Gallbladder Removal - tell me your recent experiences!

[WhatAKerfuffley]

Hello

New to MN! After suffering for almost a year with horrendous gallbladder attacks, that are getting more frequent, longer and even more painful, I’m scheduled in to have it removed 6th Jan. THANK THE LORD! Unfortunately, I wasn’t taken seriously until I spent 8 days in hospital with ongoing attacks and a stone stuck in bile duct!

To those who have had their gallbladder removed, just wondering what your experience was like before, during and after. Particularly after the op - I have a 7 month old DD who I’ll need to care for almost straight after the op, as we can’t afford for DP to have too many days off work (he’s already had a fair few off due to my horrendous bloody attacks!)

Thank you!

@WhatAKerfuffley my gp has also said that the digestive issues must be ibs and not the gallbladder but I’m not convinced this is right.

@TheLifeAndDeathBrigade good luck today.

Thanks both. All gone ok. Went down to theatre around 9.20 and back in my room by 12. Bit of pain on waking but undoer control by 1. I've eaten a sandwich, am dressed and awaiting discharge

@TheLifeAndDeathBrigade that’s great news, hope your revenue goes well for you.

I’m awaiting my phone consultation this evening so I’ll see how that goes.

Recovery not revenue

I’ve not had any other digestive problems or diarrhoea with mine . Pain during the night on 3 occasions that woke me , the first time I thought I was having a heart attack . One severe attack with vomiting and pain that took about 10 days to finally go .
Received letter today from the hospital saying that my single gallstone measures 3.8 cm!!
Waiting a call to discuss its removal.

Hope your recovery goes well TheLife

Well I spoke to the consultant tonight he has said that gallstones can affect your digestion and bowels.

I have been booked in for the op in March as decided to go private as he said where I am they have cancelled all elective ops so would be at least another year waiting for nhs.

@Cherry889

Well I spoke to the consultant tonight he has said that gallstones can affect your digestion and bowels.

I have been booked in for the op in March as decided to go private as he said where I am they have cancelled all elective ops so would be at least another year waiting for nhs.

Thanks for sharing that info Cherry 🙏 You must be relieved that you're booked in even so....you still have to wait until march despite going private😶 Better than waiting a year though and Id exactly the same in your shoes! I hope you manage to keep the symptoms at bay in the meantime 🙏

And wishing you a speedy recovery @TheLifeAndDeathBrigade🙏

Thank you. He advised 50% of the work they are doing is nhs cancer work which is the reason for the delay.

I am happy to have a date to work to now and will just keep on eating low fat plain food for a while longer and hopefully not have too many issues until then.

I feel you OP. I've suffered with my gall bladder for about 8 years.
They said if it happens again then I need to have to removed. It flares up a couple times a year!
Not sure how I feel on the op though tbh.

Thanks for the update Cherry889 . The end is in sight for you which is good . Hope it all goes well for you .

Glad you're booked in @Cherry889 and thanks for the well wishes from both you and @SpeckledyHen.

I'm doing ok so far. Came home yesterday around 3.30pm -felt ok when I left hospital but progressively more pain as the evening wore on (think it was the good drugs wearing off!). I am coping on paracetamol and ibuprofen only, having had one dihydrocodeine at hospital yesterday. Wouldn't necessarily recommend this but am being super cautious as I'm still breastfeeding my DD. TBH it is still waaaaay les painful than gallstone pain despite being on weaker drugs than they recommend and breastfeeding a 10kg baby so reckon if you're not doing that and can take AAAAAALLLL the good drugs you'll be fine!

DH getting a bit cross as seems to think I'm overdoing it (I've only been out of bed to go the loo and make a cup of tea ) but otherwise all good. Hot water bottle helping with the trapped gas pain too.

Thank you @SpeckledyHen.

@TheLifeAndDeathBrigade glad to hear your doing ok, hopefully over the next few days the pain will settle more for you. Luckily my dds are teenagers now so I won’t have them relying on me after the op.

Oh that's good @Cherry889 you be able to take all the drugs and get them waiting on you

So... a lot happened in the last couple of days for me! I'VE HAD THE SHITTY THING EVICTED!

Was waiting for the rescheduled ERCP however was just feeling SO ill. The doctor basically decided then and there that it just needed to come out. He even mentioned my DD and how she needs her mum! 🥰🥺 So booked me in for an MRI to check the stones were removable while in theatre. Turns out they had passed themselves anyway! So the ERCP would have been a complete waste of time. Mind you, I'm not surprised they had after two weeks of waiting.

The op went fine, although I was not expecting the pain afterwards. I've had morphine! The gas pain really is terrible as well - would recommend having peppermint water to all those gearing up for their operation. It's helped a little. I was hoping to go home tonight but my temp has spiked, so am in for monitoring. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

I'm just so so relieved and happy it's gone 🙌🏼😅

YAY😊
Congratulations WhatAK, I hope you make a speedy return to being pain-free and of normal temperature 🙏
What a relief 😊

Glad you’ve had the op that’s great news. I hope you recover quickly.

@WhatAKerfuffley Fab news that you’ve had your operation 🥳 hopefully your temperature will settle soon and you can get home 🤞🏼
The stomach pain will settle quite quickly in my experience - I remember trying to sit up in bed straight after my operation though and my stomach was not having it 😅 the shoulder pain lingered a bit longer for me I’m afraid 😓 not a nice feeling at all!! Hope you recover quickly 😊😊

Yay what good news! I hope you have had a comfortable night and will be home today .

Thank you so much for your well wishes! Good luck and I hope you get sorted soon @Cherry889 @SpeckledyHen @Yohoheaveho.

Still feeling sore but feeling miles better 😊 I can't wait to never see a hospital again - or at least for a while ha.

Any questions about any of it, let me know!

@RWK29 I tried to the same with sitting up yesterday and at first it felt like I was climbing a hill 😆 forced myself up and about in the end!

@WhatAKerfuffley congrats on being gallbladder free! Doesn't it feel brilliant (if a bit sore at first!). Hope you're home soon. I'm day two post op and slept through the night without waking for drugs, but my god, I NEEDED some when I woke up this morning. Currently lying very still waiting for them to take effect

I've actually found that drinking a can of coke zero (other brands available!) has helped to bring up a lost of gas and seems to have reduced the shoulder pain, so might be worth a go.