Life after gallbladder removal....

I would like to hear more please, I had my GB removed just on a month ago as it was about to erupt, after surgery I had none of the normal pain, a few days later it came back , then I was pain free for 6 days it was wonderful. I have now been back in pain for the last 3 days, each day it has gotten a little worse, please help

 

It is not a mistake to remove it..I just had my surgery 15 hours ago..before that I was always in the hospital because I couldn't eat or drink anything for over a month..when they took my gallbladder out they said they have never seen a more torn up gallbladder on anyone. They said it was attacking my body with out me knowing before I got sick. You actually don't need your gallbladder. Just holds bile till its ready to go into the intestines.so what you will have to use the bathroom more. And yes as its only been 15 hours me I'm in extreme pain. And haven't been able to pee since Thursday at 2 pm. So I'll be going back tomorrow because of these complications..but I'm happy I got mine out. Because if that erupted you will have bigger problems

Hi. I'm 21 and recently had my gallbladder removed and know it was the best decision I ever made. I just had a baby and during pregnancy the rise of estrogen levels caused gall stones to form in my gallbladder. I had a c section due to complications and with the birth of my child came many health complications. I didn't know the problem but I would have extreme pains as if I was having contractions and rushed to A and E several times. Finally they found out it was my gallbladder. I was given a choice to get it removed or go home and try attempt to heal things naturally but personally I knew I couldn't handle these pains and would cause me to vomit and having no time for previous operations to heal the pain was unbearable and was given morphine constantly. How could I go home and be expected to look after a new born in this state. I knew my body was messed up just by the way I felt and chose a quick and easy way to get out of it. It was my decision and a few months later I'm back to normal at the beginning it hurt to even sit up or lie on my side to walk everything but slowly got better it was done by keyhole surgery. I know it was the best decision as my liver was getting deranged as a result and all the other health problems all happened within a quick three months. This was my last operation and I feel amazing and even forget I have had several operations. It just causes you to go to the toilet more often but has been worth it. If I took the decision to go home I would literally be dead. Previously I was fainting and at once point almost died so I think the doctors do know what they are talking about and give you suggestions according to your circumstances and medical history and I felt free to make my choice. If I went home I would not have a supply of drugs to keep me going and even if I did would be harming my body even more by pumping drugs and dehydrocodien etc it was equivalent to having contractions before giving birth. Best decision I made so far. I think you can't say jack all because it depends on each individuals situation.

Mine was full of adhesions. Doctor said if I hadn't had it out then I would have had major problems--can't think how much more major because I was already in pain & unable to eat anything more than dry toast & pretzels. 

Sooo much better now.

Someone lied to you, not having a gallbladder is life changing.

Mine was removed on Jan 11, 2017.  It had been dead a long time and had begun to calcify.  You are right, there are ways to deal with a sick gall bladder, but when it becomes a chronic illness you risk sepsis and death before you even find out what the cause it.  This is why it is best to remove a gall bladder that keeps flaring up.  I tried for 6 years to control it with diet and medications through natural means and it almost killed me.  I hope someone doesn't read your comment and make the wrong decision with tragic results. 

Hi I had my gallbladder out on the 11th of January 2017 I thought after having it removed I would be free of pain . Since I came home I've had so much pain in wot seems to be my back its like really bad indegetion and burning with it , has any one else had this .

Hi I had my gallbladder out just a week ago and I'm having severe pain in my back like really bad indigestion just wounded if you had anything thelse Sam

Hi I had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago and for the bast 2 to 3 days my kidneys hurt and I'm short of breath and I feel a stabbing pain in my belly button. What can't this be can't it be complications from the surgery.

I had similar problems after had mine removed. I called nurselink and the nurse told me that these dabbing pains and pain when breathe is just body healing and will feel these jolts for awhile while the body heals. As long as you don't get fever of 101 or higher, this will pass.

Its going to be worse not being able to eat fried, spicy or "fun" food for awhile. I hate it. LOL

I will pray that you are able to handle this trying time of recovery.

