Gallstones, has anyone had them before??

iffy_2007

Hiya,

Was having really bad pains for the past year, maybe only happening once a month, then stopped completely for 4 months, and started back at me this week, twice! Went to the doctors on numerous occasions, was told it was a kidney infection and then I was told by another doctor it was the way I was driving my car!!!!!

A year on, I had another attack and decided I was going straight to A&E, the pain is really severe, worse than labour! Have being told that I might have Gallstones, that I have to go and get a scan and scope, anyone I have being talking that has had it says that they have had their gallbladder removed... Does everyone have to have the gallbladder removed??

I now know myself what causes these attacks, I fry everything, chicken for curries, mince for spag bol..everything! I moved back home to mammies cooking and it stopped!! So because I can contain it would there be a better chance of not getting it removed?? Im scarred silly at the thought of getting a scope never mind my gallbladder removed!!

Any other stories/experiences would really be appreciated!

Thanks

LegacyUser

I had gallstones for 3 years and removing my gallbladder was the best thing that ever happened to me! The pain of the attacks was unbearable.

You don't have to have your gallbladder removed, you can just get the stones removed but there is a risk of getting gallstones again.

I had my gallbladder removed with keyhole surgery, only got 4 tiny scars on my stomach!
There are 2 ways of removing the gallbladder.
1. open surgery. they rarely ever do that anymore, only if the person is obese i would think.
2. is the keyhole surgery, this is the one they use normally. i was out of the hospital a few hours after i woke up from the surgery and back at work the next week.

iffy_2007

From having your gallbladder removed have there been any repercussions e.g weight gain, change of diet etc.?? It was 3 years before you where diagnosed, because you had them for quite a long period was that a reason why you got yours removed?

I suppose if it had to come to that I would have it removed but Im such a scardy cat when it comes to stuff like that, I nearly fainted getting my ears pierced!!

Knine

Hya

I had this op done by Keyhole surgery. I hear you on the pain front and Ive had children, with just gas and air.

Labour is mild compared to gallstones:eek:

Like you the fatty food would cause an attack. I had the op done, stayed in hospital a few days and had to take it easy for a while, no heavy lifting. I was so relieved to be free of that horrific pain

For a while after, fatty foods would run though me but that resolved itself in the year after

Ive some very small scars that I used bio oil on and you can hardly notice them.

BTW the scope test is not too bad, in fact I look forward to the sleep (rest) I get from the sedation:D

Best of luck with your op and until you have it stay away fromt the fatty foods, cheese,frys, crisps, chocolate etc.

QuiteInterestin

I know someone who had their gall bladder removed recently due to gall stones. Like the rest said, it was a keyhole procedure, in the night before, had the procedure the following day and was home again 2 days later. Had 4 small scars and back to themselves within a week or 2. The doctor who operated on her told her before the operation that of the 100+ others he had carried out, he only had to perform open surgery to remove them once.

As for side effects, some people put on weight, but I think thats due to them returning to their old ways i.e. eating fatty foods, once the gallstones have been removed. If you are diagnosed as having them, I'm sure the doctors will go through all the options with you as regards the best treatment option for you.

Pastel_Princess

Iffy,

I had my gallbladder removed in April and it was the best thing I have ever done. I had put up with the pains for years and like you, at first my Doctor brushed it off and I didn't get any diagnosis. Late last year the pain was so bad (went on for nearly 15 hours) I had to go to the emergency doctor who was a God send! She put the ball in motion and arranged for me to have an ultrasound which showed that I had gallstones. Then I went for the scope and a few weeks later I got my gallbladder removed, it was done in a day and i was home that evening, it's nothing to worry about these days. I took two weeks off work to recover and I did need that time. I've noticed no changes after it, I can manage to have the odd fatty meal and not end up in agony like I used to!

If you want to talk about it send me a PM cause I know how frightened I was about the whole thing, i couldn't find any proper stories of it online, most of them were horror stories!

mashling

Hi Iffy,

I had my gallbladder removed last September. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I ever made.

