OT.. Gallstones.. but I want to go to WDW?

[iluvwesties]

Hi All,

I have just been diagnosed with Gallstones

I had been feeling some discomfort on my right side recently and after an ultrasound the diagnosis was made

I was hoping to go to WDW before the end of April, but am not sure if I would be able to get health insurance now

Anyone know if this will stop me going?

I need a hug ....

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[cabmom]

Hey, I feel your pain. I had mine done in mid July of 1999, then travelled to Florida 2 wks later.
Any chance you can get it done before?

<<<<<<<<<<<<hugs>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[iluvwesties]

Hey, I feel your pain. I had mine done in mid July of 1999, then travelled to Florida 2 wks later.
Any chance you can get it done before?

<<<<<<<<<<<<hugs>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi cabmom Thanks for the hugs (I really needed them )

Not sure yet whether I would be able to get surgery asap. I have a consultation on Wednesday with the Dr

My kids and I have been looking at airfares for the last week and were considering travelling to WDW the week before easter, but I am concerned now, that I wouldn't be able to travel before any surgery because of the health insurance

My daughter is leaving mid May to go to her seasonal job that lasts until November and we were hoping to get a quickie trip in

I think that we may have to wait until November now

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[OntFamily]

I had my gallbladder removed six years ago. Like the other poster I went to WDW 2.5 weeks after my surgery. I had very few issues, with the exception of not being as my digestive system not being as tolerant to foods with higher fat content (i.e. french fries).

From my consultation with the surgeon, and my surgery was 4 weeks ( I could have gone sooner, but I wanted a Monday surgery and wasn't willing to be on a waiting list). My operation was at Women's College Hospital, in downtown Toronto.

I'd strongly advise not going before the surgery. You run the high risk of having a gallbladder attack, and your health insurance probably won't cover you. Plus, a gallbladder attack is not fun, especially at the World. -- on the plus side, chest pains make you a high priority case at the Emergency Room, so you won't have to wait to see a doctor......

 

[iluvwesties]

I had my gallbladder removed six years ago. Like the other poster I went to WDW 2.5 weeks after my surgery. I had very few issues, with the exception of not being as my digestive system not being as tolerant to foods with higher fat content (i.e. french fries).

From my consultation with the surgeon, and my surgery was 4 weeks ( I could have gone sooner, but I wanted a Monday surgery and wasn't willing to be on a waiting list). My operation was at Women's College Hospital, in downtown Toronto.

I'd strongly advise not going before the surgery. You run the high risk of having a gallbladder attack, and your health insurance probably won't cover you. Plus, a gallbladder attack is not fun, especially at the World. -- on the plus side, chest pains make you a high priority case at the Emergency Room, so you won't have to wait to see a doctor......

Thanks for the info and advice I am anxious to find out what the Dr says on Wednesday.

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[maryliz]

I was literally months between gall bladder attacks. I remember my last one being in April, consulted with surgeon early June and surgery that September. I had no attacks between April and Sept, but my doctor did give me a prescription for Percocet (sp?) to have on hand just in case I got an attack and the pain was unbearable. Never had to use it.

I agree that it would not be fun to have an attack at WDW, but everyone is different ... there's always a chance you could have one, but the odds are probably in your favour. and I never had any problems after the surgery with having to watch my fat intake or anything. If you decide to go to WDW before surgery, I would just be careful about what you eat that week. Ask your surgeon what he/she thinks, and see if you can get a prescription for some good pain meds to have on hand.

Good luck.

 

[thompson princesses]

I don't want to scare you but I waited to have the surgery because I was scared and it turned into pancreatitis. I had only 2 bouts with gallbladder attacks so I though I was good for a while. It was very serious. I was hospitalized for a week before they could even do the surgery. During that time they wouldn't allow me to eat or drink. Not fun! I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[BraMax]

I don't really know how it will affect health insurance but I was diagnosed with Gull stones when I was pregnant with my first son. I would go weeks sometimes months between attacks depending on what I ate. If I stayed away from higher fat foods like french fries and the likes I was okay. Also it took me 3 months from when I seen my specialist till I had my surgery. I guess it all depends on where you live. I live in Alberta but my surgery was done in a smaller town hospital because I was 3 hours from Edmonton.

