Back after emergency gallbladder surgery

[grinningghost]

Hi all,

Just wanted to pop in and say I've been absent due to sudden gallbladder surgery. Man, was I SICK!

Never had a problem before, and BAM, I was wishing for death. I'm recovering nicely and if you've had gallbladder troubles, I'd love to hear your stories - it was truly my own private hell.

 

[wuv tigger]

My dsil & dfriend both had gallbladder surgery. Both were able to have the "scope" surgery.

Take it easy and start planning that next WDW trip

judy

 

[L107ANGEL]

Wow, I hope you are feeling better!
Hugs to you.

 

[Serena]

No stories, just glad you're back and feeling better.

 

[piglet too]

Hope you are feeling 100% soon. My only advice is to watch what you eat. Ever since my surgery I can not eat real bacon with out .... problems. That has gotten better but only a piece or two at a time, no BLT's with real bacon for me. Basically anything that was high in fat, like bacon and 1000 Islnad dressing, affected me. So, just be careful of fatty foods.

 

[Rachie0507]

I'm glad to hear you are on your way to recovery!!

My mom had her gallbladder removed about 7 yrs. ago. She said the attacks she had prior to the surgery were worse than childbirth. She had the laproscopic (sp?) surgery and was feeling much better quickly after. I hope your recovery goes smoothly.

 

[canwegosoon]

Been there..had emergency GB surg after twin pregnancy(7years ago). I avoided Chinese food for 5 years...I had no problem with bacon, but I micro it on paper towels. I have felt fine since day 1. Wishing you the same.

 

[cabmom]

I had it done after baby #2. I still have issues with fatty foods, goes right thru me. I had a prescription for cholestyrimin(spell). It bulks you up basically. I thought I was having a heart attack the 2x I had gallbladder attacks and yes it was worse than giving birth!

Take it easy and recover well!

 

[Hillbeans]

Glad you're ok....!!

My father had his out about 20 years ago - said it was the most painful thing he's ever had done surgerywise.

My mother passed away from gallbladder cancer almost 2 years ago now - she was young, 66. She always had troubles with it, but she was not a candidate for an operation for it due to many issues and her own fear of surgery. She had years of pain from it, I remember she used to tell me how painful the stones were. Now I only wish I pushed her to find a specialist to get that thing out of her, but hindsight is 20/20.

Hope you're getting lots of R and R.

 

[OhMari]

Glad you are feeling better, but can we hear how it happend. The only reason I am asking, is because I have not been feeling quite right the last 2 weeks. I don't know if it is the heat-(I'm just not used to such high temperatures in Wisconsin), or what it is.

 

[SherryNC]

Wow, that's scary. Glad you're alright.

 

[TXTink]

It sounds like you went through the same thing I did about 10 years ago! I barley knew I had a gallbladder! Then one night I felt like I was having a heart attack, but the pain was on the wrong side.

My DH took me to the emergency room, even the IV they gave me for pain barley touched it, I honesty thought I was dying. I was admitted for 5 days with IV pain meds and antibiotics to get me well enough for surgery. Afterwards I was on a liquid diet for 3 or 4 days. The first "real" food I got to have was apricot nectar, it was heaven!

Then, when I was released and got to go home, I got the FLU! Oh my gosh! It was awful! I stayed on the couch downstairs for a week, I just couldn't get up the stairs to get to my bed! After I recovered from that it was back to just recovering from the surgery.

My liver hurt for quite some time, for some reason I really felt the burn. I'm not sure if that is normal or not.

But, on a happier note!! I'm all better now! I don't have to watch what I eat at all, no problems.

I hope you are feeling back to normal soon! Sorry to hear you had to go through it!

 

[Trish5768]

Hope your feeling back to normal real soon!

 

[mtblujeans]

I am glad to hear you are feeling better! I think people can underestimate gall bladder pain! Gall bladder problems is a good thing to be over with!!