I completely agree. My gallbladder ruptured which caused me a month in hospital (wk in ITU in coma), septic shock, peritonitis, abscess, collapsed lung, myocarditis, and a heart attack and tachycardia. They still didn't remove due to the infection, and my heart health and it had scarred to my liver. 5 hospital stays due to recurring sepsis and months being bed bound I finally found a surgeon with enough back bone to give it a go!!!! When he did he said there were over 100 stones and if not removed it was ready to rupture again (prob killed me that time!). Op and recovery been a breeze except get sweats and fatigue but today (10wk post op) had pain all day in same region!! Now praying it goes as quick as it came!! Still glad it was done or may not be here now (Speaking as someone who was a nurse for 20yr). Good health everyone xx

Yes i had mine out on the 27th and its all gas and u need to make sure u moving around. Its painful to try to do but thats why its burning like that.

Hi, I had mine removed 6 years ago and I had to change my diet completely. I had pain and diarrhea every time I ate fatty foods. I also developed an autoimmune condition and hormonal issues. If you want to get better try eating fruits, vegetables and stay away from fatty meats. I also read that it's important to take bile acid supplements if the diet is bad. Research and talk to a trusting doctor about these options and see what works for you.

I feel you I just had my gallbladder removed February 7th. One hospital sent me home saying I just had gallstones and wasn't necessary to remove them. The next day I was in severe pain went to a different hospital and theyou admitted me right away and said I had 3 large gallstones and it was infected. Since the removal I'm scared to eat all I can eat is bananas, oatmeal and plain pasta noodles. I had to go back to the ER cuz of the pain and they gave me more antibiotics. I'm still having pain on my right side and for 2 days now my back has been hurting. I'm not sure what's going on. Ever since the surgery I've had severe diarrhea, indigestion and still pain on my right side.

Hi Sam

I'm actually getting mine removed next Friday & was quite interested by many feedbacks ive really had no negatives on this however it concerns me with some I've read above however yours was quite detailed & I felt bit better

I was experiencing pain on my side not always however I went to get checked out cause I was getting bloated over just having a coffee thought it was unusual given I train 6 days a week eat healthy & am very fit and small I was told I had many gallstones and I saw through the ultra sound.

My job requires lifting so I'm asking do u think 2 weeks off is enough recovery😊

Trex:

"It is a mistake to remove the GB despite what the doctor says, unless of course it is a life & death situation."

Who are you to say this?? Are you a doctor or ANY kind or even a healthcare professional?? What gives you the right to make this kind of blanket statement when each individual case is different??

 You can be the cause of someones fear, anxiety and even death  by making this kind of blanket statement, I made the mistake of reading  testimonies online prior to surgery (which are 95% negative) and almost backed out of it because of them (even though almost everyone I spoke to F2F stated they had no problems post their GB surgey)

 My HIGHLY QUALIFIED internal MD and surgeon both stated that I ran the risk of peritonaitis, sepsis and possible death if I waited for what you call a "life and death" situation. Ultimately,  I listened to my HIGHLY QUALIFIED MD's and had my GB robotically/ laproscopically removed by one of the highest rated surgeons in my area. He mad one small incision in my navel and removed it from there.

I thank God I didn't listen to idiots like you, beacuse I now feel wonderful!! I have had very little pain, NO complications whatsoever, and all digestion and elimination was completely back to normal after 2 days. I made a promise to myself and society in gnereal to share my success story to give people hope.

BEWARE EVERYONE: BE SURE YOU GET A HIGHLY RATED INTERNAL MD AND SURGEONS OPINION AND DO NOT JUST COUNT ON PEOPLE LIKE THIS FOR ANY MEDICAL ADVICE.

 

Thanks fir your feedback all the people I've spoken to haven't said a negative thing about this operation I'm hoping I'll be good as by the 2nd week I'm having it this Friday 😊

Mary, mine was removed 6 months ago. I havent missed it. I had no post op pain apart from the scars on my stomach which weree just like normal small cuts. Maybe they are kidding me and didnt actually remove it.

andy

Thank you so much for your reply had mine removed nearly 2 weeks ago this Friday & to be honest apart from a bit of tenderness feeling good.. maybe they didn't remove mine either haha. Have my specialist visit this Friday but don't think I he will let me go back to work yet as my job requires lifting.. so to anyone out there worrying like I did it was ok not as bad as a few have said.. just watch your eating habits.. thx for your reply Mcewena1 appreciated very much 😊

I had my gallbladder removed four months ago. I had pain for two weeks afterwards, then the pains subsided, but if I moved the wrong way or lifted something I shouldn't I got lots of cramps when I phoned hospital they told me the cramps are from the gas that they bloated my abdomen which separated the organs for easier removal of gallbladder. The cramps are caused by the body returning to normal after surgery. The organs going back in place in your body. I still get the gases with mine and the bloating and the poops. Depends on what I eat.

