Gallbladder Surgery

[nicoly3467]

Has anyone had their gallbladder removed since having MS? I’m waiting for my gallbladder surgery to be scheduled ASAP as my Gastro Doc said. I’m getting a Laproscopy done-less invasive. I saw him this past Thursday to find out results from my HIDA scan. My GB is functioning only at 2%, which is very poor (should be 90%) and it’s also inflamed. Two years ago when I had it tested it was 46% function and at that time-it was not urgent to have surgery, but it still was not functioning at optimal level. The last month I’ve had sweating spells during the day or night. About 5 times a day or more and usually after I eat. No gallstones, but just not squeezing out bile to digest fats and foods like it should. I asked my Neurologist, if this is caused by MS, but she said no. At least, I have the answer now to so many digestive problems I’ve had since last year. Hope the surgery is scheduled very soon and goes well. I hope there are no complications afterwards due to my MS. This seems to be a common surgery what I’ve heard of from family, friends and acquaintances, but I’m still nervous.

Thanks for listening, Nikki

[jimeka]

Hi Nikki, sorry for what you are going through. I get hot sweats after I eat, particularly after a hot meal, and I have always associated it with ms. Even a coffee does it. I hope and pray that you are scheduled soon and everything goes well, Blessings Jimeka 🙏 🤗

[nicoly3467 in reply to jimeka]

Thanks Jimeka!

[rjoneslaw]

I dont have that problem but wanted to say good luck

[Juleigh21]

Good luck to you! I hope you feel better real soon!!!

[bxrmom]

Good luck. Hope your surgery is scheduled soon so that you will feel better and get some relief. Keep us updated when you can.

Jessie

[nicoly3467 in reply to bxrmom]

Will do, thanks!

[KrittyKat60]

Hi Nikki, sorry to hear about your Gallbladder. I don’t know if this info will be helpful in addressing your concerns or not. I was diagnosed with MS approx 6 years prior to having my gallbladder removed.

Everyone is different and we never know how we are going to be affected until it happens. I do believe having MS affected my recovery time. Complicated to say the least. This is just my story and I thought I’d share some of what I went through.

I didn’t have any stones either, just sludge but I was told once they take the gallbladder it would solve the problem. I also had mine removed laparoscopically. I had been losing weight very rapidly leading up to what I refer to as “The gallbladder attack that sent me to the ER”. Hindsight, knowing what I know now and still having issues with digestion, I wouldn’t have had my gallbladder removed. Only advice I can add is follow your instincts. My biggest regret and mistake was that I knew I wasn’t ready to return to work and I was told I would be fine.....yet I did return during that timeframe I was given. Four months later I was back in the hospital with the same pain. I’ve had my bile duct stretched 3 times since then due to blockage in the bile duct from the “sludge”.

I wish I had taken a leave of absence until I was completely healed. But as I said, everyone is different and you may come through this very well. 🙏😇

It’ll be 6 years in May since I had my GB removed and I still have digestion issues. The Nutri Bullet basically saved my life the first year after my surgery. I continue to have trouble gaining weight and maintaining my weight. I’m very conscientious to eat healthy foods, it’s even harder when my body doesn’t absorb the nutrients from those foods. Best of luck to you!!! 🤞

[nicoly3467 in reply to KrittyKat60]

KrittyKat60-thanks for sharing your story. That is interesting and sorry to hear how you had to go back to hospital months after the GB surgery. I just got my GB removed last Friday and seems to be going well. This is Day 3 of recovery. It was so painful the first two days but pain has reduced and I have bloating issues after I eat.My stomach will feel like a helium balloon. My body has to adapt to new change without a GB and digest my foods. I am really careful what I eat right now and eat more bland foods not greasy or fatty foods, which I don’t eat much anyway. I don’t feel like doing much except lying down since the surgery . The recovery does make me extra tired, plus I already have daily fatigue. But overall, it’s been ok so far.

[KrittyKat60 in reply to nicoly3467]

That’s exactly how I felt after the surgery, no energy, lethargic and I couldn’t eat food like I used to. I already had the Nutri-Bullet and I had to make smoothies using veggies and fruits as well as adding protein powder just for nutritional purposes. Rest, rest, rest......that’s what I did for the entire first week after the surgery. I called the surgeon as soon as I realized I was not ready to return to work and asked to extend my recovery time, which she did but only for another week. Employers who are only concerned about the company do not understand that people with an illness like MS take longer to recover. Put yourself first and allow your body to heal until “you” feel you are fully recuperated and ready to return to everyday activities. As for diet, I still struggle with greasy foods and meat. I can eat fish and seafood in moderation but in general I stay away from most meat and greasy foods. That part is easy for me to do though because I’ve never been a big meat eater. I love the smell of bacon and other meat when it’s cooking, but if I do eat any it was always a very small portion. I load up on the sides that go with the meal instead. LOL 😂 I’ve been doing that since I was kid. For the past 6 years I make a lot of healthy soups and more recently I’ve been making vegan types of soup. To my surprise they have good flavor and healthier because I add plant based protein to get the protein we all need. My daughter has taught me a lot as far as cutting out animal based products. I discovered Nutritional Yeast (very high in protein) which is full of flavor as well. I buy mostly Non GMO protein powders and add to my smoothies and other foods. I’ve also incorporated a lot of lentils and beans that are high in protein into my daily regime. I cook my food by using fresh or frozen veggies, I even make my own broth from scratch for my soup rather then buying it prepackaged. Those are loaded with sodium which I avoid if possible. In general I don’t add a lot of salt to my food when I cook, once you get used to low or no salt foods you don’t miss it. Salt and my body do not get along.....and it’s basically in everything you buy from the store, yes including fresh veggies and fruits. Our bodies need some fats but I try to only add the type of fats that are good for you not the kind that are modified. I’m sure you’ll be feeling better in a few weeks. I hope this information helps you a little. We are all different though but I wanted to share what I could with you from my own experiences.

