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Original poster

So..... Gallstones - what now?

47 replies

QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 11:50

Dr pretty sure I have gallstones. Referred for ultrasound, and need to go do some blood test for liver and kidney and thyroid functions.

What next? It seems, from what I read online that whether I eat fatty food or not, I am effed, and headed towards a gallbladder removal.

Any experience?

OP posts:
girliefriend · 14/11/2013 11:57

Hi I had gallstones and you have my sympathies! Its not fun.

I was very careful with what I ate and stuck rigidly to a very low fat diet, i checked the fat content of everything. Also avoid eggs as they are high in cholesterol which played them up as well.

This helped limit the number of attacks but didn't get rid of them completely Sad

I had the op and have never been more relieved than coming round from the anaesthetic and knowing the flipping thing was gone!!

The op is quite straight forward, in for one night and keyhole surgery. 100% worth it to be able to eat normally again!!

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 11:59

What is life without a gallbladder like? Do you still need to eat really low fat food? Have you put on weight?

OP posts:
themonsteratemyspacebar · 14/11/2013 12:04

I am literally in the process now of getting the op to have mine removed.
Went for my pre-op yesterday but still don't have a date for the actual op.

TBH i don't eat a low fat diet at all, and rarely get attacks, but when i do they are absolute agony. So its worth it in my opinion to get it out so i never have to feel that pain again.

I actually started a thread a couple of days ago on here and got some good responses of the whole procedure and recovery. Maybe search for that and it will give you the same answers to what you are asking for!

themonsteratemyspacebar · 14/11/2013 12:06

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1908381-Advice-on-pre-ops-or-gallbladder-removal

Never tried a link before so hope that works! If not just copy and paste.

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 12:10

Thanks, I will go read. Smile

OP posts:
HandragsNGladbags · 14/11/2013 12:13

I had mine out ten years ago now at 23 so really young. I had a lot of gravel and it kept getting infected as well as the flare ups.

I used to have to watch what I ate a bit, and still can't eat loads of crap in one go. So can feel a bit ropey Boxing Day Smile but I have IBS as well, which improved markedly after the op.

Docs told me that there is often little adjustment as your body is already working without it. Didn't put on weight either and I eat too much put weight on easily.

I had keyhole surgery in the pm out the next morning, two weeks off work and have never had a problem since. My DB also had his out and there was some bleeding on his liver so was kept in for a couple of days but again no problems since.

If you are worried about the low fat side, I used to be on SW and never had any problems with feeling sick or a bad stomach.

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 12:19

OMG, I have just read your thread and now I am really really scared. Sad

I guess it is advisable to lose weight prior to the op. I suppose that will be my focus for the coming months. I am not at agony stage yet, so hopefully I have time to get more healthy, fit and lose weight.

I have felt so bloated this automn, like my stomach is like a balloon.

OP posts:
themonsteratemyspacebar · 14/11/2013 16:18

Oh no, that wasn't the reaction i expected from the thread. If it helps, more have been added today that are much more positive!

If you are not at the agony stage, then i will actually doubt they will make you go for surgery. So i certainly wouldn't worry for now. Honest.

It could all come down to your scan too. Mine is basically null and void as its so full of them.
My cousin on the other hand has them and as there are only a few, she is getting them lasered out, which is much less severe.

In all honesty, try not to worry as you havent had all the scans etc yet. By the sounds of your reply above, i highly doubt they will go the removal route anyways.

Let us know how it goes!

AvonCallingBarksdale · 14/11/2013 18:18

I had mine out, along with 54 (!) stones about 7 years ago. The pain from biliary colic was unbearable, so it wasn't really an option not to have it out. I was in and out in 1 day, keyhole surgery. I couldn't lift DS for a while after and was sore, but recovery was quick really and I've not looked back. Can suffer a bit if I've eaten too much rich/fatty stuff, but that's probably a good reminder not to eat that sort of thing! Yo'ull be fine.

