Gallstones & gallbladder surgery?

[Moidershewrote]

More of a WWYD than AIBU, but posting for traffic😬

Have had gallstones for well over a decade, they were found on a scan when I was pregnant and monitored on a couple of scans since then, but up until the past year or so I’ve not had too much trouble with them. But now I seem to be having issues and I ~think~ I’m having bouts of biliary colic (although not diagnosed) which leave me in agony for 3-4 hours when it kicks off. I’m then exhausted and feel sick for a few days afterwards.

I know I can probably push for the gallbladder removal surgery with GP and have private insurance via work. But I am really scared of surgery (past traumatic medical experiences) and also worried it will leave me with continued digestive issues (thanks Google!) as I’ve read a lot of that online.

Looking for personal gallstone / surgery stories and anything that might help me get on with it..

This is what I am worried about, that my gallbladder is becoming swollen etc..

I had my gallbladder (and a chunk of liver as the gallbladder was totally adhered to it!) removed 2 weeks ago. I feel fine now - driving/working etc but I’m not lifting anything heavy or overdoing it.
first 3 days I relaxed on settee and watched tv then built up from there. Went for a short walk on day 4. Drive on day 5. Took ibuprofen and paracetamol for 48 hours then nothing since then. No issues since but I’m being careful food wise and building up gradually as I never want to feel that pain again - rolling around the floor for several hours at a time, vomiting etc.
I found a FB group very useful - Gallbladder and Gallstones support group UK.

I have had similar episodes to you. I really advise you watch Dr Berg on YouTube.

If you can avoid having a part of your digestive system removed then I most certainly would.

I suffered terribly with gallstone attacks for a year before having gallbladder removed 13 years ago. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. It was just a day procedure and I honestly didn't even need a paracetamol when the nurses came around with pain relief meds post surgery. I've never had any digestive issues since and I can eat or drink anything I fancy with no fear. Before the removal I was having a couple of attacks per week which left me in crippling pain for up to 12 hours including vomiting and lingering less severe pain and tenderness for at least another 24 hours. That year felt like hell.

I had mine out after developing pancreatitis. Luckily my GP was in the ball and sent me straight to hospital. I was very ill, but survived.

I had the op a few weeks later. I arrived at 8am and was out of the hospital by 1pm thanks to keyhole surgery. Not a fun day and I was so frightened they did me first. My digestion is fine now.

My best friends mum died from pancreatitis. Please don’t take the risk.

I had my gallbladder out privately, my DS’s were very little at the time. Best thing I did, the pain I experienced dreadful.

Bless you @Puffy123 my lovely late MIL had this also, very serious condition. Pleased you were ok.

I had mine removed 15 months ago, 9 months after one episode of severe pain and nausea lasting several days. I had one single stone the size of a golf ball.
I received a phone call from a private hospital 6 months after diagnosis, saying that I had been transferred from the NHS because they like to remove
‘ the big boys’ quickly. I deferred the op for 3 months until a more convenient time.
I had keyhole surgery on a Tuesday and felt well enough by Friday to do office work, wfh.
I had almost no pain or discomfort after the first 24 hours and it was minimal anyway, just took a couple of paracetamol.

Forgot to say, problems with any food, can eat anything.

I had mine out around 20 years ago. It was done key hole surgery, I was only 17 at the time and had no idea what to expect. Recovery took about a week as that's how long the stitches were in for - no real side effects, well worth it because the pain of gall stones is horrendous.

I had mine out. Scar tissue adhesions. Long term medication. Pain when eating. Live on loperamide I would love to reserve my decision 😭

Had mine out a couple of weeks ago.

I had 3/4 days of tenderness and was back at work after 7 days. No bother at all pain wise, but second the laxative advice post op.

I've been feeling a little sick and tummy cramps after eating full meals the last few days, but that might be after months of having very low fat small meals and losing weight.

Highly recommend the surgery. My surgeon was a little slapdash and my scars would have been neater if I'd done them myself, but they've healed beautifully and I don't think you'll notice them by summer.

The attacks for me prior to the opp lasted about 5/6 hours and I only had 3 before I decided to remove fat from my diet and prevent them. Horrendous pain in back, shoulders and sternum.

