31 yr old with successful gallbladder removal and 1 cm polyp that turned out to be benign
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi guys, my name’s Kaitlin and I’m 31 yrs old. I’m posting this to give others hope and settle any anxieties for people who are awaiting gallbladder removal. I’m about 3 weeks post op. I had to get a cholecystectomy because of gallstones and a large polyp which had grown 3 mm in 3 yrs to 1 cm. I never had any real gallbladder attacks but this past yr I was feeling extremely bloated and experiencing burning pain where my gallbladder was. I’ve been putting off surgery for 6 hrs due to fear but knew I had to due to the bloating, and not wanting to keep the growing polyp in there. The day after surgery, I was in pain but it was more of an achy pain that was manageable. I didn’t want to take any of the strong pain meds, so I just stuck to extra strength Tylenol and a heating pad, which actually helped a lot. Getting out of bed was a chore but I forced myself to move about and take short walks around my house. I did eat soft foods the first day post op, like potatoes, bananas, toast, apple sauce. Each day I felt stronger, the extreme bloating decreased, and I gradually introduced good fats back into my diet, like salmon and avocado. I know I’m only 3 weeks after the operation, but I honestly feel great! I do still have bloating after I eat something fattening and I have had a little bit of acid reflux but I pretty much feel normal. I haven’t had any diarrhea yet, just soft stools at times. I should also note that I am on Pantoprazole for acid reflux which I was taking prior to my operation and that I have been taking Now Super Enzymes right before eating a meal with fat. I really believe these have helped normalize my digestion. The drs also had to do a pathology on my polyp which turned out to be a benign cholesterol polyp. So if anyone has any sort of polyp, hopefully this eases your worry since mine was on the larger side. I’m not trying to minimize anyone’s bad experiences post gallbladder removal, just trying to help bring light to worriers like myself. Let me know if you have questions since I’m happy to be apart of the no gallbladder sisterhood and I’ll post any questions if something arises 😃
2 likes, 19 replies
kaitlin18200
Posted
Sorry, meant to say 6 years not 6 hours 😃
fernando90225 kaitlin18200
Posted
enjoy the break. 3 weeks is nothing. I felt the same way 3 weeks after my surgery. give it about a couple of months and you will see. you will have to be more vigilant about everything you eat. you have no idea. GLAD YOU ARE GOOD NOW.
cchurley fernando90225
Posted
Yes indeed, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. I have ongoing problems since my gall bladder surgery 3 years ago. From regular pains still at the gall bladder sight ,(that my GI Doctor says could be scar tissue, or that we can do another colonoscopy to see what could be happening?!?), which absolutely no, I'm not willing to do; as science has now concluded that a simple stool sample test can detect everything but polyps, so I'll get a colonoscopy once every 5 years now; as the colonoscopy caused me great trauma & a lot of scar tissue in all of my intestines! I furthermore had no choice but to have gall bladder surgery as the Hospital Specialist Surgeon said I had a blockage and it would turn to an infection soon. And I had an Uncle who had the same problem with his gall bladder yet his did turn into a bad infection, and the hospital had to induce him into a coma because the pain was so horrific & pain medications would not relieve his pain, and he died 2 days later. So, again, I'm glad I had the surgery, yet it is very challenging & still painful a great deal of the time. Catch 22? Yes, again. Best wishes to you my gall bladder surgery survivor friend. Sincerely so.
kaitlin18200 fernando90225
Posted
Hello Fernando. I am so sorry for what you are currently experiencing. I try to eat clean, even have before the removal, so I will try to stick to that. Why do you think you felt great soon after removal but not months after? Have you heard of taking bile supplements? Who knows how accurate it is, but the ones I take seem to have gotten a lot of good reviews. Only time will tell. I will keep you guys updated. Best wishes.
