Anyone had gall stones?

Tabs · 2006-04-03T12:12:08+00:00

Just had it confirmed by scan that I have gall stones. Have to wait a couple of weeks for full scan report to be sent to my GP before I find out any more , but wondered if anyone else here has had them, and what treatment was needed?

starlover · 03/04/2006 13:13

my bf's mum had them and had her gallbladder removed. in hospital, simple keyhole surgery

Carmenere · 03/04/2006 13:14

I've had them and had my gall bladder removed. The op is simple and the recovery time short. The pain of the gall stones moving around however is unholy nad you have my sympathy.

Original poster

Tabs · 03/04/2006 13:21

I guess an op would mean an anaesthetic - I'm breastfeeding 8 week old DD at the moment - anyone know how long the anasesthetic would stay in system whereby I couldn't feed her for? Although I guess with NHS waiting lists that she might be a toddler by the time I got an appointment .

Anyone had stones and not had them operated on?

OP posts:

jalopy · 03/04/2006 13:24

I was breastfeeding a 12 week old when I had mine down. I seem to remember expressing a couple of feeds beforehand so that I wouldn't have to breast feed post op for a few hours.

woosmummy · 03/04/2006 13:25

I had a scan and they found gallstones in Feb.
I know I'm too overweight for surgery so I'[m just being careful with my diet ie low fat.
To be honest the pain when they were inflammed was so bad its a wwonder I can eat again - was so sick for 3 days and didn't eat for a week.

Carmenere · 03/04/2006 13:28

My dd was 16 weeks old when I first went into hospital and I had just started mixed feeding that week. I was pumped full of morphine and lots of other stuff and I was an emercency admission so expressing in advance wasn't an option. I had my op in Ireland as the waiting list was only 6 weeks as opposed to 6-9 months here. So yes she probably will be in school by the time you get your op

Original poster

Tabs · 03/04/2006 13:36

Woosmummy - I know what you mean re the pain! My problem was discovered after treating myself to fish and chips from the chippy - didn't turn out to be much of a treat in the end!!!
Do you have to be really strict with the low fat stuff, or just not go completely mad and live on chip butties?!

I do have enough expressed milk for a handful of feeds in the freezer, so if it's just a couple or so that are needed then shouldn't be a problem.

Right, just have to wait and see what doc has to say now.

Thank you everyone :).

OP posts:

heavenis · 03/04/2006 13:38

I had them and had my gall bladder removed. The op is usually straight forward. Mine involved an overnight stay in hospital. When you get refered to a consultant he/she will be able to advise regarding breast feeding.
I hope you don't get many attacks they are horrible.

Carmenere · 03/04/2006 13:41

No Tabs you have to be really strict with the low fat stuff as too much fat aggravates the stones and produces an attack. I was so terrified of an attack that I ate nothing with a fat content of over 5% until the op. Good Luck.

jalopy · 03/04/2006 13:59

Tabs, my attack was preceded by fish and chips too!!

woosmummy · 03/04/2006 14:26

I'm strict most of the time, I've had proper chippy fish and chips since the attack but didn't enjoy it as I was just waiting for the pain to start! I was lucky but I can still feel the pain in my shoulder now!

Looking back I had an attack when I was in sainsburyss with woo one day. Felt so bad that I had to abandon the trolley half way round grab him, and getto the car. Sat in t he car park wondering if I should call and ambulance as I thought I was dying! I drove home and, when I got there I was sick all over the car. I feels so bad, worse than when I was having him, well, not that my contractions were that great as I had to have emCS!

woosmummy · 03/04/2006 14:26

I'm strict most of the time, I've had proper chippy fish and chips since the attack but didn't enjoy it as I was just waiting for the pain to start! I was lucky but I can still feel the pain in my shoulder now!

Looking back I had an attack when I was in sainsburyss with woo one day. Felt so bad that I had to abandon the trolley half way round grab him, and getto the car. Sat in t he car park wondering if I should call and ambulance as I thought I was dying! I drove home and, when I got there I was sick all over the car. I feels so bad, worse than when I was having him, well, not that my contractions were that great as I had to have emCS!

Must go, creche at the gym booked so I have to exercise or i'll get charged for it

catsmother · 03/04/2006 15:54

I had them confirmed by scan about a month ago. Am now waiting for a referral to a surgeon - GP "didn't know" when this'd be ..... and then presumably, after speaking to them, will have to wait further for an appointment for an op.

I got my 1st attack Xmas Day night - after all the rich food I guess.

