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.

So I went for my MRI to see if I was still blocked post removal and it's clear. I'm about 6 weeks post surgery and everything is back to how it was before the attacks ever started. The only issues I had were:

• Over granulation/healing of my belly button wound which was easily cauterised and healed fine once I let the air get to it
• exactly one week after surgery I had two shocking ten hour attacks within a 48 hour period due to retained stones/sludge. I was prescribed buscopan to help alleviate this. Seems to have done the trick
• continuing with the buscopan a week later meant my stools were pure bile and I had a ring of fire. Stopped the buscopan and it righted itself immediately

I'm still on the waiting list for my op. Were you told to do / not do anything in preparation? I've been told nothing and I dont expect to see anyone until I turn up with my hospital bag.

Just don't eat for four hours before and water only after that. I had very little information

Guys, I posted on my own thread but no replies. Anyone got any advice for me, I’m a week post op and was feeling good, sore but no ‘pain’ but all day today I’ve felt like I’m having a mild gallbladder attack/severe indigestion/back pain. My friend who had hers out recently didn’t have this. I’m quite worried after googling what it might be. They said I could go back to department via a and e if I had any problems. Bit stressed about it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/447282-still-having-problems-after-gall-bladder-removal

Someone here might be able to help

Natural blonde - I would go back to A&E as advised. Maybe they didn't check your bile duct?

Well today is the anniversary of my surgery!
One year down the line, everything is going well and I forget I had the surgery.
Hope everyone is recovering well and good luck to anyone who is having the surgery soon!

@UserThenLotsOfNumbers

Thanks for updating, it's great to hear everything has been well. I've been on the waiting list since october and could still be waiting up until June.

I got a letter from my surgeon this week telling me my liver function is back to normal now. I'm wondering how he knows this since the results of my blood test last year showed slight improvement and i haven't had any tests since.

The new results are either a wild guess, or he read the results wrong in the first place and sent out a letter months later or he has me mixed up with someone else???

He's not filling me with confidence 😂

Hi ladies, do you mind if I join?
My story is, 6 years ago I was told I have a gallstone after having a few attacks the dr said I'd probably have to have it out but I decided to just see how things go over time I've had on off pains and issues over the years but only recently I've got like a constant ache/ throbbing feeling in that area which is bothering me enough to use a hot water bottle on it, i have a drs app 6th feb which I think he'll just say to have it out. I'm terrified of losing my gallbladder but terrified if it turns into something more, to make matters worse we are in the middle of trying to conceive and now I feel I have to put that on hold which is upsetting as we desperately want a baby. Anyway just looking for some advice really and wondered how you felt when you had gallstones, like what were your symptoms, and how did your pains feel? did you feel generally run down, and how has it changed since you've had the surgery? I've spent a lot of time googling which is making me more anxious.

I hope I'm okay to join the class of 2020.

I had a series of gallstone attacks through 2018 - 2019. Usually 4-5 hours of pain. Stupidly I didn't go to the doctor or anything after my first visit to A&E when it had worn off by the time I was there and they told me it was probably indigestion. I knew it wasn't really.

In November 2019 I had a really terrible attack. For 24 hours I was in agony and threw up 8 or 9 times. On pain levels I would have given it a 9/10. For the next 24 hours it was a 7/10. I went to the doctor - I had a high temperatire, high heart rate and blood pressure. He sent me on to hospital, 2 days of tests, bad liver markers and they said it was acute cholecystitis - inflammation of the gall bladder - and put me on antibiotics. It calmed down after about 4-5 days.

I've now been for more tests and pre-surgery consultation. Luckily I have private health with my new job (only been there for 8 months) but that means I can speed up getting the op (with the same surgeon I would have had at my NHS hospital). So I'm in for surgery for the beginning Feb.

I have just been focusing on getting the operation done and reassuring people its a very straightforward operation. When I met the Surgeon he of course explained all the risks. I have never had general anaesthetic before so I'm getting a bit more anxious now its getting nearer. My sweet DD will come back from uni to look after me for the week when I come out.