My story goes as follows. After four misdiagnoses by my local medicentre, I was referred to a specialist. He sent me for a scope and then an ultrasound. The scope part was a lot easier than I expected; the anesthetist was very professional and knocked me right out. The results of the scope were fine, but the ultrasound showed up my lovely gallstones. Five of them, which I now keep in a jar to gross out whomever I choose They look like green blackberrys.

After the ultrasound results I made the decision to have my gallbladder removed. I wasn't offered any other options, my specialist said that they hadn't removed just the gallstones in a long time and that chemical methods were not so effective.

So the surgery went fine, it was key-hole and I was in hospital for 2 nights. I have 3 little scars which are fading nicely, but my bellybutton looks different than it used to. I had 2 weeks off work to recover, and I can tell you, you will need them. But I'm sure after experiencing gallstones you know how to deal with a little pain

Here's the best bit - I lost weight, and now I can eat anything I like! I've never felt healthier, and I don't have to worry about being struck down by colic in the night. My God the pain was awful!

Here's a thread I started last year asking about other peoples experiences >>
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055673393

Best of luck whatever you choose and welcome to the club!

iffy_2007

Thanks everyone to all your replies, you all seem to have very positive experiences after having your gallbladder removed, im still a little apprehensive. I'm so relieved that the problem has being hit on the head as I was experiencing these pains and had no idea what was happening to me! I made the connection with my diet.

There seems to be a misconception about the type of people who get it, I read in another post that its to do with 3 F's.. Fair, Fat & Fourty!!
I'm 23 years of age, quite active and could do with losing half a stone, but I'm by no means fat or overweight, (I'm quite tall so I can carry the few extra pounds!! thank god!) Its my poor diet, I'm too fond of the take aways with the idea that I will just exercise the extra calories off, but god I was wrong! I was stupid not to think what this food is doing to my insides!

I am really nervous about the procedures that lay ahead of me but like someone above said it probably doesn't have a patch on the pain from the gallstones! What has upset me the most is though that I sat in the doctors surgery on numerous occasions with the same type of pain & was told on one occasion that it was the way I was driving my car!!! The doctor, who was not my regular doc, made me feel like a stupid little hypochondric! I didn't go back to my doctor but in the end had to go straight A&E, this was a year after I originally went to my doctor first. I knew myself that there was something wrong and should of acted on my instinct straight away...

Thanks again for all you replies, Im somewhat more at ease. I suppose I just have to wait and see what the doctor says when I go for my scan/scope!

poochierockz

Hiya

I had my gallbladder removed a few months ago and although I was super scared, I'm glad I did it because the pain was unbearable, i was in the ER many times before i was properly diagnosed.

However, there are a few things that has happened to me since the surgery and these are in no way meant to scare you, just my own experience. they're not bad, just annoying.

the first thing that im bummed about is the scars from my incision. i have 4 scars on my tummy, the main one being on my bellybutton. then i had an allergic reaction to the glue that they used to keep the incisions together which caused even more scars all over my tummy. I scar very easily so I have them all over my stomache now, may not be a problem for you.

secondly, i can no longer digest certain foods properly. when i eat certain things, i have to head straight for the jacks right after and this is really inconvenient when you're out and not near one! I'm still in the process of figuring out which foods causes this, but it seems to be half of all the foods that i eat unfortunately!

and lastly, i still sometimes get sharp pains in the main incision area. not too painful though, definitely would choose that over the previous pains!

hope this doesn't scare you at all, just wanted to share what i went through after my surgery! im still really glad i did it despite everything cause i would never ever want to feel those pains again!

Whisper87

Hi everyone,

I too am in this boat!

I'm have my op next Wednesday. Going in Tuesday, Op Wednesday and out Thursday. I haven't had the pain in a good while but still know its best to get my gallbladder out incase it starts back!

My question is: How long should i be out of work for? Just want to let the job know roughly how long i'll be out for.. Am looking forward to the well deserved/needed rest and am not in a hurry back but just to let them know.

Thanks, W

TheCityManager

Interesting thread...

I was diagnosed with gallstones last summer and was due to have gall bladder out last Oct, but I've put it off and off and off..

I only had one real bout of pain ever..last july (2009)
apparently I have 4 large gallstones..

I can eat anything these days..sometimes I get an uncomfortable feeling in m,y right side but thats all..

