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.

@Notquiteagandt Doesn't sound silly at all, sounds completely normal. I know I will be the same when my turn comes around and I know how you feel with worrying about them being upset and you not able to be there. My baby still wakes a fair bit during the night and will normally only accept me to settle him (with a feed) so I'm also worried about after and if I have to stay in. Think your mind just runs a hundred miles an hour and thinks of "what ifs?" for a hundred situations. Just being a mum I guess!

You are nearly there so of course your anxiety is ruining riot. Especially with your previous experience fresh in your mind. Just remember this is really different to your emergency section - this is scheduled, routine surgery. I'm sure if you've told the team looking after you about your previous experience they will be able to reassure you and help you to stay calm.

It will soon all be over and you'll be able to move on. One day soon you'll look back thinking how it was such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things. Also your baby won't remember a thing, all she'll remember is having a happy pain-free mummy!

Really good luck for tomorrow, you're doing great. Do come back to let us know you're ok when you feel up to it.

Sympathies to all who are still suffering and worried about surgery.
Conrad, at 15 months your BF will be so well established that a day off will not affect your supply or your LO. I do understand how worrying it is though.
I am 9 days post op and feeling 100% better than a week ago!. I still have to take care getting out of bed and can't lift things but the soreness has reduced massively and I stopped taking painkillers a couple of days ago. TMI but the terrible wind has gone as well.
I am gradually increasing my activity but still nowhere near normal levels of energy and sleeping a lot. Am trying to book a cleaner to do a one-off house clean.
I removed the steristrips y'day and got the practice nurse to check my wounds. the smaller ones are quite sore and irritated due to the ends of the dissolvable stitches sticking out but she said it's normal and just to keep them clean with saline and come back in a week if no better.

So yesterday morning I got mine out. Im stitched and stapled. Feeling a little bruised but not had to take painkillers since it was done yet.

Self discharged last night as wanted to get home to baby.

All went well but I had reaction to anasetic so was severely vomiting. Made decision id rather be sick in my own bed with my baby than in hospital.

Had a 12hr break in feeding so my boobs where pretty sore but was able to feed straight away with apparently no drop in supply. The anaethesist was amaizing in taking bf into account.

Instant pain relief though from billery collic. Didnt realise how much pain was in until it had gone. Think id just gotten used to it.

But to reassure those still waiting. Its honnestly such a relief.

Just feel bit stiff and bruised. Been told 4wks no lifting but how practical thst is im not sure. Lifting baby is a little difficult.

Thanks for reporting back notquite . I hope you continue to feel the relief and am impressed that you didn’t even take painkillers in the immediate aftermath! I went for my pre-op assessment yesterday and now have a surgery date of 17th September - yay! Fingers crossed my blood test results don’t scupper that. Have to go back next week for another blood test because it needs to be taken nearer the date of the op. Have to not take one of my blood pressure medications on the day for some reason and they’ve given me 2 antacids to take the night before and the morning of the op. I don’t have to go in till 12 noon and she said I should be out at teatime.

Hope everyone else is healing well and/or will not have to wait too long for their ops

Glad your surgeries went well! The tiredness can go on for a while whilst your body heals.

So pleased your op went well Notquiteagandt and that you found instant relief. Great that you didn't feel the need to take painkillers! Hope the sickness has passed now and you are feeling better.

You must be so pleased to have a surgery date at last thegallofher. I hope your next blood results are ok and that it's full steam ahead for you.

I won't be too far behind you as I met the consultant today and have been given a surgery date of 20th September. He said I have lots of small stones which increases the risk of one of them slipping down the bile duct and affecting the pancreas so even if I had no pain he would still recommend I have it removed. I was really worried he was going to tell me I didn't need it out!

Also, for anyone reading this in the same boat as me, I have a type of occasional heart arrhythmia called SVT (AVNRT specifically) and had been worried about the combination of it with surgery. The consultant wasn't concerned at all and said as I am young (!), healthy and not on any medication that it wouldn't be a problem.

I forgot to ask him about diet after the op. Will I have to still eat low fat for a while or is it a case of slowly getting back to normal?