 

[dangler]

I had my gallbladder out last April then went to Disney 2 weeks later! I was diagnosed 5 years before with heartburn, but actually I had been having gallbladder attacks for 5 years!
I had controlled my attacks by eatting lowfat, bland foods. I lived on Chicken noodle soup, saltines, arrowroots and potatoes. The doctor also prescribed me medication that stopped the spasms, I can't for the life of me think of the name of that right now, but when I do then I will PM the name.
Hopefully they will be able to get you to surgery before you go! My only concern was that the surgeon told me that there is 2 ways to do it. Laprascopically which is a short recovery time (10 days I felt great) and the old fashioned way which was a 6-8 week recovery time. He said he wouldn't know which way was safe until he was in there. I was lucky and had a speedy recovery!
Good luck to you and please post what happens!

 

[not-too-old4fun]

I had a gallbladder attack 2 weeks after giving birth to my first son. I honestly thought I was dying. I said my goodbyes to my husband and told him to take care of our son. It's funny today but that's basically how painful a gallbladder attack is. I've never had a heart attack but it sure felt like one.

If there is a remote possibility that you will have an attack. Don't go.

They gave me Demerol to live on for 2 months prior to having my surgery. It helped somewhat but like everyone says, it all depended on what I ate.

Today, I still suffer from side effect of having my gall bladder removed. My digestive system is not what it used to be. Personally I don't know what to eat anymore. An apple can ruin me for the day. It's not fun.

I'm scheduled to see a specialist soon. It's been ongoing for 12 years now.

*sigh* Gallbladder issues are no fun.

I wish you all the best and if there is any way this can be treated without having surgery to remove it, please consider doing that because you could possibly end up like me who still hasn't recovered from the surgery. I envy those that have had theirs removed and been able to live like they used to. I now have to take medication 4 times a day. I have to drink this awful powdered drink twice a day and take a pill twice a day.

Not sure about the health insurance coverage. My guess is that if you make them aware you have gall bladder issues, they won't cover you because you then become a high risk. Then again, how do you not tell them?

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Rachael Q]

I had several gallstone attacks throughout 2005 without knowing that's what they were. And several more after diagnosis. Mine were excruciating - vomiting, fever, back pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, couldn't sleep. Had to make a few trips to the ER for morphine.

But I did go to Australia for 4 weeks in Dec 2005/Jan 2006. And spent 10 days in Disneyworld in April 2006.

Finally had my gallbladder removed in July 2006.

My travel insurance has an option for pre-existing health conditions. Had to have a form completed by my doctor/surgeon, and the premium was slightly higher. (not extravagant).

I was prescribed Tylenol 3 for pain, and buscopan for the cramping (both were as needed, not daily for months on end). To reduce the chance of attacks I avoided egg yolks, chicken skin, and high fat foods.

Talk to your surgeon and insurance company first. Also when you have an attack do you need to go to hospital for pain management? If you had an attack while in Florida and had to go to ER what about your kids?

It might be better to wait until after. My recovery was a tad longer than normal - 5 weeks for laproscopic day surgery. The muscle they cut through wouldn't heal.

 

[iluvwesties]

Thank you everyone for the replies

I am waiting for the Dr's appointment on Wednesday to find out how bad it is

I appreciate everyone's comments, it does seem that some people fly through the problem and others don't

If only I knew how it would be for me

I will keep you all posted re the outcome

For now I have put the WDW trip on hold until I know what is going to be my next step. I wouldn't worry about my "kids" if I was in WDW and an attack happened as my DD is 26 and DS is 16 - they would be fine

But I am still considering November (when I hope this will all be behind me)

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[Rachael Q]

Carol,

I hope everything goes well for you. Wishing you all the best.

 

[OntFamily]

I appreciate everyone's comments, it does seem that some people fly through the problem and others don't
:

You're correct that everyone reacts to the surgery differently. It took me about 3 days to get over the anesthetic -- my sister was up and around a few hurs after surgery.

 

[iluvwesties]

Carol,

I hope everything goes well for you. Wishing you all the best.

Thank you Rachael Q for your good wishes and to all who have posted

Just an update.... I moved my appointment up from Wednesday to today to see what is my next step.

The Dr is going to make the referral to the sugeon for me

Seems I have 1 large gallstone and several smaller ones

The Dr said that the smaller ones could be a problem if they end up in a duct to pancreas or liver (yikes!!!)

The Dr has given me a prescription for Tylenol 3 and recommended the buscapan had been mentioned on this thread

In regards to the WDW trip, the Dr says that if I want to go I can, but I will not be able to be insured for this particular problem as it is now a pre-existing problem, but that if an attack occurs to go straight to the airport and get a flight home immediately

Rachael Q, I was curious as to which insurance company you used that allowed you to insure a pre-existing condition?

Now I have to make a decision

Go now or wait until November...........

iluvwesties (aka Carol)