Perhaps I'll have the op some day :cool:

Whisper87

Mine was March/April last year... But in my left side! :rolleyes:

Although i know the gallbladder is on the right side, the doc said it's referral pain or something like that!

I defo have them though, had the scan and all and i could see the little buggers! Loads of little ones...

mashling

Hi Whisper87,

My doctor recommended 2 weeks for recovery, and I have to say I needed them. I was very sore for the 1st week and it was almost impossible to bend over or fend for myself, but the pain got better little by little. After the 2 weeks I was able to go back to work, but I wasn't 100%.

If I had to do it over again I would take more time off. Also, I would stock up on good books and put them within arms reach of my bed, because that bookcase at the other side of the room was far far away

Whisper87

Thanks for the reply Mashling

My doc recommended 2 weeks aswell, but unless i will be paid for the time i take off, i just can't take it. I know they say health is better than wealth and all that jazz but i really can't afford it!

Waiting to hear back if i will be paid or not, hoping i am...
Also hoping i won't be too sore afterwards, cause i like to potter about doing things, not one to lie around in bed all day even when i'm dying with the flu. Although i would love nothin more now than to be back in my bed! Hehe

dolphin city

yes the galstone pain is excruciating. I remember having it and the worst part was the pain that came out through your back - I would have to actually bang my back against a wall to relieve the pain.

I had my gallbladder out last year - it's a breeze. But yes you do have to watch what you eat. Basically your gallbladder is a cleansing system of your foods before it hits your liver - it passes through the gallbladder. Because you will have your gallbladder out, now your liver must work a little harder to cleanse out your system - the more fat you put into your liver the harder it will now have to work so you must eat healthy foods and try to avoid fatty foods. Think if your liver.

Whisper87

So it is true then, that you have to watch what you eat as you can pile on the weight?

I know a few peeps who had it done, and lost lots..

dolphin city

Whisper87 wrote: »

So it is true then, that you have to watch what you eat as you can pile on the weight?

I know a few peeps who had it done, and lost lots..

you need to be on a high fibre diet - and cut out all fatty foods. Think of this rule

if it grows - it's good
if it lives - it's bad

i.e. high fibre is the best way to go and puts less stress on your liver.

LegacyUser

I think gallstones are probably 20% diet, 70% genetic. My mother and aunt had gallstones later in life, i had mine at 33. And when I mean diet, I never ate fast food or fried food, but I ate a good bit of dairy, so maybe that did it for me, who knows.
I think removing gall bladder has no effect on weight - but obviously if you eat more, you'll put on more weight.

The trick after having bladder removed is to eat little & often. If you stuff yourself, you're going to have to make a mad dash. Sorry for this detail, but I go to No. 2s about 40% more than I used to. I find the worst problem is when travelling and eating out. You think it's all gone down fine, and 2 mins after walking down the road, I'm sprinting for the nearest loo. Not all the time though, but much much more than I ever did before.
But my advice is if you have gallstones, get rid of the bladder. Now gallstones can still form after the bladder has been removed, so if you get further pain go back for scans.

WhatWillBee

hi! i had my gall bladder out a couple months ago and all in all its definitely worth it.

Heres my downsides:

1. I PILED on the weight (a stone in 3weeks when i was eating healthier than i ever have and another half a stone over the nexst month even though i was going to the gym 5times a week). Only now is my metabolism getting used to having no gall bladder I think as Ive stopped gaining weight quicly for no obvious reasons. I really was hoping id be one of those who lost weight after their surgery hehe

2. I find I can drink as much as I like without feeling sick. Its not that I cant get drunk, its that being drunk doesnt make me feel sick anymore so I continue to drink until the point of blacking out. which never used to happen! I feel like a teenager again, trying to find my limits

These are both fixable things. Other than that, my recovery was great, was around walking slowly that same evening and back in work after a week. even with the downsides mentioned above Im still so happy I dont have those painful attacks anymore, that was pure hell. And no disadvantage will outweight that

Best of luck op

LegacyUser

I also have gallstones. Been having really severe attacks for two years. Waiting to have it removed but I'm actually leaning towards not, even though the surgeon says there's no other way.

