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.

Not sure whether to post here or start a new thread, but I'd be glad of the benefit of your experience.

Various tests are all clear - abdominal ultrasound (though my pancreas was obscured by gas), pelvic ultrasound and blood tests.

The pain isn't that bad - more a gripping sensation. It started gently, moving around my right ribs. It's now mainly right on the side between my ribs/hip, sometimes around my back and recently into my right hip and (?) left-side lower back.

I also have bloating - sometimes my stomach feels ready to burst, but mainly it's like someone has stuffed a frisbee under my ribcage or tennis balls between my internal organs. At first, chocolate seemed to trigger this but now (hooray) not so much. Sitting is very uncomfortable.

This feels rather like when I developed coeliac disease - I knew something was different/wrong. To manage my anxiety, I saw a private consultant, who said that all the usual tests have been done and I'm probably not (extra hooray) about to die :) He recommended a CT scan (in case of missed gallstones), a colonoscopy (due to some bowel troubles) and/or test for SIBO.

I'm now waiting for a CT scan on the NHS but - does this sound like gallstones or something else? The symptoms come and go randomly, day and bloody night.

I would be interested to know if anyone feels uncomfortable laying down in bed, not so much pain just uncomfortable. I’ve been tucking a pillow under my side.

Hi @ToLiveInPeace sounds like you’re going through the mill! All I know is that ultrasound and CT scans are less reliable than an MRI for detecting gallstones and other troubles in that area. Your pain under your right ribs would certainly indicate something is going on in that area. The thing that manages symptoms best is a low fat diet. Have you noticed any connection (aside from the chocolate?!) it was a trip to France and ultimately a BBQ that was my undoing.

Gallbladder stuff can be elusive as it comes and goes but when it’s kicking boy does it kick hard! Have you noticed any change in the colour of your no. 1s or 2s? That, in hindsight can also be an indication. Or itching? Or yellowing?

Hi everyone, hope you're doing well. Just a quick one to say hope to read through all your posts at the weekend and hope everyone is ok. I'm currently quite stressed as I appear to be under attack by bed bugs or similar!

@Loadedforbear Thanks for your thoughts.

No itching or yellowing and honestly, not that much pain, just really uncomfortable. I started with looser stools around the same time (very unusual for me) though recently I went on holiday and ate less fruit/veg and that completely stopped until I came home.

Early on, chocolate seemed trigger the extreme stomach (not bowel) bloating but that's stopped and I didn't identify any other triggers. The sensation moving around my ribs is often worse when I'm hungry and then after food.

The spasm is currently appearing on my mid/lower left side as well as right ribs/hip. I hope that moving pain isn't a sinister symptom but it worries me when it's around the bones and colon :(

One other strange thing - for almost a year, my face often feels very hot and sometimes red. Needing to pee is often a trigger. Alcohol too, but it also happens randomly. I've had stressful year but stress doesn't seem a direct trigger.

Wish I knew what's causing both this and the wandering spasm :/

The nerves have kicked in again!!

Good luck today Gin - hope it all goes to plan and you can get home quickly and heal

Good luck @Ginfizplease 🤞 all has gone ahead as planned this time.

Had it done. Will.update later! Still sleepy

Oh well done, great to hear. Hope you’re doing well.

Back home. Long day. Was ok. I'm in a bit of pain but have codeine and paracetamol. I wasn't down long. Last looked at clock at 9.20 and the first thing I said when I woke in recovery was asking the time. They said just after 11. They said it all went smoothly. Was discharged but the consultants don't come round and I didn't get to see my stone!
I stayed in hosp til not long ago. I could have left earlier but had to wait for DH. I have eaten quite a lot and am so thirsty. Apparently one of the meds they give you stops saliva production when you're under so that explains that.

Glad to hear all went well, you’ll be pleased it’s over with! You can relax and recover now, I hope you have a comfortable first night. No more pre op anxiety at least. Healing vibes coming your way.

Day 3 post Op and have managed without pain killers so far this morning. Feel a bit sick though. I've had my wounds glued up so it is really itchy.

