Gallbladder Removal 2019 - support thread

[UserThenLotsOfNumbers]

Who is or is likely to have their gallbladder removed this year?

There seem to be a lot of threads on the topic (I've read most of them lol) so thought it would be a good idea to start a support thread for people for people having the op soon?

My story:

I'm 35, married with one daughter. I'm about half a stone overweight but reasonably fit. I work full time, husband is SAHP.

Comfort ate and ate irregularly after having my daughter and I have had issues with overeating, which I've now mostly conquered. I also have ulcerative colitis which is being controlled successfully with medication.
I was diagnosed with gallstones in Feb 2018. At the time, I had 2 large ones, 1 and 1.1cm respectively. Could be more by now!

Had been having symptoms for about 6 months before that. It started some time after my daughter was born. She's now 2.2. 12 years ago I had v similar symptoms which ended in a terrible night of pain then nothing for years until 2017. On reflection I wonder if I passed a small gallstone?

So after a year of dithering and fear, plus waiting to get over a colitis flare up earlier this year, I'm now having the op on 18th Jan.

My symptoms started as a dull ache upper right side, feeling sick and occasional vomiting. Now I get back ache, wake up with sore back, twinges, soreness, some acid indigestion. I don't (frantically touch wood) have the terrible colic. But I have some symptoms most days and I feel overall it's getting worse. I want to be well again.

I sometimes feel my gallbladder is swollen, especially at night. I do panic about it.

I've read all the post op horror stories, and all about the post op conditions, although I know that's comparatively unusual. Of course the op is sold as being easy and problem free - I don't believe that's the case! Most common outcome seems to be people are mostly fine unless they have something very fatty or take codeine. Ok, can live with that (hopefully).

What's your story? What are your concerns?

My fears are having digestive issues and pain after the operation, also am apparently being discharged with paracetamol! That doesn't even cure a headache for me! I was on oromorph for 3 days after having my c section, although I know that's not really comparable.

Morning everyone. I’m now 2 weeks post op, I had my staples out on Friday so it’s just a matter of waiting for my incision scabs to heal. I can move around much better now, maybe just a little slower and my muscles still ache a lot. I also still struggle to wear a bra and anything fitted around my waist - my bra actually ripped off one of he scabs when I wore one to go and get my staples taken out - ouch!). I’ve been signed off work for another week because I don’t feel ready to go back yet (and I doubt they’d be pleased to have a bra-less and trouser-less employee in the building 😂) so this week I need to try and drive and try and find something I can wear that doesn’t hurt.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi everyone

Good to hear from you all. Glad things are moving in the right direction for you. What's your news Nancy? Hope it's all good?

I'm now just over 2 months post op. I'm completely back to normal, wouldn't know I'd had anything done.
The first month or so I would say I was prone to acid reflux and a gripy stomach, especially after eating something naughty. However after a month or so I could eat what I like and have no ill effects.

What I did discover is I have some on and off rib/arm irritation due to bad desk set up, which I was previously blaming on gallstones! But thank goodness we're about to have an office move and we'll be getting straight desks! I find the curved ones give me arm strain. So you may find after surgery not everything you experience is gallbladder related.

Because of the ulcerative colitis medication I take (Pentasa) I have to have a liver function blood test every six months. I had this last Monday and because Id had the op I looked up what all the results mean out of interest (sad) as I can see my blood test results online. My results weren't abnormal before the op, but they have certainly improved a lot since the op!

I'll take a look at the blood sugar diet notapizzaeater, I've eaten today but didn't eat on Friday or Saturday in pain but could do with a sensible diet for the days when I can eat.

Good to hear from others who are doing well.

As I've said before I'm lucky to be accessing private health care fwiw I don't think the care is better, just that you're seen faster.

The downside to private care - I've read this on other MN boards - is that they send you for a lot of tests. Given that sludge has already been found in my gallbladder on an MRI another test seemed a bit silly but I went anyway.

This was an ultrasound, which is less reliable than an MRI. The first ultrasound found nothing other than my enlarged gallbladder, then I had to eat a fatty food and was scanned again. My gallbladder should have shrunk after eating, instead it became more enlarged. So they did it again after another half an hour and it was still enlarged.

The radiographer did say that this is an old fashioned test, they don't usually do them like this anymore because it's unreliable

From this test it would seem that there's a problem with my gallbladder after eating, rather than gallstones but as it's an unreliable test who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm still under the 'care' of the condescending surgeon, I thought I'd get the tests done before getting a 2nd opinion.

