Support thread for anyone who has/had gall stones.

[tortoise]

Hi all fellow sufferers.
I thought it would be nice to have a thread we can all use for support.

Babyramone Good luck for Tuesday. Hope all goes well and that you are soon pain free.

I had mt 1st attack when i was pregnant with DD2. Didn't know thats what it was at the time. I assumed servere wind. had 3 attack during the pregnancy. No more until now and DD2 is 3 ys old! I ate huge amounts of chocolate while BF too. Think i was lucky to not have more attacks.

LittleBellatrixLeBoot - Good to hear you have had no problems since the op. Wonder why codine would cause a problem.

Thanks tortoise. I start fasting from midnight.
Very nervous of the general tbh.
Gall bladder been twingy this weekend and I have feeling attack due so glad the op is here.
Just hope it sorts it and I don't end up with other probs as mentioned.
All those who've had their's removed how was your recovery (think asked this ages ago but can't remember)and did you get out same day or have a stay overnight?
Everyone's who's still suffering hope things happen for you all soon.

oh babyramone, didn't realise you were having your operation. Good luck, I'm sure everything will be fine.

I've had my scan today and I do have gallstones! She had trouble finding my gall bladder at first so had to get a colleague in, apparently its full of stones which is why she couldn't find it at first.

Just need to speak to my dr in a couple of weeks and see what, if anything, they'll do now.

I had a 'attack' yesterday - but I had my gallbladder removed 10 months ago . It felt exactly the same as the original attack and its the only time I've experienced it since. I took loads of different pain killers and tried to walk best I could, tried to control my breathing and drunk lots of water and it went away by the time I got to see the dr. But the v nice dr said it could be an inflamed / infected bile duct, coz although they take the gall bladder away they leave the duct behind. So he sent me for a blood test and gave me some tablets to take for a month for acid reflux (!). I was sick before, during and after the attack, and am still feeling pretty crappy, I really thought it was all behind me

Well that's me Gall Bladderless
Op went well keyhole was easy and no inflammation my latest liver function test had been clear (org had shown something)so all good there. Only prob was I was very sick when came round and had to stay in overnight.
Have been taking it easy at home (have to as am quite sore and was woozey due to pain killers)and DH has been a star I have to say.
Only gripe was him getting MAN-FLU at same time
I thought I'd be back to normal quickly but is amazing how tired I get. Must be the body healing process.
I don't even have any stitches to get out, their all dissovable ones under the skin.

Only downside, my pal who got done about 5-6 weeks ago is now getting diarrhea (SP)and has been caught short a few times.
GOD it never rains but it pours. Hope don't get that.

Have lost about 1/2 a stone though.
So ladies good luck hope those thay are waiting get treatment etc and bye bye gall bladders.

Tortoise I feel for you as I have had to rely on DH a lot but hopefully something will come through for you.

Chocteapot Funnliy Mine seened to coincide with time of month.

ok beans on toast set off an attack last night, is there anything i can still eat. im so fed up of this. Still waiting for appt for camera down throat, i dont know what is going on

I've been back to see my dr and I definitely have gallstones. She's referring me to see a surgeon which should happen in about 6 weeks!

Must admit, I am really nervous at the thought of surgery, I've never had an operation before.

Has anyone else had their gall bladder removed in open surgery? I had mine out in May, and am still recovering. It is such a long grind, and all the while my DS (9 months) is transforming before my eyes and I still can't look after him. Feeling really frustrated and blue today .

PeckhamBelle

No advice, sorry. I am still waiting to see the hospital - I am sure you will be back to full strength before you know it.

Rosmerta - I am glad you have a diagnosis. I have been referred to the hospital but have had to wait 3 months - so it's not till October 6. LUCKY YOU THOUGH!

Peckhambelle, I was lucky enough to get mine out with keyhole but am surpised how lomg it's taking me to recover so you have my full sympathies.
I don't think I was aware just how major the surgery inside is.
I'm still in a lot of pain esp in the gall bladder area.
Do you get this to?
Like you I have a baby (11months)and have nearly 4 year ols so am on the go constently.
It's hard to rest isn't it.
Hope you feel better soon.
How's everyone else doing?
Now gall bladders sorted Iam now under going treatment for carprl tunnel.
Pregnancy treated me well (had SPD to)

please excuse spelling typing with wriggly girl on knee

babyramone, I think from your post its only been a few weeks since your surgery, so I think its ok to still be feeling quite rough. I too had mine out by keyhole, and with a 13 month old and 4 year old it was hard to rest, but found after about 2 weeks or so that I started feeling worse rather than getting better. I went to my dr about something else and she said one of my wounds was infected so I had a week of antibiotics and after that really picked up - its just something to look out for - hope you and all other posters are feeling much better real soon.

