Gallbladder support thread 2020

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

Have been having problems recently and will need to have gallbladder removed. Waiting for app from surgeon.
I have found the old gallstone / biliary colic support threads helpful so thought would set up a new one. Would be good to hear how others are managing symptoms and ideas of waiting times following the last six months.

Thanks for your replies. I'm having MRI tomorrow to determine course of action.

So pleased I've found you, had a nightmare week x

So I've had Acute cholecystitis, waiting to hear from surgeon as to way forward... desperately want to go home

Cahu58, it's good that you have a diagnosis and I hope you hear from the surgeon ASAP, good luck and let us know if you can 🙏
I'm doing ok, symptoms are mild and not too frequent but I'm still going to push for a scan so that I know what the problem is

I will ... still hooked up to an IV so not sure how long I'll be here.

Just ate the first real thing in almost 2 weeks. My sister dropped off a little chicken salad. It went straight through me... what can we eat with this condition?

I have found as time passes I can eat less and less. I am living off toast and cereal mainly at the moment as everything else causes either gallstone pain or diarrhoea. My op is 2 weeks tomorrow so hoping for me things improve then.

Cherry889
That's grim, I hope things improve after your op. X

Thank you, do you know when you should be able to leave hospital and how long to wait for the op?

Cherry
The doctor has just left, examined my stomach, no pain, said I can go home today with antibiotics as I've been on IV for 4 days. Need a blood test first though. He said he didn't know the waiting time for the op but I would be having it.

Glad to hear you can go home today and hope you are feeling better then you were. Hopefully the wait won’t be to long.

All change here... I'm having the operation tomorrow if all goes to plan. So scared, been in hospital since Friday, haven't seen family since then.

Good luck today, I hope the op goes well. Just think it will all soon be over and you will be back home.

Well had the operation on Wednesday still in pain but hoping to go
Home today. Anyone who had the op? How long does the pain last. The surgeon said it's the gas they use during the operation

Cahu58, glad to hear you've had the operation I know that shoulder tip pain can last for a while after abdominal surgery but I can't say about other pain. Hopefully they discharge you today and painkillers will keep you comfortable🙏
Let us know how you get on!

Cahu58. I had the op last week. I was given codine and paracetamol to take every 6 hours and ibuprofen 3 times a day - which kept the majority of the pain away, so it only really hurt in my side when I coughed or tried to breath deeply. I stopped taking the painkillers 2 days ago and only really have some pain when I breath deeply.

I’ve been sleeping propped up each night as it’s more comfortable.

My stomach is still bloated and I put on weight overnight which hasn’t shifted yet!

Itsme908

Thank you for your reply, I'm only 2 days post op so maybe too early to expect no pain....I feel so bloated Sven though I haven't had a meal since February!

At my pre op the nurse advised peppermint tea or buscopan to help with the pain from the gas.

Cahu, I hope you're feeling better now.

Today I went for another ultrasound. I had one arranged by my GP in October but that was one of those places that the NHS has contracts with not the hospital. Anyway that confirmed the diagnosis (I'd already had it diagnosed by Dr Google and told my GP that's what I thought). Anyway, I had a very unsatisfactory phone appt in November, which I won't bore you with. Then radio silence from the hospital, while meanwhile I was getting increased frequency of attacks. Obviously covid was happening....but I was truly suffering. I made noises with the GP, PALS, 111, (they sent paramedics out cos their logarithm suggested heart attack even though I said I wasn't having a heart attack) and an attendance at A&E. I really wanted to scream "I'm in agony, give me a knife and I'll rip it out myself"

Anyway the ultrasound today showed my gallbladder is fit to bursting with stones. Even the radiologists appeared quite surprised . It doesn't surprise me, and in a way im glad I'm proved right. I've got another appointment week after next and hoping it will speed the process up.

I'm not one whose prone to health anxiety, but I am now getting a bit worried that the gallbladder may rupture while I'm languishing on a waiting list.

When I need surgery, I do it in style. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago, after I was diagnosed with a fibroid the size of a 7 month pregnancy.

S*pidey66
*
Oh I am so sorry to hear of your suffering Spidey. Listening to your experience I feel lucky that I had surgery so promptly. I didn't know I had stones and I was under investigation for recurrent UTI's which no health care professional can tell me whether it was linked to the gall bladder... I'm feeling better but even 3 weeks post op I feel washed out. I'm a newbie on this thread so I hope someone can come along with some good advice for you as I don't understand why you aren't on the emergency list for surgery.

Newbie to the thread, but hoping you don't mind me asking for advice. I'm being investigated for gallbladder issues but ultrasound and blood tests have come back normal. 2 different docs seemed to think I've had all the hall marks of biliary colic, but surely something would have shown up on the tests?

I have not had it myself but I am not sure if there is sludge in your gallbladder if that might not show on then ultrasound. Also I think people can have low functioning gallbladders that can cause problems without gallstones.

What symptoms are you having?

Thanks Cherry889. I'm having recurring episodes of really severe upper abdo pain, just below my ribs, either in the centre or on the right, often spreading round my ribs to my back. Vomiting last time too. Codeine is the only painkiller that will touch it. The episodes are every 2-3 months, are worst at night, last for a few days then I'm fine in between. Each time, it's been a takeaway that's set it off, so all seems to be pointing to gallbladder issues, but I'm flummoxed as to why all the tests are normal! I don't fancy my chances of a referral with normal tests either.

It does sound like gallstones Sticky87, how odd though the tests are coming back normal as an ultrasound normally confirms it. It must be frustrating, I know a clear diagnosis was a relief for me as then you know what you're dealing with.

I had a phone appt with the hospital today.

They are only just restarting surgery post covid, and it appears they're prioritising surgery. Top priority is cancer, who they plan to treat within a month. Next priority is 1-3 months and they've put me in this band.

I hope it's nearer one month than 3, but I have to acknowledge they can't say any fairer than that, and have agreed to it.