I still haven't been for a no. 2 (tmi!). How is everyone else getting on?

Well done Gin - no painkillers?! I’m impressed! Sorry about itching - didn’t suffer with that but I think I had dissolvable stitches and not glue? I had little steri-strips criss-crossed over each wound and then a dressing on top of that. Took dressing off after 2 days and the steri strips came off about 5 days later. Dr told me not to remove them until they started falling off?

I’ve just finished a week’s antibiotics after a suspected wound infection so had been feeling quite sore and low until about 12 days post-op. I’m 16 days post op and almost feel like normal but still have a tender and bruised feeling. Still not letting the cat lie on my stomach in bed and can’t sleep on my front. But so much better. Bruise on belly button is fading now too. Had a horrible dream I had a bulging hernia in my belly and was very relieved when I woke up! Must be subconsciously worrying

Any more post op tales? Who was next on our list for the op?

I really don't feel great. I've not taken pain killers because I feel sick and think they might make it worse :(

Yes, I've got glue and dressings and I changed them yesterday. My belly button wound was the biggest and has a big bruise. I don't want to be sick because itl'l hurt so much!

Yes being sick is not something I want to think about even now! Do painkillers usually make you sick? I stopped the cocodamol after about 3 days and managed mostly on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Although I took a cocodamol at night for a bit longer because I found if I didn’t I would wake up with the pain/discomfort but that was probably because I had an infection too. I was lucky that I had a movement late on day 3 and then was regular since then.

My belly button had a spectacular bruise around it! They warned me it had taken them a while to get the gall bladder out and honestly the bruise was a sight to behold. It’s only starting to fade now. Be prepared for it to get bigger and darker over the coming days. It was basically the size of a saucer centred round the button.

All I will reiterate is take it easy. There’s s lot of internal healing going on as well as the surface stitches. ‘Keyhole surgery’ sounds so benign but it IS still quite major surgery on a region of your body that you simply can’t avoid using!

Hope you’re getting lots of help. Maybe you could ask your Dr about an anti sickness medication to counteract any nausea you might experience taking a painkiller? Sending healing vibes your way

Starting to now feel nervous I’m booked on Tuesday morning, already started using the body scrub in shower.
Anyone else suffered with pancreatitis with GS, every time I eat it hurts

Madly catching up and seeing how everyone's been getting on as not been on for the last week. Got in such a state over being cancelled then googling myself silly that I just had to have a break. Glad to see a couple of you who had surgery just before and after I was due, are through the other side although sickness and antibiotics do not sound like fun :(
Sorry to see there's more in the club too! I'm due in Tuesday morning and I'm praying I'm not cancelled again. I've told my husband if I am then that's it, I'm done!!

Slowly feeling better but it is very slow. Considering I had it done on Monday I thought I would be back to normal by now. I haven't left the house and haven't stood up for long. My biggest wound is weeping/bleeding a bit but the others are fine, if a bit itchy! The glue is coming off now which I think is normal.
I'm just so exhausted though. I'm supposed to be back at work a week on Monday and I just can't visualise it at all. My job means I'm expected to be on my feet all day. I guess a week is a long time and I may be fine by then. I have booked to see my GP next week though just to check or to extend note if needed. I am so sleepy! The pain is generally fine now though.

You’re right @ginfizplease it’s very slow! We shouldn’t underestimate how tiring healing is and how long it takes to recover from the anaesthetic and general trauma. It’s three weeks today since my op and I’m only just beginning to feel a glimpse of my normal self. At home. Without too much excitement or need to move quickly!

I popped into work very briefly today which was good to see folk but knackering. Sent a few emails and did about an hour’s work back at home to help ease myself in a bit. I still don’t feel ready to drive.

I can take the dogs on a short off lead walk very slowly and have been doing some gentle stretching. I’m getting much less pulling sensation and heat over my gallbladder/bile duct site. My wounds look amazing and I’m back to eating normally which is a amazing.

