Has anyone ever decided against Gallbladder Surgery?

[KyraS]

Jill thank you so much! Thank you everyone for helping make me feel better. I do plan to talk to my doctor tomorrow if I can. Just because I have gone to him for years and it will make me feel much better hearing it from him.

One more question, was burping horribly another sign for anyone? I really don't know if the burping is to do with the gallbladder or not but it would be sheer joy to be rid of the burping.

 

[Geoff_M]

Hey, for as many horror stories we hear about people who waited, we hear others about people who had problems with surgery, right? I've been down this GB road myself as has my DH recently. You need to learn as much as you can and then make the best decision you can, not based on fear, but on practicality.

Agreed, but it's good to know about the flip side of the coin too.

KyraS, good luck. But unless he/she gives you a reason not to trust them, I think your doc would be in a lot better shape to evaluate you and your needs than any of us or the Internet. If you're still unsure, ask for a second opinion.

 

[KyraS]

Agreed, but it's good to know about the flip side of the coin too.

Exactly! And the surgeon who is doing this told me the date last Friday afternoon and then will be out of town all this week and I have the surgery Tuesday morning! So I have no chance to talk to him more about it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Agreed, but it's good to know about the flip side of the coin too.

Absolutely. I'm sorry about your friend.

 

[Ava31]

I'm another pro-surgery advocate.

I had my first attack when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my youngest daughter. Luckily, I didn't have another attack until 2 weeks after she was born. Three weeks postpartum, I was on the operating table.

My second attack was one that had me curled up in front of the toilet for 7 hours in so much pain that I had to throw up even when I didn't have anything left in my stomach. I've had 2 children completely natural without a drop of drugs in my system, but that attack was the most painful experience of my life thus far. You definitely don't want to hit that point and the only way to definitely avoid it is by removing the culprit.

I was terrified of being put under because I had never had surgery, an epidural, or even pain meds (besides your everyday analgesic) beforehand. All I could think about was my 4-year-old and 3-week-old daughters growing up without their mother. Honestly, the worst part of the surgery was when I was coming out of my haze in the recovery room and my oxygen alarm kept going off because I wasn't breathing deeply enough...that was kind of scary and because of it, I opted to stay over night. Other than that, they'll start pumping you with drugs and tell you to count as high as you can in your head and you'll never remember getting to number 10 (at least, that's how it was with me.)

Being armed with internet knowledge isn't a bad thing as long as you keep it in perspective. I did the same thing as you...searched for an alternative to surgery, even while I knew that that was the most surefire way to avoid the pain again. I was able to go in and talk to the surgeon intelligently and ask him all the right questions. He was genuinely impressed by how much information I had gathered. So, do your research and if you need to, take the "cleansing" potions, but I just know that I would never want to endure that pain again if I didn't have to, and now I don't. My body works perfectly well without the gallbladder and the 4 small scars that I have left over are just more proof to my husband that I'm tougher than he is.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

a few years ago, DW and I flew to WDW from the left coast, and booked into Oahna for a late meal. after the meal she had a bad stomach ache that lasted through the night. she got a little better, until a few days later we dined at V&A and same story. doctor came to hotel and said it was a possible gall bladder "attack"

when we got home, DW went to our HMO the next day and got checked out. her MD recommended removal, and they did an inhouse second opinion, that MD confirmed findings, and called the surgon, who we went to the surgical hosp for a consult, HE confirmed and offerred an outside MD for yet another opinion. DW said enough, yank that sucker out (not exactly her words) she is afarid of needles and such, but the pain of the attacks convinced her that it was the best thing!

The next day we showed up, she got prepped (with happy pills! WOOHOO) and an hour later in and out, one small 1 inch scar on tummy, that has since gone away.

Now she watches for fat content in our meals (which is also good for me!) and can pretty much eat anything she wants! we just got back from WDW and we ate at all the places we liked with no adverse effects!

All through the doctors consult process they told us both about the pro and con of having it removed. Bottom line (like other posters said) it will not get any better.

If you are nervous about going under the knife, talk to your doctor about it. There are also a lot of nurse practioners that can give you A LOT of info about the surgery.

