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Original poster

Gallbladder removal

89 replies

outofmydepth31 · 12/09/2018 12:52

Hi, I'm due to have my gallbladder removed next week Confused 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 Sad
I'm also concerned about the anaesthetic as I have gained a lot of weight recently Blush

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 Smile

OP posts:
willowpillow · 19/09/2018 12:25

That's awful, sorry to hear. Hopefully he has been able to do it keyhole and all is well.

Miketv · 19/09/2018 13:01

Unbelievable how some people can be so rude. If your weight is an issue it should've been flagged up before.

Hope they can get it done ASAP. Fwiw many people I know have lost a lot of work after having their gallbladder removed due to the need to change their diet, so if that's a worry once it's done, it might solve itself.

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 19/09/2018 16:02

I'm awake, it's done and it was keyhole. Feeling rough now Confused

OP posts:
Miketv · 19/09/2018 16:17

Really glad it's done. Have lots of rest and drugs and hopefully feel much better soon.

willowpillow · 19/09/2018 16:25

Yippee! Glad it all went ok and they managed to do it keyhole. Have lots of rest.Thanks

thegallofher · 19/09/2018 16:30

Glad they were able to do it keyhole. I had a gallbladder attack in June and was referred to a surgeon. Unknowingly I had had at least one attack before but had put it down to some sort of bug. My liver function tests and a scan confirmed I had a largeish 4cms+ stone.

I'm still waiting to hear when my initial appointment with the surgeon will be. I assume the option of removing it will be discussed and then I'm guessing I'll be put on another waiting list for surgery.

Sorry to hear that you've had surgeries postponed that would be so annoying. Hope you were able to manage the situation with your child and that you are able to relax a bit and recuperate properly? Hope your healing goes well.

RiddleyW · 19/09/2018 16:35

Well done OP! I had this done last year and it was great to have it all better. I had a less chaotic homelife than you but was chasing after a 2 year old and was fine. Didn’t lift him for a couple of weeks!

awkwardturtle · 19/09/2018 18:15

That's great news! Hope you make a speedy recovery. And take care of yourself. Don't rush back to doing things too quickly. You first for a bit ....

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 20/09/2018 06:44

I'm still in hospital, still nil by mouth hooked up to fluids all night which has meant needing a wee every hour or so which is nice! I'm not Going to pretend I feel good. It's the pain from the air they pump in. So much worse than I expected but I definitely think I'm the minority there

OP posts:
RiddleyW · 20/09/2018 06:48

Oh yeah the pain from the gas was the worst bit - have they given you oromorph (sp?) for it? I found that went in the first 24 hours or so. Really hope you feel better soon.

willowpillow · 20/09/2018 06:58

Sorry that you are still in hospital (but perhaps that's a good thing, you can rest without little ones bothering you). I expected it to be a day surgery and then home.

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 20/09/2018 07:22

I think I'm hungry which is good thing although I'm nil by mouth so maybe not. It should have been a day case but apparently not for me Sad it took me hours to come round from the anaesthetic properly first which put it all back then I had sickness and couldn't hold anything down and the pain so I'm nil by mouth until the doctor comes back to check that everything is as it should be

OP posts:
RiddleyW · 20/09/2018 07:24

I was in overnight as well. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

MountainGoat111 · 21/09/2018 07:52

So glad to hear you all went well.
I was also kept overnight and the gas pain was horrible, but honestly you will soon feel so much better than you will realise how much worth that surgery is.
Be patient though, it took me a few days not to feel rough

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 21/09/2018 16:01

I'm home and still really struggling with the gas pain I want to cry

OP posts:
RadioDorothy · 21/09/2018 16:10

Poor you, that's rotten. I had mine out a year ago and everyone warned me about the gas pain, but I didn't get any - none! I took a couple of paracetamol the first night but I don't think I took anything else. I was really lucky pain wise, but had a horrible time with the anaesthetic. Well, it was the anti emetic actually, I couldn't move for 8 hours.

Hang in there - it will ease off eventually, have faith it'll be over soon!

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 22/09/2018 07:08

This is awful, I feel really pathetic but I can hardly move at all the pain is excruciating, and I'm just sweating buckets and panting for breath is this normal?

OP posts:
knockknockknock · 22/09/2018 07:13

That doesn't sound normal at all. Call 111 for advice.

FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 22/09/2018 07:24

The gas pain is horrific, I've had a few ops and the first time I had it I thought I was dying! It's hard to breathe isn't it because of the pain (I think it affects a your diaphragm)

I drink peppermint tea, move around as much as I can, swing my arms and take codeine and windeze tablets

Try not to panic but do call 111 if you need to.

PurpleWithRed · 22/09/2018 07:31

I also think you should call 111. Do you have a temperature? I know it;s hard to imagine but is it just the pain that is making you feel unwell or do you think there are other things going on?

stellabird · 22/09/2018 07:37

I do hope that it all went well. Do come back and tell us how it went.

Emruth92 · 22/09/2018 08:26

Hi everyone I’m just wondering if any of you ladies could share some light or give me some sort of reassurance as I am absolutely petrified, I’ve suffered with this pain in between my ribs for many years the pain wasn’t always that bad it was manageable with tablets but in July I had a C-Section and about a month or so later I had the same pain in the same place but it was more severe I felt like I couldn’t breath etc all my symptoms matched the gallbladder attack. The next day I went to my GP he felt around and said my gallbladder was inflamed and he thought it was gallstones so come the next day I started to go yellow! I took myself to A+E and they admitted me as my Liver function was high and because of the jaundice. I had a ultrasound and the man was a consultant that did that and he said there was a few little stones in the bile duct so that put me at ease a little then the next day whilst I was in hospital I was in terrible agony with all the same symptoms again then the next day they took me for a MRI scan and that showed no blockage in the duct it was just dilated, and my gallbladder was inflamed. The doctor came and told me I had gallstones and that my gallbladder does need to come out so he said he will keep me for one more day and check my blood results to see if the liver function was coming down as the jaundice was fading slowly.
The next day arrived and they took more bloods and he told me he would check it by the end of the day..... he came over to me by the afternoon and said it’s coming down slowly and I have to go back to my doctors in a week to repeat the bloods and that they would check it and that he couldn’t operate until the inflammation goes down, but then also said if it doesn’t go down he will have to re-investigate. I’m only 26 with a 3 month old baby and I’m so worried and frightened.

awkwardturtle · 22/09/2018 08:34

Outofmydepth I really feel for you. I felt really sick and shivery from time to time and could not breathe deeply for the first couple of days. Your recovery from the anaesthetic was not easy either. Can you walk a little and drink warm drinks to try and move the gas. Have you checked your temperature? If you have a fever I agree you should call 111 or go back to the hospital where you had the op. Did they give you instructions about what to do if you still felt unwell?

Cantbearsed73 · 22/09/2018 09:14

I’m due to have my gallbladder out in October. I haven’t had any big attacks but it’s been going on for a bout five years so consultant feels it needs to come out. I’m reading a lot of horror stories and it’s really hard not to get anxious and wonder if I’m doing through right thing especially when I’m currently in no pain. I’ve also heard you can get really bad diarrhoea, I already suffer with ibs and don’t want this to get any worse. Please tell me it’s worth it.

Original poster
outofmydepth31 · 22/09/2018 12:26

Right now I wish I'd never had it done Sad my mums just been over to shout at me now too so now I feel even better

OP posts:
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