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.

Oh and good luck for your op

I haven’t had the attacks since Easter but feel very uncomfortable especially when leaning forward, if I touch the area it hurts too directly surrounding the rib. I’ve had the pain in my shoulder tonight too, only achy and a bit like I’ve been winded - hit on back etc type pain. I eat extremely healthy though so hoping this has eliminated other attacks. I literally daren’t overindulge. Good luck with the scan it was the only thing that picked mine up 3 blood tests never did.

Keep pestering with doctors I had to, at one stage I had an appointment every week every time I had the pain as I didn’t know what it was or why I had it so I made a nuisance of myself, I haven’t been to my GP as much since having my last child 15 years ago.

Hi Millicent sounds like it could be gallstone related. Try not to worry the Ultrasound should give you an answer. Hollingsworth good luck with your op not too long to wait now.

And Ginfiz good luck to you too. I can't answer about the driving as I haven't got a car but if I did, I wouldn't be driving yet. Am 6 days post op and still quite sore and not fond of making any sudden movements or lifting/pushing anything (like shutting a heavy car door, moving a gear stick or lifting my feet up and down on pedals etc.)

I'm fine sitting at my laptop though

I asked about driving and was told probably within 2 weeks as soon as you can do an emergency stop. One person told me they could driv after a week, I'm going to take it easy for first 2 then see how I feel, I'm not applying pressure to myself to get behind wheel.

Thanks all.
I've had shoulder tip pain for the last few days which is new!

Hi @Milicentbystander72 sorry to hear of your troubles. I totally get the whatif worries as my sister died of the same. Your symptoms seem much more gallbladder related in my (non medical) opinion but at least you’re getting checked out and addressing it head on. I get regular colonoscopy screenings because of a potential generic link and have just had a clear one as well as MRI scanned which confirmed the gallbladder/ bile duct ishoos with symptoms similar to what you're describing. But I get it I really do. I’ve also had my gallbladder symptoms for years and they went undiagnosed until this latest stint. Big hugs chick!

Not long now @Ginfizplease and you’ll be on the other side and the road to recovery. Thinking of you!

Glad you’re healing well @Thegallofher I’m also cream crackered from doing very little at the moment. Part of that is the anaesthetic I think and partly just your body demanding rest to do all the healing it needs. So weird though hey when you’re used to being busy!

Hope everyone else is keeping well. Today I will be mostly pottering and lounging about again I think!

Well I went to Drs today because my belly button was bugging me and I definitely felt an increase in a burning/stinging type of pain in past 48 hrs. He was visibly surprised at the level of bruising and said that the incision was longitudinal which was not usually the case and was larger than the average incision he sees. He said it didn’t look too swollen given the level of bruising but said the pain might be something brewing so has given me a course of antibiotics. And permission to rest up properly.

I’m glad I went because it’s put my mind at rest and I just need to up my painkillers again because I’ve been trying to cut back as I thought I shouldn’t need them. So glad my Mum’s funeral isn’t until next week now as I wouldn’t have fancied a 6 hour car journey feeling like this. Apart from the stinging feeling and general tiredness, I don’t feel too bad and am bored out my brains. I need to watch some box sets!

@Thegallofher
Yikes! So glad you've had reassurance. Sounds awful!

I'm in tomorrow. Not til the afternoon.
Kind of bricking it a bit now. Been joking with people at work about how I might not make it/will cork it but I am anxious about that happening. Think I will be a wreck in the morning when I take my kids to school!

Oh that’s not good @Thegallofher glad you went to get it checked out. Hopefully that will help it on the mend. So glad you are resting up and a relief to have the funeral next week not this. That would be a big ask I think. Time to reach for those box sets!

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how small my wounds are and how little bruising I’ve had. My tummy button one is the least visible and has been left uncovered since Wednesday, just two days after the op. It only hurt when I stuck my finger in it, oops, note to self, don’t do that. I’ve two wounds on my right hand side that were both drains, both are small and remarkably neat but a bit wet still. Then I have one on my breast bone that I haven’t seen yet but can’t be very big. They get less painful every day. It’s the general tiredness that’s getting me more. Though apparently I look less like a ghost today!

I’ll be thinking of you @Ginfizplease these things are horrible to have to put yourself through but you’ve totally got this dude. You can do it! I’m sure you’ll be really well looked after and then out the other side, to cake, infinity and beyond!

Is anyone going in with you?

@loadedforbear Yes, I've got someone going with me but no one is allowed to stay. My DH is at work but will hopefully collect me!

Thanks Loaded glad to hear your recovery is going well. Very brave of you to put your finger in your belly button Hopevit all goes well tomorrow gin. My DP took me in but had to leave when they called me at reception so no waiting around with me once I’d gone through the doors of the ward. It felt like he was there instantly when I woke up though although I must have been on my own for at least half an hour immediately post op but time is so distorted by the anaesthetic. I was SO pleased to see him when he appeared at my bed side on the ward and I babbled on at him unintelligibly!

Really glad you have some moral support tomorrow @Ginfizplease I hope you sleep as well as can be expected x

@thegallofher brave or stupid - it’s so neat though, I can barely tell they’ve been in there, how does that work?!

Arghhhhhhhh. Saying bye to my children at school was hard. I cried on the way home. Please reassure me that feeling this scared is normal!

It’s totally normal @Ginfizplease I hugged each of my animal fam extra hard before I went in and told them all not to worry etc. Have you got stuff to do be doing to take your mind off it?

Just watching Netflix!

Excellent, hope you get buried in a box set!

Just waiting now. Cried on the nurse. Why do the surgeons mention risk of death?! Argh. Feel so worried. :(

Sat here for 4 hours. They've told me it's unlikely to happen as there are no beds. I'm so upset. Can't believe it.

Gone home 😭

That’s awful when you think you are prepared and then it gets cancelled when have they said you can go back in?

Oh no, I’m so sorry @Ginfizplease after all the build up. The same thing happened to me and the anticlimax was palpable. Have they given you a new date? I hope it’s not too long to wait for you and that you get in on a morning list so less chance of being cancelled. Ahh it’s pants.

I was literally about to go to theatre. I cried even more on everyone.
They want me in on Monday.

Not too long to wait then, but oh you poor thing!