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'm 8 days out from my surgery and I've been absolutely great and back to normal within a few days... until I had the most godawful attack this morning. 8 hours later I'm still in so much pain. Anyone have any clues? It's like a 3-4 on the pain scale.

@anguauberwaldironfoundersson theres a thread somewhere on general health specifically about those whove experienced "attacks" after having their gallbladder removed.

From what I've read it could be several different issues from missed stones to fluid build up.

I hope you get to the bottom of it. I'm on the waiting list to have my gallbladder out and so anxious about the whole thing!

The pain I was in yesterday was excess of the pain I'd expected after my op. In fact the day after my op I wasn't even taking pain killers because I wasn't in pain other than feeling a bit sore where they'd cut my belly button.

I'll have a look for that thread, thank you!

I started with pain after 3 weeks of surgery really constant nugget im waiting for another scan in 6 weeks post now feeling quite rough.

Can I ask how long people waited for the op on the nhs? Does it vary massively- I’ve just had to take another day off work.

My op is next week, and I’ll have waited 13 weeks on NHS (I was classified as an urgent case). I was downgraded from emergency after I passed the stone that was causing a blockage.

I’m one of the lucky one’s who has had no symptoms while waiting - though I haven’t eaten anything over 3 percent fat, and have had no booze either!!

Yes I’m definitely not on the booze!! Now then I’m vegan so I need to look into 3% fat presumably a fair bit is ok but wondering about avocado and nuts. I’ll look for something on line

@StillDumDeDumming I’ve become a bit of a fat content geek since August! Some things are surprisingly high - eg porridge oats are about 6% fat - so definitely worth looking online.

Thank you- really? Blimey. I had a terrible time today but my friend had made mushroom soup with coconut cream in it!!! So that’ll be why.

Oh is it saturated fat or all fats? I can’t seem to work it out x

My surgeon told me I'd have my surgery within the next 12 weeks. Got a letter through saying it'll be around 38 weeks. I feel like a ticking time bomb just waiting for that next big attack!

I got checked over when I had my staples out and turns out I have a blockage of the bile duct that's caused me to have two attacked since my op. Before the op the attacks would last maybe an hour, 90 minutes max. This weekend I had two 10 hour attacks. It's probably been caused by them not fully checking the ducts and leaving a stone in place. It's been the worst weekend I've had all the really horrid symptoms, vomiting, itching all over, dark urine, dizziness.

@StillDumDeDumming It’s any fat at all unfortunately, as bile is needed to digest all fat we eat.

@Bunnybaubles Wow - 38 weeks! That is a long wait. Did they advise you to restrict your diet in the meantime? I was told by the consultant that it must be removed in 2-3 weeks, then got an appointment 13 weeks later.

@anguauberwaldironfoundersson So sorry to hear that. Have you been to hospital about it? If the stone is obstructing your ducts they should be able to do an ERCP to remove it urgently.

LarGoo

I've not been told anything. Saw the gp about my symptoms after I had a huge attack. They told me possible gallstones, took blood and arranged an ultrasound.

Sonographer told me during the ultrasound I had gallstones. Doctor phoned wanting to see me because of my blood results but just told me he was referring me to a surgeon for gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder. I dont even know what that means!

Surgeon didnt answer any of my questions and just kept repeating "yes yes your gallbladder needs to come out" every time I asked something. Only thing he did say was I had to have bloods repeated because liver levels were up.

So I've been advised nothing. I dont know what my rise in liver levels mean or what my inflamed gallbladder is because of, or if its serious, or if I should be careful of anything.

Bunnybaubles What a nightmare! There’s nothing worse than not knowing what’s going on.

I was also told by my surgeon that I needed my gallbladder removed because of gallstones. He told me to eat a very low fat diet in the interim. He said eating higher fat foods makes the gallbladder squeeze out bile, which makes it more likely for gallstones to move into the bile duct and cause a blockage and pain.

He said I needed to keep an eye out for potential blockages, and that if I go yellow, or get dark urine and pale stools I should come into A&E and explain that I’m waiting for gallbladder surgery for gallstones. They could check my liver levels, and if they had increased due to a blockage they’ll be able to clear it with an ERCP or remove my gallbladder sooner.