Gutted123 · 14/11/2013 18:24

Gallstone pain is really horrible. Sympathies x

I had mine out a couple of years ago. I won't lie, I was in pain for a couple of days after the op - it was worse than I thought but it would seem I'm very much in the minority - but most people seem to be fine.

It was totally worth it - I eat whatever I like now. Back to fat laden takeaways. Bliss!!

Sillyshell · 14/11/2013 18:29

Hi, I had my gall bladder out about 10 years ago and I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever did to be rid of the pain! I do sometimes get upset stomach if I eat fatty things, greasy burgers for example but it's worth it as I kept ending up on A&E because of the pain I was in.

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 18:49

I dont really eat fatty food. Little chocolate, and a piece of cake now and then.

I have been doing a half baked attempt at low carbing, so eaten scrambled eggs, or fruit with natural, full fat youghurt. Whole meal bread and fatty fish. I dont eat burgers a lot. Alway cut away fat from meat. I dont eat crisps. Salads with tuna and smoked salmon.
I dont exercise enough, but I really thought I had a good lean diet, which was rich in omega 3. Is it so that the gall bladder can object to even "healthy fat"?

OP posts:
Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 18:50

The main reason I am scared is because I am scared of abdominal surgery. DH had his appendix out and ended up back in hospital with peritonitis. It was awful.

OP posts:
Twunk · 14/11/2013 18:53

I had a really easy time with my op and post-surgery. I was fine within 5 days (actually within 2!) and now eat normally, though I sometimes need to run to the loo after something fatty. In the run up I ate very lean food and avoided a flare-up until I had my operation, which was about 4 weeks after diagnosis.

Twunk · 14/11/2013 18:54

Gallbladder objects to ALL fat. I lost loads of weight eating chicken and rice!

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 18:55

4 weeks! That is quick!

I cant do it before Christmas.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 18:56

Oh Boooh hizz. I changed my diet to include lots of healthy omega 3 and a little bit of brie / camembert on walnut bread, sticky toffee pudding and see where it landed me.

OP posts:
Twunk · 14/11/2013 19:14

I'm in the Netherlands - I was offered the next week but I wanted my parents around as had my pfb and decided that I needed lots of looking after.

The gallbladder helps with the digestion of fat. When you eat a high fat meal or big lump of Camembert it empties, often taking a stone with it which then gets stuck somewhere which causes the pain. So it doesn't matter if it's a tub of lard or a Tuscan olive oil....

IHeartKingThistle · 14/11/2013 19:21

themonster I didn't know you can get them lasered - my GP told me they didn't do that Angry

I just have one gallstone, it normally sits there quietly but I am not so fond of it that I want to keep it. Can you tell me anything about the lasering?

themonsteratemyspacebar · 14/11/2013 19:40

IHeart - ive just done some research for you and this link seems to explain it quite well
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007113.htm
(Hope link works!)

I know they definately do it as my dad has recently been in hospital and the guy opposite on the ward had just had it done. And as i said, so has my cousin.

Maybe its a case of postcode lottery. Do you have options of various hospitals in your area?
Im in Cumbria and my cousin is in Kent so its not just a localised thing it seems.

IHeartKingThistle · 14/11/2013 22:18

Thankyou so much Thanks

Will investigate!

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 14/11/2013 22:50

themonster, I had a look at that link, it mentions kidney stones, do you reckon they do it for gallstones too?

OP posts:
themonsteratemyspacebar · 14/11/2013 23:02

If you look up lithotripsy on google, alot more options come up but i thought that explained it the best. Maybe google lithotripsy gallstones or something along those lines. But what i have read and know in other terms, it does apply to gallstones too. Just doesnt mention them specifically in that page!

Hope that helps Smile

HandragsNGladbags · 15/11/2013 08:27

They definitely do laser gallstones, I think though they have to be small and not too many of them?

Original poster
QuintessentialShadows · 15/11/2013 13:26

What about acupuncture for gallstones?

OP posts: