Gall bladder removal: I’ve managed my... - British Heart Fou...

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Gall bladder removal

10 Replies

I’ve managed my gallbladder condition for over 5 years but want to have it removed with offending stones. Can anybody tell me about their experiences, pre and post removal. I’m in very low fat diet but experience gall bladder episodes one or twice a year, when I indulge but not in the sense of a normal indulgence, I know my limits. But I’m now fed up after having an episode at work. I had no idea when it would stop and how painful it was going to get, worst case scenario ending up in A&E.

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10 Replies

Thanks for your post. I definitely feel ready to make some positive decisions. I agree with the labour pain comparison, some episodes have been worse than labour, partly because the diaphragm stops working and breathing becomes virtually impossible.

Going to book app with GP tomorrow.

Plum53 profile image
Plum53 in reply to

Hi I had a few really painful episodes where I just couldn't sit down thought it was terrible indigestion . Was so tender afterwards my urine was fluorescent yellow . I had mine removed keyhole privately because had Bupa insurance . Stayed in hospital overnight was very painful afterwards but controlled with paracetamol and co-codamol . Week four and was completely

Plum53 profile image
Plum53 in reply to Plum53

Healed . No problems since.

Krazie profile image
Krazie

I had my gallbladder removed after being placed in hospital for pancreatitis, 8 years ago. I told the pancreatitis was a direct result of gallstones, and the entire gallbladder would need to be removed because of the size. The gallbladder surgery was done while still in hospital, after clearing up pancreatitis. I was told that there would not be after problems living without a gallbladder. There was minimal pain post-op, and had a quick recovery.

The gall bladder controls the processing of fats. I have had trouble with eating fats since my surgery. Mainly digestive upsets. I take a high quality vitamin mineral supplement.

For more information see:

verywellhealth.com/gallblad...

Best wished with your surgery

in reply to Krazie

I hope you feel better soon, I’ve read pancreatitis is a very serious and debilitating condition and yes can be caused by gallbladder disease complications. This is why I want surgery to avoid this happening. I’ve managed my condition for quite a while but don’t want to push my luck!

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Krazie profile image
Krazie in reply to

I didn't know I was having gallbladder problems, until the pancreatitis. No pain, nothing.

Thanks for your well wishes. :)

If you have your surgery before the issue gets as bad as mine, things should go even smoother you. And my surgery went very well, without problems. Post-op pain was kept under good control.

Here is sending you the best of outcomes.

SueBlu53 profile image
SueBlu53

Hi Minb1 I had my gallbladder removed almost 15 years ago now after a hideous bout of obstructive jaundice. Sadly my gallbladder was too enlarged to remove via keyhole so I had open surgery on the Monday evening and was let out on the Thursday morning. My stomach has never been the same since, I can't tolerate a lot of foods and have a dodgy tum a lot but better than the crippling pain of gallstones. All I would say is although they will hope to do it keyhole be prepared that they might have to convert to open once they get in there so to speak. Make sure you have back up plans in case you need to stay in and good luck xx

kel55 profile image
kel55 in reply to SueBlu53

Hi I had mine removed after severe pancreatitis, l had no stones etc but l have Microvascular Disease which was believed to be in or around my gallbladder which was inturn upseting my pancreas so it was taken out. l went in as a day case, the wait was more harrowing than the opp, after a couple of hours comming around l was up and alert but they kept me in over night on a drain because l had some low level infection in the cavity but thats probably my the Microvascular disease rather than the gallbladder removal. lve been ok since no problems with eating or pancreatitis (milkfairy)

in reply to SueBlu53

Thanks. I’m sorry you still experience discomfort and have tummy trouble. I’m having surgery to avoid any complications that could develop like pancreatitis or worse. I feel like I have a ticking time bomb in my body! And want it out now! I’ll still have a healthy low fat diet after and am prepared for a change ie bile flowing into intestines continuously, I’ll increase my fibre. There’s the upside and downside to this, I can just hope for the best x

I’m not looking forward to it!

I too had reasonable diet, 42 years of age, vegetarian for most of my life, not over weight, but it’s in my family, dad, aunts and grandparents all had gall stones and surgery but in those days surgery was very invasive and scar left was huge!!

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I might have to come off the forum, in another one I’m reading about other people’s experiences of having op and then tucking into pizza three days after...the idea of eating pizza straight after scares me more than the op!! 😬😷

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