gallbladder agony

[unicornwonders]

i’ve been suffering with pain on and off for years, but tuesday i had the pain under my right rib cage, lower stomach and back, absolute agony for 10 hours, went to gp got sickness meds and had bloods and was told i would hear back by end of week. i’ve been tender and sore under my ribs and lower stomach since, once again i’ve woken up in agony it’s been 4 hours and again pain killers won’t touch it, i can’t take this anymore, i’m sick of the pain and sick and now it’s hurting my chest, i’m waiting on a call back from 111 i just don’t know what to do or what to expect

That's what I had, ended up staying in hospital 5 days, first 2 on IV antibiotics to try to get rid of the infection, 3rd day they whisked me in for surgery to get rid of the gallbladder. It was so infected they had to place drains and give me more IV antibiotics so that kept me in for 2 more days.

Push for surgery if you can, get it out.

Hope your doing ok. I had my gall bladder out 5 years ago after getting attacks. I have absolutely no I'll side effects living without my gall bladder. I know there can be side effects for some but the pain of attacks with stones was so much worse than labour, I chose to have it out without hesitation! My sister had her out too and has no issues.

Hope your pains eased off 💐

That’s what I had. It was whipped out within 24 hours x

hope you’re ok

@PammyShipman nobody can completely remove fat from their diet. OP needs medical treatment.

Hi op I'm in the same situation. I first got pain in January it was agony and I couldn't move from the pain. I was hoping it was a one off random thing and I was also heavily pregnant at the time. Had my baby 3 weeks ago and I got the pain again on Sunday. Met with GP on Monday who said it sounds like bilary colic and referrals sent for ultrasound and bloods. He also give me strong painkillers incase it comes again.

However I don't have all the other symptoms apart from the excruciating pain.

A question for others regarding the ultrasound, do they only scan your gallbladder or do they check the other organs in that area such as pancreas and liver?

booked for surgery on thursday, painkillers until then

Hope painkillers are working. Have you been able to go home?

Hope you're feeling better, great that they're getting rid of the blighter for you!

@GreenIsle mine was a full abdo and digestive system ultrasound. Stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys, small and large intestines.

Sending hugs OP, I know the pain is so bad. I had my gallbladder out nearly 20yrs ago. I can still remember the agony. I had the infected gall bladder too. My late MIL called the Dr out, as she was so concerned that I was going down hill, my urine went like very dark tea, Dr rang an ambulance for me. My gallbladder was full of tiny stones, almost like seeds that were being trapped in the bile duct. Best thing ever once the op is done, I can eat anything now without that dreadful pain. Good luck for your op.

I lived on tinned tomatoes on toast for ages before having my gb out - it got very boring, very quickly. Used to have an attack maybe 2-3 times a year, then became far more frequent - it was a miserable time. Had keyhole surgery about 10-12 years ago, no issues since.

i’m thankfully allowed home and have buscapan and codiene, i was given morphine at the hospital so when i got home thankfully was able to sleep, could anyone share there experiences of the surgery/recovery with me if they don’t mind, i’m a bit of a wimp and am really nervous, thanks everyone!

Surgery at about 10 am, home by 4 and spent rest of day lying on the sofa. I was signed off for 6 weeks and told not to drive for a month and felt a total fraud. Was on over the counter pain killers for a couple of days post surgery but after that felt absolutely fine - had to keep reminding myself I'd had surgery and not to pick up bags of shopping or change the bedding. Had no side effects from the surgery and eat what I want (as my unslender physique shows )

@Coxspurplepippin when you get there are there lots of people waiting? and do they run anymore tests before the surgery?

Yes, of course. My op went well had laparoscopic surgery, however, 10 days after surgery I had to go back in, I still had a tiny stone in the bile duct, it was Easter, I went in on the Thurs afternoon, had blood tests that confirmed my bile duct was obstructed, had scan, couldn’t find the stone, had to stay in all over Easter to wait for the Tues, when specialist would put camera down, locate and remove stone, luckily for me the stone got out on its own, after much pain on Good Friday. My experience is very, very rare. When I saw my GP, before I ended up back in hospital I said I think there is a stone still there, he said no, that never happens. I am sure your surgery will go well, wishing you all the best.

