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Original poster

Gallbladder Removal - Anyone had this done?

157 replies

gratitudee · 12/08/2020 10:48

Posted here so I can hopefully get more answers, I hope that's ok.
I just wanted to hear peoples experiences, I've searched a lot and can find a lot of horror stories about pain and constant diarrhoea for years after surgery. Is this normal? Is there anyone who had symptoms before but they went away after the surgery and didn't get worse?
I think mine is going to have to come out but I really don't want to live with years of diarrhoea. Sad

OP posts:
DottyDotAgain · 12/08/2020 10:52

Hi - I had mine out about 5 years ago now and have been 100% fine ever since! I had 2 x gallstone attacks that put me in hospital beforehand and have never known pain like it. Now it's out, I'm absolutely fine. I can eat what I like (although really shouldn't...) and don't have any side effects. No pain at all now. It was definitely worth having done and one of the easiest operations I've recovered from (having had a few Hmm).

mynameiscalypso · 12/08/2020 10:52

I had mine taken out 6 years ago. Absolutely no problems since, best thing I've ever done.

ScottishMummy12 · 12/08/2020 10:53

I had mine removed a few years ago was the best thing I ever did. Was out of hospital a few hours after the op and apart from minor pain at the wounds for a few days everything went great and I was back to work 5 days later and I have had no problems since.

AuntieDolly · 12/08/2020 10:58

It took a little longer to get over the operation than I anticipated, but I've been perfectly fine since. I think as it was day surgery I expected to be bouncing around as normal but I'd say it took 2 weeks to feel properly well.

Stifledlife · 12/08/2020 10:59

I was having frequent gall bladder attacks and had mine out 20 years ago. I haven't had a moment's problem since.
No diet modification required, and no problems with anything gastric.

Calic0 · 12/08/2020 11:00

Hi OP! Had mine out three years ago. Operation itself was absolutely fine and I recovered quickly.

However, as a result of the op I develop Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM) which is what causes the diarrhoea you’ve read about it. Once I was diagnosed I was put on daily medication which completely sorted the problem out.

AllPlayedOut · 12/08/2020 11:02

My Mother had this surgery. She was slightly tender for a week and that was the only problem she had. She's had no issues whatsoever in the 16 years since having it removed.

Pootles34 · 12/08/2020 11:03

My husband had his out - enormous relief for him. He suffers a little bit with his stomach still - he worked out it's if he has something fatty for breakfast. So long as he has a healthy breakfast, he's more or less ok.

The odd stomach upset still - but his diet is much worse than it should be - as is mine Blush

DamitJanet · 12/08/2020 11:03

Had mine out a few years ago. Op was straightforward, had it at 930am and I was home before 2pm.
Took two weeks off work for recovery but would have been fine if I’d only taken one. No issues since.

MumInBrussels · 12/08/2020 11:05

I had mine out about 15 years ago, and it was an excellent decision. I had excruciating pain before, then I had the op, from which recovery took maybe a week of paracetamol/ibuprofen, then no pain again! I did have some issues with diarrhoea when I ate very fatty foods for a while afterwards, but they did go away, and I figured that diarrhoea was better than screaming agony, in any case!

LizTaylorsFabulousTurban · 12/08/2020 11:06

I had mine out 20 years ago and only needed to modify my diet (no fat at all) during the first couple of weeks after the op (which coincided with a holiday to Cornwall and my torture at not being about to eat ice-cream or a Cornish Pasty). I was up and out of hospital the same day (had keyhole surgery), and was on holiday the week after (albeit with a handy wheelchair borrowed from the Red Cross, that helped).

I get gastric problems as much as the next person (ie following too much fruit or a spicy curry) and never noticed anything untoward after I had it out. But the relief of not feeling like my torso was in a vice any time I ate fatty food was heaven.

MereDintofPandiculation · 12/08/2020 11:06

Gall bladder collects the bile that is being produced, so it can be released in one great whoosh when you eat, in order to deal with fats - this is why gall bladder pain tends to come on after eating.

Without the gall bladder, you continue to produce bile, but in a steady trickle. So in theory you might get diarrhoea if you pig out on fats, because the steady trickle isn't quite enough. But in practice I haven't had that, despite not making any effort to avoid fats. I haven't had indigestion in the last 15 years, since my op.