So I'm on the big countdown now, not too long to wait to get myself worked up about it. Just hope I don't have any more attacks in the meantime!

Hope all members of our exclusive club, pre or post surgery are doing well

Hi Conrad, I'm really glad you've got a date now and don't have too long to wait.
Re diet, I took it easy for about a week but have been able to eat whatever I want since. If you look back over my posts between 18-31 Jan or so, I go into quite a bit of detail over what I ate and drank if that's any help. I found farleighs risks and Horlicks helpful, as they are easy to digest but full of nutrients. Also make sure you drink plenty of water.

Thanks for the tips, User. I actually have some rusks in as I occasionally get them for the baby and myself. I'll be sure to make sure I have some in. I will definitely go back and have a re-read too, I remember your tip about drinking water. You must be so pleased to be able to eat normally. I'm getting bloody sick of watching what I eat so closely in fear of another mega attack, I'll be glad to start getting back to normal. The end is in sight!

Hi has anyone suffered with constipation whilst being aware they have issues with their gallbladder I keep suffering not weekly, more monthly bouts and then get intermittent abdominal pain due to this.

Hi chaps,
Can I also crash land into your unpopular club please?! I’m having my gallbladder whopped out in a couple of days time at short notice and have found this thread incredibly useful already as there hasn’t been time for pre-op letters/planning.

I had an MRI a couple of days ago and as well as a packed gallbladder my CBD looks like the M25 with backed up stones heading up the way towards my liver as well as down to the sea small intestine. So they’re tackling that in surgery at the same time which complicates things a bit apparently? Anyone else had this too? I’m trying not to google. Luckily I don’t know what this upgrade bit is called which is probably a good thing to save myself!

This latest attack has been going on for over 3 weeks now. I thought it was flu to start with that goes to your tummy. Admittedly a very painful version but one I’m pretty familiar with so thought nothing of it. I was vomotorius and that was accompanied by absolute wipe out fatigue and flu like chills, no appetite. When I did manage to eat I’d have a night of writhing pain. All this with v dark wee and TMI, pale pale poo.

Getting help slightly complicated by being 250 miles from home... So 2 weeks in and I dialled 111 after a particularly painful night. They sent me to a walk in at the local hospital who said yep, reckon it’s a gallbladder issue. Go home, eat low fat and then see the GP to start investigations.

Fine. Except a week later I’m still not well enough to get myself home and starting to wonder what the chuff is going on. Managed to get a temp registration at a GP who sent me straight to hospital. Two days of tests and an MRI, and a lovely consultant says yep we gotta sort this for you. Here’s the solution! That was Saturday.

I’m feeling incredibly lucky that the NHS has swooped to my rescue but, having reached the grand old age of 40 without so much as an ingrown toenail to treat, also faintly apprehensive! Your detailed reports are really helping so thanks for that.

In hindsight I think i’ve had this on and off for the last 20 years. Reckon I’ve popped a gallstone at least every couple of years. I did have a couple of trips to hospital in the early days but as no one could diagnose it and the pain always disappeared after 4-6 hrs I just got on with it. Ah well!

So off I toddle to drink lots of water, cheers for the tip, and buy some new PJ’s as a treat to replace my scabby old ones. I’ve been told to expect a couple of nights stay as they put a drain in to check bile leakage from the CBD.

How are you getting on NotQuite?

Welcome Loadedforbear! So sorry you've had to join our club, it sounds like you've had a really rough time of it you poor love. Sounds all very sudden which must be nerve-wracking but great that they're not messing around and sorting it out for you quickly. Hopefully someone reading here with a similar experience will be able to reassure you.

Sorry Hollingsworth40 I'm afraid that I tend towards the opposite alongside my gallbladder issues (lovely!). Will you be getting it removed?

I have my pre-op assessment this week ahead of op next week. Had an info pack through from the hospital today telling me what to expect on admission, what to take and when to stop eating etc. Argh! It's getting more real now! Part of me is sort of looking forward to it though as I'm in pain every day & sick of it.

Hope your recoveries are going well Not quite and Chiara. Did you have your second set of bloods taken thegallofher? Hope they haven't scuppered things like you feared!

