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Original poster

Gallstone support

33 replies

SummatAnNowt · 27/05/2009 09:01

I was supposed to have my gallbladder out in April, but I hadn't had an attack for 4 months and to be honest I got scared, so I cancelled it. Big mistake I'm now getting more attacks than ever, they're not as easily predictable as they once were and the dihydrocodeine is no longer working.

I have a docs appointment for this afternoon to start the whole process again and hopefully get some new pain medication. But I feel so miserable and so stupid because it all would've been over by now if I hadn't backed out. And now I've got about 4 months of waiting and pain and worry again.

OP posts:

Original poster

SummatAnNowt · 27/05/2009 17:56

bah, at least someone could've been sarcastic to me or something! Anything!!!!

OP posts:

FatGirlThin · 27/05/2009 18:05

I've had mine out, it was a very quick and easy op and I recovered very quickly afterwards. Sorry you have to wait again but when you do get to have the op it's absolutely fine. I had nearly 40 stones!

FatGirlThin · 27/05/2009 19:22

Well I said something and then you buggered off so nuuuuuuur

Kayteee · 27/05/2009 19:32

I was supposed to have had mine out over 10 years ago but I chickened out

I have the odd attack from time to time but sounds like yours is giving you more aggro than mine does.

Don't feel stupid...this will probably be me one day, we all make mistakes.

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 19:37

I'm waiting to hear when i'm getting mine out.

Original poster

SummatAnNowt · 27/05/2009 20:09

FatGirlThin: But I hung around all day staring at this screen desperately clicking refresh the first time 40 stones is very impressive!! Do you get to keep them?? The doc said she would write to the hospital about it and hopefully I wouldn't have to wait the whole length of time again this time, but of course it all depends.

Kaytee: Wow, 10 years! I was hoping for something like that as the attacks went for a while.

Tamarto: Surgery waiting buddies!! I am a saddo!

OP posts:

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 20:12

If you are so am i

I got no reply to my thread

FatGirlThin · 27/05/2009 20:33

yy I have my stones, they are freaky! Glad you are impressed. It's weird how things so tiny made me so ill (pancreatitis...week in hospital, lots of lovely morphine , horribly contrite dh who thought I had tummy bug and was making a bit of a fuss )

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 20:41

FGT - Did you ask for them or did they offer?

Tortoise · 27/05/2009 20:45

I had mine out at the end of Jan. Op was over with quickly and i went home the next day. (Almost home that night but i had a dizzy spell!)
I too nearly cancelled because i wasn't haven't any attacks. Surgeon said i had lots of stones and was right to go ahead with op. I was told i wasn't allowed to keep them but could see them if i wanted. Unfortunatly didn't get a chance.

I hope you get another op date soon.

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 20:48

How long did it take you to get over the op? Were you in much pain? I forgot to ask those kind of questions when i saw the surgeon.

He said i was right to have it because as well as lots of stones the walls of my gallbladder are thickened so it probably isn't working right anyway.

flier · 27/05/2009 20:49

I've had mine out too, around 2.5 years ago when dd was just a few months old.

While you wait for your date, are you on a low fat diet?

spottydots · 27/05/2009 21:07

I had mine out 18 months ago, took 2 weeks to recover completely, it was great have had no problems since. Surgery fine, home next day.

Kayteee · 27/05/2009 21:07

I am terrible, I eat anything

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 21:10

I can't eat food with too much fat in, i've not had chocolate for months

Although that has been great for my weight.

I find i am more likely to have an attack just before my period, anyone else?

Tortoise · 27/05/2009 21:12

I was in quite a bit of pain for the first 2-3 days. Alot of that pain was from the abdomen being filled with air/gas during op. Also struggled to sleep properly for quite a few days because i couldn't sleep on my side. Had to lay on my back.

My DD1 and DD2 stayed a friends for 3 nights. And so did DS1 and DS2.(am a single mum)

So, i had care of 4 children 3 days after op! I did manage OK but in between making meals for them i stayed in bed (Futon sofa bed downstairs!).

spottydots · 27/05/2009 21:13

i can eat most things but find if eat fatty foods and have alcohol then get heartburn otherwise am fine, just means no ice cream and wine these days

Tortoise · 27/05/2009 21:15

I haven't had any problems with food so far. Which isn't good really because i have put on a least a stone.

EvenBetaDad · 27/05/2009 21:17

SummatAnNowt I had my gallbladder out last March after suffering badly for over a year. My Mum had hers out recently after struggling on for 3 years and a lot of pain. She cancelled her operation just like you and really did not want it but in the end she had to have it done.

Stay on an ultra low fat diet until you can have the operation is all I can advise.

FatGirlThin · 27/05/2009 21:18

I was pretty much back to normal after 7-10 days. I didn't have much pain after the op at all (I've had two caesarians so key-hole seemed very minor ). Basically I was a bit tired and bruised for a few days then just tired then back to normal! Oh and the surgeon came in to see me after the op with the jar of stones in his hand and gave them to me .

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 21:26

Tortoise did you have key hole?

LackaDAISYcal · 27/05/2009 21:32

I feel your pain . I had mine out earlier this year after several really bad attacks that were lasting up to five days at a time and were crippling. The op was fine; I was in overnight and up and showering the next morning. I had painkillers for a couple of days but didn't need them really. The worst thing for me was that I had an allergic reaction to the dressings and my skin blistered and was incredibly itchy. I then got an infection in one of the side wounds from all the scratching I did, but the op itself was fine. It's easy to underestimate how big an op it is though as the scars are so small.

Whilst I was waiting for my op, I found this website I tried the flaxseed tea and it was helping with the severity of the attacks. Someone else on here was trying one of the other remedies and felt it was working too. I also found one of those lavender wheat bags applied to my side and a combination of cocodamol, ibuprofen and buscopan (an antispasmodic for IBS relief that you can get OTC) helped when things were bad.

I hope that you get the operation quicker than the 18 week maximum wait. If things are worse than before maybe this will bump you up a bit.

Good Luck

EvenBetaDad · 27/05/2009 21:39

Hi there LackaDAISYcal .

Tortoise · 27/05/2009 21:42

Yes, i did have keyhole surgery.

Tamarto · 27/05/2009 21:45

How long after would you say you were able to drive (If you do) etc. Sorry for all the questions, I could've kicked myself when i realised i'd forgotten to ask anything of any importance.

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