Anyone NOT had surgery for Gallstones?

[Labradorsmum]

Had an ultrasound recently and, as I expected, I have Gallstones. Have had three ‘episodes’ in three years- it was only the last one (a few weeks ago) which was painful enough to make me see the G.P and be referred for the scan. Already following a low(ish) fat diet (although thought I ate healthily anyway), peppermint tea and occasionally digestive enzymes before meals- may be thinking too far ahead here but it seems surgery is the only treatment option? Had any one successfully followed a ‘watch and wait’ option and avoided surgery?

I had about 3 years with only the odd attack and was content to just wait and see. Then it got worse quite quickly and I had it out which I don’t regret for a moment. I was told that once you have gallstones, it’s really just a matter of time.

I ended up with acute cholecystitis and when I say I thought I was dying, I am not exaggerating. I wish I had done something sooner

I have gallstones which were discovered about 15 years ago. I have had no symptoms until 5 years ago I had a few weird popping sensations and aching in the area so was referred to a gastroenterologist. He said to me it was better to not remove unless we had to because of the lifetime of digestive issues that can follow taking it out. He put me on a list and calls me once a year to check all is fine. If I get pain I can call him and get put on the surgery list. I have never had any issues since and my gallbladder is still there. Not everyone has issues - lots of people never even realise they have gallstones.

A friend of mine was recommended for surgery and drastically overhauled her diet, it’s really restricted and she has celery juice every morning among other things. She’s done this for I think 6or 7 years and has had the occasional flare up but doing really well and no surgery.

Almost 70 here. No gallstones ergo no surgery, but most of my contemporaries seem to have had their walk bladders removed.

I take Taurine capsules which keep the symptoms at bay. I think they keep the bile juice flowing or something. It’s much better to eat small but frequent meals as this keeps the gallbladder stimulated and stops the buildup of sludge.

Mine just got worse and worse until all I could eat was plain grilled fish and steamed veg. Great diet for weight loss but no life.

Also it's OK eating healthily now, but there may be a time in your life when you need a higher fat diet for health reasons and then you are stuck. Having watched someone too unwell for gallbladder surgery, absolutely nothing touched their pain, they couldn't eat and basically wasted away.

I had them diagnosed when I was investigated after a gastrointestinal bleed 20yrs ago. Blood tests suggested fatty liver, I didn’t have fatty liver but the sonographer spotted a gallbladder full of gallstones. The gastro bleed was due to campylobacter.
I’ve had the occasional flare up of symptoms but never had infection or problems for more than 24hrs. I’ve recently managed to shift a couple of stone and got rid of reflux which was due to excess weight.
They don’t always cause lifelong problems.

I’ve had them for at least a decade. Lost almost 30kg this year and low fat diet has lead to very little flare ups.

I only ever had one attack it was quite bad and I ended up in a and e, followed a strict low fat diet after that until my surgery. I had one giant gallstone.
It's a very simple keyhole day surgery, and gallstones don't get better or go away on their own so why wouldn't you have it? My doctor said they will only get worse over time and much better to have a planned keyhole surgery than an infected gallbladder and the complications that can bring.
I've had no ill effects since the surgery and was back at work in a fortnight

My consultant said it's not worth the risk of wait and see. If you have multiple stones the risk is that one will end up blocking you bike duct, then you are in trouble.

I had mine removed 20 years ago, no digestive issues at all.

As above I was told it is better to have it removed through planned surgery than emergency. I had a stone stuck in the duct though and had to have it pushed through and the duct widened by shaving some of it off. I was only mildly sedated during this and the pain was horrific as I could feel them scraping away at the duct, as well as all the wires moving around down my throat, so I burst all the blood vessels over my face and neck from wretching throughout the whole process while the anaesthetist held my head down on the pillow. If you can avoid that, I would! I had surgery later that same year

I know just what you mean - really thought I was a gonner

It is much, much better to have the surgery. If you just leave it, there’s strong risk of stones making their way to the bile duct and blocking it, or causing pancreatitis. Both those things are a) agony and b) dangerous.

Earlier this year I had a stone that escaped my gallbladder and made its way into the bile duct. I ended up with severe jaundice, a failing liver and a serious infection as a result. I was in hospital for three weeks and for most of that time I was in severe pain.