I agree, however your recommendation is difficult if not impossible to follow unless Yelp or Angie's List ratings are reliable. In private practice, only physicians are privy to how successful physicians are. Anecdotes from patients also seem unreliable. In the US, internal medicine MRS and surgeons are not required to publicly report complication rates. MDs do not report colleagues. Insurance companies do not report complaints. Hospitals advertise their expertise and experience but never disclose success rates. I'd like to find a highly rated MD and surgeon for gallbladder removal, but they all say their good - and none will tell about another.

I had my gallbladder removed in 1997 . I was in extreme pain and the military surgeon said my gallbladder looked like a prickly pear with so many pollups,on it. Ever since them I have had chronic diarrhea.The doctors was giving me cholesterol medicine because causes constipation that was even more painful now 20 yrs later my diarrhea is so bad I have to be able to use a restroom within 10 to 20 mins after I eat a meal (no matter what I eat. Any ideas

I'm a carer and do a lot off heavy lifting myself. I had mine done 5 weeks ago I had 2 weeks off work and thought I was fine went in for one day and did myself some damage to my healing process. I then had to have another 2 weeks off work so if I was you let yourself recover properly the doctor was more than happy to give another sick note as they no what the pain is like.

Hope this helps

Hi jimandy,

It sounds like you are having a bike problem which a good many people do after gallbladder removal. I also suffered for 10 years doctors telling me I had ibs, also tried the cholesterol powder, it was horrible. Finally after I started researching gallbladder issue versus the ibs issues I found my solution, ox bile supplements! I take one with each meal and I'm good. You made need adjustments to the dosage I use one 125 mg or two with a more high fatty meal like red meat. There's also a digestive enzyme that has ox bile that works well NOW SUPER ENZYMES..  do a little research on the subject hope it helps 

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Hi Sunnyskye -

 I just had my gallbladder out 12 days ago - In 2012 I nearly died from sepsis , was on a life support machine for 3 weeks including dialysis , suffered multiple organ failure including my heart -  stayed in hospital for 3 months . In November 2015 I was again treated for sepsis , this time I'd turned a nice shade of yellow - I was told it was pancreas/liver/gallbladder problems with a stone stuck in my bile duct somewhere . Anyway , after several scans and an eventual endoscopy two months later they couldn't find the reason for the blockage but was told my gallbladder had to go .

On Saturday just past I was a bit of a silly boy and moved some paving slabs and last night [ Sunday ] I felt as though I was going to begin shivering , something that happened just before a bout of pneumonia hit me in 2013 - the sensation went away after an hour or so but I couldn't sleep thinking that I may have ruptured some stitches or something inside of me .

Has anyone else felt this way post surgery ?

ps I live on Skye too .

Hi Richard! Now after 8 months, how are you feeling? How did you manage the first few months and after how long did you feel as normal as possible? I am 3 weeks po and it feels like I will never feel normal again... Thanks! 

Hi iris 

I had my gall bladder removed 8 days ago and I've not been sleeping very well can't sleep on either side as the pain is terrible, and if I sleep in my back slightly upright or flat I get terrible night mares !! So not a lot of sleep

my tummy button is very painful not the but but the whole area around it where they pull the gall bladder through , I've also been have very cold moments then very hot , and the last two days I couldn't stop crying for no reason at all !!

one of my problems I was diagnosed with Mrsa while in the hospital, which I must of caught at some time from where I had been in a few weeks before or in the week while I waited for the operation!!!

not sure how long it all take to settle down for anyone but it looks like everyone is so different 

good luck 

mara

Before I say what I’m about to say, I wish to state for the record your honor, that I have tried and had success with many alternative health therapies. Acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology etc.  proof that I’m not a western medicine koolaide drinker.... now ...

What a completely irresponsible position to trumpet trex!

