Just got home from gallbladder surgery

Caerulea · 2025-05-21T16:18:07+00:00

Spoke to the surgeon after the op & he said - Sludge, gravel/small stones & some bigger stones. The bladder itself was small. Thin wall but lots of scarring especially around the duct which itself was large/stretched. He'll be in contact should anything come back on pathology but otherwise I'll not hear anything. Anyone got any idea what his description means? The ultrasound didn't mention it being small & the duct back then was normal. I was still off my tits when I spoke to him & struggling with dizziness so didn't ask.

Cynic17 · 21/05/2025 17:22

What he means is that everything is absolutely fine, but he felt a need to factually describe what he found in there. Plus he is just covering himself against a miniscule chance of something untoward cropping up.

Just take a few days to recover, and then you can forget all about it - I really haven't missed my gallbladder since it was removed 14 years ago!

madamy · 21/05/2025 18:52

I think that all sounds as expected. The ultrasound scans are not a precise indication of the GB - I describe them to my patients as a poor black and white TV!
The duct will most likely be stretched as the stones have been trying to escape etc.
I had mine a week ago, stayed in overnight as the anaesthetic made me very nauseous and I was out of it for hours afterwards 😂.

Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 19:22

madamy · 21/05/2025 18:52

I think that all sounds as expected. The ultrasound scans are not a precise indication of the GB - I describe them to my patients as a poor black and white TV!
The duct will most likely be stretched as the stones have been trying to escape etc.
I had mine a week ago, stayed in overnight as the anaesthetic made me very nauseous and I was out of it for hours afterwards 😂.

Thank you. Think I was expecting them to be all 'tsk, it looked wonderful! Don't even know why you're here!?' lol. Was somehow convinced I was being a fraud cos I've not had a full attack for a couple of months.

I was taken down to theatre at 10:30 this morning & was handed over to DH at 3pm! But I had no nausea or anything, just hideous anxiety from the anaesthetic & oramorph - didn't sleep on the ward as my moron-brain kept intervening cos I knew my O2 was low so (obviously) I'd die if I fell asleep 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Cynic17 also thank you. Tbf to him I asked what it looked like cos I want to know these things lol.

Had a little snooze when I got home & actually feel pretty good atm on just some ibuprofen

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Iloveeverycat · 21/05/2025 19:28

I took my gallstones home in a pot

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/05/2025 19:34

I was given my giant stone in a pot as a souvenir and told that I was lucky they’d decided to operate as an emergency because my gallbladder was full of pus and had started to rot, so they had to rinse everything out with disinfectant and insert a drain to cope with all the goo. I ended up having to stay in hospital for a couple of extra days.

It sounds like yours is as they expected and pending any surprising results from pathology no more action will be needed. I think they send everything off to get checked just in case. Hopefully it will all be fine and you’ll recover well. If you experience any gas pain in stomach or shoulder try peppermint team or medication for trapped wind, I actually found that more uncomfortable that the surgical wounds for the first couple of days.

PoorUncleBarry · 21/05/2025 19:42

Hold up, we can keep the stones? I'm seeing the surgeon next month and I demand my body parts! On a serious note, it sounds like you're overthinking what the doctor said tbh Op, all medical folk seem to be explaining things in great detail now (I had a trans Nadal endoscopy today and the doctor described everything in detail). I wish you a speedy recovery!

Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 19:42

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/05/2025 19:34

I was given my giant stone in a pot as a souvenir and told that I was lucky they’d decided to operate as an emergency because my gallbladder was full of pus and had started to rot, so they had to rinse everything out with disinfectant and insert a drain to cope with all the goo. I ended up having to stay in hospital for a couple of extra days.

It sounds like yours is as they expected and pending any surprising results from pathology no more action will be needed. I think they send everything off to get checked just in case. Hopefully it will all be fine and you’ll recover well. If you experience any gas pain in stomach or shoulder try peppermint team or medication for trapped wind, I actually found that more uncomfortable that the surgical wounds for the first couple of days.

Definitely bloated from the gas but no pain from it - it was the one thing I was actually dreading.

I did actually want the stones but didn't think to ask for them

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InfoSecInTheCity · 21/05/2025 19:46

@PoorUncleBarry Yep, here’s mine, when I was coming round from the anaesthetic I could hear someone saying “ hey wanna see the size of the stone I just took out of this gallbladder?” No wonder it bloody hurt.

Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 19:48

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/05/2025 19:46

@PoorUncleBarry Yep, here’s mine, when I was coming round from the anaesthetic I could hear someone saying “ hey wanna see the size of the stone I just took out of this gallbladder?” No wonder it bloody hurt.

Ahhh fuuuuck I wish I'd asked 😭 I want a pot of homemade stones!!

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Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 19:52

@PoorUncleBarry I actually really like in-depth explanations of what's going on & I've never understood ppl who don't ask for all the details. Probably driven by my health anxiety lol

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Lucelady · 21/05/2025 19:55

Let me know how long it takes to recover. I'm waiting on my mine being removed. Large stone. Two A and E admssions after taking wegovy for three weeks. I have had to wait after urgent gynecological surgery ment they wouldn't do both.

madamy · 21/05/2025 20:23

Lucelady · 21/05/2025 19:55

Let me know how long it takes to recover. I'm waiting on my mine being removed. Large stone. Two A and E admssions after taking wegovy for three weeks. I have had to wait after urgent gynecological surgery ment they wouldn't do both.

