Gallstones- please please help if you know a bit about this subject.

[comforablyum]

Back in March, I had on/off excruciating pain (about once a week) which culminated with me being admitted to A and E mid-May. Apparently I have a gallstone and was referred to a surgeon. Since then, I have stuck to a low-fat diet and have not needed to recourse to painkillers. A letter arrived today with appt. in next week.
What next?

Have you had a scan or a blood test to confirm them? They gave me a scan, then I got a letter I had to go in for a blood test and quick check up then got an appointment to take my gall bladder out a couple of weeks later. Had the op (keyhole surgery) which left a 1 inch scar just underneath my breasts, a 1cm scar just under where my gallbladder was and a small scar in my belly button. I was out the hopspital the next day and felt fine, I've had no problems since apart from the slight bit of pain when I have eaten far too much crap. My advice to you is DON'T GOOGLE IT I was convinced I was going to die from what I read online.

Yes. I definitely have a gallstone.

Your appt will either be for a scan to see how many you have (I had loads) or for your pre op check up if it was already confirmed by a scan.

I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago. It was done via keyhole surgery and was very straightforward. Scars are as described by Missy. Recovery was about 1 week - I had a sick note for 2 weeks off work but actually could have gone back after a week I think. I have had 2 CS's and the pain after the operation is nowhere near comparable to that.

Have had no issues at all since - no pain or any other complications (other than weight gain as I can now eat what I want )

If you need to know anything more specific, just let me know.

I had my gallbladder removed a few weeks back - had been suffering intermittent pain for years but never properly diagnosed in UK. After a particularly horrific attack I went to the hospital where I now live and got an almost immediate appointment to have gall bladder removed.

Wish Id bad it done years ago - good luck

Thanks for all your stories. If anybody could go into a bit more detail as regards what happens when you have the first appt with surgeon, I'd be grateful.

Mine was sitting getting blood taken, getting my weight and height checked a few general questions about my health and a quick talk about the procedure.

Im not sure how much this will help because I'm not in UK but my apointment schedule went like this: saw GP, referred to Gastroentologist, referred to radiologist for scan, referred to general surgeon. This all happened on same day.

The general surgeon didn't really give me a choice. Of course he explained that having the surgery was ultimately my decision but apart from explaining the general risk of receiving an anesthetic and a specific complication with removal which was very rare he made it quite clear that the benefits outweighed the risk and that if I left it longer I risked an infection (in fact when the removed the gallbladder he found evidence of infection).

He drew me a diagram of what would be done internally and also showed where the incisions on my abdomen would be made.

The following day I saw the anesthetist who explained their role and that was it. All very straight forward