The pain used to be completely unbearable. Last summer I had to take a week off work because I was in the horrors.

I've found a way to manage at though. About ever 10 days I feel an attack coming on and I pop a neurophen plus. Takes it away completely. The most I might have is an hour of discomfort. This is a long way from the excruciating pain I had before where I couldn't even breath or swallow it was so bad.

Looking at all the sideeffects that I'm reading here I'm tempted to cancel the surgery. I've always watched what I ate so that's why I think I don't have attacks too often, at least not serious ones, even though my gallbladder is filled with 'sludge.' I don't want to have the toilet troubles described here. If I can manage this with one painkiller every so often I think I might stick to that.

Also for the girls posting, the birth control pill can actually cause gallbladder disease. Every female in my extended family has had their gallbladder out though so it could be genetic as well. Having said that, the pill caused me all kinds of trouble - including losing my eyesight temporarily so I'm willing to bet it also caused my gallbladder problems.

Anyone have it out who doesn't have 'toilet' or weight issues? Putting on weight is a definite no no and I don't have time to go to the gym 5 times a week!

mashling

Not to be graphic but I can honestly say I have had no weight or "toilet" issues... I am healthier than I have ever been.

LegacyUser

As Mashling said, everyone is different. I didn't want to put people off by sharing my experience.

A gallstone can move and block certain organs/tubes. I got jaundice when a stone moved and I think it must have blocked the kidneys. Another stone blocked me from digesting food, and my body went into sweating & convulsions, it was incredibly painful. I went to A&E and they gave me morphine so that eased it.

Depending on how bad & frequent your pains are, you don't want gallstones hanging over you, what if you're away, or about to go away, & you get a bad attack ?

dolphin city

the toilet issues comes from eating dairy and fat - this is what makes you run to the loo all the time - I was like that for a while, but realised it wasn't happening when I was sticking to the rules of cutting down on dairy and fat. however once I had something with fat in it I was off running to the loo again.

if you stick to the hi fibre foods you will not have toilet issues.

also another thing - if you are suffering from gallstones - drink TONS of water and i mean tons - to flush out the stones - okay you will get a pain when the stone is working its way down, but once its gone you will feel so much better - but keep

Pastel_Princess

Reading back over this thread I seem to have been the only one that had their gallbladder out as a day procedure. I went in that morning at 8am and I was discharged that afternoon around 3pm.

Pastel_Princess

dolphin city wrote: »

also another thing - if you are suffering from gallstones - drink TONS of water and i mean tons - to flush out the stones - okay you will get a pain when the stone is working its way down, but once its gone you will feel so much better - but keep

I personally wouldn't do anything like that, when I was having my gallbladder pains I couldn't even drink the smallest amount of any liquid. Drinking too much water can be really harmful for you too.

WhatWillBee

dolphin city wrote: »

also another thing - if you are suffering from gallstones - drink TONS of water and i mean tons - to flush out the stones - okay you will get a pain when the stone is working its way down, but once its gone you will feel so much better - but keep

you must be mistaking gallstones and kidney stones?

Pastelprincess, I was also due to have my surgery as a day procedure. Its only recently theyve implemented that. I ended up having to stay for the night, and talking to the nurses she said taht happens to most people who are booked in as day cases so she thinks theyll do away with it. You were one of the lucky ones!

dolphin city

sorry not I'm not.

have you ever seen a gallstone - its like a little ball bearing. It get stuck in your gallstone - you need to drink TONS of water to flush it out. Doctors orders. Makes sense, and it works - you then pass the stone - its painful but once it's out it is such relief.

dolphin city

also leitechen (health food shop) is very good for gallstones.

Pastel_Princess

WhatWillBee wrote: »

Pastelprincess, I was also due to have my surgery as a day procedure. Its only recently theyve implemented that. I ended up having to stay for the night, and talking to the nurses she said taht happens to most people who are booked in as day cases so she thinks theyll do away with it. You were one of the lucky ones!

Oh phew, i was getting a bit paranoid as to why they seemed to rush me in and out even though the ward I was in was empty LOL

dolphin city

its keyhole surgery - not a big deal - three little slits and thats it - (one in your belly button where they pull the gallbladder out). Its less painful than a toothache.