Gallstones confirmed but I don’t have typical symptoms. Should I have gallbladder removed?

[UnionGuy]

Diagnosed with gallstones but I don’t have typical symptoms. It started with sour & metallic taste, then heartburn worsened, and all the typical symptoms at night. It has progressed to left side pain, starting in stomach area and radiating at times to side, left side back, and burning sensation in lower abdomen under left of belly button. It also radiates to the right side but rare. I had pressure right above the gallbladder area a couple weeks ago but not much since. I’ve ate less than 10g a fat a day since and started 40mg of Omeoprazole (14 days ago). Heartburn has subsided but none of the other issues. I still have sour taste too. It all happens a couple hours after I eat. I get burning under both breast bones too sometimes. It’s all over the map and aggravating. Blood work normal and endoscopy came back with mild irritation and redness in stomach and area connecting to intestine. I’m afraid removing gallbladder is too aggressive at this stage, given my symptoms don’t align with the normal issues. Clearly have stones though via ultrasound. Thoughts?

[Barclay1560]

Hi, l had gallstones about 30 years ago , l had referred pain like you under my left breast .....going on for hours and hours after l ate almost anything , they looked for everything they could think of except gallstones as l didn’t fit the criteria ....fat...fourth ....fertile.....At the time l weighed 8 stone , had two children and was as fit as a butchers dog , going to the gym , working as a nurse eight hours a day and eating really well . For two years they treated me for everything ( l hadn’t been diagnosed then ) infections of the gut , heart burn , food intolerance...nothing worked .

I was seeing a consultant once a month it got so bad , this appointment he was on holiday and l saw another man thank god ..... l remember walking in and talking to him , he said l looked like death warmed up and l was very yellow , he took my pulse and asked if l was ok .......next thing l started being sick .... mouthfuls of blood and blacked out .

I came round some days later feeling weird hooked up to a number of machines , trying to sit up ...* uck * uck. Pain like ld never had before ...l started swearing like crazy and then blacked out again.

I was informed later when l was more sane ....l blacked out in the consultations office and had to have an emergency operation as my gall bladder burst spewing out 25 gallstones some a big as grapes .....l had a cut from my navel to under my bust lord knows how many stitches .....l was in hospital for some weeks .

I MAKE. ........Cholesterol , if l have a test it frightens them as it’s so high it can go up to 35-40 so l have to take cholesterol controlling drugs and aspirin ( with 26 other drugs )

In November 2020 l I became ill again and was 999 into hospital they thought ld a gallstone growing again ...... all l know is l nearly died this time l was so ill, l had an abscess on my liver which burst, blocking my bile ducts , causing kidney failure and full blown septicaemia, it was touch and go for three days in CCU then another two weeks before l could walk properly , home just in time for a very quite Christmas .

So get this sorted , gallstones are NOT a little thing ...get help , take the drugs and if the suggest an operation take it ...l still to this day remember the pain for hours and hours l felt and l feel for you .....but don’t let it get as bad as mine were .

All you have to remember if you have your gallbladder removed is to keep your fats low for always , keep your weight stable and eat healthily , l’ve been fit all my life until now (65 years old soon ) even with heart and other problems it was sheer bad luck l got an abscess from somewhere ...hope you get better soon xxxxxx Ami

[Hidden]

Hello UnionGuy,

I am sure our forum members will share their experiences and it is important to discuss the risk/benefit for you as an individual with your gastroenterology or liver specialist and a hepato biliary surgeon .

I have included our information on gallstones for added information .

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Trust9

[toma123]

You should discuss this with your doctor nobody on here knows if it would benefit you or not to have it removed. I had problems with my gallbladder for years and it caused a lot of damage so a doctor really needs to be keeping an eye on it.

[bantam12]

I had my gallbladder removed 5 months ago because of a large polyp, I was worried about after effects and although the first few months were difficult I can honestly say I have no problems at all now, I initially stuck to low fat foods and do have to take a bile acid binder but now I can eat what I want.

[UnionGuy in reply to bantam12]

Thank you.