It is funny, but durning the consults, one of the doctors mentioned getting information off the internet, only the problem is that people sometimes get the wrong info, or info that is squewed in some way. I guess he was trying to say to trust the Doctors!

Good luck! Hope you feel better.

 

[shellybaxter]

My gallblander attacks were the worst thing medically that I've ever been through in my life. I would have never considered not having the surgery and I HATE hospitals, doctors, needles, etc. My attacks never lasted just 20 minutes; more like 8 to 10 hours. One particularly bad night I had to go to the hospital twice for shots of demerol. While I despise shots I was happy to have these. My doctor didn't do a good job of explaining what caused the attacks. During the second demerol shot the nurse explained the how fat intake plays a huge part in the attacks. I went on a completely fat free diet until my surgery about 3 weeks later and then I didn't have any more attacks. While I was eating fat free it was not a healthy diet and I was happy to be able to eat regularly again after the surgery.

I have very few problems without my gallblader and its been out for almost 20 years now. I do have loose stool if I eat an excessive amount of fat, but nothing terrible. My personal expirience is that the surgery is good and I've had no problems.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I had mine out when my oldest (now 11) was 5 months old. I totally understand your aprehension, but I also say that this is necessary and you have to do it.

I had a miserable pregnancy that in hindsight was probably partially due to the gb problems. After was when the attacks started and after one bad night where I was up all night screaming in pain and thought I was dying I finally went to my Dr. He sent me for the Ultrasound immediately and called me later that day. I loved and trusted this dr and was in shock when he called to tell me that he had me scheduled with a surgeon then next day and it had to come out by the end of the week. But that love and trust was what made me go throught with it. I hate needles and surgery also--and I had had several outpatient procedures.

I was told the risk of waiting was that a stone could lodge in the pancreas and cause pancreatitis which is apparently REALLY bad. I asked my Dr. how bad that would be and he said "you don't even want to know".

I did put off the surgery a week because of my baby. I had no one nearby to help me out so I had to arrange for my mom to come out and help. I wasn't allowed to lift her (can't remember the exact weight restriction) for about 2 weeks after the surgery so my mom and mil each came for a week to help me.

Out patient surgery is the standard now. You come out of the anesthesia much faster than you would think and they will not let you leave the hospital until they are comfortable that you are okay to go. You/your DH will be given a list of things to look for that could be problems in the first 24 hours or so and told to go back to the ER if they happen. But complications are rare. They can happen, but you just need to follow the instructions and be aware of your body.

One thing no one told me was that I had terrible pain in my shoulder for a day or two. Apparently it is called referred pain and has to do with the fact that they blow air inside you during the surgery. That pain was worse than the incisions but the pain killers helped. I followed the low fat diet recommendations for several months after and am fine now. I definitely do NOT follow a low fat diet and usually have no problems. If I really overdo it then I will have some cramping and potty issues, but I have always had a sensitive stomach so I am not sure if that is really related to the gb or not. It probably is. It isn't so bad that I don't over indulge every once in a while!


And an interesting side note. DH and I actually had our gall bladders out 2 weeks apart. He had been having stomach problems for over a year, but his symptoms were not quite as distinct as mine. He had been through many GI tests and meds. When my GB problem was diagnosed right away he asked the dr why they hadn't done a US on him since some of his symptoms were similar. He went for the US and his gb was in such bad shape the tech wouldn't let him leave until the results had been sent to our dr. and the dr. cleared him to leave the hospital. He was supposed to actually travel out of the country the next week and the Dr wouldn't let him go. He had his gb out a few days later.

We both agree that it was totally necessary and don't regret doing it. You can elect not to have the surgery, but the problem will not go away and in fact will most likely continue to get worse.

I know surgery is scary. I have having a foot procedure that I have been putting off for a year now and I am terrified, and they aren't even putting me all the way out. But there are things that you just have to do.

 

[Christine]

All of you with gallbladder/stomach issues, besides the big attacks, can you describe what your stomach issues were? I hear them mentioned but never specifics.

