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.

Hi everyone. I had an ultrasound 2 weeks ago and was told my gallbladder was full with tiny stones. I’m now waiting for a GP appointment to discuss next steps. I’ve been have seriously painful attacks since January and Thursday this week I had to call an ambulance as I couldn’t deal with the pain but 1.5hrs later the pain subsided so I cancelled it. I had another small one Friday and since then I’ve been exhausted, constant waives of nausea, pressure below my rib cage and waves of pain which are gone within about 30 seconds. After reading back some comments I’m wondering if the roast dinner I had today has made the symptoms worse this evening. I hate feeling constantly sick and in pain/uncomfortable.
What am I expecting when I see my GP? I’m guessing it’s a wait for consultation then wait for potential surgery?

Hi UserThen I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago. Op was fine and I had absolutely no pain after. Amazing really! Given painkillers to go home with and honestly never needed them. Have absolutely no digestive issues two years on. I love my grub and still able to eat a full range of foods.
I know everyone is different, but just to let you know sometimes things do go exactly as you hope. Good luck.

Awake with the pain again waiting for codine to kick in. Bloody eater eggs!

Lol Easter eggs, though eater eggs is apt!

Thanks Running Wild. I had my op in January and generally doing very well so far! I have a few minor digestive issues from time to time, but I am beginning to suspect stress might be the cause as it has been a stressful few months.

I hope everyone has had a restful and pain free weekend..

Hi Zigzag I'm sorry to hear you've been in pain, how are you feeling now?

Hi Youvegotafriend. When you see your GP they will refer you to a consultant using the choose and book system. Hopefully you won't have to wait long for an apt. Then the consultant will examine you and discuss, and they either will or won't recommend surgery. In my area (Essex) it has to be approved by the CCG for funding, however if you have symptomatic gallstones you can have the surgery. I was terrified of the surgery beforehand. I won't say it's a piece of cake, but it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.

Thanks for the reply user. My symptoms seemed to have ramped up a gear since last Thursday and I’m now feeling constantly sick and uncomfortable. I’ve had 4 attacks in 5 days as well. How was the surgery for you recovery wise? I have a 2.5 year old, a DH who works shifts and no one around to help so I’m worried if that’s what I need done

Oh no I'm very sorry to hear that. I also have a 2 1/2 year old. If you scroll back to my posts around 18th Jan, I describe my recovery in a lot of detail. Pain wise it was sore but not painful. I took the strong painkillers for two days I think as advised, but was ok with Paracetemol and ibruprofen after that. Drinking 2 litres of water a day and gentle exercise for 2 weeks leading up to surgery and after really helped my recovery too. I would set things up at home so you don't have to lift your child. Definitely no lifting of him/her for a couple of weeks. I think you'll manage but it will be easier with help. Can your partner take a few days to a week off for your surgery at all?

I had to get my mum to help for 3 weeks after as I couldn't lift my one year old.
Pain went around 7am this morning, got to stop eyeing up the babies eggs

At 1 they need to be lifted more than a 2 year old, so I think the younger your child (unless a small baby) it's actually harder.

You've gotafriend-I have gallstones and had the constant symptoms you describe and the consultant diagnosed me with an infection in the gallbladder and prescribed antibiotics. I feel back to normal now as long as I don't eat anything with more than 5% fat. Still waiting for surgery though.

Hi All

I had my gall bladder removed 6 days ago. So far all went well and glad I got it removed before it reached a state of emergency.

I did want to share something so that if it happens to you, you know it isn’t abnormal. When they told me I might get shoulder paid due to air pumped into the body during the keyhole surgery, I didn’t realise how bad it would be. It was an Unbearable 2 to 3 hours of agony on my right shoulder despite having strong painkillers. Thankfully it never came back but I never imagined this to be the main memory of pain: whereas fingers crossed, the soreness from the cuts haven’t been bad at all and was within expectation. So overall my experience has been good.

I also wanted to say that if you are told about any home remedies to help avoid surgery please please research before going for such solutions as some of the so-called natural remedies can be dangerous if not fatal. I know each case is different but no harm in researching medical papers to balance out anecdotal account.

It is a routine surgery and I wish everyone the best of luck.

@ChiaraRimini how was that diagnosed?

I’ve just had an appointment with my doctor and I’m being referred to the surgeon for removal. I’ve had around 5 attacks in the last few days and I’m exhausted. My worse fear happened today as it happened when I was alone with my DS. I was just lucky my sister was down this way (she lives about 45/1hr away) visiting a friend and she was able to get to me to help.
Just wonder how long I’ll have to wait now for the appointment

You'vegotafriend that sounds horrendous.
I wasn't having acute attacks (since I went on v low fat diet) but I constantly felt like I'd been kicked in the gut-very tender abdomen, hurt to walk around. Constantly felt nauseous, spaced out and had no energy, going up the stairs left me exhausted, couldn't leave house except to go to doctors. Horrible taste in my mouth.
Ultrasound confirmed gallbladder inflamed and consultant said my symptoms were consistent with infection so prescribed antibiotics. That was after 3 weeks of gp saying it wasn't infected as I didn't have a temperature.