Mine was a big 29mm one, gutted that I didn't ask to keep it 😂! Surgery last Tuesday, had 4 incisions, all apart from the bigger belly button one have healed. That one is sore still, inside sore iykwim! Can't sleep comfortably on my sides which is really annoying. Couple of days of gas pain, tried to walk around the house lots and drank peppermint tea. Drove today, about 15 mins to my parents. Not lifting anything heavier than a kettle, easier said than done!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/05/2025 20:36

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/05/2025 19:46

@PoorUncleBarry Yep, here’s mine, when I was coming round from the anaesthetic I could hear someone saying “ hey wanna see the size of the stone I just took out of this gallbladder?” No wonder it bloody hurt.

That is quite amazing and impressive !

I told my surgical team I wanted to keep my stone , they told me I couldn't (Clinical Waste) but when I was in recovery , I had the plastic pot in my hand ( which I hid in my bag)

I told the surgeon "the last two things that emerged from my body I took home (DS and DD) so I;m keeping this" and they agreed.

WalterMittysPuppet · 21/05/2025 20:40

This was just the top piece of my stone! I wasn't allowed to keep it...but the surgeon said proudly that he'd had to break it up into chunks to get it (and my manky gallbladder) out of the incision hole!

I was weak and nauseous for 9 hours after my op, but that turned out to be fentanyl. Once that wore off I was fine...no gas pain or anything, just a bit achey. Took paracetamol for one day then didn't bother after that, I count myself very lucky.

Everything goes off to pathology OP, all totally normal. Hope you recover well, enjoy lounging about for a few days!

Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 20:50

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/05/2025 20:36

That is quite amazing and impressive !

I told my surgical team I wanted to keep my stone , they told me I couldn't (Clinical Waste) but when I was in recovery , I had the plastic pot in my hand ( which I hid in my bag)

I told the surgeon "the last two things that emerged from my body I took home (DS and DD) so I;m keeping this" and they agreed.

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Ooo no one can argue with that position!

I'm sad now, I'll never know if I made beautiful stones

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Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 20:52

madamy · 21/05/2025 20:23

Mine was a big 29mm one, gutted that I didn't ask to keep it 😂! Surgery last Tuesday, had 4 incisions, all apart from the bigger belly button one have healed. That one is sore still, inside sore iykwim! Can't sleep comfortably on my sides which is really annoying. Couple of days of gas pain, tried to walk around the house lots and drank peppermint tea. Drove today, about 15 mins to my parents. Not lifting anything heavier than a kettle, easier said than done!

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I just went to reflexively pick up my son's 5kg cat before I realised that was a bad plan. Also have a 25kg collie who's used to laying on me at every opportunity & doesn't understand why he can't right now

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Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 20:54

Lucelady · 21/05/2025 19:55

Let me know how long it takes to recover. I'm waiting on my mine being removed. Large stone. Two A and E admssions after taking wegovy for three weeks. I have had to wait after urgent gynecological surgery ment they wouldn't do both.

Ahh bugger - couldn't they just do it all at once? Knock you out & get everything sorted together? Save lots of NHS time

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elastamum · 21/05/2025 21:42

My gallbladder was so big and swollen they had to make a 4cm incision to get it out. Consultant said that even them it didn't come out without a fight!

doodleschnoodle · 21/05/2025 22:02

Ooh I’ve got to get mine out too. Had my MRI recently and they said a lot of small stones like yours OP, which apparently can be very nasty as they can travel into the tubes and get lodged. The ultrasound lady said when she sees a scan like mine she winces 😬

I’ve had two A&E trips for it but no attacks for about six weeks so I’m being lulled into a false sense of security. I am very careful with my diet but I just want the bugger out asap!

Original poster

Caerulea · 21/05/2025 22:49

doodleschnoodle · 21/05/2025 22:02

Ooh I’ve got to get mine out too. Had my MRI recently and they said a lot of small stones like yours OP, which apparently can be very nasty as they can travel into the tubes and get lodged. The ultrasound lady said when she sees a scan like mine she winces 😬

I’ve had two A&E trips for it but no attacks for about six weeks so I’m being lulled into a false sense of security. I am very careful with my diet but I just want the bugger out asap!

Yeah small stones are an issue, bigger stones only an issue if they try to get out or block the exit. As my GP put it, they find huge stones in ppl who just die of old age that have caused zero problems.

I've not had a full attack for about 4 months after 4 months of hell, lots of niggling & 'I'm still here!' reminders though lol

Are you on the list to get it removed?

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Laoa · 21/05/2025 23:03

I had mine out about a month ago now, full of small stones, I thought I was dying every time I had an attack 😅

saltandvinegarchipsticks · 21/05/2025 23:46

I had a ridiculous amount of small stones - hundreds - one of which had travelled down and blocked my bile duct causing pancreatitis. Thought I was dying, and after four full days of being ignored by doctors and paramedics while not being able to eat or drink even a sip and still being sick every 20 minutes, I wanted to. I was yellow by the time my dad took me off to A&E and made a fuss.

I do not miss my gallbladder at all. Still got the container of stones!