Cheers Conrad, great things are moving along for you too. Good luck at the pre-op. Wow, a whole pack to read! I just have a date, time and hospital address to turn up to. I’m sure they’ll fill me in when I get there.

TBH I’m glad it’s so soon, no messing. I’m starting to feel a bit brighter and if I hadn’t of had the scan I might be tempted to carry on in blissful ignorance. No one goes looking for surgery after all. Or is that just me.

How is everyone on the other side getting on? Tell me you're too busy skipping around and eating whatever the hell you like to be posting in here!

Hi Loaded sounds like you’ve got an extra full gallbladder there! But getting it sorted super quick so that’s a good thing. Hope it all goes well.

Thanks for asking Conrad I had 2nd bloods today and my first lot were fine (although I’m teepering on the edge of Type 2 diabetes with another high glucose reading of 6.3) They don’t seem to be bothered by that though. I hope the same applies with these bloods. So that’s me hopefully set for next week.

I asked whether I’ll have anaesthetic by mask and/or via a cannula and she said it will be administered by injection but I’ll have a mask on for oxygen. Is this what has happened with those of you who have had it done? I only had a general once before and I was four at the time but vividly remember the mask being put over my mouth and them counting and then waking up in my hospital bed afterwards. Wierd experience. I’m a little bit nervous about it all to be honest!

Due for surgery in 4 weeks time pre op in 10 days probably stress anxiety and worry causing constipation I can’t stop worrying about it all.

Thanks for the warm welcome folks. Fingers crossed your second bloods pass muster thegaul . I can totally see why you’re nervous, it’s absolutely natural, it doesn’t seem like you had your Q v fully answered by the nurse either. Anaesthesia is way better these days so hopefully you’ll have a smooth passage. I can even have breakfast on the day! The pesky cannula is one of the possibilities I’m least looking forward to.

Oh Holingsworth you poor thing, so much anxiety this far out, I’m really sorry you’re suffering so much. Have you tried any techniques to help like breathing or mindfulness? Some of the Calm apps can be really good.

Hi everyone, and a dubious welcome to new posters to the club no-one wants to be a member of!

Conrad I hope your surgery goes well, do keep us updated with your progress!

Thegallofher I don't remember having an oxygen mask, but they may have put oxygen in via the prongs in the nostrils (I'm sure this has a proper medical name, but hopefully you know what I mean!).

Hollingsworth I'm sorry to hear you're feeling anxious. It's totally normal to feel scared, surgery is scary for most people. I was absolutely terrified! I think having a longer wait doesn't help as it's more time to ruminate over things. The only (glib) advice I can offer is focus on the positive outcome. It's a massive deal right now, but in a month's time it will all be over and you'll have a fresh start. Honestly, 8 months down the line I forget I had the surgery some days. On the day, please tell the nurses that you are worried, they will put you at ease. I remember on the day of my surgery, a lady in the room next to me was extremely anxious and they did her surgery first as she was so distressed.

Loadedforbear I sympathise as this was also my first surgery that I elected to have (the other being a c section). I found it scary having to book my own surgery! I also suspect I had gallbladder problems for years before I had the surgery.

When I had my surgery, they checked for stones in the common bile duct (was told this is standard) and found none. They said to me if they found any there is a procedure they do that flushes the stones out, can't remember the name. They said it adds a bit of time to the surgery but wasn't a big deal. Sorry that's vague, but their attitude was very much if we find them, we'll flush them out, no problem. I'm not sure if this is the same thing you're having done, but remember that this is an extremely common operation that the surgical team do day in day out - even with "upgrades"! 😉 The bonus in your case is they know the stones are in the CBD and they will be completely prepared to remove them.

I would recommend taking buscupan as this can help with cramps and spasms. My Gp recommended this and I found it helped.

Regarding the info pack, just google gallbladder removal NHS, and you will find various NHS trust guidance packs online. I had a pack from my hospital but still looked at others. They should also give you a leaflet when they discharge you about wound care etc. The main advice is not to get your wounds wet for a few days (can increase chance of infection), keep active in moderation and get plenty of rest, and no heavy lifting for 6 weeks.