My pain went away after about 8 hours - it wasn’t as bad as a full gallbladder attack, I’m hoping it was just my body adjusting to bile after I’d eaten a bit to much rubbish (so many weeks of being super careful) Hopefully I’ll never know what is was as I feel absolutely fine now. Two weeks on Thursday since op and apart from a bit of tiredness and tenderness I feel good.
Good luck to all of those with op coming up. My main advice is mint tea and rest. Proper rest.

Hope it's ok for me to join too.
Mine is scheduled to come out (privately) next month.

Welcome everyone!
To the club no one wants to be a member of
Any questions just ask

I need someone who knows their shit to talk to me. I just feel very unwell with my gallstones, bad taste in mouth, nausea, bit fluey (but no temp) and diarrhoea. I kind of feel like I need to see someone but if I go A&E will they just send me packing again? I also wouldn’t be able to go until DH gets back from work - LATE.

Just to respond to dizzy85 and gallgal. From my experience the pain is intense underneath the ribs at the front. The first time it felt like I was having a heart attack. No painkillers or anything made it better - I would keep shifting position, sitting up, walking around. That was a bit better than lying down and trying to do deep breaths may have helped a bit but it was pretty awful. Lasted 4-5 hours. My last attack was much worse but the gall bladder was inflamed by that point so I was sick 8-9 times in 24 hours and the pain continued for 48 hours. I was exhausted as I didn’t get any sleep at all.

Re going to A&E I did for the first attack but it wore off and so I spent hours snoozing in plastic chairs. When I had my major attack I didn’t go - I have spent so much time in A&E with my Dad getting no attention whatsoever I just couldn’t face writhing about throwing up being ignored. I’m not sure I was entirely wrong about that. I got sorted by going to my GP and referred by my him. That was helped by the fact that I was still clearly unwell and so he sent me for lots of tests over a couple of days - it was the liver markers in the blood and ultrasound that showed it up. I’ve since had an MRI-CP to prepare for surgery to check the location of the stones. Helpfully none are progressing down or stuck in tubes (which is what causes the attacks). So if you didn’t go to A&E please get to the GP and get referred.

@Bouledeneige hey Thankyou for replying, I hope your not feeling too bad, I can relate to that feeling of thinking your having a heart attack, I remember that feeling and it going on for hours. I wasn't sure what it was and have had a few times since then of it happening again I initially thought it must be really bad trapped wind in my chest and ribs area but really painful and crampy, does that sound how yours is?
How long have you had it for? Also can I ask do you know how long your having to wait from gp to surgery? Just wondering coz I'm trying for a baby and this has really put a spanner in the works I'm unsure if I should continue trying or wait and see what the doctors say but I know everything regarding the doctors here takes forever and I'm 35 this year trying for my first so I don't want to waste time but don't know if it's a silly idea to carry on trying 😫

My last - the worst attack - was at the end of November. It went on for 48 hours and I could still feel it ache IBB for about 4 days till the antibiotics kicked in. Not had anythibg since. Tests happened the last week of November and then the MRI-CO was on the 4th Jan. my next appointment for ore-op consultation was to have been on the 23rd January. I’m nit sure how much longer I would have had to wait - I’m sure it varies area to area but I think it would have been at least 8 weeks. I’m lucky I know have private health so I’ve got it scheduled sooner with the same consultant. Sorry I can’t gf more helpful. Other people seemed on this thread seemed to wait around 3 months I think.

I started with symptoms of gallbladder issues mid December, was in agony with peaks of pain in the night, went to the GP after 7 days (initially thought it was trapped wind and didn't want to waste anyone's time!) who said she thought it was gallstones. I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago which showed loads of gallstones, an inflamed gallbladder, and a stone partly blocking the exit of the gallbladder which is particularly large.

I've been referred to a private hospital as an NHS patient to speed up the process as my GP felt my gallbladder needed urgent removal. I saw the consultant there yesterday who also said my gallbladder is very large and he thinks it's infected. I've been put on antibiotics and he says he can't operate for 6-8 weeks due to the infection and inflammation. He hopes clearing infection will help the gallbladder "dampen down".

