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.

Well I wasn't cancelled for a second time and it's out. Luckily I was first on the list. I'm so relieved 😌
Surgeon said it was straight forward although there was some bile leakage. I was petrified of the anaesthetic especially when I spoke to the anaesthetist about my fears and he said he couldn't guarantee I wouldn't feel any pain or remember bits!! The nurse was horrified. All was well though and I came round nice and calm. Got a compression dressing on as belly button kept bleeding through dressings.

Well done @Hollingsworth40 - glad you got sorted yesterday as well. Doesn't it feel like the biggest weight has been lifted off your shoulders!

Can I ask if anyone has had experience of looking a bit yellow after surgery? I think my eyes are looking a bit yellow but no temperature and pain isn't too bad. I really don't want to have to go back in.

Well done both, the major hurdle is behind you. Glad to hear all went relatively straight forwardly, I hope you heal well. I guess just keep an eye on the yellowness @Amilla99 I was a bit yellowy before my op because my bile duct was also blocked but they weren’t too worried. Apparently I’d have to be the colour of a sharps bucket before they called an emergency. Fingers crossed it clears soon. I just looked like death after mine!

Thank you @Loadedforbear, I was very yellow yesterday and started vomiting green bile (sorry TMI). Went to A&E who sent me straight up to the surgical ward. Had a scan but ducts are clear and all looks fine but bilirubin is 220! Was sent home but got to go back on Monday for more bloods. They think I passed a stone either right before surgery or after and this is just the after affects. Feel a bit better this morning but haven't eaten since Monday - just can't face it. Never felt so pathetic in my life 😬

How is your recovery going @Hollingsworth40?

@Amilla99 managing to get by on just paracetamol and ibuprofen. I feel a lot better than I did the day of the op, but still wobbly and jittery. I haven’t had an appetite either but have forced myself to eat the past 24 hours. Worst part is the pain when coughing, sneezing or clearing my throat which I expected and is very similar to c section scar pain. I think I just feel quite fragile.

Oh @Amilla99 that sounds horrendous! I hope you feel better soon. I didn't have anything like that at all!

@hollingsworth40 you sound like how I felt at your stage.

For the last couple of days I have felt better. Still sore to sleep in certain positions and still can't cough without pain (or laugh!). But it is bearable and I haven't needed pain relief for a few days. It has suprised me how much it has taken out of me. I have a new sick note for another week now which is a relief because the thought of 7 hours on my feet is awful!

@Ginfizplease how long are you post surgery. I thought that I would be back to normal now, how wrong I was, I just seen so lethargic. Yesterday I sat outside for a few minutes for fresh air and spent about 15 minutes in the garden.,Tomorrow will be 4 days post surgery for me and I’m aiming to go out for 1 hour and see how I feel - not sure if I’ll make it though, just keep wanting to snooze.

@hollingsworth40 11 days. My worst days were days 3 and 4. I didn't go outside til day 6! That was a short trip in the car. I've felt better each day since then gradually.
Make sure you take it easy. I'm having naps occasionally (last did on Tuesday) but it was every day for a week!

@Ginfizplease thanks for the advice, I’m going to try and not feel guilty for resting, I’ve never sat down/ relaxed before for long periods so it all feels very alien to me. I didn’t think I would quite feel as washed out and lethargic as I do and I’m generally quite fit and healthy and always on the go - feel like I’ve been hit by a bus!

Oh gosh @Amilla99 that sounds scary. @Hollingsworth40 feeling run over by a bus is about where it’s at for a while, rest up and take it easy. Your body will tell you what it needs. Take care all.

I’ll be 4 weeks post op on Monday and feeling much more my normal self but there’s still not as much as normal in the tank. I’m learning these things take time.

So I'm now day 5 but having problems with appetite and eating. Since Tuesday I've had a yoghurt, cup a soup, Apple and plum. Not a big drama as I'm a few stone over weight and I'm drinking and peeing fine but I just don't fancy eating a thing. I haven't opened my bowels since Tuesday which worries me but it's not like I've eaten much. Having prune juice and lactulose daily. Any suggestions or is this normal?

It was for me @Amilla99. I was fine day 1 and day 2 but day 3 and 4 were awful, day 5 slightly better. I didn't eat much at all those days. I was constipated for a week. Now it's the opposite. Only 1 or 2 movements a day but they're quite explosive/loose. Sorry for TMI.

Any idea on if this is permanent? I'm almost 2 weeks post op now. Wounds are being well.

Just passing by, I had my gallbladder out about 16 weeks ago keyhole but it ended up having to be converted to open surgery - I'm now back 100% fighting fit, back doing everything I used to do without the worry of an attack.

@Amilla99 I had the op the same day as you, I feel very much the same, I have had meals everyday since Thursday but only ask be for ed myself to eat, I have no appetite, nauseous and still a little dizzy. Been to doctors today and they have said it's very normal - expressed to ne that it was moor surgery and how the body reacted to it. All my obs were good.

That's great @notapizzaeater! Glad you are back to normal.
Yes, I needed reminding that it was major surgery @Hollingsworth40 and @Amilla99. It really takes time. I think I turned a corner at 6-7 days post op.

@Ginfizplease - what are you eating? I was told to stay away from dairy and spicy foods and gradually reintroduce them. I’m 16 months post op and know when I’ve over indulged as things get a little loose ...

@MooseBeTimeForSummer just normally? I wasn't told to avoid anything at all? 😪

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/operations-tests-and-procedures/do-i-need-to-change-my-diet-after-gallbladder-surgery/

@Ginfizplease my surgeon told me I could eat anything after no restrictions whatsoever I went through this with him Tuesday

I wasn’t given any dietary advice either so have been mostly going on common sense. I went steady to start with, especially as I’d been eating very low fat for quite a while before the op. Lots of fresh veggies, home made soup and lovely dinners. The naughty things have crept in gradually 🤞 with no ill effects. I even survived the acid test yesterday of pizza (my old nemesis!) AND cheesecake. Admittedly all home made but not exactly low cal 😉 I think listen to your body and it will tell you where the limit is.

How are we all getting on this week?
I'm 3 weeks post op now and getting back to normal. Gone back to work but am still exhausted. I still have pain where gallbladder was if I lean in it or lay on my side or stomach. Is that normal?

Hi Ginfiz I was sore for a few weeks after going back to work after 3 weeks. Also some of my "gAllbladder" issues turned out to be muscular!

@Ginfizplease Hi there I’m 3 weeks post op, on the outside I’m nearly all healed, inside I feel exactly like you, hurts to lean over and hurts on that side when laid down, I still use a pillow in bed. I’m back at work today albeit it working from home, back I office tomorrow. Luckily for me I’m term time only and then back off again next week. Eating as normal now though so that’s a bonus.

@Hollingsworth40 me too! Break up Friday thank goodness!

That's interesting about it being muscular @Thegallofher. I've had massive issues with my back since having it done and think I've overused the muscles there due to compensating for my stomach muscles!

@Thegallofher, was you ever informed how long until you can exercise, I like to run and wasn’t sure if to try a gentle one miler around 4 weeks or if I should wait longer nobody ever explained to me how long to wait for things.

@Ginfizplease, I feel I’ve all my stomach muscles have disappeared, no function, very sore muscular towards that area, where the rib meets muscle and skin tissue.

@ginfi

@hollingsworth40. I wand to start running again soon too!