Had your gallbladder out?

[Chelley00]

I had mine out in January and I never thought I'd be able to leave the house again with the bowel issues I have. However, my doctor, before trying the Welchol, Questran or anything else, told me to take 1/2 Caltrate D+ (binds the excessive bile) and a Benefiber caplet (adds "bulk" ) with each meal, and it has totally solved any issue I had. I can up it to one Caltrate if I need, but the half a pill works just fine. I can eat anything now

 

[Handbag Lady]

Well, I had mine out last year. It was a surprise Christmas present.


I don't vomit any longer for no reason. I am pain-free. I can eat all sorts of foods now. No more odd feelings in my digestive system. No more mystery pains that doctors couldn't explain. No more tiredness at the end of a day. No more lethargy at the beginning of the day. I can go on and on.

 

[JDX4]

I had mine out about 4 years ago. It's so nice to not have that excruciating pain anymore - an attack would feel like someone was squeezing and twisting my internal organs with a pair of pliers.

I felt great after about a week, and I can eat anything I want. No problems.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Most types of cheese run right through me. I always make sure there is a bathroom nearby after eating mozzarella sticks, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.
I haven't gained a single pound. It has been 10 years I believe.

 

[krcit]

Had mine out about 5 years ago. The surgery(lap) and recovery were a breeze. I do have to be careful of what I eat. Immodium is my friend but I will look into the Welchol

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Bile Salts and stay away from Iceberg lettuce (just trust me).

 

[llij]

I had mine out (lap surgery) 12 years ago and the recovery was not bad at all. The only issue was that I had to watch what I ate for about a year after surgery. I had trouble digesting fatty foods for awhile and it wasn't pretty! Thankfully, I no longer have a problem and am doing great today!

Good luck to you!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Had mine out 5 years ago. I had major bathroom issues after. Didn't matter if it was a mouthful of water, EVERYTHING went through me. What upset me was the doctor told me there would be no side effects. I called the office in a panic because of a certain side effect and they prescribed Questran (cholystramine). What a lifesaver. I still take it 5 years later. The original prescription was for 2 packets a day. I went from one extreme to the other. I've had to play around with the amount (which my doctor knows about and agrees with). Right now I take 1/2 packet a day and it keeps me regular.

 

[mickeysaver]

I had mine out almost 3 years ago. Recovery went well. The one thing that I don't tolerate well anymore is salad. Raw greens just don't like me anymore and I was fine with them until my gallbladder went bad. Fatty stuff never gave me a problem after the surgery. I miss salad.

 

[ols386]

Bile Salts and stay away from Iceberg lettuce (just trust me).

What are bile salts?

 

[Donnainnj]

I had 2 attacks, pretty far apart, one I felt in my back, one on my left side. I had an untrasound in Sept or October and they saw a stone. I waited to have my gallbladder taken our because I was going to be in a wedding in November, then I figured I would wait until after the holidays. Well my body thought differently. My third attack was two days after Christmas. Got pain meds went home and ended up in the hospital the next day with it infected, on antibiotics for a couple of days, then on New Years Eve, in for laprascopic surgery that turned into an open operation. The open operation is nothing like the lap. The worst pain I have ever felt, with a long recovery. Not sure if the wait is what caused it to be open, the doctor said it was adhesed to other parts of my body, but I believe it did have a bearing on it. You don't want to wait, and end up not being able to plan for your baby's care, or find the doctor you want, or possibly make things worse.
Donna

This is a very intereting post to me as about four years ago i was diagnosed with gallstones. I didn't do anything about it then as I wanted to get pregnant.
I found certain foods set of an attack and then i had no more pains for months. I later found out that I was 28wks pregnant ( i found out at the infertility clinic) so thank goodness i hadn't needed to take any pain killers.
I have enquired about the surgery again, as after my baby was born i had some horible pains but was told it was a 2 - 4 week recovery from a gallbladder removal. My DH is disabled and wouldn't be able to cope with the little one.

I have not had a flair up for ages now ( hoping i am not tempting fate here!), so will just see how I go. Maybe my gallstones have just upped and left!!

Claire

And to the OP: have no longterm problems that I have noticed.
Donna

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

Had mine taken out a year ago, had 3 ugly attacks, stabbing pain in my back and side, changed my diet after my second attack suffered for months trying to avoid surgery, tried to detox and I still got a 3rd attack. I got so ill and felt completely miserable and this is coming from a person who went thru labor without drugs . When to see my Dr and he sent it me in for a sonogram that showed my gallbladder full of stones, it looked as if I had swallowed a pearl necklace. Got it out within the next week. I cannot eat anything four cheese or broccoli without getting ill, but, everything else I can handle pretty well. Although, if I eat a lot of fried food I start to feel ill, so, I try to avoid it. Lost 29 pounds ater surgery, since, I modified my diet, but, I have gained about 5-7 pounds back. I felt deprived for so long that I am craving french fries, thus, the reason for those extra pounds!


Best decision ever!

 

[Tuffcookie]

It has been 1 1/2 yrs since I got mine out. For the first month afterwards, I watched what I ate. Now I eat what I want but if I eat something high in fat that will cause me problems.

TC

 

[vettechick99]

You can also take Welchol, it is a pill instead of a powder, it has given me my life back. I had mine out in 2007 and if it were not for Welchol I would never eat out.

Thanks for the tip! I will ask my doc about it. The powder is nasteeeeee!!