 Continue shaking your voodoo rattles and enjoy your life of needless suffering. 

It’s people like you online who feed the fears of ill people and prolong suffering for no good reason other than to stroke your own god complex. 

I say good day sir. Good day. 

Hi Mara

It's now been 5 months I've had mine removed.. at the  start I couldn't lift much  &  off work 4 weeks.

Couldn't sleep at night wasn't hungry much.. 

but I must say it m feeling norm again lifting back to work & gym.

I do get the occasional cramp or twitch and find I go more often to toilet.

Just make sure u eat properly drink loads of water & stop if u feel your over doing it 

Good luck 😊

Pse give me more info am due to have gall bladder out and worried

Hi, I had my gallbladder removed last week on the 5th October, after 2yrs on and off of severe pains, my consultant recommended removing it as it we can manage without it, so I went along with it, the operation when we’ll apparently and was back home the same day, I was a bit uncomfortable which was to be expected and a week on I still am but it is early days. I have found my stools to be very light in colour and very soft but not quite diarrhoea , like I say it’s early days for me but after reading some of the other stories I have concerns about my future without my gallbladder! I suppose only time will tell, but so far I have no regrets as the pains I suffered before was unbearable 

Hi, I had my GB removed last week so early days for me, but I am experiencing short of breath but I’m presuming it’s due to not being able to take a deep breath in as it causes me pain in my side. Slight back ache but I put that down to resting and the lack of activity at the moment as they tell you to rest, apart from that so far not really experiencing too many problems, uncomfortable sleeping and turning over but that’s it

Loraine.

hi 

i also had mine out 4 weeks ago and pretty much the same as you.

i also am finding I have very light coloured stools like you almost a tan colour 

'and I'm having some pain still in the right upper quadrant on and off 

but more so when I lay down or when I'm sat forward and some mild upper back pain.

ive pretty much just rested for the whole time but not had much sleep.

let me know how you progress.

Hey there.

Was good to read your post. I too had my GB removed in January. Have been experiencing that annoying full pain in my RUQ underneath my ribs which moves onto my right flank. After certain meals I end up curled over. My bloating has got out of control. Have you come across any remedies of late?. I'm so frustrated. Its Mali g me feel totally depressed not being able to wear my clothes without more discomfort and feeling self conscious.

Hi ...I had my gb out in April 2015 and I'm finally over (hopefully) the post op pains.  I can't wear anything snug round my waist and my bra has to be fairly loose ... if I wear tight things it gives me a stitch like pain for hours.  After my op I was also feeling very sick, but I now take Omeprazole and that certainly helps me.  I'm still very careful with my diet, and although I eat some things with fat I try to stick to coconut oil.

Had my gb removed Feb 2017. It's been about 9 months now. I still get gas pains now and then if I need to "go". I also have diarrhea after anything I eat that is a bit too saucy. Spaghetti O's is something I've eaten since I was a kid. I'm now in my 50's. I never had a problem with it until post op. Now I find myself taking Immodium AD with anything that might give me problems.

After my surgery (not sure which type I had but I have 3 small incision scars) I ended up with a large rash covering the area between the three incisions. This started up about a week or two after surgery. It turns out I had a reaction to whatever was used to clean my skin prior to surgery. I tried different things with no luck. I went back to the doc and I had to get a prescription gel to make it go away. The itch was severe. It took a few weeks to completely disappear.

Also lately I've been having an on and off flare up of the pressure on tip of my rib cage which is similar to what I had before the surgery. I've had it twice in this last week. I don't know what it is.

Wow what a great responce. You've given me hope..

Hi Loraine.

how are things now !

hope you are doing better.

Hi, i am having my gallbladder out tomorrow & wanted to thank you so much for what you have written. I started to panic & was actually thinking of canceling the surgery in the morning because of all the negative comments. I am so afraid, but I know I have to do this. It is really bad. I just wanted to let you know that what you wrote gave me hope so thank you very very much! Sherri...ps. please keep posting like you said you are doing, you might have just saved my life, I will do the same & pay it forward with my hopefullly positive experience.

your right  they lied      you do need a gall bladder     without a gall bladder you never know what new stomach problem you will have every day!!!!

 

Hi, I have been fine since I had mine removed last year, not had any other problems since yet 😳