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.

Bouledeneige, glad you've had a good experience, hope the gassiness is getting better.

Ispywithmycynicaleye, oh no I hope not! Probably best not to know now!

I now have my op date, 27th March which is 2 weeks and 2 days before my big cruising holiday. I'm thinking the insurance company is going to say NO and there is a chance of it being converted to open anyway reading the consultants letter I received yesterday. I'm still not sure what the process is, so I've emailed the consultants secretary to ask what the consultant's view is of the timing of the operation and holiday before ringing the insurance company so I'm fully armed with information. What a pigging unfortunateness!

@alwayswantchocolate oh no what rubbish timing!! It’s typical isn’t it!

Fingers crossed you still get to go - I’m sure it’s the perfect tonic for a gallbladder removal!

Best of luck, let us know how you get on :)

Consultant said it was tight as I wouldn't have fully recovered (if laparosopic) and would need approval from him or my GP to fly. But it wasn't an outright no.

Insurance company was less than helpful. They said it was too early to assess and suggested I ring them after the surgery! Which will be 2 weeks before I go - and I won't know at that point how I will recover over the following 2 weeks unless it's open surgery and an outright no. A bit tight and hard to manage my children's expectations and to plan...

I've left it that I'll ring them back 6 weeks prior as they can at least go through the medical screening which they will be able to access then. They would not comment about their general attitude to this type of risk. Frustrating!

Hello! I wondered if I can join for advice please?

I've suffered with acid/trapped wind for years - had a scope and previous ultrasound (about 3 years ago) but all clear.

Now my tummy pain has really flared, it's gnawing all the time and also it feels like it's inflamed to the point where I get a tight chest/dry cough. GP wants me to have another ultrasound so that's booked for two weeks time.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else who had gallstones?

Hi wineandsunshine your symptoms don't sound like my own prior to surgery. Mine was more in the form of attacks for 4 -5 hours usually that was very deep writhing pain, or like a heart attack. The cases when it was inflamed involved being continuously sick as well and it going on for around 48 hours. I also didn't have the cough thing. That doesn't mean yours isn't gallbladder but it doesn't sound typical. But presumably your GP is getting you checked for a number of things ?

Thanks for replying. I did think my symptoms were slightly unusual!

Well the GP said the cough is linked to acid reflux (gerd) and to take ranatidine x3 per day and gaviscon. Which I am, but when I feel it start, it's almost like something is swollen inside 😞

To have the scan and return if still in pain.

I woke up this morning really uncomfortable and I can feel it in my back.

Did anyone else have problems with feeling really sick after eating? Trying to work out if it is related to my gallstones or if I’ve got something else going on... it’s been happening for about a week now :(

I had my gallbladder removed November 2018.

My history - I was 58 and had my first attack in about 2002. And then every year/ couple of years. After the first attack I was sent for a scan and they found 'sludge'. Following the last attack in September 2018 the scan showed huge gallstones. I felt like the ticking time bomb that others mention. The most terrifying bit was when I had the last attack while on holiday in a very remote part of Wales.The pain was so bad thought I might die. I was lying in a pool of cold sweat thinking every breath may be my last (and I've had children without pain relief and numerous savage falling-off-horse related injuries).

We had taken out BUPA policies (after a friend was denied life-saving drugs by NHS due to cost) so I got my gb whipped out as fast as I could. I was so scared of having to go through that pain again.

I have been absolutely fine since - I eat what I want. I've always been about 9.5 - 10 st, but my mother and sister had gb issues and I'm fair and I was fertile.

I was a bit sore afterwards and definitely needed the 2 weeks off work to recover. I did start taking probiotics after the operation- I'm convinced they helped my recovery.

I hope my story may soothe any anxieties. Good luck for anyone waiting and worrying.

Hi everyone hope it's okay to join the group!

For about a year I have been having really bad indigestion and pain in my right shoulder, before Christmas I had the first attack but thought it was just period pain and then another attack the Saturday before last which I thought was due to my right jeans

However the following Sunday I woke up with the pain it was so bad I couldn't breathe and I rang 111 who sent an ambulance for me obviously by the time I got to the hospital the pain had gone so I was advised to go for an ultrasound at the hospital on Monday.

Ultrasound showed I am packed with stones and I was scheduled for an operation to remove it last Thursday which got pushed back to this Thursday. Fairly annoying as I had the gown on and the canula!!

Bricking it as I have never had an operation or anything and I'm 32 fairly healthy with an okay diet (apart from cheese) I have been really struggling not to eat anything that sets it off and find breakfast especially hard, also the bloating after I eat anything is a pain! I bloat and then fall asleep!

Reading all your stories has helped me with what to expect so thank you all

Hello all,

I might be joining the group no one wants to be in. This thread has been great for me over the weekend as I found myself becoming doctor google due to an abnormal liver function test (blood)

Fast forward a few weeks ago I started developing pain in my belly and back, felt like bad trapped wind that I couldn't get rid of . After rolling around the bed, hot baths and a hot water bottle and 6 hrs later it started to settle. I woke up the next day and felt normal.

Fast forward a week later and towards the evening my back started hurting badly, at first I thought it was because I was sitting slouched, then came the pain, a sharpe pain into the chest first then abdominal pain. Felt like all I wanted to do was pass wind both ends. I rang a bath and couldn't find a comfortable position, the pain wasn't going away and then I threw up which provided about 3 mins pain rest, but then came back. If I had gas and air available I would have taken it. I messaged the GP who at first said possible IBS, prescribed buscopan but also sent me for bloods. I went down the next day (Friday) to do the blood test and then the GP rang 5 hrs later saying I need to come in to discuss the results regarding the liver on Monday.
Well I spent the whole weekend in a panic and couldn't function.

