list to have the operation. It's not a nice operation (what is?!) and for about a week after you will be very uncomfortable, but if you are anything like me all you will feel is relief that they are gone! If you can afford to have it done privately explore that option to, because it will be quicker. I would rather give birth that have a gallstone attack any day of the week, good luck, and don't give up!

VegasIsBest · 13/09/2014 18:50

Have you tried drugs to help manage it? I took omeprazole (spelling?) which helped a lot. I had my gallbladder out two years after first symtoms. And felt so much better I wished I asked to have it out earlier. I think you have the right to ask for a second opinion. I would go down that route before lying myself. Just keep pushing if you definitely want it removed. Good luck.

VegasIsBest · 13/09/2014 18:52

Sorry that should say 'paying myself'

pippitysqueakity · 13/09/2014 18:53

agree about the drink, think its a day of drinking olive oil and grapefruit juice alternately. you cant do any thing else that day, but I have not had an attack since. Will look up and get back

Original poster
MoveYourArmsLikeHenry · 13/09/2014 18:54

vegas I am taking omeprazole, it is the only thing stopping me from clawing the damn thing out myself

OP posts:
seasavage · 13/09/2014 18:56

I lost 4 stone, became underweight. During the weight loss I basically discovered that EVERY meal triggered it. It started during late pregnancy and my daughter was 1 the day they removed it. The pain was awful, nothing truly shifted it (cocodamol eased it).
I say, have it removed. You'll have to adjust your diet afterwards anyway (digestion issues, less b12 absorption).
That year was awful. Really

Singmetosleepzzz · 13/09/2014 19:02

move that is just ridiculous - I had gallstones 4 years ago and it was agony - like previous posters every single meal triggered an attack if I wasn't extremely careful - by the time I had my operation I had lost 5 stone and was surviving on noodles in stock and butternut squash soup. It was absolutely horrible. After the operation I read that the NHS was cutting down on these operations due to costs and the cynic in me wonders if this is the real reason why you are essentially being fobbed off. If you can afford it then I would recommend it - the relief afterwards was immense. Good luck. I found this website so useful - it showed that it wasn't only fatty foods that were a trigger but also things like citrus.

www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladderdiet.shtml

Groovee · 13/09/2014 19:03

It took over 6 months to get surgery for mine. It was only because I couldn't stop being sick and despite only drinking water was bringing up brown sick that they finally left me on a ward to wait for surgery and give my body a break.

If I could have afforded the £5K that Spire had quoted I'd have had it done sooner but we just didn't have spare money as I kept having to be off sick as I became so ill.

I had kept a food diary and was able to keep track of what triggered it. In the end I was only having steamed potatoes, plain cooked chicken with salad and simple broth soup and was still being so ill.

Darkesteyes · 13/09/2014 19:04

Yep I got gallstones after losing weight very quickly (slimming world) SOLID food triggered it It was hell Doctors had to come out and give me morphine injections. Had mine out in 2003 after losing ten stone.

Singmetosleepzzz · 13/09/2014 19:04

Sorry me again - the restricted diet I was on also made me poorly - really lacking the necessary nutrients and when I fell unexpectedly pregnant a couple of months after the operation the pregnancy was a nightmare and my DC was born very early as I was malnourished. Awful.