Gallbladder surgery

[Tracy12]

Hi everyone

I had gallbladder surgery 4 weeks ago today.

I had an awful time of attacks for over 1 year prior to the surgery. I lost over 5 stone of weight.

I was told after surgery that it was messy. That was my only feedback. My gp is trying to chase the discharge letter. It’s an absolute nightmare trying to get hold of the hospital.

Anyway I feel surgery went ok but I feel so weak. I thought by now I would have bounced back by now. Very impatient patient!!

I’m increasing my food intake and I’m also taking like an ensure drink to build myself up.

I’m still working from home because I just don’t feel anywhere near fit enough to go back.

Anyone else been through this surgery. What was your experience

Also the last couple of days I’ve started to feel sick. I’ve not had this at all before

[ZeldaGodoy]

I had gallbladder surgery in May 2018. I had a really good experience if you can call any surgery good. Within an hour I was up and about and within a few weeks I felt as good as new. The only problem I had was with the purple plasticky stuff they put on my cuts. Mine was a straight forward operation though.

I did have a few aches in my right side which I was told was normal swelling and bruising as expected but no major problems. I had pancreatitis and very small gallstones which they thought had blocked my pancreatic duct but they couldn't find any evidence of them, they treated my cholecystectomy (gall bladder op) as an emergency but I was too inflamed before to have it removed.

I have had pancreatic problems since but I think this is because the operation was not the solution to my problem, they still don't know what is and I have been very ill with pancreatitis. I have what you'd call idiopathic pancreatitis which has recently been re-diagnosed from acute to chronic.

Everybody heals at different rates but I think if you find after 3 months you are still struggling then ask for a referral back to gastro, unless it gets so bad where you may need an earlier one. I used to work with the community nurses and one of the HCAs told me her gall bladder was removed because it was necrotic, she even had pictures and it was quite gory. Her health took longer to regain and I know she still had problems eating certain foods for a few years afterwards. (I remember her saying it was worth the pain to be able to eat bacon). I guess if you embrace a new lifestyle things should improve.

Maybe you should ring gastro directly anyway regardless and ask for a copy of your medical notes, I believe you have a right to see them. We often had requests in the community and its simple enough for the Administrators to photocopy the information.

All the best. I hope you feel better soon.

[bantam12]

You may be having a problem with bile malabsorption, the extra bile going into your intestines can make you feel sick and cause diarrhoea, also some foods may now disagree with you.

I was very ill after my surgery and could barely eat anything for weeks, I lost over 10kg in weight. I now take a bile sequestrant which has sorted the problem.

This may not be your problem but just something to ponder on.