Gallbladder removal

[outofmydepth31]

Hi, I'm due to have my gallbladder removed next week it's been over a year waiting due to repeated postponed admissions (them not me)

I've had cholecystitis twice and pancreatitis caused by gallstones although these were all well over a year ago during my last pregnancy. Since my baby was born I've had no complications of the gallbladder aside from obviously the usual discomfort with a few more painful attacks occasionally. No jaundice or signs of illness.

So here's my dilemma, I have a situation at home which is taking everything I've got in me to manage day to day (severely SEN child with worsening needs and extreme challenging behaviour, currently unable to attend school and completely reliant on me) and some huge long awaited appointments have come up in the few days after this planned surgery. One hugely important one the day after!
The situation with my child has caused me to start having panic attacks and high levels of anxiety on top which isn't helping
I'm also concerned about the anaesthetic as I have gained a lot of weight recently

If I was to cancel my op I've been told I will have to start the referral process again which is understandable. My question is has anyone left the gallbladder in and it been ok? Not sure what to do!

Thanks for reading sorry for the essay

I've just had mine out and it's made an amazing difference to my life. No longer do I have to worry about whether my meals will trigger an attack, I also had an inflamed gall bladder so was in more or less permanent discomfort .

I'm also overweight and the anaesthetic was fine. You'll have an OPD who will be with you and will look after you whilst the docs get on with their stuff. Their job is to be your support before during and after the op. They are very highly trained and will listen to your worries.

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now but dealing with your own health first will enable you to approach everything else from a better place. Also the last thing you want to do is end up having emergency surgery if you put this op off. Your gallbladder disease sounds quite advanced and not something to take lightly. Can you rearrange the appointments? I'm sure if you explain the situation they will be accommodating. Good luck.

Thank you, I know I need to just get it done and over and done with really I guess it's anxiety talking!

I did ring to ask if there was any possibly of changing it and they said there isn't and if I don't have it done now they will put me off the list and I will have to go to the gp to start again

If I'm honest it does feel a bit unfair when they've changed it 4 times themselves, it's more than 6 months after the first date I was given now.

Do NOT wait to get your gallbladder out. Your health will only continue to get worse because gallbladders do not heal themselves. I got mine out and it's been wonderful. If you have to reschedule your child's appointment, so be it.

I agree with the other posters - get it done. The risks with keeping a diseased or malfunctioning GB are very serious so you need rid of that thing. I was very overweight when they did mine and it was fine. Was even off the pain pills after 2 days (but DONT lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks).

So sorry to hear your situation! I've been there. Although had my gallbladder out DURING my twins pregnancy after recurrent pancreatitis. I was totally fine after, other than being sick a few hours after from the anaesthetic, I was home the next day cooking tea etc.

I have two with special needs, one I went through very similar issues with. Feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk.

My advice would be get it done, it's better to prioritise yourself with this. Good luck x

Thank you all, I am going to have it done on Wednesday I'm going to have my group and save bloods done this morning I've made the decision to go ahead and that's that!
I'm just so scared though I know it's silly but I'm more worried about the anaesthetic than the actual surgery!

I've actually had 2 false starts at this surgery over the last year and a half. Once when I was 24 weeks pregnant when I turned up for the surgery and they decided not to do it and once a few months ago when I turned up and the anaesthetist wasn't well so shouted at me then went home!

I haven't had a GA since I was about 4 so really have no idea what to expect and the last experience put the fear in me

I was scared about the anaesthetic too as I’d never been put under but was absolutely fine. The next day I was a bit sore/ delicate but the day after that was Mothers Day and we went out for dinner and I was absolutely fine. Hopefully your recovery will be as straightforward as mine was. Good luck!

That's really good to hear, hopefully I will sail through it as well, I'm definitely getting more positive stories than negative ones which is reassuring!