However, given the results of that scan I have to have another test via the nuclear medicine people to look at my gallbladder function.

In the meantime my attacks are worsening, I'm still stuck and I'm no nearer an answer

Hi Nancywho! Is it the sehcat scan you are going to have done? That's done in the Nuclear Medicine Department. It was how I was diagnosed with Bile Salt Malabsorption caused from having my gallbladder removed. You basically swallow a radioactive tablet and then they scan you an hour or so later . Then you have to go back a week later and have another scan. I think it's to check how your body absorbs things. Hope you get on ok and get some more answers.

Hi MummyMayhem it's an HIDA scan but it sounds like a similar sort of thing.
Were you in a tonne of pain too?

I'm now almost three days post op and I'm fine. A little sore from the incisions and my stomach is still distended from the gas they use to inflate the abdominal cavity but so glad all of that agonizing pain is behind me. I had the option to "wait and see" but seeing as there were more little gallstones, I didn't want to be a ticking time bomb for another one to lodge itself in the duct. I don't generally eat fatty or fried food but my mum had hers out when she was in her late 20s; heredity is a factor.

My advice is don't wait. The pain is agonizing. Insanely so. I never, ever want to experience such pain. Worse than labour pain.

NancyWho I had painful cramps and spasms after eating and chronic diarrhoea,which is the main symptom of my condition.

shiveringtimber you sound like you are doing really well, excellent news. Keep doing what you're doing and stay well

That's interesting mummymayhem I have chronic pain after eating not necessarily fats, frequent, unrelenting diarrhoea but also nausea too. What are they/have they/can they do to help you? I'm sorry you're going through this.

mummymahem, I was given a CT scan with contrast dye. I wish I could have seen the results but they certainly gave the surgeon all the info. It was such a relief to know that all of my troubles were visible. I'd been so frightened and confused for such a long time. I had the occasional attack and the pain was so bad I would moan and cry, writhing in pain. I told my GP about it but he attributed it to IBS, which I've had on and off for about 15 years. What do you do when your GP doesn't understand agonising pain? It was only when my urine was the colour of strong tea and my poo was chalk-white that he took me seriously.

For anyone going through gallbladder trouble, I will hold your hand.

Hi all popped back on to say MRI has said gallstones and I'm now on waiting list for the operation. Have had 2 more attacks since my huge attack in January although fortunately they haven't been as bad as the one in January. Waiting game now...

Mines been grumbling on for the last 5 weeks now, but yesterday ended up going to the out of hours doctors as I had taken the maximum codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen that the GP had prescribed. They ended up giving me a prescription for Tramadol, but the pharmacies were all closed and they didn't have any in their stock! After a bad night, DH has just gone to ASDA as their pharmacy opens at 7am apparently. I am so sick of this, I'm meant to be going to London at the end of the week.

NancyWho thanks for your kind words. It's a chronic condition with no cure. I take a medication called Colestyramine which is a bile binder as part of the condition is excess bile. This helps my condition on the whole,but if I'm having a flare up then it doesn't work and I just have to wait it out. I never go anywhere if I know there is no toilet as there is always that fear I will have an accident. Thankfully so far my accidents have been at home ,but don't want to tempt fate 😆.

With any luck it won't be long Partridgeamongst.

Did the Tramadol hit the spot Flowersmakemyday? If so have you got enough to get you through another bout?

I'm sorry that's happening to you mummymayhem there are some real similarities between yours and my pain and experience of the problem. It'll be interesting for me to see what my second opinion says. In the meantime I'm wishing you painfree wellness.

for everyone on this thread. Gallbladder problems are agony.

You too,and good,luck with your next appointment ❤️💐

My DH went this morning to collect the prescription and was informed it was a 'weird' one and they didn't have it in stock and no one else would either. Luckily he works for the Out of Hours, so rang and the GP covering this morning wrote out another one. I've now got 30 x Tramadol 50mg to take four hourly with my own paracetamol. They have certainly hit the spot today. I'm going to ring my own GP to see if I can get another prescription for when these run out. I'm finding that they last the 4 hours, but then I definitely have to take some more.