(Almost) 8 months post surgery update. For those asking for tales from those on the "other side"!

Not a lot to report, as I'm totally fine!

I often forget I had anything done. I went to the mole clinic a few weeks ago for a check up and they asked if anything had changed since I last saw them 2 years ago. No, I said. Then 5 mins later I suddenly remembered - oh yes, I've had an organ removed!

The first few months post surgery I was prone to acid reflux, but it wasn't bad enough to take anything for. I had a couple of episodes of loose stools, but not bile salt diarrhoea. After going back to work 3 weeks post surgery I had some aches and pains, but these subsided after a few weeks (I think these were from desk working after surgery, with everything still healing).

After 3/4 months I was 100% back to normal. I eat and drink whatever I like, I have no pain or discomfort. Everything is normal.

I was someone who had discomfort and aches rather than full blown gallbladder attacks. I was advised by my neighbour who confessed she had put off GB surgery for too long and ended up with complications, to get my GB removed before it got worse. And I felt it was getting worse. I am so glad I took her advice.

The one thing I did find out was that some of my "gallbladder" symptoms turned out to be muscular (right handed person who works in an office) and some were trapped wind. It's easy to blame everything on the GB at the time!

I have some photos of my scars as they are now, if anyone wants to see what they look like several months on.

Hope this is helpful to you and reassures you.

User yes please to photos of your scars if you’re offering to share?! I was just telling my other half that my bikini days were numbered - how we laughed!! ( I have never worn a bikini in my entire life ) I’m actually pondering about googling the details of the surgical procedure but I don’t think it will be reassuring and as it’s keyhole it will basically be 3 or 4 small incisions with things poking around inside. Perhaps not eh?!

Very reassuring thanks userthen ! I hadn’t really thought about the scars. I quite like my tummy but I don’t suppose it matters that much in the scheme of things. Rather healthy than anything else, right? 👙

Ohemgee thegall time to step away from Google? Unless you’re one of these weird people who get reassurance from detail? There’s no way I want the surgical low down. I’ll be in the corner cultivaring positive woo energy and sniffing essential oils 😉

Sure, I've attached three photos to my post.

I had keyhole surgery and have a 2cm scar under my breasts (about where your bra band would sit), another 2cm scar directly above my belly button and two 1cm scars on my right hand side. The belly button incision is where your gallbladder makes its exit!

I have very pale and slightly dry skin as you can see.

I haven't used anything at all on the scars and don't put moisturiser on my body.

Photo 1 is of course my belly button scar.
Photo 2 is my breast bone scar, directly in the middle and underneath my breasts (please ignore my mole!).
Photo 3 shows the scars on my right hand side, although honestly you can barely see them now.

They are very, very discreet and I am extremely grateful to my fantastic surgeon. The only one that's actually noticeable is the one on my breast bone, but it's no big deal to me. I'm sure if I'd used very expensive creams etc that one might be less visible but it really doesn't bother me.

You will definitely be able to wear a bikini with these scars!

Thanks User really appreciate you sharing this pics. And Wow! Minimal scarring! Amazing. I didn’t know they exited via the belly button?! Neat.

Loaded I do actually love detail but might fight that tendancy on this occasion 😂

Your scars look great user thanks for sharing! Maybe our bikini wearing days aren’t over yet 😉

TheGall your call but it’s not for me. Ignorance is bliss!

My mates are asking if I’ve named the offending article. I said don’t you only name your friends?! I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get better aquatinted with something that I’m about to lose ‘cause then I might miss it more. So we’ve settled on Trump for the 💨 hot air and general pain in the arse it is. Anyone else?!

Thank you all for the comments, I’ve been waiting since March for my op, so 7 months. I can’t wait to be fit and well again so that I can exercise and shift some weight I have gained this year through not doing a lot, a lot of the time I’ve had intermittent pain so have given up.

Thanks for sharing user! I've been wondering what the scarring is like after. Your belly button scar is very discreet, can't believe it came out through there! If I end up looking like you then I will feel very happy indeed!