To ask you if you've had your gallbladder removed?

[Lsquiggles]

After experiencing sudden abdominal pain yesterday I ended up in A&E and have today found out I have gallstones and need my gallbladder removed. The surgery is likely to be a while away cuz of covid but I'm really anxious about the surgery.

Without any gorey details can anyone who has had their gallbladder removed let me know what to expect and anything to prepare for?

Yes. It was a simple key hole op.
I was sore afterwards in the sense of doing about a thousand sit-ups.
Ate carefully for a few weeks so as not to upset my new gall bladder free system.
But after that I’m all back to normal but pain free.
Was years back and no trouble since.
Highly recommend it as the GS pain was horrendous.

Yes, 18 years ago, it was a doddle. And a massive relief!

I had mine out 8 years ago. After three weeks I was dancing at a wedding and after 5 was dancing at my own wedding!

Great to hear your positive stories! The pain really is the worst I've ever felt so definitely want to go ahead with the surgery, just wish I could get it over with as I'm scared the pain will return

Surgery was very straightforward in all honesty. Mine was done within weeks of diagnosis as I ended up back at A&E due to the pain which got it bumped to semi emergency and done in days.

Sadly I'm not pain free - I've apparently developed a complication, most likely Sphincter of Oddi disfunction - which has the same fucking symptoms. Most annoying!

Get it out as soon as you can!! The pain is horrendous when you have an attack and once they start I found I was getting them more and more regularly.

The op was fine, bit sore for a few days but I had a two year old at the time and I was fine with him on my own in the house after about two days. Recovering from the anaesthetic was worse than the actual op. I remember hoovering prob about 5 days after, I can’t remember fully but I know it wasn’t long and I went back to work after about 10days.
I just used to take paracetamol and alternate with ibuprofen for the first few days to keep on top of any pain but was fine after that and I could have a normal diet with no side effects after it was out.

I was only in overnight as well and jst four small incisions, you can barely see the scars now after 5 years. I got to the point that I was scared to eat because everything seemed to set off an attack, not a problem I have now unfortunately........

They recommend a low fat diet to help prevent attacks but everyone is different so different things set off attacks for different people. You might be lucky and not get another attack for ages but just be aware of what you’re eating now so if it does start again you can trigger what caused it if that makes sense.

I had mine put two and a half years ago. Instant relief, I felt so much better! Had two weeks off work to recover, and it was painful at the three entry sites (keyhole surgery) for the first week, but nothing too bad. It was just before Christmas and was dancing, eating, drinking, enjoying myself over Christmas with no issues. Occasional dodgy stomach if I eat something really fatty, but no other ongoing issues. Good luck!

I had mine out 8ish years ago, keyhole so quick and easy. I had a bit of shoulder pain that day and the day after but it was just gas.

I had to take 6 weeks of work because I was doing a very physical job and wasn’t allowed to lift. I was on my own with a two year old though as dp was away at the time so still had to run around after him and pick him up if needed, I did get a telling off from the gp for that. It’s easy to forget because outwardly it doesn’t look as though much has been done but your insides still need to heal.

Yes. Op was fine I recovered fully in a few days, had a baby 10 months later! The keyhole plan didn't quite work due to some complication but I have three small scars. Hugely better than my gran who had a scar right across her rib from it (older surgical technique same complication). Life is significantly better. I can eat for a start as towards the op every meal triggered an attack, not just hard to digest ones!

Long term I am starting to experience IBS as i was warned was possible.

Yes I have. It was done via key hole. I had my spleen out at the same time so I don't know if the symptoms (stomach ache etc) were due to the gall stones, spleen or a combination of both.

After the op, I find that I can't have too much fatty food. Especially English breakfasts. And definitely avoid them if I know I won't be in easy reach of a loo.

It's fine. Take at least 4 weeks off work and stock up on something to do. Keep low fat diet until your op.

I still get pain if I eat too much fat, (the dude did tell me why just after the op but didn't really take it in) but nothing on the scale of when gallbladder was there.

Just be careful on what you eat.

Yep, it was absolutely fine and quick recovery. I felt so
Much better! Though mine was infected rather than very painful. Don't worry, honest.

I mean infected before surgery! Not due to it.

Mine came out nine years ago with keyhole surgery, there were three incisions but I only have one scar which is a thin white line. Most people are in and out the same day, I was supposed to be but had some (apparently very unusual) internal bleeding and was in for three nights in the end.

Had mine out and it was no big deal at all. Within 3 days I was back to normal.

I wish I'd never had mine out. I still have issues as other posters have said - Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Probably get two attacks a year.

However what has really got me is the weight gain. It was almost instantaneous. Nothing I do can shift it and to be honest it makes me more miserable than the pain did. It is a very common side effect that you are not informed of prior to surgery but is well known amongst the lovely nurses I work with. Having always suffered with my weight and having finally got to a happy place weight wise, to have put it all back on is personally heartbreaking for me. I'm talking almost 3 stone within a couple of months.

Mine had some complications but still so glad I had it removed and now I'm as good as new

I had mine out a couple of years ago. Walked into the hospital at 11 am with my gallbladder and walked out just over 24 hours later without it. Four small scars, one of which is in my belly button so you can’t really see it.
Delighted to no longer wake up in the night thinking I’m having a heart attack or that someone is impaling me through the shoulder with a red hot poker.

I had my gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery 20 years ago, it was a simple op, I did get a slight infection afterwards that was treated with antibiotics but it was such a relief to not have the pain anymore from those pesky galstones. My mum had the same surgeon remove hers a couple of years earlier, again without any issues and only a very brief recovery time. I think if you have the procedure carried out by keyhole you will be fine.

I was in for a day case and was playing netball the following week.

Yep. Keyhole surgery. Usually offered as day surgery. I only had two days off work and I’m a weakling and a big baby 😆. No pain whatsoever afterwards. Total breeze.

I didn’t gain any weight at all after my surgery, incidentally.

Yes had my op many years ago keyhole, fine no problems. One of the most common general surgeries. You will be fine OP try not to worry.

I had mine out by keyhole surgery about twenty yers ago. I was fine, as far as I can remember in two or three days. I was quite ill feeling from the GA and the anaesthetist did say that for traditional surgery and keyhole the recovery rates for the anaesthetic and immediate post op are much the same. No after effects for me. I have lost and gained weight but that was me before surgery as well.

Go for it OP. To lose the agony of an attack, and to lose the fear of it happening again is life changing.