Best of luck hope you feel better soon. 🙏

[Lolagraknowla in reply to KrittyKat60]

I also had my GB removed after suffering horribly for weeks in pain. Hindsight? I also would not have had mine removed. There has got to be an alternative to removing it when it get blocked with stones or sludge. Honestly, I have gained weight and my bowels still don’t work right. We need to eat fat and digest fat, but now.... it’s not right. I first believed that my GB attack was the hug, but then it changed and became more of an only after I ate. I was so sick and continued to work 40 hrs a week throughout until the day it was removed. That only happened when my husband saw me drinking pepto straight from the bottle (in tears) and he flatly said, “That’s what my dad was doing right before he had the heart attack that killed him”. After a month of pain he called an ambulance. I’m stubborn. Lol. But when they said it was my gallbladder and they could stop the pain? I didn’t care how. Just agreed. They could have said they had to amputate both legs and take my firstborn and I would have agreed. I wish I knew. I was stupid and didn’t look deeper into the possible outcomes.

My recovery was good, mostly. MS sucks.

[KrittyKat60 in reply to Lolagraknowla]

Love your description of how you would have amputated your legs just to get rid if the pain. That made me laugh as I can completely relate. I too just wanted the pain gone. I suffered with those attacks for years as well. I have a high tolerance for pain but that pain became too often until it was constant and I could no longer handle it. My husband thought I was faking the pain even though I would be doubled over and unable to move for hours at a time. Stubborn is my middle name HAHA! That’s why it had to get so bad it sent me to the ER before it was diagnosed. Although it took me a long time to correlate the pain with the fact it would only appear after eating. I wish I had discovered I could have basically cleared the sludge by diet. Now I have to take a medication that thins the sludge so that it passes through my bile duct for the rest of my life. Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

[Peruzzot]

I had my gallbladder removed a little over a year ago about 2 years after the MS diagnosis. I had huge stones. My gallbladder was about twice the size it should have been. I had massive pain in my side every time I did sit ups or high impact exercise. But no issues with anything I ate. Atypical symptoms. Once I recovered from the surgery I was feeling a lot better.

I hope you feel better after the surgery.

[Amore55]

I know many people who have had it removed. They all felt SO much better with it out. Good luck, take good care to rest and be gentle to yourself, no relapses! Love, Kelly xx

[Fancy1959]

nicoly3467, it's Fancy. I had my gallbladder out before I realized I had MS so I really don't know how much Ms affected it. However I've had a reverse shoulder replacement and and Ankle surgery since I've had MS. I flew through the ankle surgery without any hitch even though I had a plate in a screws put in my right ankle. Reverse shoulder replacement with tougher and I do think the MS play the role and slowing down my recovery .

Just remember to take it very very easy and to Baby yourself and allow those around you to baby you to the max. Don't be surprised if the recovery takes a bit longer that's to be expected because MS compromises our immune system which helps us to heal you'll be fine. If you have questions we are only a text away the holler at us and we'll be here for support. Fancy.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

I will keep you in my thoughts for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!

[nicoly3467]

Thanks everyone for your concern, encouraging words and support. I had my gallbladder surgery last Friday and I’m now on Day 3 of recovery. The pain and bloating was extreme right after surgery on Friday so I stayed overnight on in the hospital. On Saturday am, it was painful to move around or even getting up from the bed, but then later in the afternoon, the pain calmed down a bit and I was discharged. I have to be careful now what I eat to prevent this bloating problem since my body needs time to adjust to change of not having a gallbladder anymore. Atleast I don’t feel like a helium balloon like I did all weekend so that’s a step in the right direction. I’m sticking to more bland foods, but I handled a toasted turkey sandwich today with no mayo just mustard and lettuce with no side effects-yay! No greasy or fatty foods, which I don’t eat often anyway. Overall, it’s been a pretty good experience so far and I can’t wait to see what’s to come after I’m healed.

Nikki

[kdali]

I hope all goes well for you! Yes, it’s very common and quick.