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Original poster

Gallbladder removal

57 replies

Dailystuck71 · 31/05/2017 13:45

Has anyone had theirs removed? Can I ask how long you were in hospital for and how long off your feet/work for too please? Many thanks,.

OP posts:

snoopyokay · 03/06/2017 10:13

Oh dear I might have made a mistake saying no then! The doctor at hospital said it was up to me so he wasn't much help really in helping me decide.

I have had the writhing in pain too and been to a&e once. Think I will let the doctor know I have changed my mind!

Also don't fit the forty fat and fair thing. I am fair but early 30s!

Hulder · 03/06/2017 10:19

It's fat, fertile and forty.

Probably doesn't work any more as they were teaching that in the 90s - everyone including me has got fatter so the age will prob be younger.

I was fat and thirties. Have friends and colleagues of all ages who have had gallbladders done - fraid we all have fat in common

snoopyokay · 03/06/2017 10:37

Thanks for the advice Hulder especially as you are a doctor! I will get back in touch with my surgeon if I can track him down!

Funny thing is I am quite skinny. But I do have more of a belly on me after having DD last year!

Mooey89 · 03/06/2017 10:52

I'm 28 and fat and fair! with mine they said it is really common in women with kids around 18 months!!!!

Mine would have attacks every few months that lasted days... pain was worse than childbirth.

When they got to it it had fused to my liver and was necrotic... don't leave it, honestly.

MirabelleTree · 03/06/2017 10:57

I think pregnancy is one of the other risk factors for it and when I developed my gallstone. I am fat as well though. I left mine for ages as at first I could kind of control it by diet and I wanted to be thinner for surgery. Did lose some weight but then all our parents were very ill and I piled it back on and was too busy juggling children and parents to take time out for surgery and managed the pain which was at night.

Then the end of last year it started kicking off far more randomly eg. If I hadn't eaten and during the day. By the time I had surgery end of May I was barely functioning due to the pain and lack of sleep. I've lost 4.5 stone since November and got fitter which I think has helped my recovery a lot. Wish I'd had it done years ago now.

tattiehat · 03/06/2017 11:08

I've recently been in hospital as I had a problem with my liver function which they thought was due to a bile duct blockage from a small stone, had a scan and they found a stone (1.7cm) but this was not causing the problem and after a consultation with a surgeon I was told that a virus had attacked my liver (I'm fine now). The fact I have a stone is incidental apparently!

Anyway, thinking back (& currently eating indigestion tablets like sweeties) I have had awful stomach pains/cramps after eating..... is this related to my stone? Thoughts appreciated

Hulder · 03/06/2017 11:22

Probably. I was glugging Gaviscon like crazy - now, not at all. You will be releasing bile after eating so giving your gallbladder a good squeeze around your stone - ow!

Qwerty111 · 03/06/2017 11:37

Had mine removed as a day case but had to stay overnight as sick from the anaesthetic. Felt better as soon as that had passed, but in any case the gallbladder pain and nausea had been worse than the surgery pain and anaesthetic nausea.

Tummy was quite sore for about a week and I couldn't reach over my desk at work to open the window until 4 weeks post op.

I was signed off work for two weeks - really needed the first but was just skiving the last couple of days of the second week

tattiehat · 03/06/2017 11:42

Thanks Hulder, I thought it was just heartburn or indigestion (which started in pregnancy a couple of years ago), it's been getting worse over the last 6 months I guess due to this bloody stone! 😩

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 03/06/2017 12:11

Thank you all. This has been really helpful.

OP posts:

Eolian · 03/06/2017 12:15

I had the op at 9 a.m. and was out that evening. Was walking around next day but took it easy and didn't work for a couple of weeks.

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 05/06/2017 17:27

Saw my gp today. Scan shows several stones but the bladder is normal. Told her regardless that the pain is excruciating and I can't live the way I have. A bit of a or ah required but referral to a surgeon and tramadol for pain relief.

OP posts:

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 05/06/2017 17:28

Or ha - push

OP posts:

NoDramasPlease · 05/06/2017 17:38

Had mine out 3 weeks ago. Keyhole and out the same day. 2 weeks off work, though my wounds are still a bit tender. Recovery was a lot worse than I anticipated! I could barely walk the length of myself for 5 days, I was in a lot of pain. I'm a healthy weight and quite fit, exercise regularly etc so assumed I'd recover quickly. Saying that felt much better by day 6 post op and could get in and out of bed quite comfortably from then on. However it's definitely worth it knowing I can eat my beloved cheese again and not end up in agony!

Okite · 05/06/2017 17:45

My DH Is due to have his out shortly (he couldn't be further from the fat, female stereotype!). He's been advised to take 2 weeks off work and to expect 4-6 weeks for a full recovery.

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/06/2017 17:53

I had mine removed in February after a week in hospital with pancreatitis. I went home the same day. Pain was quite bad but manageable. My son was 8 months old at the time so I still had to pick him up even though they advise not picking up anything heavier than a kettle (?!) for a few days. Had to go straight back to doing the nightfeeds too. So definitely manageable but uncomfortable.

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/06/2017 17:56

Forgot to add that I was on maternity leave at the time so going back to work wasn't relevant but I would say you definitely need a week. Two won't hurt

junebirthdaygirl · 05/06/2017 18:24

Had mine out after few episodes of rolling aroud in sheer agony. Keyhole. Out the next day but savage pain in shoulders due to trapped air. Recovered quite quickly but had two weeks off work just to get back to normal. .No problems since

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 06/06/2017 07:40

Hive asked on another topic but I've to eat low fat diet which is completely alien to me. Did this work for you? I don't eat much dairy but I do eat fattier cuts of meat and full fat mayo and yoghurt.

Are eggs fatty?

OP posts:

Libra · 06/06/2017 07:57

Eggs and cheese are the things most likely to trigger one of my attacks.

Can I please ask how long you all were on a waiting list for surgery? Next month will see my first year anniversary of waiting. Is this normal for the NHS now?

Actually, when I was at my hospital appointment I was offered the opportunity to go on a trial where they managed the gallstones with diet and pain killers. I would not have minded, but I was chosen for surgery.... a year later.... no surgery yet although I do get letters from the Trust acknowledging that they have not met their targets.

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 06/06/2017 08:06

Blimey a year? I've just been referred so I don't know how long the wait will be. I am in Scotland though and I don't think lists are bad here. I thought it had to be 12 weeks or is that just for an appointment? Have you chased it up?

OP posts:

Libra · 06/06/2017 08:09

Sorry Daily - I am in Scotland too!

MirabelleTree · 06/06/2017 08:10

Eggs set me off and I'm not brave enough yet to try now gallbladder gone. But to be fair by the end everything and eating no food at all set me off.

I went to see GP in November but had to lose weight as BMI was too high for the clinic to accept the referral. Went back to GP mid January, saw Consultant mid Feb. We agreed a weight I would get to. He asked how long I needed to get to it, I said 10 weeks, he said let's do 14 and I had it out Just before half term. Going to start driving again today.

NoDramasPlease · 06/06/2017 08:12

I was referred last summer, saw the consultant in January this year then waited 5 months for op. Last week I got a letter apologising they didn't meet their 12 week target! I had 3 major attacks during my 5 month wait and ended up in hospital due to severe dehydration (each of my attacks were accompanied by severe vomiting lasting several hours).

Original poster

Dailystuck71 · 06/06/2017 08:21

Shit. I don't think I can cope with a year.

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