Can anyone help with gallbladder questions?

[Hopetobee]

I woke up around 3 am hurting in back, so here I am, worried that I'll have to have open surgery for gallbladder removal. Here's a quick rundown--

I'm 49 and fat, I've had stomach troubles all my life, been diagnosed with spastic stomach, spastic colon, and lately with spastic bladder(that's dropped)

In 2004 I had an appendectomy, then a DNC(sp?) a month later.
The next 7 months I had gained 18 lbs!, hey, I'm already big, this is ridiculous(sp),

Around this time I also couldn't sleep well because of back pain, so I went to orthopedic ? doc and had a MRI, no spinal problem, and no other answer from doc

So here we are in 2006, went to GP lately for LOTS of problems, the blood work showed high tricliserides, so GP puts me on Tricor, 3 days after taking it,I had some pain in center of chest, between breasts --this happened on Fri. and on Sat. (I stopped taking pill) Mon. I'm ok, Tues. had some pain, and Wed. was the duzzy, pain lasted about and hr.and a half-
OK, saw doc on Fri.-admitted to hosp-tests for heart and gallbladder-released on Mon.-Hida scan on Wed.-on Thurs. told on phone gallbladder must come out-surgery next Fri. (this is Sat.)

I've been really bloated since being released, but no more big chest pain, it's kinda light, but that could be because of the bloat

So sorry about length--Here's question---

I've been reading online that if you have scar tissue around belly button, then they have to do open surgery for gallbladder--that's a lot longer recovery time

I think I've had 3 surgerys around belly button ( one was to cut out scar tissue)!

Do any of you think I will have to have open surgery??

We have our first real Disney vacation coming Sept. 27--now it may not happen

TIA EveryOne

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Gosh you've been through a lot! Hope having your gallbladder out helps you, it helped me!

I had mine out in March of this year, and had had another abdominal surgery about 5 years before. I did have some scar tissue. My doctor said he'd just go around the scar tissue, and make his incisions to the side of them. He did and it worked out fine. My scar on my belly button is a little larger than most other peoples who's had the same surgery, but it's not bad. Good luck!

ALso, I'm sure your trip will be just fine. A month is plenty of recovery time for laproscopic gallbladder surgery. I was on a plane to Florida 3 weeks after mine was taken out--no problems.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I think they try to do lapriscopy(sp?) if at all possible. That is how I had mine out, and I was good to go in a couple of weeks. The incising in the bellybutton is very very small, so your surgeon can probably go around any scar tissue. Hope it works out for you!

 

[slo]

I've had my Gallbladder out, so I know the pain you are in.

I wish I had an answer to your question, but I don't - sorry!!

I wanted to wish you well, and let you know that I am sending lots of PD your way for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery

 

[escape]

I think they try to do lapriscopy(sp?) if at all possible. That is how I had mine out, and I was good to go in a couple of weeks. The incising in the bellybutton is very very small, so your surgeon can probably go around any scar tissue. Hope it works out for you!

I agree. Hope this is possible for you.

 

[Snowysmom]

My DS had an appendectomy and then 8 months later had his gall bladder out, both laparscopically. There was no problem with scar tissue. But, he was only 12 so youth may make it easier. They will try very hard to do it laparoscopically. They don't like to do the open method any more. You should feel so much better after your gall bladder is out. Good luck.

 

[Judge Smails]

You should be fine for your trip. Downtime from this procedure is less than a week.

 

[Nancy]

My Mom had emergency gallbladder surgery while she was on vacation in Disney. She got released from the hospital on Friday, we were pushing her around the parks in a wheelchair on Friday. She ven went on a few tame rides. We flew home on Sunday and she was able to go mback to work fairlly quick. She had a big incision because her gallbladder was ver enlarged, the little one wasn't big enough. I'm sure even if you have the open surgery, yiu'll be fine by the end of September.

 

[DebbieTN]

I had mine removed a couple of years ago. Believe me the recovery was a lot less painfull then I horrible pain I had before the surgery. Mine had gotten so bad that I was doubled over in pain and vomiting a lot. Don't put it off like I did. The pain is not worth it. Go ahead and have it done. Oh yeah, I was 50 and somewhat overweight and my recovery was only about a week. The most painful was the soreness the day or two after the surgery.

 

[Snoozan]

For people with gallbladder issues - whatever you do, DON'T ignore the problem! My DH's best friend from HS died a couple weeks ago(at age 48) because he choose to ignore the problem and his gallbladder ended up bursting. He died from internal hemorraging. What a horrible shock to his family & friends. He was the nicest guy you could ever meet and left a wife and 2 DD's.

 

[thinkerbell]

OK, not to hi-jack the OP's thread, but my husband and I are both going to have this same procedure done soon. It was really odd that we both had the horrendous pain less than a month apart. Anyway, for those who have had it done, do you think we could both have it done at the same time. We will be able to do for ourselves once we get home won't we? We are very healthy other wise--except for being a little overweight. We meet with the surgeon in about a week and a half.

