Gallbladder surgery

[Cherrypie1313]

I have been recommended for gall bladder surgery.

My scan showed a 12mm gallstone and I have been experiencing mild to medium pain for a year now on my front right side but the worst is in my back. Over the past month the pain has become pretty much constant as the day has progressed.

I have never had a severe attack like some people experience but have had a handful of attacks where I have been up all night as the pain was so bad.

I am reluctant to have surgery though as I have never had any kind of procedure before and I'm worried about any possible post op issues that could occur.

My other issue is that I initially treated the back pain as a pulled muscle and received physiotherapy for this. It didn't really have much impact but I'm worried my back pain is muscular and that surgery is not going to rid me of my back pain because it was never gallstone related in the first place. I will have been through the surgery for an issue which I could possibly have kept under control myself as the front abdominal pain I experience is relatively mild but I will say I think it's slowly increasing in severity.

The back pain is in the middle of my right hand side and can go up to my shoulder blade. Occasionally, I'll have a twinge which stops me in my tracks so perhaps there are two issues with my back - one being muscular and the other gallbladder pain.

I'm just so unsure of what to do. If anyone has any experience of having back pain with gallstones and what it felt like I'd really appreciate any shared experience and advice.

That’s deffo your gallbladder I spent a fortune on physio thinking the same of the constant pain in my shoulder blade OP.

I would have it taken out. I had my first gallbladder attack 10 years ago, was offered surgery to remove it. I didn't and spent the last 10 years without problems. I then had a series of attacks and then a few days before my planned surgery a stone got stuck in my bile duct. I had a procedure to remove it which caused pancreatitis. I ended up in ICU and 6 weeks later I am still unwell with the pancreatitis and I'm still having gallstones attacks. I can't have my gallbladder removed until the pancreatitis has gone. The benefit of hindsight is wonderful...

I was having what I thought was upper back pain. I had a new baby so thought it was the strain of feeding/carrying etc.

The pain got so horrific that I had to see a doctor over Christmas and I was already jaundiced. I had my gallbladder out a few days later. Recovery from the operation was fine, scars are tiny.

I have had some episodes of diarrhoea but only if I eat very high fat.

My daughter is waiting to have hers removed. She describes the pain as like someone stabbing her in the back repeatedly.

Post op my top tip is avoid co-codamol! The first poo is horrendous. It also wasn't that good as a painkiller.

By far the most effective pain relief was a very firm pillow pressed hard against my stomach.

I had my gall bladder removed and I felt a million times better afterwards. It's all keyhole surgery (unlike my aunt when she had hers out donkeys years ago!).
Read up and make sure you are aware of possible after effects but I say be Elsa! Let It Go ☺️

The way I’m feeling at the moment Im acually excited now to get it out! Just hope all the symptoms I am having is due to the pollop on my gallstone!!

Do you have regular episodes like this.

I would be unwell after a fatty blow out at the weekend every time. Cooked breakfast, Sunday roast. In 1979 had barium meal consultant said to cut out fatty food. Which I did for another 30 years. My gallbladder was full of sludge then hence the removal.

BAM bile acid malabsorption is very rare which is what @Cherrypie1313 was worried about.

If it’s any reassurance about post op recovery @Cherrypie1313 my sister had her gallbladder out last year and was in Florida on holiday at Disney about 2 weeks later . She has had no issues .

I just feel really unwell like I’ve got a stomach bug , chills diarrhea and sickness and very tender round gallbladder area, I haven’t got a very good diet to be fair xx

I had mine out by keyhole surgery 8 years ago, after 3 trips to A&E for pain relief during severe attacks and an alarming bout of jaundice. Day surgery, home by 5pm, 2 weeks off work but felt fine after 4 or 5 days. No problems at all since.
My top tip for recovery is to wear no bra or the soft sports type ones as one of the incisions is right on the bra line, similarly loose waisted trousers or skirts.

Hi @Cherrypie1313 have you had surgery yet?

I have been having issues for the past 6 months, escalated a few weeks ago and went to gp as pain wasn't easing like it normally does. She treated me for infected gallbladder and pain eased after a few days.
I have had a scan this week and have multiple gallstones so gp has referred me for surgery.

I am currently awake as I woke up in pain, this has eased now with buscopan and water.

Do I need to do very low fat diet now while I wait for surgery?

I have never done a very low fat diet so any advice would be good.
Thanks

@Sunshineandrainbow sorry I haven't replied sooner.

My surgery was 8 weeks ago and went really well. I feel so much better and have little to no pain. I do seem to have some mild pain after a big meal but I think that's just everything settling down. I am seeing the consultant in a week to get the final sign off so I'll raise it with him then.

Post op I feel like a weight has been lifted. The constant pain was really getting me down.

Pre op, I did stick to a low fat diet and cut out all fried foods, cheese, butter etc. I replaced this with lean meats and fish. It got to a stage where I had to as it exacerbated the pain every time.

The reason I started this post was because I was undecided about surgery but it was the best thing I did and I'm really pleased I went ahead.

Glad you have had surgery @Cherrypie1313 and so pleased to hear you are feeling better.
I am getting an attack about once a week so not in constant pain and it eases with buscopan after a while.

I don't know how long the wait is in my area so will grin and bear it until I hear.

Hi,
I am currently 3 weeks post op too. Before surgery I have been low fat for ages and have kept to this mostly afterwards too. No blow outs at all!

I have personally experienced a number of attacks since my removal. The attacks are exactly how I experienced before, except they only reach about 70% of the pain level.

Have any of you experienced anything like this? I am gutted as I hoped to relieve this symptom.

I am sorry I can't answer your question.

How long did you wait for surgery and did you find anything to relieve the attacks? Thanks

Could be a stone trapped in what remains of you bile duct.

Hi,

I have had gallbladder problems for years. I have always managed them myself though and not needed much medical involvement.

However, in recent years the attacks increased drastically, along with an increase in pain.

I asked for a scan in December 2023 and was referred to a surgeon. I saw my surgeon on June 2024 and then had surgery August.

The only thing that helped me was buscopan. I was taking it daily with most meals as you can take up to 8 a day. I would also take if I felt an attack coming on. It is an antispasmodic, so it slows the contractions of the gallbladder down. This didn't always work though.

With post op attacks I have done the same and used a hot water bottle. This seems to help.

Thanks @Elevenerife

I have only taken buscopan when having a attack maybe I need to take it everyday to try and prevent them.

Only you can decide , I personally would err on the side of trusting medical advice though as they would know better than me.

@Elevenerife My aunt had similar after gallbladder removal and they found she has a stone stuck in her bile duct. I think she had to have further surgery to remove it.
Sounds like you could do with a scan to see what's going on.
I've had no attacks since mine was removed thankfully.

I had my surgery 24 hours ago!

I was on an afternoon list, so stayed in hospital overnight. It was good to have the extra nursing care, as I had to have my belly-button dressing replaced late night.

Right now, I am upright in bed with a pillow on my belly (to prevent puppy damage). My tummy is sore, which I think is due to the gas they use. I have been told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen. They offered me Oramorph to take home, but I thought that was overkill. I don't have any upper abdominal pain.

The consultant said I could have a normal diet straightaway, and an occasional drink. It's really hard to go low fat in a family, so this will be a relief. I won't be living on hamburger and chips and am keen to have a healthy balanced diet.

I have a current thread for support and FAQs if anyone wants to jump on there. I'm due surgery on the 21st.

Gallbladder op - FAQs and words of comfort and wisdom - www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5155283-gallbladder-op-faqs-and-words-of-comfort-and-wisdom