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.

Recovery is slower than I thought. Though I managed to sleep on my side last night for part of the night so result ! Doctor thinks I've got an infection so started me on antibiotics as unsure if wound, bladder or chest !

Sorry to hear it hasn’t been as straight forward for you notapizzaeater. I really hope things start improving soon. Hopefully the antibiotics will work and your recovery will accelerate. I’m 5 weeks on (but only key hole) and nearly pretty much back to normal. I’ve been carrying round my dd and energy levels are normal. I haven’t risked fish and chips yet but been increasing my fat content with no issues at all. I’d forgotten how much I need chocolate on my life! I can see why people put on weight after surgery!

Take care notapizzaeater

I'm 5 months on from my op, I had a few aches and acid reflux on and off for about 3 months but no issues whatsoever now (hoping not to tempt fate!)

Katie that's great to hear. Personally I found in the first six weeks of recovery there was a massive improvement with each passing week.

I'm 25, wasnt overweight at all, and I have a gallbladder full of gall stones ☹️

I've been referred to surgery but told that i could be waiting until Autumn!

I've been in A&E twice now with the agony and blockages. I'm really struggling but hospital says until my clinical need worsens I've got to wait.

I'm losing weight at a rate of 2lbs a week because even though I am following my extremely low fat diet, everything (and I mean literally everything) I eat causes me pain 😭 sorry to butt in guys I just wanted a rant ☹️

Cabbage patch - sounds awful, I'm sorry to hear that. Keep ringing and chasing though as you might be able to get in sooner if there's a cancellation?

"until my clinical need worsens I've got to wait." Omg how bad does it need to get???

userthenlotsofnumbers I know I couldn't believe it when they said it, the doctor said I literally have no more room for any more gallstones - like you said, how bad does it need to get?! I'm going to chase chase chase and go to my gp every week if I have to - even if it's just so they can see the weight that's coming off me ☹️

Hi all
Was in hospital for a week for cholecystitis- massive amounts of iv antibiotics and morphine to calm it down eventually.
Had never been aware of any gallbladder problem before but in hindsight did have bowel problems on and off with constipation or the opposite and sore stomach- am a bit of a doctor avoider so never got it checked out.

At any rate had a few days terrible pain and nausea and vomiting before visiting doc and after ultra sound, CT scan and the week in hospital my cholecystitis settled down and I was released from hospital. Gallbladder has multiple stones and is partly calcified so has to be removed. Surgeon said it would probably be 8-12 weeks to let the inflammation totally die down to make the op easier.

Am now following ultra low fat diet but still getting periods of wind and nausea and the odd twinge in my gallbladder. Just wanted to check if that is normal as I don’t know when or if I need to see GP again if it is the beginning of a flare up or is it pain rather than nausea that would indicate that?

Thanks!

I've been lurking on this thread for a few months now. I started with the usual symptoms last summer. Excruciating pain, vomiting and diarrhoea as well as A&E twice.

Long story short I am due to have the surgery on Thursday so pretty much a year since I first started having problems.

I am absolutely petrified of the surgery. I have contemplated just cancelling a few times but I know I need to have it done.

I've got to grand old age of 41 without a hospital admission or any type of anaesthetic so I just have no idea what to expect.

I am on the afternoon list so only arrive at 12.30. Do you know what happens to your overnight bag when you are having the procedure and do I keep my phone with me or give it to DH to keep? Should DH wait at the hospital or go home?

I am starting to pack my bag this evening, I have the requested gown and slippers and pjs in case of an overnight stay. Did you all take a towel and toiletries in too? If I stayed in I think I would prefer to come home and shower in my own bathroom.

Thank you for reading my essay and all my very silly questions

Hi Snax and welcome

"I am absolutely petrified of the surgery. I have contemplated just cancelling a few times but I know I need to have it done."

• I was EXACTLY the same as you. My only regret now is I didn't have it done sooner! I don't say that lightly as totally understand your current position.

"I've got to grand old age of 41 without a hospital admission or any type of anaesthetic so I just have no idea what to expect. "

• the prospect of surgery is scary to most people. You should get an information leaflet from the hospital, and a pre surgery apt with a nurse. Apart from a c section, this was also my first surgery at 35. Remember that the doctors and nurses are there to help you, and they do this operation several times a day. They will monitor you closely during the op, and the actual surgery should take less than an hour. Remember you don't need to worry as they will take care of you. If you feel anxious, tell them. Pretty sure the lady in the cubicle next to me got bumped up the op queue as she was "incredibly nervous" (overheard conversation)

"I am on the afternoon list so only arrive at 12.30. Do you know what happens to your overnight bag when you are having the procedure and do I keep my phone with me or give it to DH to keep? Should DH wait at the hospital or go home?"

• in my case it was an NHS clinic at a private hospital so I had a room with a locker. Your bag should be kept in your room or a locker, along with your phone, clothes, etc. It probably varies between hospitals but this is what you will be told/can ask at your pre op apt. If not, call the hospital and ask. My husband went out because although the op is short the recovery period will be at least a few hours. He came back to collect me. I had to call him to collect me.

"I am starting to pack my bag this evening, I have the requested gown and slippers and pjs in case of an overnight stay. Did you all take a towel and toiletries in too? If I stayed in I think I would prefer to come home and shower in my own bathroom."

