Positive Gall Bladder Removal Stories

[Keggles36]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has any positive stories of having their gall bladder out? Ask I can find online is people complaining of constant diarrhoea for years after the surgery.

I am aware this can be a side effect - but it must go well sometimes?

I'm 37 and mum to a beautiful 6 month old. I started having attacks 4 months ago, have ended up in a and e a couple of times and had gall stones diagnosed last week and offered to have gall bladder out in next couple of months. I did labour with no analgesia, but just can't cope with the gall stone pain and can't breast feed or parent when it happens, but don't want to have diarrhoea so bad I also can't parent.

Just any positive stories would be amazing.

My mum - had it out - no issues and can eat cheese again!

I had gallstones - terrible pain and attacks; had to follow a low fat diet; had them taken out and never looked back. It was a bit sore for a couple of weeks after it was done, but honestly, OP, nothing to worry about.

I had mine out 10 years ago and have noticed no negative issues whatsoever. I didn’t have gallstones; mine had to be removed for other reasons.

I can eat cheese and ice cream, and drink alcohol without any problems (I don’t eat meat so the recommendation not to eat fatty pork and spicy meat doesn’t apply to me).

Online you’re always going to get the horror stories for medicinal stuff, as for the majority ameveryone who’s fine just goes on and leads their life, no advice needed, I had mine our a couple of months ago, wonderful, no more pain and zero stomach/bowel issues.

Same here. No problem at all.

I had mine out 17 years ago, I have not adjusted my eating habits, and have had no problems at all.

Oh just to add - although it’s keyhole surgery you do need to take the time to recover. The usual advice about not lifting anything heavier than a kettle (so no six month old baby!) and taking it easy for up to two weeks - make sure you’re being looked after following the op :)

Thanks so much everyone this is all incredibly reassuring! @SoScarletItWas I'm also vegetarian, and don't really eat much dairy so this is the same for me!

I'm just tired of living in constant anxiety of an attack... I cut fat out but it tanked my milk supply so now I'm kind of doing some sort of balancing act.

Only side effect I've had is weight gain....
But that's b3cuase I'm not in crippling agony for hours each day.
Best thing I ever did. Had zero after effects.

I had mine out 2 years ago (not keyhole) and have been fine ever since. Wasn’t even told to avoid certain foods and just eat & drink as normal (and have done since the day I got out hospital - well alcohol only after I stopped the painkillers). Also didn’t do any kind of diet beforehand as I got diagnosed on the Monday and had it out on the Wednesday

I had mine out 25 years ago and never looked back. No more crippling attacks of pain, no problem diarrhoea, and I eat everything I want. Don't worry OP!

@Tallyho15 gosh that's a quick turn around! I had to really fight to get an abdominal ultrasound the doctor was adamant it was an ovarian cyst, when there was nothing on the pelvic scan the sonographer took pity on me and had a look at by gallbladder - full of stones, completely collapsed and conpacted apparently 😓

A close relative had theirs out about 20 years ago. They were slightly tender for a week but had no other side effects and can eat normally now. They don’t have to avoid any foods.

You can get bile acid malabsorption because of having no gall bladder.

My Dad had his removed when I was a child - remember visiting him in hospital

He’s in his 80s now, 40 years on and in very good health, no diarrhoea issues at all

The only negative was his scar was a bit prominent, but it was an emergency surgery and they are much better about that now!

@justtaketheeffingpicture yes, I'm trying to gage how likely this is. Seems a small percentage.

@jackstini I'll take a lumpy scar!

Had mine out 14 years ago. Only stayed in hospital one night after surgery as I also had pancreatitis and jaundice, so it had been an emergency admission. Otherwise, it would have been day case.
It was all incredibly straightforward - best sleep of my life, then swift recovery post op. Do take the painkillers they offer - the whole point is to take them regularly, not wait until you feel pain. They'll also give you a few steri strips, just in case a stitch pops (not a big deal if it does).
I was told not to drive for 2 weeks, but I think advice has changed since then.
I was able to drink alcohol from about 6 weeks post op. I have also eaten whatever I wanted (inc cheese!) ever since. No gastro issues, no problems. Honestly, by 2 weeks in you've forgotten all about it and no need to think of it again. So easy!

I had mine out 5 weeks ago after all the crap and stones inside it made it infected and me ill. The op was ok, keyhole etc but it turned out to be a bit more complex as mine was stuck to other organs etc but nonetheless 5 weeks on I’m back to normal. I have eaten low fat diet but last couple of nights have been out so haven’t been so rigid.

id say give yourself longer than you think to recover as even keyhole, its major surgery. Be sensible afterwards as your body learns to compensate but if im anything to go by, it will all be fine and I definitely am pleased it’s out. PM me if you have any specific questions as those Facebook groups are terrifying

My husband got his out a month ago. Key hole surgery, which caused some pain at the scars etc and he struggled to move from standing to sitting to laying positions for the first couple of weeks. No gastro issues yet. As a side note I would say take their estimate of operating within a couple of months with a massive pinch of salt.

I had mine out exactly 4y ago. I knew I had granular stones in 2015 but as was inevitable, they grew and stuck together and as a medic said, they don't ever get better, just bigger... so get rid sooner rather than later as it minimises complications of possible obstructions etc.

I was in and out the same day. Worst bit was the shoulder pain from the gas they use to blow you up (!) but holding your arms above your head helps massively.

I expected some side effects but as far as my digestive system went, I got none at all. Least not until I took some co-codamol for one of my horrendous migraines a few weeks later and got something that felt 100% like biliary colic pain.

Turns out I have a rare codeine-induced side effect called Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, or SOD. And it is a sod too. I've now had more episodes of this than I ever did proper colic and it's just as painful for the couple of hours it takes to go. If I'm able to, I will drink a lot and eat chocolate so my bile gets moving through the sphincter before I take the pills and so have reduced the incidence from 100% to about 50%. But as I said, that's particularly rare and typical I'd get it since I can't take other migraine meds...

Had mine out for nearly 3 years now. Operation was fine. Recovery was fine. No issues since.

Had mine out after pancreatitis about 6 years ago. I have had the occasional stomach issue after eating something particularly rich but it’s fairly rare, isn’t a huge issue when it does happen and I’d take that any day of the week over gallstone pain! Definitely worth while.

@Heronatemygoldfish there was a woman with sphincter of odi on BBC Ambulance this week and it looked absolutely horrendous, you have my utmost sympathy. I hope you find some treatment that helps you.

I had mine out 8 years ago and have had no digestive problems since.
Dd had hers out last December and likewise has had no issues.

The only time I might have a problem is if I don't eat all day and then have dinner as I think the bile irritates my stomach as it is constanty going into the stomach as the gallbladder is not there to regulate it. It is best for me to eat regularly.