Good luck for tomorrow @Amilla99 and @Hollingsworth40 will be thinking of you.

Hi, could I join your thread? I got diagnosed with gallstones and a thickened gallbladder lining last week and I'm freaking out a bit as I have no idea what any of this means or what is going to happen.

I had a massive attack one year ago, just before I took a positive pregnancy test. Felt like a tightness around my chest, just under my breasts. It got worse and the pain radiated upward into my chest, my fingers became tingly, I had a nerve type pain down my arms and awful pain in my jaw, neck and especially in my back. Eventually I felt like my whole upper body was being crushed to the point I could only take short shallow breaths.
I was alone with my DD (3 mo at the time). I thought it was bad wind but had nothing for indigestion. By the time text DP I needed him home I was lying face down on the floor, close to passing out with the pain. DP rushed home, said I looked awful and phoned NHS24 who sent an ambulance car. I had a fever and BP 170/115 and once I stabilised (pain and breathing wise) she took me to hospital. (Because she was in a car she wasnt allowed to take me to hospital unless I seemed ok and the actual ambulance kept getting delayed). At the hospital my ecg results were fine but blood tests showed a raised white blood count. So I was told I had plurecy no cough, no cold but I didnt know what plurecy was at the time so I accepted it and went home.

I had another big attack when DD2 was a few weeks old. I begged DP to phone 999 as I couldnt take the pain. Ecg was fine so they were very dismissive and told me it's just wind but to go to hospital myself as they were busy (fair enough). I never went, I was mortified that I'd just had a 999 ambulance out for wind. DP told me I had to see my GP. I refused, they would laugh at me for having wind.

A few weeks later I had another big attack. I phoned the gp and was told to come down straight away. I explained to the dr. She was brilliant and assured me it wasnt wind. She took bloods and I had a chest x-ray and an ultrasound.

During the ultrasound the sonographer told me I had a few little stones. I saw the doctor an hour later, as they phoned wanting to see me re my blood test results. He read the ultrasound report telling me I have stones, a thickened gallbladder lining and a list of other stuff i have no idea about. He then started talking about being referred to a surgical team, an MRI and checking my liver and told me to expect my gallbladder to be taken out. I was also advised to phone 999 for pain relief when I get my next big attack! Is that normal?? He said i just need to tell them I'm waiting to get my gallbladder out and having an attack and need pain relief and they will come out with morphine.

That appointment was a total blur and what I've written is all I remember. I dont recall the chest x-ray results or blood results or any of the other stuff he listed that was wrong.

Sorry for the long post. I'm going to read this whole thread, I think reading about people going through similar and having their gallbladder out will help me better understand what is going on.

for all of us for having to have these attacks.

@Loadedforbear thank you up and drinking my past glass of water before the deadline of 630am, hoping to not worry to much I keep getting into a state and my blood pressure goes from being naturally low to really high. This has affected me so much the worry about it all is overwhelming. At hospital for 730am.

@hollingsworth40 good luck for today. Will be thinking of you. And @Amilla99!

I'm doing ok. I popped out for an hour in the car on Sunday and today I'm going to try and drive a couple or miles (I have an unrelated hospital appointment). Bit nervous about driving but think it will be ok.

My wounds are healing ok I think. Most of the glue has washed off. I'm still exhausted. I managed the weekend without naps but had to have one yesterday. I've never felt so lazy haha! But I'm finally feeling well enough in myself to enjoy the peace and quiet.

This week is quite busy in terms of my children's activities so I'm going to have to try and get things back to normal a bit like school runs etc. That's why I need to be driving really as their school is a couple of miles away.

Good luck Hollingsworth although hopefully you’re tucked up in bed now 😊

@Thegallofher thank you. I got home about 7pm, was sick on way home too as I felt so spaced out even though I had had 3 lots of anti sickness drugs. Had a very good nights sleep. Worst pain is the swelling and also not being able to cough clear my throat or sneeze, but I knew to expect this after c sections. Also got a terrible taste in my mouth.