• yes I did, just in case, but this is down to personal preference. I'm fairly sure they will provide a towel and they have soap in the bathrooms in the dispensers. I also was admitted at 12:30, but did not need to stay overnight. BEAR IN MIND you will not be able to fully shower for a couple of days to avoid the wounds getting infected. This should be on your information leaflet. You will need to keep the compression stockings on for a day after your op.

"Thank you for reading my essay and all my very silly questions"

• I don't see an essay or any silly questions anywhere!

My top tips are
Drink LOTS of water before and after the op
Stay active before the op, and stay mildly active without going overboard after your op
Take the painkillers, don't be a martyr
Don't lift anything heavy for a few weeks
Get some Belvia bras or crop tops, plus joggers with a soft waistband

Just think, in a few weeks you will be healthy and happy again!

Hope you feel better soon Baru

Thank you so much user! I had my pre op assessment back in November . Strange I know. They just did height, weight, blood and all those type of checks. The nurse talked about not driving for 2 weeks and having someone collect me after surgery but that's it.

I have already purchased some very fetching bralets. They don't offer much support for my H cups but some support is better than nothing.

I shall check in again after Thursday to let you all know how it went.

Thanks User.

Good luck Snax for Thursday.

So glad I read this thread- good practical ideas like the bralets! Nausea has settled again thank goodness. Hoping I’ll get a date for the op soon while I am a bit anxious about surgery, I think I would prefer recovery knowing that it’s sorted than another flare up. I’m living in Australia and have sil visiting in 5 weeks for 3 weeks so am hoping it’s not in the middle of her holiday.

Baru, what are you taking when you have a flare up? Did they any anti sickness tablets? They really worked for me along with Buscopan.

I had about 5 painful gallstone attacks when I was 21, the worst pain I've ever experienced and ended up in hospital after I went yellow with jaundice. They referred me for the op but I decided not to go ahead as after a week of healthy eating it all stopped. (And was worried about not being able to eat certain things)
Weirdly though I've had years of unhealthy high fat diet since, and years of restrictive diet and not had a sniff of pain since. I do wonder what happened, can the stones just go away sometimes?

snax only had one major flare up and it was a biggie. Ended up in hospital for 7 days on morphine and iv antibiotics!

Apart from that I didn’t know what caused the random vomiting and stomach pain so took nothing and struggled through!

Now have heat pack and paracetamol on hand but must try buscopan as well

Cook sounds like you have been really lucky! From what I’ve heard loads of people have stones but it never affects them, once they do flare up it seems to continue so it sounds like you’ve had a lucky escape.

Cook, I seem (please god!) to be having a lucky escape too. I had gallstones with cholecystitis three years ago, a few more minor (in comparison) flares up in the months afterwards, and nothing since. I eat a low calorie and healthy diet, which seems to help.

Have just got a date for my surgery- 30th July. Glad it’s not too far away!

Hi!

I am being treated for a kidney infection at the moment but apparently because I have tenderness on my front under my right ribs they think I may have gallstones?
Apparently my blood test showed my liver results were slightly off as well.

So now I am being sent for a scan for that.

I have not had any pain at all unless someone literally pokes me and even then it’s more discomfort rather than pain. I sometimes get indigestion at night but only if I eat close to going to sleep.

Does this sound like gallstones to Anyone because from what I hVe read gallstones cause pain which I just don’t have (touches all the wood!)

Gallstones can cause indigestion at night especially and affect your liver too so it is possible. Many people have them for years without pain. The scan should show it up- mine showed up both on ultrasound and CT

Hope your surgery went well Snax

Just popping in to let you know how my surgery went on Thursday.

All went well and I was home by 9.30pm. The surgeon said my gallbladder was really long and full of stones with thickened walls. He had to make a larger incision in my belly button to get it out!

I have been feeling ok just in a lot more pain than I expected. It hasn't helped that I've started my period this morning though. I spent yesterday alternating between bed and the sofa.

DH still needs to help me up from the sofa because it's low and very squishy but I'm fine on a normal chair. I have been eating and drinking normally just having much smaller portions and for some strange reason I am off coffee.

I am so pleased that it's done and I think I was more worried about all the unknowns but I cannot fault my care at all, the nurses, anesthetist and surgeon were all fantastic and put me at ease.

If anyone has any questions please do ask.

That sounds positive snax!

Poor you with period into the bargain- always comes at the most inconvenient times. Fingers crossed the pain starts to ease in the next few days.

Do you have a follow up appt to get stitches out etc or is that you done? I know you are NHS and I am Aussie Medicare but I imagine there’s a lot of similarities!

Thanks Baru. I am just pleased that my period didn't come early and on the day of surgery. I was really stressing about that.

No follow up appointment unless I am in pain or the wounds become infected. I didn't have stitches, they just glued everything. Although they did put my gown on before the glue dried and I had the gown stuck to me. The doctor had to come and redress and glue one of the cuts as it opened when taking the gown off.

Other than that everything is ok, but I can really feel when the painkillers wear off and it's too sore to sleep on my side which is annoying.

Glad to hear it went well Snax (apart from the glue!). Get well soon.
In terms of painkillers, after a few days the pain eases off quite a lot. Just take them regularly and it shouldn't get too bad.
Take it easy with your recovery. I had 3 weeks off work (office job). I could have gone back after 2 I guess but was getting very tired still. In retrospect I wish I'd actually taken 4 weeks off, as I found a huge improvement between weeks 2-3 and 3-4.