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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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.

OP posts:

baterwaiter · 12/08/2020 20:12

Had mine out. Painful couple of days after as you would expect and off work for around 10 days or so. Bit of a dodgy tum for a few weeks as my body got used to the new norm. After that absolutely fine and been able to eat anything. 3 years later, still fine.

Original poster

gratitudee · 12/08/2020 20:27

@MereDintofPandiculation that sounds aweful. Pleased it all turned out well in the end.

Another question I meant to ask is if you have to have a catheter in whilst having the surgery? I know it sounds like a silly question but I like to be prepared for these things.

OP posts:

ShutUpaYourFace · 12/08/2020 22:33

I had mine out in 2012 when my baby was 3 months old. 1st attack was on the maternity ward. I think they moved it during c-section. Worse pain ever, hospital sent me for X-ray said I was constipated! Had another attack a couple of months later. Doctor diagnosed me straight away. Had it out quickly and nothing since. I have 3 small scars. I do get heart burn in the night if I eat too late but nothing major. Can't remember having a catheter. It was day surgery. As soon a you pee a certain amount you could go home. Drink lots of water. Good luck

Letmegetthisrightasawoman · 12/08/2020 23:09

Yup, catheter. In my case it went in when I was under GA already so barely noticed it.

Somefantasticplace · 12/08/2020 23:18

I also had my gallbladder removed around 8 years ago and it was a fantastic decision as I have been able to eat anything I like ever since with no pain. Before that I couldn't eat anything fatty and was really having to restrict my diet.

I also had gastric problems, in fact I was first referred to a gastroenterologist because of some of my symptoms but a scan showed up the gallstones and removal was recommended. I was worried too when I read online about some people having bad experiences but I have had no problems, it was keyhole surgey and my gastric problems disappeared too. No catheter as far as I remember. Hope it goes well for you.

AHobbyaweek · 12/08/2020 23:31

Two years ago. Best thing I did and recovered really quickly.

Dylaninthemovies1 · 12/08/2020 23:53

Most people are absolutely fine afterwards. You only hear of the horror stories because no one tells you their boring story of it going well.

I had one and had complications: but the chances of these were something like 1 in a thousand, and I was just the unlucky one.

I wouldn’t leave it as it is in case of pancreatitis!

notapizzaeater · 13/08/2020 00:12

I had mine out 12 months ago, I was one if the 1:10000 though that had to be converted to full surgery (too much scar tissue from previous hysterectomy) so recovery was a lot slower, that aside best thing I ever did ! Only real side effects are if I have double cream I feel really sick a,l night but been ok otherwise. Oh and my cholesterol has suddenly raised this year which I'm told can happen.

Original poster

gratitudee · 13/08/2020 12:50

@Dylaninthemovies1 that's true about only hearing the horror stories. I suppose nobody really thinks twice about it if all goes ok and no lasting complications. Hopefully that will be me too
Interesting that some say yes to catheter and some not.

OP posts:

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/08/2020 13:11

Looking at it the other way everyone who I spoke to told me what an easy operation it is and how I’d be able to eat whatever I want! The bloody nurse told me to order a full English breakfast the following morning - I couldn’t eat that now, let alone straight away!

The only person who was honest with me was my GP but unfortunately I didn’t see her until afterwards as I was diagnosed in A&E. The medical profession especially needs to give balanced information

Original poster

gratitudee · 13/08/2020 18:58

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I suppose so yes, can go both ways. Maybe in real life people don't like to scare you so they say it's all fine but on the internet people can ask more and be more honest about embarrassing symptoms etc

OP posts:

Gillian1980 · 13/08/2020 19:05

I had mine out 4 years ago.

10 month wait for the operation, which included loads of horrendously pain.

Operation was keyhole, catheter in after I was under GA. home that evening.

Absolutely no problems since, no issues with stomach upsets etc and I don’t have to avoid eating any particular foods.

Lowhangingfruit · 13/08/2020 19:07

I've suffered badly after mine. Just today I was planning trips around needing to go to the toilet. And it lockdown it's not easy :-( might try some medicine by the doctor as it's getting ridiculous now

Auckland11 · 13/08/2020 19:15

I had mine taken out 15 years ago when i was 17 and have never had any problems since. It took 2 years to get there with being so young.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/08/2020 19:44

[quote gratitudee]@PinkSparklyPussyCat I suppose so yes, can go both ways. Maybe in real life people don't like to scare you so they say it's all fine but on the internet people can ask more and be more honest about embarrassing symptoms etc
[/quote]
I think mostly it's fine, but when I was slow to recover I thought there was something wrong with me. Everyone else I knew who'd had it done was fine so it was just my luck that I wasn't! It didn't help that I'd had pancreatitis and my gallbladder was badly inflamed.

Shewithmagicears2018 · 13/08/2020 20:14

I had several horrible bouts if pain and hospital stays (including being blue lighted a couple of times as I was so unwell due to my glallstones) and I promise you that after 10 days in hospital waiting for the consultant to be prepared to operate on me I finally had my gb removed and it was instant relief for me. I virtually skipped out of the bloody hospital! I was like a new woman!!! I have to just be careful eating pastry now

goose1964 · 13/08/2020 20:18

I had mine removed about 3years ago and I can't absorb animal fat plus some others I've not been able to identify. But I much prefer the odd bouts of pain and the funds that I get now to the almost constant hall bladder pain.

CheetasOnFajitas · 13/08/2020 20:20

Mine came out, along with these nine bad boys, in February. It was very straightforward keyhole surgery and I have had completely normal digestion ever since.

Gallbladder Removal - Anyone had this done?

CheetasOnFajitas · 13/08/2020 20:23

No catheter. I asked surgeon who said I would not be under for long enough to need one. (I am 46 and was otherwise in good health).

Bettysnow · 13/08/2020 20:28

No catheter for me either. Fantastic, straightforward op! The only thing I recall from the op three yrs ago was shoulder pain? Although the nurse said its quite common afterwards but disappears not long after op. Had pancreatitis caused by gravel stones. All great no issues at all

Original poster

gratitudee · 13/08/2020 21:15

Wow @CheetasOnFajitas
Is that what they look like, I'm not sure why I thought they would be white! But thinking about it that makes no sense now

OP posts:

VinylDetective · 13/08/2020 21:33

This is one of my two. The coin is a 10p piece.

CheetasOnFajitas · 13/08/2020 21:38

I think they come in a lot of shapes, colours and sizes. I had no idea mine were so big but, looking at VinylDetective’s

mummymayhem18 · 13/08/2020 21:40

Same story as @Calic0 but it's life long condition which can flare up at anytime. I've been struggling more with this heat and have had a few accidents this week. Everyone is different though. You will probably be fine but at least you know what to look out for if after awhile your symptoms get worse after having the operation. Good luck.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/08/2020 21:40

@Bettysnow

I was given a really good tip from one of the nurses about the shoulder pain - stand up straight (or as straight as you can) and raise your arms above your head when you feel it starting. I did it and didn't have any shoulder pain. I still do it now when I have bad indigestion.

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