Gall Stones

[saucymb]

Ever since I had my baby in March, I've been having what 4 doctor's called "anxiety attacks"...but after I had 8 of them in 4 weeks, and finally seeing a doctor who took me seriously, I have been diagnosed with gall stones. I'll be having my gall bladder out in a few days.

So who has had gall bladder problems? What did you do? How did you treat it? Manage the pain? Did you have surgery and how did it go?

 

[kaylajr]

I don't have any experience with Gall stones

but that you feel better soon

 

[lewdyan1]

Sending lots of for a quick recovery!

 

[Beetle]

I had my gallbladder taken out about 10 yrs ago. Once you start having the really bad attacks, you don't care what the solution, just get it out. I had to be postponed because I had a cold and by the time of surgery, even mashed potatoes would throw me in to an attack.

After the surgery, your liver takes over its function, but be forewarned, it's not an on/off switch and takes some time to start. Not going to be gross, but you'll want to introducing foods back to your body in the privacy of your home. To this day I still have trouble with red meat and basically avoid it now. I've talked to others though who have no problems whatsoever. I'm still thrilled that I had the surgery though. Those attacks would wake me up in the middle of the night and absolutely nothing would help until I got sick several hours later.

I understand the surgery is now outpatient. I had to stay in hospital a couple of days but was pretty much back to work in about 3 weeks. Again, that was 10 yrs ago.

Good luck with the surgery. If you don't have it, the attacks only get worse and more often. Once you get over the hump, you'll be thrilled with the outcome.

Hope this is of help

 

[Quinn222]

I had mine out with the "small" surgery (where they just mae the four little cuts and use a scope.) It hurt more than I expected but not terrible afterwards. I found it comfy to wear things without a waist for a couple of week (shifts etc.) because on cut was in my navel and on me that's at my waist. Once the few staples were out (a totallypainless procedure which I worried over for days ahead of time) I felt a lot better.
The first week or two at church after I didn't do the standing and kneeling bits. I felt pretty much totally back to normal in two weeks and not having those very painful attacks was such a relief.

 

[KAMommy]

I really feel for you. I went through almost exactly the same thing. After having my DD, my stomach starting hurting - a lot. I went to a gastro dr, who said he thought I had gall bladder problems. But after an ultrasound and no gall stones, he gave me some medicine and basically told me to go away. So that went on for THREE years, then I went to a new general doc who actually listened to me (big shock in some doctors). Long story short, he did some different tests, I had no gall stones, but my gall bladder was only functioning at about 5%. By the time of the surgery, I was living on bananas - the only thing that didn't make me sick. I had the scope surgery and it was a breeze. I had no real post-op pain, although I was a little stiff for a couple of days. All in all, best thing I ever did was get rid of the gall bladder.

Oh, and to prove it worked, before my two week check up with my surgeon, I at a chili cheese dog, just to prove I could. It was the first hot dog I had eaten in about 2 1/2 years...and it was GOOD.

 

[ddavis860]

I had mine out last month When I first woke up from the surgery, I had pain like a really bad attack. They gave me a shot of morphine, and I was good to go. I went home the night of the surgery, mostly because I didn't want to stay. They weren't going to do anything for me that I couldn't do for myself. I didn't have staples, just strips that fell off over time. I took 3 Vicadin (sp) over the next couple of days, and then I was on Motrin. I was sore and tired, but not pain. I went back to work at 2 1/2 weeks. The first night was tough, but I was fine after that.

I agree with everyone that says it was the best thing I ever did. I didn't know how bad I had been feeling till I had it out.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

There's a big thread on the community board about this.......sorry I don't know how to post the link---just do a search.
I had mine out about 2 months ago. I put it off for about a year and 1/2, mostly because I didn't think I could care for my 2 DS's (4 & 1 then) while recovering from surgery.
I was shocked they released me a few hours after surgery, I kept saying "you just took out an organ and your sending me home?!?!?" But really, the recovery was fine. Up and around within 2 days, taking care of the boys alone by 4 days. I don't mean to scare you, but post-surgery eating has been an adventure. There are times when Imodium AD has been my best friend.......my doctors say that with time my body will adjust to not having a gall bladder, I'm still waiting.
All in all, I'm glad I had it done, those attacks are the worst.

 

[Pooh&Piglet too]

It's probably too late since you posted this a few days ago, but you could always try a Gall Bladder flush.

My chiro said my GB wasn't functioning as well as it should. So he had me do a flush and now it is functioning better. I did pass some stones, too. He said it was extremely common in women who had given birth, had pregnancies, etc.

Wishing you luck with your surgery. From the OP, sounds like it could be a fairly easy procedure.

 

[saucymb]

Update:

I had my gall bladder removed yesterday! I had gone 2 and a half weeks without an attack, then Sunday night I FOOLISHLY ate a bit of ice cream, and had a horrible attack! So any doubts I had about the surgery were gone...

I went in Monday morning at 7am and was home by supper time. I've done surprisingly well, not very much pain at all and none of the "gas & cramping" that they warned me about. Here's hoping it stays away! And I am a HUGE wimp when it comes to pain, so I've taken my Vicoden promptly ever 4 hours!

Thanks for all the advice and good wishes and prayers. I'll be spoiled for the next two weeks, as my mother and my MIL will be here to help with Jonah as I can't lift anything over 5 pounds for a while. Here's hoping that I won't gain back too much of the 65 pounds I lost since I'll have two "personal chefs" here cooking my favorite dishes!

 

[lewdyan1]

Continued wishes for a quick recovery!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I hope the recovery continues to go well!!

 

[Mickster]

Hope you are feeling better! I totally know what you mean about not gaining any weight back! When I had mine out and I had my parents here helping out with the kids and cooking, I finally felt so much better that I tried eating everything! Good thing they weren't here for too long in that sense. I got a little to used to having someone carry my laundry and take out the trash though. It took me a few days to get back into the swing.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I know what you mean about the weight gain..........I've gained 5 pounds in the 2 months since I've had my gallbladder taken out. I started eating food I didn't allow myself to eat before----hello weight gain!!