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.

That sounds rotten Hollingsworth I really feel for you.

Intrepid Q for the seasoned veterans please. I’m packing my bag and wondering sweatshirt hoody or zip hoody? Sweatshirt version is snugglier and looser round my middle but I have to get into it. Zipper is easier to slip into but tighter round the middle once it’s zipped, tho has the obvious advantage of extra ventilation control if it’s warm.

Told you it was a biggie 😝 in other words I’m flapping a bit.

@Loadedforbear zipped hoody all the way! I was pretty stiff and sore after and dh needed to come and help me get dressed. I didn't even put a bra on when I left the hospital because it just felt like too much work at the time. I think the zipped hoody will just be easier.Don't forget your slippers and dressing gown so you're not walking around with your bum hanging out!

Thanks for the tips @snaxinyourslacks 👍 all set I think, see you on the other side!

Hi. You where such a wealth of knowledge before hand. So hoping I can pick the brains of those of you who are post surgery

So I am now 2 weeks post surgery. Had a week of constipation and worse stomach & sholder acid cramps and general discomfort. I ashume this was due to the anasetic wearing off. And fact someones been routing about in there.

Well for last week I have been the complete opicite. I have been having bad stomach cramps and having to constantly run loo ten mins after I eat.

Someone please tell me this is tempory? It is making me miserable. Having to plan my day around the loo.

@Loadedforbear i vote zip hoody. I am unsure if you have had keyhole surgery before? But they pump you up with air. So it gives sholder pain like trapped wind or acid afterwards. So you may not feel able to lift your arms high to faff about with a hoodie. Plus a zip one you can wear over a hospital gown if cold.

Hello! Following your lovely thread as I am having mine out in a couple of weeks! Got lots of info from the thread so far, so rhabj you!

I’m back home with everything still in tact. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster of a day! First of all it was unsure if there was a bed, they found one and I was told 90% on. But I knew the person in before me was a tricky case and unfortunately it proved to be so. 5 hours waiting, gowned starving and ready to go, only to be told unfortunately they couldn’t go ahead.

It’s a bit of a baller for sure but in a stroke of luck for me they’ve been able to find me a space on Monday due to someone else’s unfortunate illness. At least the consultant will be fresh on his toes.

@Notquiteagandt thanks for the tip, sorry to hear you’re struggling. Hopefully it will settle down shortly. I guess there’s a lot of change for your body to get used to.

Welcome to the dubious club @Ginfizplease commiserations for finding yourself here but hopefully we can help to share the load!

Thanks!
My post should have said "thank you". Don't know what happened there!

Hi Notquite, prior to surgery i was warned by my consultant that I might experience digestive issues for a few months after surgery, but that it should settle down, I think within a year max. Are there certain things that trigger your symptoms? Maybe certain foods? It might be worth keeping a food diary to see if there are any patterns. Buscupan I find helps regulate things without causing diarrhoea or constipation.

I'm sorry to hear your surgery was cancelled Loaded, but glad you don't have to wait too long. Hope all goes well on Monday!

Hi and welcome Gin, any questions just ask!

I woke up with a slight sore throat today. OP is in 13 days. They won't cancel will they?! Hopefully it will be nothing!!

@UserThenLotsOfNumbers literally even a glass of water. It is anything. I was warned too. But I honnestly didnt think it would be this bad. Rather nievely I guess. I have booked to see the dr anyways. So will see what they say. As im bf annoyingly I cant take any meds for it. Just worry about getting dehydrated I guess. But thanks for your words 😊

@Ginfizplease I doubt it. As it is quite a way in the future. I saw dr the week before my op over something differant. I was told "not to mention it unless you have to" so long as feel fit and well in imediate days before. He suggested I dont volunteer the information unless I have too. And so long as I felt fit and well and wasnt on antibiotics and feeling ill on the actual day it would be fine. But that it takes you being really rather poorly or contagious for them to cancel on you. Id say 2 weeks before is a bit early to call it. So I would just see how you feel nearer the time. Usually a sore throat only lasts a week or so doesnt it? Hope you feel better soon 🤞🏻

Hi and thanks to all pp for a helpful and supportive thread. I've had my pre op but no date for surgery yet. Just wondering if I could ask a question of those who have had the op? I live with my 17yr old daughter and so have arranged for my mum to bring me home from hospital by taxi and stay overnight. Will I be fine on my own from the next day? DD can help with housework etc when she's not at college. Just don't want to keep my mum here longer than needed as she has a lot of other commitments. Thanks in advance!

@Notquiteagandt
Great, that's really helpful. Thank you!

So a week today I'll be having my op and I'm absolutely petrified! I've never had a GA and Inthink is is what's terrifying me the most. I'm fortunate at the moment that my gallbladder only plays up every other month of so although last time I was admitted with pancreatitis and jaundice because of stuck stones.

It's typical really as have spent most of my adult life very overweight but never had any problems with my gallbladder. This last year and a half I've lost 9 stone and the problems have started!

I'm on the afternoon list so not sure if I will go home the same day or not. Scared as to what I might expect when I wake up and the sort of pain I'll be in after? Will I be an,e to look after a 2 year old and drive 5 days after surgery?

Welcome Ginfizplease and Amilla99, so sorry you both find yourself here!

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems Notquiteagandt, hopefully they will be short lived and it's just your body adjusting to the change. It's good you're going to see the doc, hopefully they will be able to reassure you/give you some relief!

How frustrating for you Loadedforbear to be all ready to go but then sent home with the bloody thing still there! I suppose it's not too long to wait until the second attempt, you'll just have to psych yourself up again. I hope this time you finally get home minus troublesome "Trump"!