I have had stomach issues for years, been to GI specialists, and have diagnosis, but no one has ever thought to check the gallbladder. It could be because my symptoms aren't "right" but anyone who has gallbladder issues just says they have "stomach trouble." What's that?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I had mine out 5 yrs ago.

My 16yodd had hers out this past August.

 

[Hannathy]

Even though the Surgeon who will be doing the surgery is out of town call his office and ask to speak with his nurse. Tell them you don't understand the surgery and what it entails and need to speak with someone. Either they will spend time with you going over all it involves or will have a surgical nurse that can answer all your questions. The last thing they want is for a patient to have a surgical procedure that doesn't understand what they are consenting to or having done. Or they may refer you to the surgical center or hospital that is doing it and they will have someone on staff that can fully explain it all.

While you are doing your internet reading, read up on laproscopic procedures. That may relieve your concerns. They really are simple and you will only have a couple small tiny incisions, not a big long incision that everyone imagines from surgery. If you put it off just a little too long there is always the chance that if it gets very bad they won't be able to do it by lap and then you would need a full surgery.

 

[claudia]

Wow I didn't mean that I was going solely on the internet just that I had been reading alot and that some of the things do make sense.

If this was MY doctor I wouldn't think twice. I trust him completely but this is a surgeon that I had never seen before last Friday. He was very curt, didn't give me any options and didn't do much to help ease my mind. Pretty much just said you have to have surgery and thats that. I don't know if they did a function test as I was never told anything other than I have to have surgery because of stones. I do know I had a CT Scan and an Ultrasound. I had some blood work but was never told what that meant.

I thought that here I would get some been there, done that type answers. It is laproscoptic surgery (if I spelled that right) and he said I wouldn't even spend the night in the hospital just come home that afternoon. That is scary to me too, do they not need to monitor people after surgery? This is all just so sudden to me. I also have a very young child and the thought of surgery is terrifying.

did your doctor recommend that you see this particular surgeon? It sounds like this is not the surgeon for you, you really should meet with someone else....maybe your doc can recommmend someone else....also, talk with friends and family, someone may have a great recommendation for you.
My mom, who is 75, just had the surgery done. It was done as outpatient, laproscopic, and she was home the same day. She did very well, no problems.

 

[amyjoi]

Kyra, did you ever get the surgery? I know this is 3+ years later, but really curious. I found this discussion board while doing my own googling on alternatives to the surgery. Wondering if you got the surgery, how it was, how your recovery was, and how life without it is? My situation is very similar to yours. Really glad you posted about this.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Yes, her gallbladder was removed....

My gallbladder pain was severe. Actually I was weird because it was mainly in my back. I did hurt some in my abdomen but not nearly as much as in my back. I had back labor pain with DS as well. I didn't have any kind of rash though.

I had a large stone as well and had the same 4 hole surgery except that my biggest hole was actually in my belly button. It was the easiest surgery ever and the pain is GONE! I do still have the urgency to use the bathroom but it was so worth it.

Good luck!

 

[vettechick99]

I know this thread is old but I wanted to say that Questran helps with anyone having post-surgery issues.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I was told about 15 years ago that I was loaded with stones but decided to wait until I HAD to get it out. I had pain a couple times a month if I ate fatty or spicey foods. Manageable pain.

Last January I had pain I couldn't manage so I got it out. No more pain of any kind (except the phantom gb pain, nothing bad but I can tell where they removed it when I'm leaning over) I have gained 15 pounds since the surgery, probably because I can eat anything now but I haven't really been binging so I think it has more to do with how the body breaks down fats now that there is no gb to do it.

I had 2 painful attacks this past month and my doctor sent me for a CT scan and an ultrasound which both showed that I had gallstones. Well I saw a surgeon who has me scheduled to take my gallbladder out next Tuesday. After doing a lot of reading online and reading the problems that can arise after surgery and also why we need our gallbladder I am wondering if maybe I should cancel surgery.

I have not had any more attacks since then. I guess the main point that I've read is that even though we can live without our gallbladder that it is needed and it is used. So I'm thinking postpone the surgery and start eating more low fat meals and just wait and see.

Does anyone have any experience with being recommended surgery but choosing to not have it?