I'm now waiting for the op date to come through so I can plan. I feel very lucky to be sent down the private route for free. However I'm also panicking about the timings.

We are going on a really expensive holiday (a cruise!) in 10 weeks. It's a big ticket holiday we booked as we've had a rough time lately. I had my thyroid removed 17 months ago and it took a long time for me to fully recover to normal, then my MIL had a massive stroke and was in intensive care for months, then my FIL passed away. So we have this great holiday booked as a treat for us and the kids which we all badly need.

I'm terrified we won't be able to go. Either the op date will be too close to the holiday, or it will be converted to open surgery during the op meaning I won't be well enough to go, or the insurance company will refuse to cover me. (I took out insurance when I booked the holiday but I've never had to cancel a holiday before so I don't know the process or what would be covered and what not - but I don't want to ring them yet until I know more).

I've had laparoscopic surgery for ovarian diathermy when TTC about 12 years ago, so I worry there is scar tissue? Or my gallbladder will be too large/inflamed for keyhole? Or the large gallstone will be too large for keyhole?

I know I'm panicking and noone can tell me what will happen, but are there any views? similar experiences?

I'm devastated to be having surgery again, my employer was not supportive when I had my thyroid removed and I only had 4 weeks away from work (I struggled on even though I wasn't right for 10 months!). I was put on a sickness plan and told I couldn't be off for 3 months (worked there 19 years, impecable sickness record).

I feel so deflated and fed up.

I’m here for the class of 2020 too!

Had a bad attack out of the blue late autumn last year - worst pain I’ve ever felt, A&E because couldn’t get pain under control, followed by cholecystitis. Ultrasound showed my gallbladder was half full of tiny stones... now on the waiting list for removal but could be up to a year long wait.

Haven’t had a really bad attack since but get regular gnawing, aching, shooting pain in my right upper quadrant, feel like it’s only a matter of time before another attack comes!

Also am incredibly scared of having a general anaesthetic as never had one before! However this has been good reading and has allayed some of my fears! So thanks every one for sharing their experiences!

Hi Meerschweinchen, I'm new here too, post above yours. I too have loads of stones as well as one partly blocking gallbladder exit, inflammation and an infection. Joy! Can you ask to be referred as an NHS patient down the private route? That's what my GP has done for me, I think the wait for an initial appointment here is about 6 weeks then 5 months for the op.

Don't worry about the general anaesthetic. I know it seems scary, it really isn't. I've had a few in my time and the build up to it is much much worse than the reality of it. The nurses are really reassuring and calming and I always come round in a deliriously happy mood!

x

Should clarify - NHS wait is 5 months for the op.

Hi @alwayswantchocolate, yes it’s worth an ask! I work at the local hospital (not clinical) so will see if I can get hold of the coordinators! It’s just the not knowing if the cheeky burger I have is going to cause me a whole world of pain haha. Hope yours settles down soon! I am trying to read up as much as possible about the procedure as it makes me feel better knowing what to expect

I had mine out a few months ago. I had gallstones pancreatitis caused by stones blocking the bile duct, had a week in hospital then an ercp to remove stones. Gallbladder out a couple of weeks later and more stone out from bile duct. All better now. Operation and care was excellent took about a week to be pain free and another to be back on top form.

I've just had mine removed yesterday in a private clinic. I'd never had a general anaesthetic before and was pleasantly surprised - when I woke I just felt surprised I was woken from a very lovely deep sleep. I stayed over in hospital - the main discomfort was not in my belly but from aching shoulders (deferred pain from the carbon dioxide inflation). I'm stocked up with meds and don't feel too awful - just a bit of a gassy aching and bloated tummy. I hope I will get some good sleep tonight. I'm trying to take it easy - and know I'm going to find it very boring just sitting around for days.

I had 5 missed calls over the weekend. 3 on saturday, 2 on sunday. Tried to call the number back but it didnt accept incoming calls.

I recognise it as being from the NHS, and a search online shows it's to do with NHS waiting lists so I'm thinking I've just missed my chance at a cancellation to have my gallbladder out sooner There is nothing else it could be, all other departments I receive treatment from were closed over the weekend. Would be my luck lol!!!