So today I had my GP appointment who said my ALT was 700!! And I think he said my ALP was just under 300. He didn't tell me what the other reading were.

After Friday I stopped all alcohol and fatty foods. ( not a heavy drinker but I am obese)
I'm female, 33 yrs old, 4 kids and my youngest is 8 months. In all fairness I lost my appetite completely, don't know if it's because I am too scared to eat incase the pain starts.

The GP sent me for further bloods yesterday because I was still in mild/moderate pain (especially my back) when I had done the previous bloods. He was also referred my for a CT scan and to see a specialist. He asked me what I thought it could be and I said either fatty live disease (based on my very obesity) or potentially gallstones/gallbladder. I agreed that based on my symptoms it does sound similar to gallstones.

I find now though that I'm very acidy, like acid reflux when I do eat. I noticed on Saturday morning my urine started to go a darker colour (slight orange colour) so I upped my water intake and the colour now looks normal, also noticed that my stools went a lighter colour, almost a slight hint of yellow and a bit mucousy.

Fingers crossed I have no further flare ups and I get a date for a scan soon.

Hope you are all well x

Well I had a bad day yesterday - rang GP and he wants me swap over to omeprazole for the acid which I will collect tonight. I'm taking paracetamol for the pain too.

He thinks the cough I have is unrelated but it only really flares up when my tummy is hurting.

Wine&sunshine - have you had a scan yet?

So I'm now 9 days post my laparoscopic surgery. First week was discomfitting, I took my medication and for a few nights had extra painkillers to help numb the discomfort of turning over in bed and trying to find ways to lie. After the first week, I wasn't in any pain, still a bit tired but now sleeping well and feeling positive. All the scars are healing well - the smallest incisions down my side are very small and well healed, the only one that twinges a little and can feel a little prickly is the larger one in my belly button. But given its only just over an inch (like the central one below the ribs) its not a major issue.

I am eating sensibly and using this as an opportunity to try to eat more healthily. I've not had any alcohol and not felt the urge at all. Eating lots of veg, fish or meat, yoghurts and fruit. A slice of brown seedy toast in the morning but otherwise avoiding carbs and high fats. It feels right. I will return to work next week - 13 days after the op. I'm not looking forward to the crowded tube on the way to and from work but otherwise I'm raring to go. In this second week I've rather enjoyed pottering around up to the shops for a few supplies, doing a few chores, friends coming round for a cuppa, watching box sets. Its been nice! Re-watched Big Little Lies, saw Chernobyl (as brilliant as everyone says), Next in Fashion etc read the paper and done some online shopping.

I wish you all well. I feel incredibly relieved that my gallbladder is now gone and can't cause me any more agonies and I relish the thought of maybe losing a few pounds if I can keep the healthy eating and drinking up.

I had some big attacks between october and September. Hospitalised once and ambulances call the other times. Scan showed an inflamed gallbladder and 'some' gallstones. I think a stone was blocking my liver duct for months (increased liver function tests plus dark urine). I'm waiting for surgery but I havent had any attack since.

Has anyone experienced all the symptoms going away so not feeling like they need their gallbladder removed? I'm just wondering if my problems are over so the operation wont be necessary now. My surgeon is rubbish, I'm not in contact with him anyway. Should Ispeak to a GP? Or are things just 'quiet' just now and it could easily flare up again?

I just dont have the constant pain I hear most of you all talk about.

My scan is next Thursday - so I’m hoping for some answers in the next couple of weeks!

Hi all, what sort of scan diagnoses gallbladder problems? MRI? Ultrasound?

Mine was diagnosed after an ultrasound. I was told I would only be going for an MRI if my liver functions were still raised so they could see if a stone was blocking the duct.

I had an ultrasound and an MRI-CP. The ultrasound showed I had gallstones and that the gall bladder was inflamed (along with the bloods). The MRI-CP was required to check whether the stones were blocking the bile duct - which would have affected whether they could operate.

Hi all

I had my Surgery last week and I'm not going to lie I have found it really difficult since then.

I didn't react too well to the general anaesthetic and was sick a fair bit after I also couldn't pee so they had to keep me in overnight but I have been home since Friday.

I am generally okay and able to walk about etc but I am having trouble getting up and sitting down, once I am down or up it's fine but when I get up I am almost getting a pulling feeling in my stomach I'm not sure if its bruising or normal but it's like the underside of my belly that hurts and it takes a second to adjust before I can go from standing up to laying down, mainly I think this is due to me having a stomach that hangs as when I sleep it flops to the side anyway!

would be interested to know what you all think and how you are all doing?

xx

My op is on Saturday, I'm really nervous about the GA but weirdly not so much about the op itself.

Just want it over and done with now.

good luck @gallgal fingers crossed for you on Saturday x

Hope all goes well @gallgal, let us know how you get on!

Good luck for your op @gallgal

I had my repeat bloods done and the results were much better. My scan date came through the post yesterday. 26th next week and I don't know why I'm feeling nervous. My symptoms are similar to gallstones and doctor agreed. Just nervous it could be something else.

@Fruitbowl33 really hope the scan gives you some answers! I’m sure it will be those pesky stones!

Had my scan today...no stones in gallbladder and all looks ok so back to the drawing board with what is causing the pain!!