I'll be glad when it's over and done with now

@outofmydepth31 I have no advice for you but I am also going through gallbladder issues so I would like to keep you company. I am also awaiting removal and I'm petrified! I have heard mostly positive stories so hopefully the surgery is straight forward. I think getting it done ASAP is a good idea, I have heard terrible stories of people leaving it and then having emergency surgery. Rather get it done now so you can plan childcare etc than have to panic in an emergency.
Best of luck to you, please do update us,

I'm due to have mine out in a couple of weeks so please come back and tell me how it went!

I really hadn't realised how common a problem this is until having it myself!

That's what pushed me to just brave it and go ahead, the fear of getting pancreatitis again! That was really awful

It is so common isn't it, strangely a few of my friends have had theirs out as well and also 2 aunts, 2 cousins and my Nan. Apparently it's the 2nd most common surgery which is definitely reassuring there must be loads of them done daily.

That is reassuring to know op. I am just so worried because I am fat and really worried (and slightly humiliated) my bmi is too high for them to do the surgery but I have also heard that many people with a high bmi have had the surgery and been fine.

That's what I'm most worried about too. Because of the GA and also that they won't be able to do keyhole surgery because of all the fat

I also have had 5 c sections, the last two with high internal incisions, which I'm worried will make it harder for them to do the operation as my insides must be a right mess

I've planned to lose the weight every time the op has been postponed and I've only put on instead. No one to blame but myself but I'm kicking myself now.

Currently sitting up with my 4 year old who appears to have come down with a stomach bug although is of course well enough to bounce around with a big grin between vomiting episodes!
Her oldest brother has also been awake since 2 because it's his birthday and the excitement has overwhelmed him after being woken up by his sister throwing up.

This is pretty bad luck isn't it, you just know I'm going to come down with it a night or two before the op now what's the procedure here? Obviously I can't just stroll into hospital if I'm contagious but will they throw me off the list if the worst happens? Especially now I've phoned to try to cancel a week ago!

I've got 5 kids this is going to sweep through us over the next week at least, probably closer to 2 knowing my luck. I might cry

Get it done. When mine was removed my new GP asked scornfully why I was getting it out. When he got the surgeon's report after my op, it said the actual gall bladder was worn so thin by the countless tiny gallstones it could have burst at any moment. That would've been very serious.
How big are you? I was an 18-20 when mine was done by keyhole surgery. I was up and about the next day.

That's reassuring, I'm a 20 I've prepared myself for the op now, packed a bag etc now just hoping I don't catch this bug beforehand! Or straight after either

Hopefully the sickness won't spread. I guess just see how you are the day before and then phone the hospital for advice.
I am a 22 but I am 6ft tall. As my appointment date gets closer the more nervous I get.

Hi Op, so sorry you are going through this.
I had mine removed over a year ago and has been life changing, honestly. I feel so much better, before having to deal with stress and the upheaval of bot being well was too much.
For reaons different to yours I was also in a state of high anxiety and panic attacks too, I told the nurses on the operation day, they were brilliant.
All will be good.

Well my daughters stomach bug turned out actually to be the beginnings of a horrible cough/cold/high temperatures/yuk situation which has spread between all 5 kids and also grandparents and their dad... I have had a headache and feel a bit off but luckily haven't come down with it properly yet! Keeping everything crossed it holds off until after tomorrow.

I'm feeling a bit more confident about it as it gets closer strangely. Just want to get it over and done with now! Especially since everyone has been so reassuring with the positive stories, I want to feel better too

Think of me at 7.30 tomorrow morning, I'll be arriving on the ward. Although knowing my luck it probably won't be my turn until lunchtime

Good luck, will be thinking about you. Please come back and update us when you are able to.

Hope you avoided the bug. Thinking of you today. I had mine out on Monday so I'm around if you want to chat post op. I'm taking it easy but feeling well enough to go out for a coffee with a friend this morning!

I'm waiting to go in. The anaesthetist is lovely, the surgeon has just told me I'm too fat and he's not sure he's going to be able to do it keyhole, however he won't know til he tries and if he can't he will "bail out" and tell me to go away and lose weight. I feel great. Just sitting here crying now

Thinking of you Op
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