OP--good luck with your surgery. Let us know how everything goes. Will you know before going to the hospital which surgery you will need?

 

[#1MMFan]

Usually, over here, when a surgeon consents you for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal) he/she would put " +/- proceed to open cholecystectomy" on the consent form precisely because you can't be 100% sure whether keyhole surgery will be possible until you start the procedure. I know because I've consented people for this before.

 

[MrsToad]

OK, not to hi-jack the OP's thread, but my husband and I are both going to have this same procedure done soon. It was really odd that we both had the horrendous pain less than a month apart. Anyway, for those who have had it done, do you think we could both have it done at the same time. We will be able to do for ourselves once we get home won't we? We are very healthy other wise--except for being a little overweight. We meet with the surgeon in about a week and a half.

OP--good luck with your surgery. Let us know how everything goes. Will you know before going to the hospital which surgery you will need?

We all recover from procedures differently, however, even with the laproscopic surgery, the outpaitent surgery center recommended that I have an adult at home with me that night, and ideally for 24 hours after the procedure, to help out and tend to any emergency. Will someone else be home with you for 24 hours? Though I was fine in a few days, I did need DH to help me rise from the bed and chairs during the first two days, as my tummy was very sore. See what the doctor says.

 

[Hopetobee]

Usually, over here, when a surgeon consents you for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal) he/she would put " +/- proceed to open cholecystectomy" on the consent form precisely because you can't be 100% sure whether keyhole surgery will be possible until you start the procedure. I know because I've consented people for this before.

Yeah, I figured they couldn't be sure till they looked inside you whether you would need open surgery.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Go to your doctor today (or call) and have them do an ultrasound on your upper GI. Kidneys and Gallbladder. I had mine out two weeks ago and it was laproscopic. I takes 10 days to 2 weeks to feel superb again. Not as bad as you would think.

Good luck.

 

[Hopetobee]

What really ticks me off is that the surgeon's office didn't tell me anything.

Lady on phone " This is Dr. Hoozit's office, he has looked over your scan report and the gallbladder needs to be removed. Is 11:00 on Tues. good for you for surgery?"

I had to schedule surgery when my DH would be in town.
I'm calling their office today and see if they'll tell me anything more.

Thanks for all your replys.

 

[Hopetobee]

Go to your doctor today (or call) and have them do an ultrasound on your upper GI. Kidneys and Gallbladder. I had mine out two weeks ago and it was laproscopic. I takes 10 days to 2 weeks to feel superb again. Not as bad as you would think.

Good luck.

Yep, had the ultrasound last weekend when I was in hospital, they didn't see anything.

 

[Hopetobee]

OK, not to hi-jack the OP's thread, but my husband and I are both going to have this same procedure done soon. It was really odd that we both had the horrendous pain less than a month apart. Anyway, for those who have had it done, do you think we could both have it done at the same time. We will be able to do for ourselves once we get home won't we? We are very healthy other wise--except for being a little overweight. We meet with the surgeon in about a week and a half.

OP--good luck with your surgery. Let us know how everything goes. Will you know before going to the hospital which surgery you will need?

Well, I haven't had it done, but people have told me that bending over is impossible for a few days. I wouldn't have surgery the same time as your husband if I were you, maybe a couple weeks apart?

 

[RitaZ.]

Usually, over here, when a surgeon consents you for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal) he/she would put " +/- proceed to open cholecystectomy" on the consent form precisely because you can't be 100% sure whether keyhole surgery will be possible until you start the procedure. I know because I've consented people for this before.

That's how it's done here, too. I had my gallbladder removed last Monday and I had to sign the consent form stating so. Fortunately, there were no problems.

OP, good luck to you. I'm feeling fine today, still gas in my stomach though. So, that makes it uncomfortable. Otherwise, no pain. All I took was one Advil when I got home, I don't like how narcotics make me feel. There was very little pain involved in this surgery, at least for me. I was told not to do any strenuous activities, especially no lifting. IMO, the surgery was a lot better than the one painful attack that I had; I'm not kidding.

 

[Hopetobee]

That's how it's done here, too. I had my gallbladder removed last Monday and I had to sign the consent form stating so. Fortunately, there were no problems.

OP, good luck to you. I'm feeling fine today, still gas in my stomach though. So, that makes it uncomfortable. Otherwise, no pain. All I took was one Advil when I got home, I don't like how narcotics make me feel. There was very little pain involved in this surgery, at least for me. I was told not to do any strenuous activities, especially no lifting. IMO, the surgery was a lot better than the one painful attack that I had; I'm not kidding.

RitaZ, I wish you the best during your recovery

I called the doctors office and talked to the nurse. She said the scan showed my gallbladder not working at all, they believe it's chronic cholecystitis. Anyone have this?