I had emergency gall bladder removal a year and half ago where they removed 80% with the remaining 20% left as a pouch with a stone inside. I had necrosis when they went in so couldn't remove it all.
I had never had any pain before being admitted but since the op have had attacks sometimes needing a&e for morphine.
In the last year I've had bad cramping with urgent diarrhoea, with some accidents happening when out and about. Does any one experience this? My surgical consultant is referring me to gastro as he doesn't know what it is but it's only been like this since the operation. I have to constantly know where the loo is and try to use quiet ones at work as the smell is awful
Can anyone relate and give me some suggestions to put forward to the gastro dr when I finally get an appointment?

zigzagbetty if you look back at my first or second reply on here it states a condition that I got from having my gallbladder out called Bile Salt Malabsorption. It's not very well known and took me about 10 years to get diagnosed. It's only diagnosed through having a Sehcat scan. Or by trying bile binders called Questran and if you find symptoms improve on it then it's thought that confirms diagnosis.

Flowersmakemyday when I'm in a lot of pain I find that Tramadol are great for 4 hours but the relief runs out quickly for me too. I'm finding it a pita to get anymore from my GP, they make a big deal about it being a controlled substance. Which is fair and right, though I'm very sparing with it, but they prescribe me not insignificant quantities of codeine on repeat - which seems inconsistent. Good luck with getting more for yourself

I was sick on myself in the car on my commute home. So that was great. I've had a rough day and I only have a 30 minute drive home.

I'm seeing my GP tomorrow, I'm going about something else but I'm hoping they'll let me talk briefly about the increase in my symptoms.

@mummymayhem18 oh missed your posts, that is great to suggest to my consultant next time I see them. I know it is linked to my gall bladder operation but they seem reluctant to link the two

zigzagbetty you need to be strong and confident telling them. I saw my gp's and had a few appointments with a gastroenterologist over the years but none of them obviously knew about the condition hence it took me 10 years until I got referred to a female gastroenterologist and she obviously was aware of the condition as she referred me for the sehcat scan. I'd even purposely said that I had been even worse since having my gallbladder out. They often just put it down and fob you off with ibs. You know your body and symptoms more than anyone and if it feels like something else going on then chances are you're right. Good luck. ☺️

Hi all, I've had gallstones dx today by an ultrasound scan.
I'm pretty desperate to have the op ASAP-
My life has been on hold for the last month, I've had 4 attacks in last 2 weeks and can't really cope with this much longer as am a single parent and work fulltime.
I'm worried that I can't cope with 18 week wait for surgery, Does anyone have any tips on how to get op quickly on NHS?

Hi all. Just came across this thread and thought I would ask some advice.

I’m due to have my gallbladder out and still waiting for a date. I went to the initial appointment in November and had a pre op at the beginning of December but heard nothing from the hospital since. I’m too scared to follow it up as in two minds about having it removed due to the after effects. I’ve not had a bad attack since January but previous to that had several. Spent most of September/October in pain. Had 2 visits to a&e. Think I’ve had gallstones for a while as felt nauseous and had diarrhoea on and off for 3 years.

The problem I have is that we want to try and have another baby (have 2 already). When I mentioned this to the consultant in November he said it was a bad idea and to wait until I’ve had the operation. I’m 43 next month so time is not on our side. I don’t know how much longer I would have to wait for the op and part of me thinks we should just start trying to have a baby now. However I’m worried it getting pregnant might set my gallbladder off. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Hi Chiara - Do you know for sure you'll have an 18 week wait? I was told that but in practice I could have had the surgery within 2 months of my original GP apt (waited a little longer because of Christmas). I'm not sure you can expedite it, but obviously if it's really bad keep going back to GP or if very severe then A&E?

Hi LMS - in your position I'd totally have the op first. Easy for me to say though isn't it? Pregnancy could well make things worse, lots of women get gallstones whilst pregnant or not long after giving birth. I'd be worried that you'd get pregnant, have horrible attacks and then what would be the effects of the medication/potential surgery on the baby (as well as you!), plus the worry of when the attacks might come back. What if it gets bad during pregnancy and they say no surgery until baby is born? Also consider surgery recovery with a newborn and what support you'll have. In your position I'd follow it up and see what the wait time is and then decide. I really don't mean to sound flippant, but a few months isn't long if it will be better for yours and your future baby's future health I'm the long run.

Thanks User- I don't know yet what the wait will be, that's encouraging though. Going to see GP tomorrow to see about the referral, so will ask then.