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.

Don't go back before you're ready Skunka. Would work consider a phased return?

They would and have suggested that. The thing is, my note takes me up to next Friday after which it's half term which buys me a full extra week meaning I return fully fit.

Ah I see. Sounds like a plan! Maybe see how you feel towards the end of half term week and take it from there? Hopefully you will be fine.
I was signed off for two weeks, but requested a further week off as I was struggling with tiredness. I still am pretty tired but it is getting better.

I'm finding I'm tired too. I have moments where I feel great and then get carried away and end up in a fair bit pain. The scar in my belly button is uncomfortable a lot of the time and I'm watching it carefully to make sure it's not becoming infected.

@skunkatanka
I'm waiting for my US scan but have experience of other surgeries and I would say don't try to be a hero. Don't go back sooner than you've been signed off for. Take your time and get your strength back then you can go back with more energy. Otherwise maybe you struggle on and then spend half term recovering

Well, I had my scan today and they couldn’t find anything at all. No stones. Bloods all normal too.
I’m flummoxed. Saturday I ate pizza, Sunday I ate a roast dinner and then spent Monday Tuesday and Wednesday with a football under my right ribs and constant burping. I was a little constipated until yesterday when I had green loose stool all day.
What the heck is going on I don’t know 🤷‍♀️

Sounds strange AlwaysAware - must be frustrating not to have answers.
How's everyone doing?

Sticking my head round the door for an update.
I finally got the drain removed from my stomach today after 10 days. I couldn't have it out before because it kept filling with bile, which it shouldn't, but have now managed 4 consecutive days with minimum output, so seems to have sorted itself out. Infection went away a week ago, and have felt better in myself since the, till today when the only pain seemed to be from the drain itself. My blood stats have been improving steadily since. I expect to feel sore for a couple more days where the drain was poking me, and fingers crossed can get back to normal after that.
On the plus side I have lost 11lb, during all this - I'm going to try not to find it again. Good luck and best wishes to all of you wherever you are in the process.

Just an update....
Well just got back from my post ultrasound follow up at the Dr's, after finding no stones and everything looking normal at the scan, they now want me to do a poo sample before they will refer me for an endoscopy...
Pain started amping up again yesterday so the Dr has put me back on 60mg of codeine 4 times a day which is a sure fire way of getting me addicted to the bloody things, but they're the only thing that takes the edge off the pain.
So right now I'm sat here feeling like I have a huge baby stuck behind my ribs booting me (it's as weird as it is painful) I just wish there was a quicker way to get this diagnosis
Hope everybody else is doing OK xx

Hi Hubcap, I'm glad to hear you're finally on the mend! Hope you are getting better each day.
Hi Loopy, it's a mystery isn't it. I know not all gallstones show up on the ultrasound. I hope you find out what it is soon!

Checking in to see how everyone is.

I'm still struggling with nausea and really struggling with eating. Not good, especially after three weeks. I phoned the docs on Friday and have been given anti emetics to take over the weekend. Told to phone the surgery on Monday if it's still an issue and they'll do some "tests".

To be honest, right now I wish I hadn't bothered having the surgery. I've gone from having to watch what I ate to avoid pain at night to constant debilitating nausea and not wanting to eat anything anyway! It's not really what I had in mind!!!

Hi Skunka, I'm very sorry to hear this. That really doesn't sound right. I hope they find out what's wrong and treat it ASAP. Do you have a temperature or any other symptoms?

Nothing major. Bit of diarrhoea but not dreadfully so. The anti emetics seem to be taking the edge off it today so fingers crossed!

Hi everyone, I had my gallbladder out yesterday. Started getting gallstones about 6months ago after DS2 was born, my liver function hasn’t been good so I was done as an urgent case. Had US and an MRI before surgery. I’m pleased it’s out as the unpredictable attacks were horrible with a little baby and child to look after (DH works away). I feel like I’ve been used as a punch bag though...very sore today, and very bloated.

