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 all, been reading this thread with interest.

Pretty sure I have gallstones after reading the symptoms on here.

My first experience was around 7 years ago, had an episode of really painful stomach cramps, in the sternum area, ended up at OOH, was prescribed omeprazole, no mention of gallbladder/stones etc

In the years since I’ve had the odd episode of the same symptoms, but they were mild and only last 10 mins or so, I put it down to stress belly, as it usually happened before I went on holiday or Christmas (I find these things stressful)

Christmas Day 2018, started with mild pains in the sternum area, the only way I can describe them is that painful cramp you get when you’re really hungry, just before your belly rumbles. But the rumble never comes and I’m stuck with the gnawing feeling, it can last an hour or so, then knock off for a few hours, then start again. This lasted for 5 days.

Nothing since then, until Friday, I’ve had quite pale poo’s with it this time too. Lying on my left feels like I’ve got a ball inside my chest, so that’s a no no.

Today rather than cramps, my upper abdomen just feels sore, like after you’ve had a tummy bug and you’re tender.

Unfortunately I have a huge phobia of anything medical, GP, hospital etc so haven’t quite got the courage to visit the Drs yet for a confirmed diagnosis.

I’m 36, I don’t have a healthy diet, I have issues with food and am underweight rather than overweight. But I am a binge eater, so when I do eat, it’s usually fatty, stodgy foods, so I have probably done a lot of damage over the years, I’ve struggled with my eating since a teen.

Pale poo indicate liver issues with gallstones so you need to phone 101 I think.

Hi Malibu
I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell. I was a binge eater too so completely sympathise. I'm sure that's at least part the reason I ended up with gallstones.
You need to get those symptoms checked out with your GP.

I agree Malibu. You need to get checked out. I’m a bit of a doctor avoider myself and only sought help when things were dire hence infection and having to spend a week in hospital.
The positive thing is it’s a common affliction and docs will be able to sort it out for you.

I will get checked out, trying to get a Dr's appointment that isn't 3 weeks away

What I find strange is that mine tends to ease off when I eat something, rather than getting worse.

Sometimes you could have hunger pains while others could be gallbladder. I find they feel similar if it’s just the nausea.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Just another quick update post surgery.

I had my surgery last Thursday so today is just short of a week. I am surprised at how well I feel really and how quickly the pain has subsided.

I have been doing short little walks around the block everyday. I am no longer in pain, just a little bit around the belly button. I am only taking the painkillers at night before bed but I think I won't need any tonight.

Each day things get a little easier, considering I struggled to get up and down from bed on day one, I can now bend down to do the buckle on my shoe.

Today I got the bus to town, my first 'big' outing. I am very doddery and slow and really tired but glad I went out. I will definitely need a sleep this afternoon.

For those of you that are nervous of the surgery, please don't be. I was absolutely petrified but it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting and the recovery is going a lot better than expected. And I'm really relieved/pleased to have done it.

The worst part of it is that I need Claxene (sp?) injections because I'm fat. DH does them for me and I think he winces more than me! They are really painful my stomach is so bruised from them.

That's great news Snax, I'm so pleased for you!

My op is scheduled for end of July. I'll still be on mat leave then. Does anyone know if I'll be entitled to sick pay and if so how many weeks' sick pay I can claim before going back to maternity pay (without taking the p*ss)? (I'm on statutory maternity pay which runs out soon; sick pay would be at my full salary I think.)

Mwnca - hope your op goes well. Might be worth calling ACAS about your sick pay query.

Snax, can I ask about the Clexane injections and why you are having them at home? I was told I will be given one during the operation, but nothing was mentioned about them afterwards.

@Flowersmakemyday I have a high bmi and they were worried about the possibility of blood clots. They were twice a day for 7 days. They were not pleasant but really not that bad either.

Just to add, I was also given antibiotics to take home too (I think 3 days worth) which I don't think is standard either.

Hi Snax how is your recovery going?

Flowers - I didn't have clexane after my surgery (May have been given it during the op for all I know). For context I had keyhole surgery and I'm a bit of a chunk but not NHS classified obese. I did have the clexane for a few weeks after the c section though. They're a bit awkward at first but the nurses show you what to do, they aren't too bad you just have to go for it and get it out the way if you see what I mean.

Actually just to add I was given compression stockings to wear just before, during and about a day or so after the op.

@UserThenLotsOfNumbers I am doing well thank you. I go back to work today, I am nervous and excited in equal measure. I am a nursery teacher so it's pretty full on and lots of getting up and down off the ground. But I do only have 2 weeks then it's summer holidays so it should be fine.

