Want to trade gallstone stories?

[Belle0101]

I ended up in the ER 5am Saturday. Six hours later ... gallstones.

Saw the surgeon today and, at least to him, my only option is surgery.

It's my first attack and he said if I don't have the gallbladder removed it will not be my last. I'm pretty terrified of surgery.

So ... have you had yours out? Did you feel better? Did you not have it out?

 

[brockash]

I had my first episode of attacks about 2 yrs. ago. It happened 3 nights in a row, so I finally went into the ER. I was told the best thing would be to have surgery, but I'm really not fond of the idea. The Dr. said you can sometimes control it by what you eat, so I've been going that route. I've had a few attacks since, and they're absolutely miserable, but I do it to myself, because it's always after I eat really badly. Almost all the women in family have had to have theirs out, so I'm guessing eventually I will too, but for now I'm just trying to make sure I eat better.

 

[Ricky's Girl]

I ended up in the ER 5am Saturday. Six hours later ... gallstones.

Saw the surgeon today and, at least to him, my only option is surgery.

It's my first attack and he said if I don't have the gallbladder removed it will not be my last. I'm pretty terrified of surgery.

So ... have you had yours out? Did you feel better? Did you not have it out?

I had my gallbladder removed about 4 years ago and don't regret it at all. I had been having attacks for several years but just thought I was having really bad indigestion. Then one night I thought I was having a heart attack! When I went to the ER they determined it was my gallbladder. I had a choice of going in for surgery right then and there or waiting. I chose to wait since at the time I was caring for my mom who had alzheimer's. Once I was able to get a care giver arranged for my mom I scheduled my surgery about a month later. I was able to have the laproscopic (spelling?) surgery where they do 4 or 5 small incisions. I did have to stay in the hospital over night but went home bright and early the next day. I had about 2 or 3 days where I was really uncomfortable and it was difficult to get up out of bed. Of course the minute I would get comfy I'd have to go to the bathroom and it was heck to get out of the bed without difficulty. The doctor did stress to me that if I waited too long and my gallbladder became inflamed I might have to have the surgery where they make about an 8" incision. So I was lucky.

After that I was feeling fine. I had a Disney trip scheduled for Feb 12 and my surgery was Jan 4. I was totally fine to make the trip and eat whatever I wanted without the awful gallbladder pain.

If you choose to have the surgery take a pair of really loose sweatpants with you to wear home. You will be bloated for a few days because they put air into you when they're doing the surgery. Luckily I had a large coat to cover me or I would have been exposing myself to a lot of folks. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I just had my GB removed 2.5 weeks ago! I had two large stones and some small ones, so I had no choice but to have it removed.

Don't worry, it was a breeze. Same day surgery...I was home by dinner time.

Do yourself a favor and schedule the surgery asap. I let it go for a while, and had two additional attacks. The surgeon said I damaged the GB pretty badly by doing so.

They do the surgery laparoscopically now (spelling?), so you'll have 4 small cuts on your abdomen when you wake up. No biggie, they're only about 1 to 1.5 inches long each. Mine are already healing up very nicely.

The only issue you might encounter is the discomfort from the air they need to pump into you to do the surgery. Your doctor will likely be able to get 99% of it out, but you may have a little pain from the other 1%. What kind of pain? You'll feel it most when you sneeze, cough, or inhale deeply.

DON'T WORRY!

Any questions, you can PM me!

 

[kwelch10377]

I have had issues with gallstones and my dr said the stones weren't blocking anything and bc of that they would like to avoid doing surgeryShe just suggested diet changes and to keep a journal of what I eat so if I have an attack I can pin point what foods caused it. Well I have done all this and have not had any attackes in about 4 months and it has helped my loose about 25 pounds.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I had my gb removed 5 years ago. I did have to spend the night in the hospital, but that was about it. I was so groggy from the anesthetic that I basically spent the day sleeping. There is some discomfort with the surgery, but they will offer you pain medication. I just took an Aleve if I felt pain. I don't do well with Vicodin, so I just used over the counter meds for the first day. That was all that I needed.