Surgery was fine, I say that as someone who had a major fear of general anaesthesia, to the extent that a few years ago when I broke my hand I refused GA and had surgery to screw it back together while wide awake with a nerve block.

I walked down to the surgical theatre and laid on the bed, they asked a few questions to make sure I was the right person and that I was having the right surgery then I was told to think of something happy and count backwards from 10. I think I got to 8, then I was waking up and heard someone saying "have you seen the size of the stone I just took out of that gallbladder?"

I had a lot of infected gunk around the gallbladder so they had to put in a drain which was more uncomfortable than the little teeny tiny cuts they'd made to do the surgery laparoscopically because it pulled a bit whenever I moved.

Drain had to be left in for 2 days then I was allowed to go home. I had 4 weeks off work but could have been back earlier if I needed to. The bending part of sitting and standing was uncomfortable for about a week but once actually up or down I felt absolutely fine.

I was really tired for a couple of weeks but I think that was more because I'd ended up with a major infection before they took the gallbladder and it too a while to recover from that. I was on IV antibiotics for 5 days in the hospital then horsepill sized ones for 10 days after I was released.

thank you guys for sharing, i have one specific fear, i saw something that said when your under for the op, they put a tube down your throat, please tell me that isn’t there when you wake up, i imagine myself freaking out with it

and what did you guys wear comfortably after surgery?

They didn't do any tests, but I'd been for pre op appointment only about 10 days before. No tube when I woke up. I just wore usual clothes, t shirt and jeans. Luckily key hole entry wounds weren't anywhere near bra band.

No tube, if they did put one on then I never knew about it.

I had 4 wounds, 1 in belly button, 1 on bra line between boobs, 1 on right hand side and another just below that where the drain was fitted. Each was less than an inch long and had dissolve able stitches so other than keeping generally clean there was nothing that needed doing.

The bra line one did make it difficult to wear a bra so I was wearing vest tops like the stretchy ones from M&S that are close fitting but don't have the boob shelf thing built in. Then dresses or t-shirt and trousers like normal.

You'll have a breathing tube but that will be removed before you're properly awake.
The op is generally done as a day case, it takes around 45 minutes then you'll be kept for a couple of hours before you're allowed home. Occasionally it's more difficult and sometimes you'll need a drain, which would usually mean an overnight stay, but that's rare. You'll have 4 small cuts which will be stitched or glued closed, you can shower once you're home. You'll be advised to avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks to reduce the chance of developing a hernia. You can drive as soon as you're comfortable (usually within 3-5 days) and I give people 2 weeks off work (although many patients who work from home/do office work return to work sooner).

Take a book/something to watch as there may be a number of patients on the theatre list before you, and make sure you have someone who can pick you up late in the evening if needed.

I did a self indulgent four days in PJs, but after than I was fine.

I found tramadol was better for the pain before the op than codeine, but it's probably very individual. I was fine on over the counter painkillers after, and can now eat pretty much anything with impunity.

Definitely no tube when I woke up.

was you told upon arrival when your surgery would be/what number in the queue you would be? i hate hospitals so hoping to be in and out lol

I went in for surgery at about 11am and was home by 5pm the sane day. I was 2nd on the list. They showed me the pot with 27 stones in when I woke up and said my gallbladder was on the verge of popping. I had 2 weeks off work but felt fine after about 2 days to be honest. I've had no problems since. Good luck! I'm sure you will be fine.

You'll know if you're eating no fat only if you prepare your own food. If you like cooked veggies with absolutely no butter or oil, eat on. Otherwise, subsist on raw fruits and veggies till you can get the damned thing yanked out by a surgeon.

This was mine, just the one big stone that got stuck and nothing was gonna shift it.

Like others have said, once the gallbladder was gone I have had no problems at all.

Tiny word of warning though, the painkillers you're on (codeine) can cause constipation so make sure you're having plenty of water, fruit juice and if needed some stool softeners. You don't want to add constipation discomfort to gallstone pain if you help it.