A friend finds he can't eat cream. And another friend is having unexplained pain - until I heard her experience I would have had no hesitation in recommending the op. But I think it's very rare what happened to her.

wolfmom · 12/08/2020 11:08

My only post op problem was going to the toilet for the first couple of days. My stools are always a bit dodgy due to IBS which hasn't changed either way. To be honest after being hospitalised with pancreatitis because of it, increase in bowel trouble wouldn't have put me off the surgery

Lockdownmum1010 · 12/08/2020 11:09

Had mine out 8 years ago. Very occasionally will have a slightly dicky tummy if I eat something particularly fatty, but other than that no issues and no pain.

NewtonPulsifer · 12/08/2020 11:09

Had mine out a few years ago, been fine ever since and have recommended the op to friends who also needed it doing. Everyone I know who has had the op have been totally fine and live a much better life with no diet restrictions

gettingusedtothelimelight · 12/08/2020 11:10

@Calic0 Do you mind me asking what meds you're on? I strongly suspect I've got this since my gallbladder removal a few years ago and would like to do some research (well Google it 😂)

sammylady37 · 12/08/2020 11:10

Had it out 7 years ago, no problems since.

Bearfrills · 12/08/2020 11:11

I'm getting mine out on Monday so following with interest.

My surgeon has told me that diarrhoea affects around 15-20% of people post surgery and that for the majority it settles down within a week or two.

Homemadearmy · 12/08/2020 11:13

Had my gall bladder out 8 years ago. My stomach is more sensitive now. And breakfast is a problem and can upset my stomach regardless of what I eat. I don't know is I now have ibs. But I still would have the op again if I had to. The attacks were horrible and for me were not just triggered by fatty food

IKEA888 · 12/08/2020 11:16

I had mine out 6 years ago . it wa awful before and for a yea to had no issues.
then one day I woke up with the same pain.
the ed out to be pancreatitis from " gravel " left behind in the biliary tract
I now Think my gall bladder pain was pancreatitis pain all along.
I would recommend checking they are sure you have gallstones significant enough to be gallbladder issues before you proceed.
I should say what I have is quite rare

Babypug · 12/08/2020 11:18

Had mine out earlier this year in feb/ March and I've so relieved I had it down. Got to a&e following the worst attack and due to having a scan done earlier in the week I knew it was gallstones. Had keyhole surgery next day and was out that night. I'm still having the odd tummy pain but need to work out what that might be... maybe something else that's not been picked up (although I've had 2 c-sections in 3 years so I'm a bit of a patchwork with my scars)

Cherryghost · 12/08/2020 11:18

I'm just posting to say having the op gave me my life back. Sounds dramatic but it's true. I lost 10 stone in a year through gall bladder pain and could only eat a yoghurt for dinner and little else without having major pain.
Now I've only had a few occurrences of bad diarrhoea but that was after eating a lot of fatty food.
The only thing I'd say is it wasn't a easy recovery as Drs make it out to be.
Yes you can go home same day, but I found it very hard moving about for a week and could only sleep sat upright as very painful but after a month I had my life back. I would totally recommend having the op as gallbladder attacks never go away

itsgood2talk · 12/08/2020 11:22

I had mine out a few years ago. I was in and out of the hospital the same day and it was done via key hole surgery so scars are minimal. Recovery was really quick. Life changing having it done, I could finally eat normally again with no pain at all. No problems at all since. Good luck

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 12/08/2020 11:22

I'm really interested in this. I get very mild gallbladder pain, which I appreciate is unusual, but it's in the right place and an ultrasound found some pretty big gallstones. I'm trying to address it with diet at the moment but the doctor did offer to refer me to have it out and I will admit to being anxious about ending up with the agonising pain that other people report. So no one seems to have any regrets so far?

Calic0 · 12/08/2020 11:23

@gettingusedtothelimelight - I’m on a medication called Colestid. I started off on Questran but apparently there are supply issues so I moved on to this.

The symptoms were near enough constant diarrhoea, sudden urge to “go” whenever I ate and, as well (sorry for TMI) bright yellow faecal matter! It’s very common after gallbladder removal and the GP basically diagnosed me after one visit. However, because it was regarded as a post surgical complication I had to go via the hospital to get a formal diagnosis. The meds have been absolutely life changing. They completely fix the problem with no side effects whatsoever.