Just have the operation. It’s a keyhole procedure and you’ll likely be able to go home the same day. You’ll barely even have a scar and the recovery time is quick.

Husband had severe acute necrotising pancreatitis, resulting in multiple hospital stays include 2 weeks in Critical Care. Had his gallbladder removed after dealing with all the side effects of pancreatitis including a portal vein clot and an enormous pseudocyst. Post gallbladder removal he’s been well, no serious side effects. He would definitely recommend surgery. His surgery went smoothly, was up and about watching our son play football 24hrs later. Not gallbladder = no gallstones

I developed gallstones in pregnancy and decided to wait and see which turned out to be a really bad move.

I developed a blockage but (unknown to me) didn't tolerate the anti-inflammatories and ended up severely ill for 3 months - for a while they thought I had liver cancer as I turned bright orange and my outer skin peeled off.

In contrast having the surgery was very easy with the keyhole procedure - 44 very tiny calcified stones were removed that looked like the gravel from a fish tank

My mum - she was diagnosed but then broke her foot and needed surgery for that, then that caused a pulmonary embolism. During the pe scan they discovered breast cancer. Essentially they need to fix all that before they’ll consider the gall stones. Dm is eating carefully and it’s mostly controlled 18 months after being hospitalised for gall stones.

Ive had gallstones for 30 years. Varying pain and usually when I lost weight. I was told I should have surgery 13 years ago...had the pre op but thought it wasn't necessary as I could manage it with apple cider vinegar.

Last year, I started getting stomach issues and pain but not like gallbladder pain. Then I was rushed to a+e for acute pain. Spoke to the surgeon who said my gallbladder was effectively dead.

When he took it out, he said there was a lot of scar tissue due to recurring infection. Basically I could have had pancreatitis, liver failure, and other dangerous issues I wasnt told about.

So my advice is to get the stupid thing out before you get seriously ill. The waiting list ia long unless you want to wait for emergency when in utter agony?

I'm on a watch and wait by my own choice. I have problems with general anaesthetic and really bad side effects. They can remove the stone (s)by an endoscopy but my surgeon says that full removal is the only option. So..... obviously if it gets really bad I will have the surgery but until then....

I've had gallstones for around 20 years. I mentioned them to my new GP last month and he said it's probably best to leave them for now. I've had four episodes of biliary colic in the last three years and he said to see him if they get more regular. I would rather not have surgery if possible, but of course will do if it's necessary.

Have the surgery. It’s a pretty easy recovery if you have keyhole surgery. Had mine removed. I had a few horribly painful gallstone attacks. Scan showed many tiny gallstones. Surgeon said I had gall gravel, not gall stones. Hundreds and hundreds of tiny ones that could easily get into my bile duct. I had adhesions around my gallbladder.

No digestive issues from having it removed.

I wasn’t aware that gallbladder removal caused lifelong digestion issues. If anything, my digestion has improved since mine was taken out! It’s a very routine operation and recovery is super quick if done via keyhole surgery. I think I was in more pain after ingrown toenail removal! I’d get it out sooner rather than later, if I were you. It made me feel so much better.

I had mine removed about 13 years ago after several years of one or two attacks per year. I realised afterwards that stress and anxiety had played a big part in the attacks, and also kind of regretted the op as I instantly (I mean overnight) gained a two inch spare tyre around my previously trim waist. Oh and constipation and slight nausea after meals - but I can eat anything.

I now take digestive enzymes which keep me regular, and since going vegan a couple of years ago have had no more nausea. Still got the extra belly flab, but reading some of these horror stories makes me think I was right to decide to go for the op rather than risk ending up in an emergency situation.

I've only got 1 gallstones I know of but a gall bladder full of sludge. I can't eat fatty or rich food or I get indescribable pain that works around into my back and I can't even stand up. I've cut out all fatty and rich food and only had 1 flair up in last 3 years. I have lost over 3 stone during this period. No idea if my gallbladder is still full of sludge but assuming the stone is still there.

Gallstone disease is progressive and it won’t heal on its own. I held off and held off seeking treatment and ended up in a bad way. Pancreatitis and gall bladder so inflamed it almost perforated.
I ended up with a partial removal as the tissues were so necrosed. I had a surgical drain and stoma bag in place for almost three months afterwards due to a bile leak.
just awful. Worst experience ever and I wish I had had a planned non emergency keyhole procedure now