I had my pre-op today and am all greenlit for surgery next Friday (oh bloody hell, can't believe it is next week already!). I have to arrive for 7.30am and she said they don't tend to have much of a wait so should be in fairly sharpish (thanks Bupa).

Nobody has been able to help me with what I'm supposed to do about breastfeeding, how long I should avoid it for post-surgery. In fact they all seem really not bothered, when I asked today I got told to google it!! It's stressing me out and upsetting me a bit, I've been in touch with the health visiting team again and spoke to someone a bit more sympathetic. They're going to get their breastfeeding specialist to look into it and get back to me. I would just like to be armed with some information before the day in case I get there and even the anaesthetist can't tell me anything (which the nurse today said was a possibility!).

@Amilla99 I feel exactly the same as you about the general anaesthetic, it's the bit I'm the most anxious about. There's something so terrifying about being "switched off" and I'm worried about not waking up. I told the nurse today that I was anxious and she's noted it down and said to definitely mention it on the day. Hopefully they can give me a pre-med or something!! Not sure how I'll manage the walk to theatre otherwise...

Sounds like there are a few of us due to be in next week - a busy week for gallbladder removals!

Quick question about sick notes. I'm a secondary teacher. How long do you think I will need to/should stay off post Op? I've told school 2 weeks' minimum but I really don't know? It's quite active, as you can imagine, as I'm on my feet all day/on duty/carrying boxes of books around etc. Also, DH has an event scheduled 3 days post OP. Will I be ok to look after my primary aged kids by then on my own?!

@ConradKnightSocks I fed soon as I got home. Which was about 10 hours later. But they said I would be fine straight away. I made a point of telling anyone who would listen I was nursing. They even put it on the sign above my bed. The anaethesist was mindful of it and gave me all the options and told me how long until I could feed with each. Just incase I changed my mind re pain relief. I had oramorph in theatre as faster acting then odansetron for sickness and the general anasetic. All of which I also had with my emergancy section and fed straight away with. Had all the same drugs. With a new born also. So I felt confident it wasnt an issue.

Have you got the phone number for drugs in breast milk? I went armed with it just incase needed it. Even gave it to the dr and said any querys they can advise you.

But honnestly considering it was a small nhs cottage hospital with no maternity & peads unit. As well as mainly dealing with older people I exspected the worse. As staff even said rare for them to get a patient whos bf. But I couldnt fault them at all.

I was told with the anasetic they can give diff types so as soon as feel safe to hold to nurse safe to feed.

Good luck..!! I know the worry isnt nice as I was exact same.

@Notquiteagandt It sounds as if you were really looked after and they were really accommodating which must have been such a relief. I feel like every time I mention it they are really dismissive, I even said today that it was really important to me and got told to just google it for god's sake. I'm not sure if the nurse even wrote it down on my notes, I can't remember, I should have made sure it was noted. I mean she wrote down that I was a vegetarian about three times but wasn't so interested in the breastfeeding! I'm hoping the anaesthetist on the day will be more understanding and helpful! Fingers crossed...

I don't have a phone number for drugs in breast milk, where do I find it? Sounds like it might be useful to have as my expectations are quite low for having anyone be helpful about it.

Can I just ask what it was like to feed after surgery, as in physically with the tummy wounds? I've realised that when I feed him he's always up against my tummy and I'm guessing that's not going to be ideal after. I suppose I could always put a pillow in front of myself or something. Maybe try a different position but he is quite big now compared to a newborn so might be tricky!

@ConradKnightSocks I found bending to change nappys and physically lifting baby more painful than feeding. My little girls only 7m so light but very much needing to be lifted etc. So I didnt manage 1 day not lifting let alone 4 weeks.

Feeding wise. Stomach was ok. It was the top one on sternum between boobs. Like where bra sits, that caused issues.

The surgeon was very kind and stapled and stitched me as he said it would scar less. Everyone else on ward was glued and steristripped. In hindsight though id of rather that. As the baby just pulled and played with staples everytime she fed. I feel awfully ungrateful saying so. But if I had of had the choice.

Im 2wks post op now and it still hurts slightly if baby kicks me whilst feeding her. She normally latches on and does the river dance 🤦‍♀️ but its more than bareable. I didnt take any painkillers after I was discharged.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/

This will be a minefield of info im sure 😊

@Ginfizplease . I am a nursery teacher and went back after 2 weeks. Which means I was crouching down and sitting on tiny little chairs. Physically I was ok but tired, although I had 2 weeks left before it was summer hols.

I think you will be fine minding your own children after 3 days, especially if it's only for a few hours. Ask your dh to prep/cook any meals for you before he leaves.

Word of warning here!
I am 3 and a half weeks post op. Recovery has gone well until last night. My tummy button wound had seemed to heal well initially then has been a bit crusty for a couple of days but I hadn't really thought anything of it. then as I was drying myself after a shower there was a gush of yellow/pink fluid, from it yuck. It Soaked a dressing overnight, went to the GP this morning and I have a wound infection :( hopefully only a superficial one. She has prescribed me antibiotics for a week to clear it up.
So everyone do be careful to follow instructions re wound care and if they start to look worse than they have been then keep a very careful eye on them.

How are you doing today @Notquiteagandt ? I can’t remember when your docs apt was but I hope things are settling for you?

@ConradKnightSocks nothing to add on the drug front but I hope you find some answers. A bit pants that they’ve been so dismissive of something so important.

Hey up @NellieTheElephant1 and @Amilla99 - it is going to be a busy week for evictions!

I’m not so worried about going to sleep, it’s the waking up bit I’m more concerned over. How many holes and how much is it going to hurt!? I’ve been told to expect a couple of drains in. 🙃 mainly trying not to think about it TBH!