The stitches are pretty small, so that's no big deal. They did itch a little as they healed though. I guess that's normal. Oh, and the air that they pump in during the surgery did cause some discomfort as well, but again no big deal at all.

To be honest, the most pain that I had was in my throat from the intibation tubes that they put in while I was under anesthetic. I had a really sore throat for several days.

 

[sbell111]

I had my gallbladder out a few years ago. I sure am glad to be rid of the painful attacks, but miss having my gallbladder every single day.

 

[krcit]

I had mine out about 4 years ago. It was an easy surgery. They kept me overnight but I could have gone home that evening. Everyone had me very worried about the gas pain so I was walking the halls of the hospital as soon as I could and I think it really helped because I didn't have any of the gas pain. I do need to watch what I eat now. If I eat very fatty food I will pay for it very quickly, lol! Good luck.

 

[Piecey]

I had my first attack when I was 21 weeks pregnant.
(after the on call OB told me that it was bad heartburn and not to bother with the ER because I needed to learn pregnancy was painful at times. ugh.)

There is really nothing to do to stop attacks once they start. It was horrible. They wouldn't operate until after I delivered... then I ended up with a c-section and had to wait even longer to get it out.

It's an easy surgery. You'll feel lots better afterwards! Like other have said, and sbell alluded to, you can't eat everything that you used to eat.

Get rid of that things ASAP!

 

[DisneyLover83]

I had my gallbladder out in Sept '07 and had it laparoscopic. I also had stones caught in the bile duct and had an ERCP 5 days later by a Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases specialist, the cut the sphincter of oddi and removed the stones. I ended up with pancreatitis (a possible complication of the ERCP) and was in the hospital for about 5 days on an IV fluid drip and not allowed to eat or drink anything the entire time. I continued having pain in the same area and it was determined a few months ago, by a MRCP, that I have stones in bile duct again and will need another ERCP. It has been a loooong road and feel free to PM me any questions as I have done tons of reading/research on the subject and been to many specialists.

Edited to add: You can get stones without a Gallbladder, it is a common misconception that you can not.

 

[arminnie]

GET IT OUT!!!!

I waited too long with mine (because of misdiagnosis) and ended up with stones stuck in my bile duct. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital (after lap surgery) and six months in post-surgical agony (with a tube out of my liver for much of it).

Having a burst gallbladder is probably worse than a burst appendix. You can die from it.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

It took my doctor over a year to correctly identify the problem. She said it was acid reflux, etc. It took me having an upper GI to figure out that I had thousands of gallstones.
My surgery went bad, and I was in the hospital for a week. I'll spare all the details on this post.
I am, however, very glad that I had the surgery since I don't have anymore gallbladder attacks!

Also...I agree with the PP about the possibility of gallstones coming back. It hasn't happened to me, but I was told that they could still be a problem in the future....eek!!

 

[BCV513]

I had mine out in July. I actually had my first three attacks in Disney. No more Yachtsman Steakhouse for me! After the third one, we ended up at Celebration ER. They said I had too many stones to count. We flew home and I had it taken out the next week. It was laproscopic, but I did have to stay overnight. I was pretty sore for a few days, and tired for a week or two. One thing I wasn't prepared for is staples! I assumed I would have stitches or steri-strips. Nope, I had 15 staples. That was a shock the first time I saw them.

Good luck and feel free to PM me any time!

 

[Binnie]

I had mine out in 1989--before laproscopy was even available (and when I was 14). I had already had multiple attacks, so there really wasn't a choice (and I was a kid, so I had no choice anyway.)

I had multiple, multiple stones according to the surgeon, including one caught in the cystic duct that they couldn't milk out. But they lost my stones (!) in the hospital.

My got an infection, so my recovery was more complicated than it should have been, but I have to say, I am SOOOOO glad I had the thing out. I went from regular attacks over a couple of years to no pain!