I am finding it really hard to breathe deeply, was this the same for others? Any tips? And any advice on dealing with gas shoulder pain?

I’m really sorry to hear your troubles, skunk. What anti emetics are you on?

Levi the not being able to breathe deeply and shoulder gas pain lasted me about 5 days and the only thing that helped was to not lie down flat and always sleep sat up.
I found I got out of breath really easily just by standing up so limited what I did.

Hope it passes for you soon as I know how awful the pain is and I honestly regretted my surgery the first 2 weeks but after that i came through it and glad it's done

Levi I'm on Prochlorperazine if that means anything to you.

Thank you FedUp - I’m only comfy propped up in bed, so will just stay like this.
Im sure I’ll get used to the enforced rest soon!

skunk I’ve been through a fair few when pregnant to treat hyperemesis. There’s a lovely HG support group in the pregnancy forum, they have lots of tips for dealing with nausea if you need ideas.

I'm not meaning to ignore pps, it's just that I don't have anything better to add to the post op advice.

Had my own appointment with the consultant, the short answer is that I need my gallbladder removed and there's nothing else to be done. The other choice is to keep going as I am ie frequently in lots of pain.

I really don't want to have surgery, I'll soldier on for as long as I can and hope that I don't get an infection which forces the issue.

Bugger.

I really don't want to have surgery, I'll soldier on for as long as I can and hope that I don't get an infection which forces the issue.

Please don't do this. It's not worth risking your health. I dithered for ages and my only regret now is not having it out sooner.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers your surgery and recovery seemed fairly straightforward. Whereas Skunkas really didn't seem so. I've had surgery that went badly I do mean really quite badly and I would cope with a lot before living through a repeat.

If I'm being honest the consultant didn't fill me with confidence either. It was a private appointment, he was running 40 minutes late and the appointment was rushed. It was clear he didn't have much time. I know he's not there as a psychological prop for me but he said he'd advise for operating, I expressed some concerns and his reply was that it wouldn't hurt much! I hadn't asked about the pain, as well as the previous bad surgery I have allergies to some drugs. He didn't address those questions at all.

Bedside manner is no guarantee of a good surgeon, I know that but answering my questions at an initial appointment would seem to be a reasonable.

Gosh, my grammar was crap in that post. I wish I could edit it!

That consultation sounds crap Nancy. Are you also on a waiting list for an NHS appt?
It is a big decision and even if the complication rates are low (0.5% for my surgeon), if you’ve had a bad experience before you know that you could be in the minority.
That said, it’s far worse/higher risk to have the surgery as an emergency case when you’re unwell

Hope you can see another doc and have a decent chat about outcomes in either scenario.

The consultation doesn't sound great to put it mildly...is there any chance you could see a different surgeon?

Levi and User we live in a rural area an hour + to the nearest big NHS hospital it seems that all local consultants know each other. This consultant is supposed to be the go-to for gallbladders.

I could see someone else, it would be further afield and if I turned into an emergency soon post op I would be transferred to an NHS hospital 2/2.5 hours from home. No biggie but it would be more difficult for visitors and going home. It also means going back to the GP for another referral. Again, no biggie but that too holds things up 4 weeks for a GP appointment here.

Seeing another surgeon privately, would be a wait of 6 weeks maximum once I've got another referral.
I'm not on NHS lists because I had asked for a private referral. NHS waiting times are around 12 months for an operation in this area.

The op that went badly was a 'simple' ovarian cyst drain. It didn't go well, much bleeding, a longer hospital stay than expected. Infection post discharge which led to a return to hospital and then a 2nd time when it didn't improve. Then finally a scan and a 2nd op because the reason for the infections was that they'd left something inside during the operation. Should have been back at work in two weeks, it took over two months.
You didn't ask about that I know but I thought it was worth explaining my aversion to surgery. I do realise emergency surgery is much more risky but I was hoping this consultant would allay those concerns.