Gallbladder removal

[Badleg89]

Hi ladies

Would anyone like to share their stories with me of life after gallbladder removal? Particularly happy stories?

I'm booked to speak to the surgeon next week and I'm still wondering if it's right for me.

In 2 years I've had 3 bad gallbladder attacks, none in the last 8m but I get daily upper right pain and nausea. For a very long time they couldn't find anything wrong but finally after an endoscopic US some sludge was found. (I also had pancretitis when inwas much younger)

My whole life I've had IBS(D) and since having my children I suffer with reflux and a small hiatus hernia. Reading stories of people having their gallbladder removed has me so frightened that the reflux will get worse (it's currently well managed with famotidine and gaviscon) and hearing people talk about how badly they suffer with diarrhea years post opp has me so nervous since I'm already the D type

I'm going to try and get a telephone GP app before I see the surgeon to try and talk my worries through

I was lucky...only 1 attack and removal was smooth. No side effects, eat normally, quick recovery.

Left hospital the same day. No side effects. No more terrible painful attacks.

I had no issues when I had mine removed (decades ago now) I had had loads of very painful attacks but because I was young and slim, all the doctors missed it. When I was finally diagnosed I couldn’t wait to get the bugger out! And, it’s been fine, not a single issue since and no more pain.

I had mine out, no more attacks, which is amazing.
Less D than before, but still the occasional bout!

Heartburn - but that was down to my food choices rather than removal of gallbladder

You'll feel so much better once it's removed. Had mine done 10 years' ago and my digestive system is so thankful. Please don't worry, it's going to be fine.

Thank you for the replies so far

I'm slim and healthy too which i think is another reason I was dismissed for so long. My diet is pretty good. I like occasional treats but rich fatty good (while tastes amazing!) has always given me bad ibs so I've avoided anyway, same with alcohol

I'm just so scared I'll be running to the toilet after every meal for the rest of my life.

I had mine removed last year and whilst I do get the odd bout of diarrhoea, usually after eating something very fatty , it's not every day or regular . It literally changed my life removing it . I didn't realise how much it was causing me fatigue and niggles until I had it gone . I couldn't go through another attack they were horrific . My surgeon said attacks become more frequent over time so always recommends to remove.

I used to suffer from debilitating IBS attacks. I eventually went into A&E with a stomach ache that had lasted 3 days, and had emergency gallbladder removal the next day. That was five years ago.

It's been glorious. Not a single IBS attack since, and recovery was extremely quick. Not really had to modify my diet or anything. Just sort of how I was before, but without it feeling like my guts are being twisted.

@Badleg89 you won’t be. I never ate a massively high fat diet anyway and it sounds like you don’t either? I wouldn’t risk a Keto diet but I eat completely normally for me and nothing affects me at all. Except fish and chips from the chip shop! I still eat it (maybe once a year) but only at home because that sometimes has me straight to the loo (Sorry, tmi!)

I was the typical 3 F's as my delightful consultant told me. Fat, Fair and Forty!! I used my husband's work private health cover so mine was diagnosed pretty quickly and whipped out a week later. Operation was easy and recovery was fine, I went to a funeral two days after, don't get me wrong it was sore and I had to be very careful but it was ok.

I had IBS D and it's actually been ok, the only things I can't have anymore are fizzy drinks (even diet ones) or too much cheese because randomly they give me pain in the place where my gallbladder was. Much better with it out though and I'm glad I did it.

Thank you for the replies and thank you for being kind with them.

@whenim63 I love fish and chips but they're definitely a trigger for my IBS, although weirdly not so bad now as they were in my teens/twenties. Ill be sad to miss out on chips at the beach. I also avoid takeaway pizza cos I know it's so bad for me (and everyone else really) but I've told my husband if I get booked in for the op I'll have to have a couple as I'll probably won't ever again post op!

Had mine out as an emergency - infection but no gallstones - about 5 years ago. I was kept in for 48 hours afterwards but that was to check for further infections - it was lockdown so not easy to go back and forth. I was back at work (WFH) in two weeks and it could have been sooner. Walking as soon as I left hospital, and covering reasonable distances (five or six miles) within a few weeks; I forget how long g it took to get fit but it wasn’t long. Driving after a month. No after-effects, no ongoing issues, I eat what I want, generally I have a fairly healthy diet but I’ve been fine after the occasional blow-out. No problems with alcohol, although I’m a light drinker. I was mid-60s at the time.

Very straightforward, usually a day case. I was in hospital a week, only because I presented as an emergency, also having pancreatitis and jaundice. Trust me, you don't want to let it get to that stage, as pancreatitis is really, really painful.
Once the gallbladder was out, I never looked back. It was 13 years ago, and I have eaten a normal diet (inc lots of cheese!) ever since.
If they want to take it out, go for it - the sooner, the better.

When I had my first chat with a consultant I was scared because of what I’d read about diarrhoea after gallbladder removal, so put off having the removal. Within 1 week of that appointment I’d had the worst gallbladder attack ever, and within 1 month I was in hospital with a bile duct blockage.

I was then bumped up the waiting list but before the op could happen I had another bile duct blockage so needed emergency surgery and an ERCP.

That was on the 20th Jan. Since then I have eaten all sorts of fatty foods. I wanted to trial if anything triggered diarrhoea from the safety of home. I’ve eaten pizza, McDonalds, cheesy pasta, curry, chocolate and cakes. I’ve been absolutely fine. I perhaps have slightly more wind than normal but to be fair I’ve been eating pretty badly. I needed to make up for the 8 weeks of eating barely anything and losing 2.5 stone 😄

Got mine out 6 years ago now. Surgery/recovery etc was absolutely fine. I too have IBS. Did start having more episodes of D maybe 4 years ago, but there was a lot of stress. Has been on and off since. Isn’t helped by fatty food but it’s not a crazy reaction or anything.

You seem confused, having your gallbladder out means you can eat pizza or chips sometimes without pain.
Not everyone get diarrhea when they eat high fat meals, I remember it happening a couple of times in the first months, but it soon settled.

I had mine removed at 26 (diagnosed at 23 - runs in the family, DSis had hers out at 30).
My sister's removal was highly successful apart from one bile duct malfunction about 5 years post surgery. Happened to be Christmas Eve and was not fun. However, she is really happy now.
Mine has been less successful. I have bile salt malabsorption which has resulted in colitis plus pernicious anaemia.
I am a rare case and I am sure you will have a much better outcome. I can eat cheese every now and then, for which my tastebuds are eternally grateful.

Thank you for the reply, I'm not confused, my IBS is already triggered by fatty foods so in general I avoid them apart from treat or day out at the beach. I've been this way for over 20yrs

I'm just worried that my already sensitive digestive system will be made worse by gallbladder removal as its highly publicised that a low fat diet is recommended following the op and a lot of people do suffer diarrhea when eating high fat meals.

I really appreciate everyone replies, thank you