How is everyone doing?
I haven't had an attack in ages now and not been that careful about what i eat!
Hopefully i can stay attack free!

Hope everyone else is ok.

Hi tortoise

I am not too bad, have been having niggles, but nothing too unbearable, and like you, haven't really been watching what I am eating I have been having bad back ache and side pain though.

Still waiting for my hosp appt on 8 October, the sooner I get on that op list the better.

Hi everyone, it's good advice to look out for infection after the op - I've had two post-op infections, but it looks like I'm finally on the mend and will be clear to go back to work next week (only 3 months late!). It's so important take as much rest as possible after the operation, even with keyhole surgery it is still a major, and I've found it takes a while to adjust. Hopefully none of you experience the nightmare I have had since my operation in May, I've found it really tough not being able to look after my little boy, but I managed him all last week on my own and we had a great time together .

Hello everyone,

I am on weekend leave from the hospital, I have developed acut pancreatitis, and what's so great is that although we know it is the gallstones that have created the situation, I still have to go on the waiting list for the op - which is likely to be a couple of months. I had an MRCP scan to determine how bad my biliary duct is - still no results yet.

I hate this

i had gallstones and had to have my gall bladder removed after it caused pancreatitis. i was being treated by the gp for indegestion as she thought i was too young to have gall stones(26). i was in hospital for 4 days at new year where the doctors insisted my gall stones were caused by and made worse by my festive drinking!! i hadnt touched a drop as i felt so ill from the pain!!
i eventually had my gall bladder removed privately, as i wasnt willing to go through the pain of pancreatitis aging. the doctors said if i had not gone to hospital i could have died, so wanted to be on the mend asap!

now i feel fine and can eat whatever i want. the operation went well, and the worst part was actually being put to sleep, as i was so nervous. i have 3 little scars on my stomach, but noone ever goes there!!

lizandlulu

I am with you about GPs, initially mine laughed at me and said my symptoms did not sound like gallstones and that I probably had hpylori bacteria - how wrong was she!!! My first admission to hospital they said that I would need to see a surgeon and he told me that I was just suffering biliary colic and I wasn't urgent enough. I had to wait 3 months for a consultant appt - which ironically is for Monday. When I got admitted to my local hosp on Weds - the surgeon said "quite clearly it was not just biliary colic" and that I had pancreatitis. What worries me is that, the longer they put off the gallstone op, is the more often I am going to have to be re-admitted to hospital and end up with permanent damage to my pancreas and eventually diabetes controlled by insulin!!!! I am just so fed up. It is hard enough being in hosp, but my 3 kids and my poor hubby are going through it too. I dread them having to take me back to hospital as I know my son will break down. I am very tempted to go private(well sign up to our civil service health scheme) but I have to wait 6 months before I can have an op???????

I am confused

why do you have to waut 6 months? is that something to do with the bile duct or something?
i was told by the hospital when i was in the first time, that i would have to wait for awhile before having the op, so my insides could 'calm' down. but when i went private, it was done within 3 weeks.

No I have to wait 6 months till I qualify for the op privately.

I had an appt with the consultant today and I'm booked in for the op in a month's time , I can't believe how quickly its all been sorted compared to some of you

rosmonster

I am glad it is all being sorted for you so soon, good luck xx

rosmonster Good luck. hope it all goes well for you.
I haven't had any attacks for ages now which i am very pleased about!

How is everyone else feeling?

I have been attack free since leaving hospital. I still get the aches and pains though. Still no op date.

What a relief to find this thread.

I've just been for ultrasound today and been diagnosed after 5 visits in the last 18 months to the GP who only sent me to hospital when I asked him to. He also said I didn't tell him my symptoms properly but he wouldn't be annoyed if I diagnosed the problem instead of him!!!

I'm going to Gp next week to discuss ultrasound and will ask for those painkillers - they sound fantastic. I've been in such pain during and after an attack that it would be so great to have that insurance of having a painkiller that could make it go away. I was in such a mess on Christmas day that we ate leftovers as I couldn't cook. Must say it was great, might try that one again next year!