cchurley kaitlin18200
Posted
Hi Katlin, It's great that you're having a positive experience with your gall bladder surgery. I myself have multiple GI diseases and have been taking ppI's for most of my 59 years of life. I have completely stopped taking them due to a report from a reputable independent report Sweden that stated that ppl's do in fact cause alzheimers disease with ling term usage. MY GI specialist said that thus isn't true and that I should simply keep taking them, yet Sweden is aprox. 15 years ahead of America in the realms of Science & Medicine, and this study showed that 40% of the people that took ppl's for long term usage did indeed, get alzheimers disease. It was also not only an independent study but it was a random study. I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else should stop taking their perscribed ppl's; however I would urge anyone to look into this matter, researching it throughly,( as I did), then decide for yourself. I've been off ppl's for 3 years now after taking them for 42 years. I sleep at a 45% angle each night in bed, I don't eat late at night & all of my GI diseases are under control. I also had gall bladder surgery 3 years ago and I have regular pains my gall bladder area, & nightly it is much more noticeable. I usually have diarrhea & have 3-4 bm's every morning,(UGH!),& if I have gas, it's scary because it is not only gas that passes. This is a very personal & private topic, yet many of us who have had gall bladder removal surgery,( because of blockages etc), have ongoing problems that are unsightly, painful, embarrassing & difficult to manage. I am sincerely happy that your experience has been a positive one. Continued best wishes to you.
kaitlin18200 cchurley
Posted
Thank you for your response. I’m sorry to hear you still have issues. I would consider researching taking bile supplements, mine seem to be helping. But I’m still fairly post op so only time will tell. That’s very interesting about the Swedish report. My surgeon did tell me continued use causes bone loss. I only plan on being on it for 6 months but we’ll see. I wish you all the best. Hugs!
cchurley kaitlin18200
Posted
Hi Katlin, Thank you for your response too. I have taken a digestive supplement from a Company called Wellness Resources, it's called Digestive Helper, I thought that they were helping, but I've stopped taking them now. What is the digestive enzymes that you're using? Do they seem to help noticeably so? I'm a night owl, are you as well? Funny, maybe gall bladder problems created night owlism too? lol. Best wishes & hugs to you too. I'm also a big muush! lol.
kaitlin18200 cchurley
Posted
Here is the amazon link for the ones I take. I’ve been taking them for a little over a week. I would seriously bloat up after eating anything, no matter how low-fat and now I feel back to somewhat normal after taking these. I’m not sure how accurate the reviews are, but try reading them and see if maybe these could help you. I will keep at it until I finish the bottle and then give an update as to how I’m doing. Take care! ❤️
https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Super-Enzymes-180-Capsules/dp/B0013OXKHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=now+super+enzymes+180+capsules&qid=1565022741&s=gateway&sprefix=now+super&sr=8-3
kaitlin18200 cchurley
Posted
I tried replying with the Amazon link but it wouldn’t let me. Just search Now Super Enzymes 180 capsules. I’ve been taking them for a little over a week. I would seriously bloat up after eating anything, no matter how low-fat and now I feel back to somewhat normal after taking these. I’m not sure how accurate the reviews are, but try reading them and see if maybe these could help you. I will keep at it until I finish the bottle and then give an update as to how I’m doing. Take care! ❤️
cchurley kaitlin18200
Posted
Thank you Katlin, I take "digestive helper" from a Company called: Wellness Resources. I also take several of their other supplements from them, as well. I would like to try the supplements that you have suggested and compare them to the ones I take. Thank you for sharing this with me. Blessings & Best Wishes.