I mostly feel well but every now and then I feel a sort of pulling sensation in my belly button area if I have been doing too much.

All the incisions have pretty much healed up now but I still have some bruising.

I didn't have the traditional compression stockings, my hospital has these funny leg warmer type things that attach to a machine and gently massage your legs (it actually feels nice!).

Snax, I think they said they had those leg warmer things in my hospital. I'm going in on Wednesday, they did offer tomorrow but as it's my birthday I managed to get the day after. Starting to get a little bit nervous now, but keeping myself busy.

Hope your first day back at work goes well Snax!

I had my gallbladder out a couple of years ago, operation is not bad just the trapped wind after that I struggled with.
My symptoms was the same, felt like trapped wind but ended up in a&e.
It turns out they left stones in my bile duct that got infected then had them removed and was still getting pain but turns out it is stones in my liver so was never my gallbladder causing me the pain as still get the same pains now x

@Flowersmakemyday good luck for Wednesday. I hope you have a great birthday and don't worry too much!

I was absolutely petrified about the whole process but I can honestly say that it's really not bad at all. Yes the first few days are not great but it's really not half as bad as I thought it would be.

If you have any questions or worries please ask away, I felt much better after lots of reassurance on this thread.

Good luck.

I might also be a contender for this surgery this year, but now also have a pancreas problem. Mine is predominantly polyps over stones though, so I'm not yet sure how they'll manage it. I have another deeper scan next month, so I think they'll decide then

I did think was managing it all pretty well & don't eat much fat anyway as I done eat meat. I can't handle citrus or cinnamon at all though, they cause really bad flare ups. Chilli, curry, cheese etc are fine, thank goodness as that's what I mostly like to eat

I've ended up in A&E a few times with what I thought was kidney infection as I had all the symptoms, though pain slightly different, but in a similar place. Was told I one occasion, due to an earlier infection, that my gallbladder as stuck to my liver, that's why it didn't feel like my gallbladder as it's in a different place. Gallbladder gastric was horrified by that as she can now see it was my pancreas & they should have taken it much more seriously 😒

An I please ask how are your feverish sweats from this?? I've only recently read that this is a symptom having previously been fobbed off that it's a return of menopause I'm finding this all really hard as it keeps me up at night & im soaking the bed in my sleep & not much seems to help. Anyone found something to help this ?

@RockinHippy I am sorry you are having such an awful time. I hope they get to the bottom of it soon.

I know everyone has different triggers. I was always fine with fat - I don't have much fat in my diet anyway but if I did eat cheese etc it never caused me any trouble. My biggest triggers were spice and overindulging.

I did have a few sweaty episodes but only when I had a really bad attack which was always in the middle of the night and I would alternate between extremely hot and sweaty and absolutely freezing. These were accompanied by the usual pains.

I had an awful attack last night that landed me in A & E for 6 hours! I had morphine, liquid paracetamol and something else and it didn’t touch it. I had a chest X-ray and Ultrasound to check nothing else was going on or a stone hadn’t got stuck somewhere.
I was sent home with nothing. Today I’m aching all around my kidney area, all around the sides and slight discomfort in between my rib cage which is normal for me when I get the start of an attack. I’ve called the hospital where I’m having the gallbladder removed and over 4 weeks after having my pre assessment I still haven’t got a date and they told me there’s a back log. It’s getting me down now and I just want it out

Snax you appear to be recovering really well which is giving me hope! Good luck going back to work.

Flowers good luck for Wednesday! Hope all goes well.

Reckon I am also experiencing loads of sweats but I am also menopausal so never sure which is the cause. When I was in hospital for the infection the surgeon reckoned it was gallbladder related.

Youvegot that sounds really rough. Luckily all my attacks have been short lived apart from the one that got infected so do go back if things don’t improve.

I have my pre assessment on Friday. They phoned me today saying I only need the one appt as I don’t need the full work up- not sure what that means but hoping it’s a positive and that it means they expect everything to be straightforward!

Am trying desperately to give up smoking (which I should have done years ago) to make the op and recovery go smoother. Down to a couple a day and want to be at nine by the end of the week with op coming up on the 30th.

Youvegotafriend, I ended up in a & e a few weeks ago, had already been at home in pain for 2 hours, taken tramadol and buscopan. We arrived at midnight, I was in that much pain I was crying in the waiting room. Didn't get seen until 4am, by which time the pain was subsiding and they wouldn't give me anything. So glad I'm going in this week.