The only thing I can suggest is to go to A&E and tell them this has been ongoing for 5 days, they may be able to get you in front of a specialist then.

Hope you are feeling better now Youvegotafriend

I've been referred today for mine out - going private as time is of the essence.

Has anyone had to go back and have a second gallbladder surgery?

I had mine out last year, but after 8 months I started getting gallbladder type pain virtually every day. Had an MRI done and I still have some of my gallbladder left with a stone in it. So now I have to have a more difficult operation done to have the rest removed by a specialist, which hopefully will be done in the next few weeks.

I just wondered if anyone had gone through something similar? I am a bit nervous as it was a 3 hour op last time and very painful for months afterwards.

Has anyone had to go back and have a second gallbladder surgery?
This is what I'm going through at the moment. They had to leave 20% inside with a stone sealed in it and I've been having regular attacks since.
They cant decide what to do with me as it's a big op the second time round as you know and I have added complications of having a pulmonary embolism last year!
Hope all goes well, it will be worth it to be pain free

Hi, no I never heard of that. Sounds really painful. I pray they sort it out once and for all this time. Warm wishes.

Had my 50th admission recently over two years. A doctor helpfully concluded as I have no gallbladder I cannot product anything to irritate the bile ducts. Wrong and a scary line of thought!

Hi, I hope everyone on this thread is doing okay whatever stage of your gallstone journey! I just wanted to add my experience as I found these forums so useful before I had surgery!

I had my first gallstone attack in January. We were on holiday in the Lake District and I’d eaten pie and chips for tea with a beer after out walking all day. I thought it was my ibs playing up but it quickly escalated into being on all fours on the floor in incomprehensible pain and calling an ambulance as I thought it was a heart attack. I felt like my rib cage was in a vice and my back was agony. Way worse than labour! I threw up and then about 30 mins later began to feel better so cancelled the ambulance.

The next day I went to the doctors who told me I wasn’t the right demographic for heart problems or gallstones (fit, slim 38 year old) and that it would probably never happen again. I had 2 more attacks up until March when I went back to the doctors and was told it was probably severe heart burn and given medication to take for a month. I had heartburn right through my pregnancy so had my doubts but thought id trust her verdict. 2 weeks later after a tea and cake lunch I was on the sofa and had that uneasy feeling that something was coming and then the pain and rib squeezing. I ended up in a&e at 8.30 pm sat in a waiting room full of people having a full blown attack with a 6 hour wait to be seen. By 1am the attack was over and I was ready to go home but my partner convinced me to sit it out and be seen. As a result at 4am I saw a doctor and she was fab. Immediately knew it was gallstones and did a blood test which backed it up. A week later I had a scan which confirmed small stones and saw a consultant who advised surgery.

I was really lucky and only waited 2 weeks for the op and am now in day 3 of recovery. The day surgery was okay. I was terrified, but the nhs staff are so good at putting you at ease. I had to be there for 7.30am and was in surgery by 8.30. Came round about 11 o clock and was amazed at how okay I felt. Just super drowsy. I dozed on and off all day (had some seriously weird dreams from the anaesthetic!) started to feel a bit of pain later in the day but more bloated and windy! I was really lucky as didn’t get shoulder and rib pain from the gas. I was home by 8pm that evening. Had a pretty bad first night as kept having painful spasms in my stomach which I think was the gas and where they’d put the camera in and general discomfort. I hadn’t eaten through the day and so tried a small bowl of Cheerios which helped loads to settle my tummy and then slept from 1pm till 6am. I was up for a small breakfast the following morning and force fed myself soup for lunch as had no appetite. I played with my dd for an hour or so but pretty much just lied on the sofa.

The second night I slept okay and yesterday spent a few hours sat in the garden and then pottered around but back in bed by 4pm but just uncomfortable more than in pain.

Last night I was finally able to lie on my side and slept like a log! Today I’m achy and stiff but no major tummy pain and my appetite is back
and have had no problems with eating although sticking to low fat meals for now. And that’s where I’m up to! I hope this is helpful. I’ve only taken paracetamol and ibuprofen right the way through and have a low pain threshold so if I can get through the op anyone can. I can’t tell you how terrified I was and nearly talked myself out of it but my daughters 16months old and the attacks rendered me useless to look after her, as I couldn’t move with the pain. The surgeon said that once you start getting problems chances are it will only get worse, even on a low fat diet, so it was the right thing to do in my case. I’d just stress that if you get a bad attack go to a&e as if I hadn’t, who knows how long it would have been till I’d been properly diagnosed and I’m sure it sped up my surgery. Also just a heads up, I was offered codeine by the nurses but had read that it can cause the bile ducts to spasm so turned it down. No idea if it’s true but didn’t risk it.

Hopefully moving forward it’ll all be okay from here on in. Fingers crossed!!!! Good luck to anyone reading this and if your having surgery try not to worry x

Thanks Katiedays I have my op next Monday.. feeling nervous about it. I've only had one or two smallish attacks since my horrible obstructive jaundice attack in January but I will be glad when it's out

Partridgeamongstthepigeons Good luck! I hope it goes well and just think, it’ll all be over by Tuesday and hopefully you’ll be in your own bed sipping a cuppa tea x