I’m not a medic, but if you continue to get pain and dark urine, I’d suggest a trip to A&E. My GP has been useless, so I tend to avoid him now and call NHS 111 when I need advice.

@LarGoo

I only found out about not eating fatty foods from googling gallstones after my diagnosis. And I found out about the dark urine from this thread.

I've just had 2 pregnancies almost back to back (both planned lol) and I had very dark urine and raised liver levels plus really bad pain where my liver is throughout both. I was even on watch for cholestesas pregnancy complication for a while because of raised liver levels. Plus I suffered severe itching. I can only assume it was my gallbladder all along??!

All I was told was when I get my next attack I should phone 999 and ask for morphine. That was the only advice I was given.

Sounds like you've got a brilliant gp and surgeon!!!

My retainer stones seemed to have shifted but I'm still on the list for an MRI.

However it's been two weeks since my op and I have the worst diarrhoea. I've avoided fat as much as possible but it just doesn't seem to stop

So sorry to hear that @anguauberwaldironfoundersson - has the pain stopped now? Hope you get your MRI soon.

My op is tomorrow afternoon - just starting to clean the house in preparation. Nerves haven’t kicked in yet, but I’m sure they will soon!

The pain has totally stopped @LarGoo my consultant agrees I've probably passed it but wants to be completely sure.

Anyone suffer with IBS, I had gb removed 7 weeks ago still feel utter rubbish, feeling of fullness rub area, really suffer with trapped gas too and toilet habits fluctuate from being constipated to being able to go with ease. Feeling really fed up.

@Hollingsworth40 Sorry to hear that you’re struggling with IBS. I don’t suffer from it myself, but it must be really difficult.

I had my pesky gallbladder out on Monday. I was surprisingly calm beforehand (I thought I’d be a nervous wreck) and the hospital staff were all awesome. Was nearly cancelled, but they squeezed me it at 4pm, so it was a long wait. The anaesthetist was so calming and reassuring (stroking my face as I went under).

I woke at 5.30pm in a bright recovery room in some pain, which soon disappeared after a dose of fentanyl. No nausea at all. I got to the ward at 7pm and after some tea and a ham sarnie they decided to keep me in overnight as it was so late.

It’s now day 3 po and so far (touch wood) I’ve been in little pain - had a few doses of paracetamol each day, but haven’t needed the dihydrocodeine they prescribed. Had my first bowel movement this morning (TMI) and was stupidly happy!!

I’m mainly eating chicken and veg soup, pears, jelly, farleys rusks - eating little and often. Will try some more solid food tonight.

The incisions are glued together with no dressings - look ok so far, though the belly button one is a little bit more sore today than yesterday. I’ll keep my eye on it. I haven’t braved a shower yet, but am just washing at the sink for now.

Just wanted to update for those having ops soon - I’m a details person and found the posts from others really helpful.

Off for my gallbladder out later this week after blocked bile duct. Really nervous please reassure. How is it afterwards.? What can you eat. Thank you.

Hi @breadfortea - mine has gone really well so far (3 weeks post op). The whole experience was fine and I had very little pain afterwards (nothing that a paracetamol wouldn’t fix). I was sore and a bit swollen, and walked like a pensioner for a week or so, but I took it very easy. I’m now eating most stuff (meat, fish, bread, veggies, fruit) and have tried a small bit of cheese, chocolate etc with no problems. An hour after recovery the hospital gave me a ham sarnie and a cup of tea, and no problems eating that.

Best of luck for the op - take it very easy for the first 3-4 days and keep up the pain meds and hopefully you’ll be feeling much better by Xmas x

Hi breadfortea
I hope your op goes well.
If you look at my posts around mid/late January this year on this thread I go into a lot of detail about the experience, including diet.
Lots of excellent advice and experiences have been shared by others on this thread, well worth a read.
I am 11 months post op and am doing really well.

How's every doing? I am looking forward to my first gallbladder free Christmas!