Oh Dis Doctors!! (Gall Bladder Related)

[RayaniFoxmur]

I'm kinda worried, and I'm going to be going to the doctor regardless tomorrow, so don't worry about that... but I do need some advice.

When I was in my second trimester, we did an ultrasound and found I had many gall bladder stones. The attacks I was having calmed down enough that I was hoping to wait until my winter break to get it taken out...

But I had a horrible horrible gall bladder attack last night. The attack got down to a dull ache, but the dull ache has been going on now for over 12 hours. I'm afraid of going to the emergency room because I really am scared to death of hospitals and being admitted (ESPECIALLY since my birthday's tomorrow YUCK!) but I do know that at the very least my surgeon wants to squeeze me in to have it taken out Monday. The girl at his office said that if I don't go to the ER tonight, I HAVE to come see them tomorrow. So at the very least I know I'll be doing that.

But now I don't know if I should go to the ER or not. The pain is pretty bad, but I'm not sure what they'll do. Can anyone who has had gall bladder problems give me some advice? I just was in the hospital for 4 days on the 30th with a c-section, and have missed 5 weeks of college. I'm not wanting to miss any more!!

Thanks :/

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Well, I'm no doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I do have experience with gallbladder attacks, and gallbladder surgery. I'm sure the right thing to do would be to go to the ER and have them do an ultrasound to make sure nothing is blocked (I'm sure there's a duct there that could be blocked with a stone). My last attack I struggled with the same thoughts as you---do I go to the ER or not. I decided not to, I never got a fever or discolored urine (from what I read those two things are signs of blocked ducts)........HOWEVER. I did call the next day and had my surgery scheduled for the next week. I can't tell from your post if you are still pregnant. My main concern with the surgery was taking the time away from my kids (5 & 2) to care for them, but honestly I was up and around within 2 days, fine to care for them alone by 4 days.

 

[canwegosoon]

3 months after I had my twins I had to have my GB out. They did it Lap...and I was out of the hospital in 1 day. I had a quick recovery. My gallstones were large.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Well, I'm no doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I do have experience with gallbladder attacks, and gallbladder surgery. I'm sure the right thing to do would be to go to the ER and have them do an ultrasound to make sure nothing is blocked (I'm sure there's a duct there that could be blocked with a stone). My last attack I struggled with the same thoughts as you---do I go to the ER or not. I decided not to, I never got a fever or discolored urine (from what I read those two things are signs of blocked ducts)........HOWEVER. I did call the next day and had my surgery scheduled for the next week. I can't tell from your post if you are still pregnant. My main concern with the surgery was taking the time away from my kids (5 & 2) to care for them, but honestly I was up and around within 2 days, fine to care for them alone by 4 days.

Well I ended up not going to the ER that night, but I did still go to the doctor today. I have surgery scheduled for Monday morning. All I can say is that I'm nervous as heck! I'm also pretty scared to eat right now as everything I eat causes an attack and comes back up. I'm not pregnant anymore, so that's definately not a danger (I would cringe at the thought of surgery while pregnant!) but I've never had surgery other than my c-section so part of me is freaking out. I have no clue how this is going to work!! Personally? I just want to be able to eat again Eating jello for like, 94 hours straight sucks!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Gallbladder issues while pregnant aren't all that uncommon. But they usually wait until the baby comes to do the surgery.

Although any surgery is a big deal if you are the one having it, gallbladder removal is very routine. So, don't worry too much, OK?

And kiss your fried and fatty foods goodbye! You're going to have to tell them, "It was good while it lasted, but this relationship isn't working for me anymore."

Come back and tell us you're fine when it's over!!!!

 

[kami2199]

Well I ended up not going to the ER that night, but I did still go to the doctor today. I have surgery scheduled for Monday morning. All I can say is that I'm nervous as heck! I'm also pretty scared to eat right now as everything I eat causes an attack and comes back up. I'm not pregnant anymore, so that's definately not a danger (I would cringe at the thought of surgery while pregnant!) but I've never had surgery other than my c-section so part of me is freaking out. I have no clue how this is going to work!! Personally? I just want to be able to eat again Eating jello for like, 94 hours straight sucks!

I actually had my gallbladder out while 7 months preggers! I was scared to death. I'm no expert in the medical field but they said they were doing lapro and I just couldn't imagine how that could be done around the baby! I mean, really, what if they zapped her brain or something???? They ended up trying lapro and then went the other route - 6 HOURS later I was coming out of the OR with labor pains and contractions! Luckily they got it stopped. I had lost so much weight from being so sick for the months leading up to this that at 7 months I did not show. Well, once I started eating and showing, boy did my scar ever grow! It is hiddeous.


Good luck with surgery, I'm glad you could wait until after delivery. I'm sure you'll bounce back in no time!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Good Luck with surgery!!! You will be so happy you did it.

I had the dull ache ALL THE TIME...it never went away until I got that sucker out.

 

[bengalbelle]

Well I ended up not going to the ER that night, but I did still go to the doctor today. I have surgery scheduled for Monday morning. All I can say is that I'm nervous as heck! I'm also pretty scared to eat right now as everything I eat causes an attack and comes back up. I'm not pregnant anymore, so that's definately not a danger (I would cringe at the thought of surgery while pregnant!) but I've never had surgery other than my c-section so part of me is freaking out. I have no clue how this is going to work!! Personally? I just want to be able to eat again Eating jello for like, 94 hours straight sucks!

I had a baby August 22nd (via c-section), had my first attack about 3 weeks ago, and had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday. I'm in moderate pain, but nothing compared to the attacks. My surgery only took about 30-40 minutes. I have 4 small punctures, but only one of them hurts. It's the one where my gallbladder was. The pain medicine helps. My gallbladder was full of small stones, so it was a good thing I had the surgery quickly.

I lived on saltine crackers, plain baked potatoes and water until I could have the surgery. I've been eating a normal diet since, like grilled fish, vegetables, chicken sandwiches, etc. and have had no problems.

Good luck!

 

[emily1982]

well im not pregnant...well hope not...i had an attack on tuesday night, assuming it was womans problems, pain lasted a good 6 hours and the next morning i felt like i'd been hit by a bus, but went to work anyway. Had the most awful back ache and haven't been back to work since. Went to the doctors as i was concerned with the pain and she thinks it's gall stones, so now just waiting on a blood test then i've got to have a scan. I completley sympathise with you as i hate hospitals, but i'm not having that pain again if i can help it!

 

[dmslush]

Good luck with your surgery. I had my gallbladder out when I was in my early 20's. You will feel a lot better once all of that infection and mess is out of you!

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

I just wanted to let everyone know I'm home!

I went into surgery on Monday at 10:15, and was given something to put me to sleep. They apparently put a tube down my throat for general anestetic, and surgery started at 10:50. I was in until 1. I woke up in recovery very VERY sick, no saliva production and throwing up. They gave me about 3 different anti-nausea meds, then some morphine which finally knocked me out until 3. I then went into my private room. I stayed overnight, and was able to eat this morning!!

It's such a relief eating, but I have to admit, I wasn't expecting this kind of pain. My mom asked me if I had to do either the c-section or the gall bladder surgery again which would I choose. I chose the c-section. I bounced back so quickly from that! I'm feeling very groggy and ouchy right now. But I can eat!!! It was done lap, so I have 4 nice holes, no stitches (well, disovable ones) and bandaids all over my belly. I'm up and at em today, just sore.

Thanks for all the well wishes you guys, I really appreciate it!