My Dad had a terrible time with his gall bladder in the early 1980's. His body had tried to pass a stone and it got stuck and infected. Then, it began infecting the organs around it. They thought he was having heart problems because he was having "undetermined" chest pain. They had him set up for some kind of heart tests when they discovered the infection! Sheesh, they opened him up like a tin can to clean out all of the infection in abdomin!! He had surgery scars from front to back!

Then, in the mid-'80s, I began having stomach problems and heartburn and I happened to be living in the same town as my parents (luckily). My Mom sent me to my Dad's doctor, and I was diagnosed with gall bladder problems. I guess I was "borderline" and they said I could have surgery or wait until it got worse....why on earth would I do that!??

I think I must have been one of the last people in the State that actually had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Now, when I see a doctor, they are very interested in my gall bladder surgery scar because some of the younger ones have never seen one before! Neat to be a freak!!

 

[scoutsmom99]

I'm glad you are feeling better. I hope you have a speedy recovery

 

[ChristmasElf]

I had to have the old fashioned kind of gall bladder surgery as well, and have a lovely 7 inch so or scar for my efforts.
The only thing I have real trouble eating is chicken. For some reason, this really bothers me and I love chicken-just don't eat it when not at home

 

[minkydog]

My sister had a gallbladder attack which she ignored until the pain just got too bad. Turns out it was very infected and had set off a mean pancreatitis. She spent 6 days in the hospital as yellow as a gourd, delerious and in great pain. It was awful--we thought she might die!

 

[ThAnswr]

Hi all,

Just wanted to pop in and say I've been absent due to sudden gallbladder surgery. Man, was I SICK!

Never had a problem before, and BAM, I was wishing for death. I'm recovering nicely and if you've had gallbladder troubles, I'd love to hear your stories - it was truly my own private hell.

I had gall bladder surgery in 1998, but was lucky because it was the "scope" surgery.

I was in some pain for about 3 days and extra-strength aspiring worked the best. I was pretty much back to my normal activities within 2 weeks.

I have never had any problem, since then, eating anything including Mexican and Chinese food.

Best to you and hope you feel better.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I am so happy to hear that you are ok! I hadn't seen you around here lately and wondered if maybe you had taken a vacation.

I have a gallbladder story to tell you. I'll try to condense it:

I was 23, and one day eating a pretzel at a Yankees game I was struck with the worst stomach pains I ever felt. I ran to the bathroom, but still felt awful. Sweating, feeling like I was going to die, my DH reluctantly left the game with me.

Felt better the next day, and blew it off. A few weeks later, another attack. I went to the dr. and he ran all kinds of tests but said he found NOTHING. Basically told me that it was indigestion or that I was exaggerating the pain.
I believed the dr., and thought maybe I was just being a big baby. So, I avoided eating, which seemed to bring these attacks on. I drank water and maybe ate a few bites here and there.

We were in the process of buying a home and the real estate lady wanted to take us to lunch. I said that I don't eat. Laughing, she said that I didn't need to diet. We went off to the restaurant where I ordered a salad and didn't eat it. Now, my DH noticed and so did the agent who asked again and I said, no, I really just don't eat much. I went on to tell her what happened. Back at her office she gave me a business card for her surgeon, and told me the story of her gallbladder attacks which she thought sounded like mine.

I had another attack two days later, and I was in such severe pain that I was doubled over and wanted to die. I hadn't eaten anything in 2 days, so I couldn't understand the "indigestion". I called her surgeon and they had an opening for the next day. I went, and he admitted me to the hospital right from his office! Surgery the next morning, where they found a severe infection all around my gallbladder, pancreas, liver, etc. The dr. told my husband that I was in critical condition and if I hadn't been admitted within a few weeks I would have been dead.

Spent Thanksgiving in the hospital that year. Took 11 days for them to clear the infection because at first it would not respond to anything they tried.

Since then I have been fine, but at first I was still afraid to eat. Took me a few months to eat like a normal person again.

I often think that it was fate for us to buy that house and for me to meet that real estate lady. If it weren't for her, I would have died, thinking it was indigestion or "all in my head".


Take care of yourself. Feel better soon.

 

[rascalmom]

Glad you're okay now - hope your recovery is smooth!