 

[nickey]

Mine was as big as an egg which is good the small ones are dangerous block the duct or can cause pancreatitis. The attack was worse than the surgery I had terrible pain in my ribs after surgery. Came home next ay took pain meds 2 days just becauce of the rib pain. Do it before gall bladder gets to inflamed get it lasered. After surgery dr gave me a picure of my egg. I got acard and on the outside Iwrote ...Is it a BOY??? Or maybe a GIRL?? open it up was a picture and it said...No its my gallstone!!!Everyone was excited at first they thought we were having a baby. Good luck keep us posted

 

[karenmmk]

Just had my gallbladder out (two weeks tomorrow.) I had several attacks over the years, with the last one being the end of June. They recommended surgery because of all of the previous attacks I had. I managed to not get another one by sticking to a low (almost no) fat diet right up until my surgery. I was told that they would not have recommended surgery if it had been my first attack (because I just had gallstones....my gallbladder was not swollen or infected, etc.) If yours is infected or has other problems, having surgery right away may be a safer option.

The surgery was pretty easy. I had some pain (from the gas) the first couple of days, and the incisions were tender, but not a big deal. I slept in a recliner in the living room so I wouldn't have to get up from the bed because I knew that would be painful. The worst part was that I got a cold a couple of days after surgery, with a lot of coughing. THAT wasn't fun. But, I feel great now!

I agree with pp who said to wear loose sweatpants. The incision in the belly button was the most tender one, so baggy pants are best, plus you're a bit swollen and tender at first.

I'm glad I had it done........the attacks were much more painful than the surgery. Wishing you the best, whatever decision you make!

 

[Belle0101]

I decided not to have it out. At least not just yet.

My doctor's nurse called today to go over some of my lab results. My sugar is high and I'm anemic. She asked me how it went at the surgeon's and I just blurted it all out.

"It" being that I really felt rushed. The surgeon came in, asked why I was there, told him, then he said the gallbladder had to come out. When I told him that I didn't have proof of having gallstones, only the verbal statement from the ER doctor he said he would go check his computer. Left, came back in less than a minute and said, again, the gallbladder has to come out ... 30% chance I'll have another attack next month, I'll live happily ever after after the surgery, here's a brochure to read, schedule the operation on the way out.

I told my doctor's nurse I didn't like that, still had questions and since I my sugar is high and I'm anemic is this really a good time to be cutting on me?
So I see my regular doctor next week.

That was my first ever attack and since then, it started 10pm Friday night, I've had no dark colas, no coffee, and I immediately started a low fat, high fiber diet. I drink Sprite, water, decaf tea and milk only. 1 serving of red meat per day, several small portioned meals and ... I feel fine. And I do light exercises.

It's just not the right time for me. Thanks for sharing your stories. For instance, the brochure he gave me said nothing about not being able to like you used to before. He made it sound like I could how I have been forever and another stone would never form.

 

[golfgal]

Not mine but my FIL had his out about 5 months ago. It took a while for them to figure out what was up. They finally figured it out and while he was at his pre-surgery consult my MIL starting having severe pain in her side-YUP, turned out to be HER gallbladder. My FIL had his out the next day (a Friday) and my MIL had her's out the following Friday.

My FIL had been having strange symptoms for over a year. The last that lead up to the gallbladder was they thought he was having a heart attack. Since he has had his gallbladder out he has been fine.

 

[ohiomom28]

I had my gallbladder out a few years ago. I sure am glad to be rid of the painful attacks, but miss having my gallbladder every single day.

 

[Shugardrawers]

My best description is that I spent an entire 72 hours feeling like I had swallowed a HUGE rock. Don't ask me why I didn't go the the ER...I hadn't had a problem going before for acute situations But I ended up waiting through an agonizing Thursday and since my Dr. was fully booked on Friday it was Monday before I got in. It was another full week to get into surgery. The pain was excruciating!!!