Had 2 more attacks since, each worse than the last and was terribly sick each time.

Since then have really tried to cut down on fat because I am terrified of another attack. For a while, I was scared about eating anything at all as I didn't know what would trigger it.

However .........

.... I have not forsaken chips. Peel potatoes and cut into really chunky chips. Blanch them in boiling water for 5 mins. Drain, then lay on a non stick baking tray sprayed with that 1 cal sunflower spray (about 6-7 squirts). Spray 6-7 squirts again on top. Cook for about 40 mins on 220C, turning once. That really does make a very acceptable chip, and has kept me going !!! Instead of chip shop fish, look for cod in batter in the supermarket, Tescos do one in Lemon & Herb batter in their freezer bit which, I think, is about 6g of fat per 100g. I've eaten that a few times, and no repeat attacks.

MrsMuddle · 03/04/2006 16:17

I had gallstones years ago in the April, and didn't get my gall bladder out till the August. They have to wait a few months for the inflamation in the gall bladder to die down before they remove it, appartently.

jamese · 03/04/2006 21:55

I am waiting for my op. Saw the consultant last month, so no idea how long I will have to wait. I haven't had an attack in months. The doctor (who I saw before being referred to consultant) gave me some painkillers and antibotics (for something else) I thought the pain killers where great, but the consultant told me that it was probably the antibiotics that settled the gallbladder down. I found that the painkillers really did stop the pain really quickly when I did have an attack, but this had made me take risks that I probably shouldn't. Even had some cholocate the other day. My big problem food was cholate, cream and any fried food. I would be in agony afterwards for anything up to 8 hrs, but once I found out what the problem was I have been able to control it for months, but then one day a few months back I was having really bad attacks after eating anything (even beans on toast with no butter).... Best advise is to get some pain killers from docs to relieve attack, and watch what you eat.

To those who have had gall bladder out - can you eat what you like afterwards or do you always have to be carefull?

Caligula · 03/04/2006 22:04

jameese - you can eat what you like afterwards.

Tabs, once you've had a few attacks, you really won't find it difficult to stick to a low fat diet, as the fear of being tortured is a great motivator. Also, it is great to go down two dress sizes.

One tip I was told was to eat a Granny Smith apple a day (not other variety, it specifically had to be Granny Smith) and to avoid onions as well as fat (bummer when you're on a low fat diet) as they also can set off attacks in some people. Artichokes are also good apparantly.

Original poster

Tabs · 04/04/2006 11:55

Jamese - have to be careful with the antiobiotics/painkillers because of breastfeeding. I had dihydracodeine (or something like that!) the other week, although it's not really supposed to be used whilst bf, and even that didn't stop the pain quickly like the doc thought it should.

Thankfully have only had 2 attacks so far - I thought the first one was afterpains from giving birth as it was only a few days afterwards! Can't say that I've been eating a great diet the last few weeks (too many biscuits and chocolates!), but thankfully no more attacks.

Caligula - how peculiar that only granny smiths help! Will add them to my shopping list. Trying to limit my onion intake due to DD's colic, but they're a pretty hard food to avoid altogether. Like the idea of dropping 2 dress sizes though!

OP posts:

jamese · 05/04/2006 09:09

This thread brought me bad luck... I had my first attack last months for months!! probably the worst I have ever had, but took my tablets and within 15 mins the pain had completely gone. I had no warning signs this time and didn't eat anything bad, just goes to show that eventually if not treated then anything can trigger it. Should have gone to the doctors much sooner as I had my first attack well over a year ago and may have had the op by now (mine you with our NHS maybe not)....

flowers114 · 24/04/2006 15:04

I have had my gall bladder taken a way.
I was taken hospital on a saturday morning 7.30am
By 10.00am I WENT DOWN FOR MY OPERATED
I had keyhole surgery.
Their let home day after sunday everning.
When back for check up told me i had 1021 gall stones removed.

IF it had not be for a scan at hospital i would never know i any think wrong with me.

In the same morth i went to africa for 3 week ,THAN IN MUSICAL BY RODGER JONES WILD FIRE, THEN SAME WEEK WENT TO HOSPITAL FOR OPERATED, This done in same morth.

juuule · 24/04/2006 16:15

Can't remember the details here but I'm sure I've read somewhere that a low-fat diet encourages stones to form. Eating fats causes the bile to flush through from the gall-bladder and not stagnate causing stones. I think it's something to do with which type of fat. Olive oil is okay. Will have to go and look it upgain