Do it.... 🥳

I was in hospital for 2 weeks NBM in excruciating pain waiting to have my gallbladder removed. They took it out and I remember waking up feeling like I’d been run over…very tender for about a week but the worst was the first 2 days. Felt fine for a good month or so until the pain returned….

turns out it wasn’t my gallbladder after all 🙄

Hi@Moidershewrote honestly have the op. I used to have excruciating pain worse than any labour pain. It would radiate through to my back like a knife being twisted I've never experienced pain like this. I often had shoulder blade pain constant like something was stuck under my right scapula.
I had keyhole surgery in 2019 not had any problems since. I was in and out on the same day. Gall bladder pain is awful but biliary colic omg off the pain scale. 😫

I had my gallbladder removed 12 years ago. Absolutely no after effects at all apart from being painfree. They caught mine just as it was about to burst. The worst part was the soreness before the wound healed.

Wow, it seems to be so widespread, I’m shocked, but also grateful to have so much positive feedback regarding the surgery.

Am going to see/speak to GP on Monday and ask for the referral.

And yes, mine was about to burst and it fell apart as they removed it. So glad I'd had it done as the next attack would have been nasty

I had episodes of acute pain at night that was wrongly diagnosed as IBS until a bad attack that had me admitted to hospital and then keyhole surgery removal 2 weeks later. Day surgery, all fine, go for it, the relief is fantastic.

I had attacks for about 10 years but initially they were mild and about a year or so apart so I put it down to really, really bad wind.

Then after some years they came roughly every 6 months, then every 2 months then every month at which point I saw the GP and had ultrasound and I was getting an attack every couple of weeks by the time I had the op. Not obviously triggered by fatty foods in my case although chocolate was a complete no go. I never had to go to A&E but the attacks made me cry and nothing whatsoever helped except a heated wheat pad held over the area. Painkillers were useless.

Had it out a few months ago by keyhole surgery. Best thing I ever did and no digestive issues afterwards. Consultant said once they start playing up they usually continue. He also said it was unlikely I would have digestive issues afterwards because the chances are my body was already completely used to living with a rubbish gallbladder.

Certainly better out than in in my case.

Good luck, OP

I had mine done 18 months ago. I knew I had gallbladder 'sludge' years ago, but they gradually became gallbladder dice. Ironically my worst biliary colic was when they were small, but the persistent dull upper-right quadrant pain was getting worse, driving side seat belts in particular would trigger it.

I had a consultant radiologist look at a scan and say 'if I were you I'd get that out sooner rather than later'. I did. I eat anything I want again and 99% of my digestive system is as it's always been.

The 1% - I have a 50:50 chance of getting brief (5-10 mins) but similar pain to biliary colic if I take anything with codeine in. It's called Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and I'm still working out if eating before taking the painkillers helps and if so, eating what? (I get migraines too... sigh... but I'd rather 5 mins of agony than 12 hours of nausea and headache... )

I was put on the urgent removal list in December 2021 after a bout of pancreatitis - it took til Jan 2023 for the operation though. I asked if I’d been reclassified to routine but no, waiting time in my area for routine is 2-3 years. So go on the list asap!

Definitely do it, I felt better within days. I also have ptsd from previous surgery which left me disabled. I was very anxious so understand your reluctance. I didn't have a choice in the end. Until I had it done I didn't realise how much it was effecting my health.
Two surgeries I've had that made me feel much better was tonsillectomy and gallbladder removal.

Having my gallbladder out was the best thing I ever did. I used to get the odd attack here and there but as time went on (I'd say over the course of maybe 2 years), the attacks got worse and more frequent. They would happen after any meal, not even necessarily unhealthy meals.
A couple of times I had to go hospital for pain relief - I can honestly say it was the most horrific pain I've ever had. Definitely would say get it removed! Mine was keyhole and I have a few tiny scars which are barely noticeable, and I can't say I've had any negative side effects

Had mine out privately about 20 years ago after getting attacks that left me drained and sick like you.

Sore for a couple of weeks after but keyhole surgery so not too bad.

Never regretted it and no major change to digestive system. Maybe slightly gurglier if that makes sense but nothing noticeable.

100% success and pain free afterwards. No regrets at all.

Generally speaking your attacks will get more and more frequent and be set off by anything you eat... or at least that's the point I got to. I literally had no quality of life.

It got to the point the attacks were lasting 24hours+ and my heart rate etc was really high on the two times I had to go to a and e for pain relief.

I used my wedding savings to go private had the surgery, no problems since. Even had a Burger King the day after surgery.