jacqueline71073 kaitlin18200
Posted
So glad it's worked out for you and good luck in moving forward with your recovery. I have a scan tomorrow and I'm convinced the burning pain and bloating is due to my gallbladder, (very glad you described the pain as burning that's exactly how mine feels) a burning uncomfortable not too painful but the most awful bloating which is driving me nuts. The DR said that gallstones do not cause bloating but reading peeps symptoms on here that's not true. Here's to cures, diagnosis, surgery & recovery and hopefully me not looking like a pregnant Grandma anymore
kaitlin18200 jacqueline71073
Posted
Hi Jacqueline, do you have gallstones? I was so incredibly bloated where my gallbladder was this past yr, and yes it would alternate from that to the burning feeling. My surgeon said that my gallbladder was distended and that I had inflammation, which was caused from the gallstones. So this is what was causing that full feeling for me. I have seen a ton of doctors over the years and it’s crazy how many differentiating stories I’ve heard about the gallbladder and how to treat it. I feel so much better since surgery and everyone I’ve talked to who I know has gotten it done has been able to live a normal life. I wish you the best of luck in feeling better ❤️
jacqueline71073 kaitlin18200
Posted
Yes Kaitlin but they said they were small, they were picked up when I was complaining about the pain and bloating and was sent for suspected kidney stone scan which was negative. Since then the symptoms have worsened but they keep saying the gallstones should not be causing me any symptoms, I beg to differ. Thanks for replying, I do feel I'm not being listened to by the doctors.
kaitlin18200 jacqueline71073
Posted
I empathize. It’s hard to find a good dr who will take you seriously and actually listen to your concerns. The pain is usually in the upper right abdominal area under the ribs when it comes to gallstones and is usually after eating something fattening/spicy, which is how I discovered my problems. Pain can also radiate in upper right shoulder or to the back. I was also having all over abdominal pain this yr and, to rule out causes, ended up getting an endoscopy which showed I have gastritis and esophagitis. The PPI helped with that. I would recommend switching drs or seeing a gastroenterologist if you don’t already. Hope you receive more news after your scan. Take care!
baziy2k kaitlin18200
Posted
Hi Kaitlin,
Stumbled on you post and want to thank you for sharing your experience.
After some stomach problems starting in May this year, i pluck up the courage to see my GP. Long story short, Had blood test, stool sample all came back fine. Friday just gone, had an ultrasound, Wednesday morning got a call from GP reception who said it was a routine appointment GP wanted to talk about my results (back of my head I knew it weren't going to be smooth). Got told they found a 2mm or 2.5mm (was a bit in shock). GP still said he is going to refer me to a specialist for my sake. After going on DR google a lot and reading your post, i do get a bit of relief, however, what is confusing me is everywhere i read, it telling me the size of my Polyp doesn't normally cause any symptoms. I get the random aches upper abdomen that comes and goes, never enough to stop me from doing anything. Also did it effect any where else of your abdomen or bowel movement?
Any insight would be great thank you
kaitlin18200 baziy2k
Posted
Hi. The size of your polyp was 2 mm or 2cm? 2 mm is incredibly tiny and nothing to worry about. It’s incredibly rare for a polyp to be malignant, but the chances increase when the polyp is over 1cm. I had symptoms but I think it was more so from the gallstones. I had other abdominal pain, more so in the center behind and above my belly button and it was due to gastritis and esophagitis. I would maybe have your gastroenterologist run more tests. Also a bland diet, drinking a lot of water, and exercise helps! Maybe try that and see if you notice a difference ❤️
baziy2k kaitlin18200
Posted
Thank you for responding so quickly.
I am pretty sure he said 2mm or 2.5mm because he said i shouldn't worry, chances are they will monitor it to make sure it does not grow, but referring me to a Gastroenterologist for my sake. Whole experience has been really worrying for me since it started, I haven't told my parents but have told my sister and some close work colleagues.
I just want to thank you again, your speedy response to everyone and being detailed with all your answers.
You have help ease my mind a little and I am sure others feel the same.
kaitlin18200 baziy2k
Posted
I think gallbladder polyps are pretty common and they do in nature tend to grow. I first discovered mine 6 years ago and it was 7-8 mm, then grew to 1 cm. And even at that size, it still turned out to be benign. Keep in mind gallbladder cancer is extremely rare. You really don’t have anything to worry about, it’s more than likely just a cholesterol polyp. Don’t stress, stress really affects the body. I am happy to help, thank you. Best wishes ❤️