Advice / experiences with gall bladder removal please.

dont wish to get into the topic of bowel movement too much but ive been taking lactulouse daily since i had the op. everything seems normal but i dont know if thatd change if i stopped taking this. the bottle will run out in next few days ao we will see but i expect it will be normal. like you i was panicking big time waiting for it

Hey Ant!

Yes I had a few toilet problems today. Caused by some sugary Digestives. Lol. I suppose it's certain foods and I am writing a food diary so when I know the culprit I can cut it out until a few weeks time. Today's been a petty good day.

Aha digestives. I havent eaten them for years but oddly since surgery they have been my go to snack lol. So far ive been able to eat anything i choose but ive been quite reserved in what ive chosen. I have not yet really tried anything like bacon or something really fatty

My first big thing was eating out with friends / family. They ordered big meals and i ordered some fries just to see how it went. An hour later id ordered salmon with potatoes and veg but was a bit weary with the creamy sauce. Mostly though i think im back to normal. incision points have almost completely healed after just 2 weeks although one of them is still painful and causes me a little stress so i think this is still healing on the inside.

They're so easy tho aren't they! That's really good! My partner was eating hash browns the day before yesterday so I had half of one. No side effects but maybe it wasn't enough but I feel the same. Don't want anything too fatty just yet! Aw wow. I had a M&S ready meal, chicken with Potatos and green beans. I too was worried about the cheese sauce but I was fine!

So glad you're doing OK and mostly back to normal. I do still have a bit of pain in the incisions, car journeys aren't fun as everything feels like it's wobbling around 😂 and my back is hurting from the leaning over whilst walking. Other than that I'm feeling positive. Thanks for checking in it's nice to have someone to talk to who is going through the same thing at around the same time 😊

yeah i have back pain too but i think thats my own fault ie walking rigid for fear of hurting myself for a few days. i think my lower back over compensated for that and stressed out a little. Nothing surgery related, more like self imposed by being over cautious.

the one thing i cant do at momemt is sleep on my side which is my typical sleeping position . im not sure why but im sleeping flat on my back. id read a long time ago that some folk have issues sleeping on side afterwards so its put me off.

anyway im back to driving my car today which is bad because ive quite enjoyed being chaffaured around the last 2 weeks. i cant use GB surgery as an excuse forever but im milking it for everything i can get lol

Exactly the same as me. The back pain isn't due to the surgery itself, but how I'm walking!

Oh my god! Same! Normally a side sleeper, I've been sleeping on my back too. Last night I woke up and rolled over, forgetting, that bloody hurt 😂

Aw nice! I can't wait to start driving again. I've missed it. Tho I don't like driving at all at the moment. I can feel every bump lol. Keep me updated I'm sure you'll be completely back to normal in no time!

Vicky in all honest with lifting strain the op and post op recover are manageable albeit a little tough, at least for a week.

Handling kids and picking up kids will be a big struggle so if help is at hand, take it. otherwise you should take it as easy as you can. getting up off sofa and in and out of bed i needed a helping hand first 2-3 days

Hi Vicky.

Thank you! Today has been much better.

I had my appointment at the hospital for 7am. I was in theatre for 8:30,out by about 10am but slept in recovery until 12ish. was sent home at 2pm after eating/drinking and going to the toilet.

I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old. I was worried too. It is very difficult the first few days. I'm still tender today (5 days post op) and I still won't lift my jumpy 3 year old, luckily my eldest is very sensible and behaved and knows. My youngest just knows mummy's tummy is hurting and does try to be careful tho they quickly forget. My partner has been a god send. Deffinately take the help if its offered, even for a few days whilst it's hard for you to move around etc. I think in a few days I'll be much more mobile. Wishing you luck x

Aw that's good. You should be fine. Listen to your body and only do it when you feel up to it. (my sister had her gallbladder out years ago and told me she pulled something lifting washing) I hate sitting round and doing nothing so I've been loading the washing machine/tumble dryer whilst sitting on a chair. Keep up with your pain medication too and depending what your sent home with, maybe ask for more. I was sent home with ibuprofen and paracetamol but had codeine on hand at home incase I needed it, luckily I didn't. Good luck! X

Hi Gary,

I'm glad it settled for you after your stay in hospital.

That's exactly what my surgical team said.. Noone would post if they didn't have issues after they wouldn't look for a thread. So maybe is somewhat biased.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, I've heard pancreatitis can be awful!

Hopefully you get the answers when you have an appointment and fingers crossed for good health until then,

Steph

I had my first severe attack 2 months ago. If I didn't have another one for 30 years, like you, I'd be well happy with that. I know what you mean about the minor grumblings though. I had a few here and there in the months / year(?) prior to my severe attack, back when I thought it was just a touch of 'right-hand side indigestion,' as I thought of it, until I found out the real cause, the hard way, 2 months ago.

I enquired about Urso at my consultation yesterday, and was flatly told it was no good, and nobody uses it. Well, obviously somebody does, or they wouldn't make it, would they? It wouldn't exist. I'm not sure if that is the attitude of all NHS Primary Care Trusts, or just the one I visited.

I take your point about small stones blocking the bile ducts, but my UltraSound indicated all my stones were small, so presumably I have that risk anyway. Also, I gather small stones are more easily dissolved than large ones. I have read the contra-indications, but not sure if that means you don't prescribe it if the contra condition exists now, or if it has ever existed. If I had Acute Cholecystitis 2 months ago, but am in no real pain currently, would it be safe to use? Or would it likely cause another episode of Acute Cholecystitis?

Of course, all this conjecture is going to be irrelevant if I cannot actually find anybody to prescribe it to me. I guess I'm going to have to have the op, if diet control eventually fails.

Gary There is not a shred of truth in that it takes 2 years to dissolve gall stones of Cholesterol type. 'My' surgeon who is one of the most eminent anyone can find in the country is in Nottingham. He told me in writing =yes ursodeoxycholic acid will dissolve gall stones but it is a horrible way to get rid of them.

Since he said that he has moderated that phrase by saying I am very pleased for you in that the dissolution process which you have been on for 6 months has suited you admirably. He said " I would be happy to prescribe additional ursodexycholic acid tablets if you did require then in the future."

Quite frankly I am amazed that treatment has not been publicized more when it does work. I am most definitely not a liar and it has worked for me and of course others.

In the USA many have succeeded in ridding themselves with the ursodeoxycholic acid treatment.

I had 5 stones. I stone was estimated by ultrasound at 17mm diameter and the others being smaller. I was told they were floating.

When I was up all night being sick as well as having pain an swelling under the right ribs I tried the 'flush'. half a cup of very warm olive oil with half a lemon juice and pulp

emulsified in it. This is really horrible but the shxxts and seeing green lumps did something! I still had stones then started on the ursodexycholic course which in my case was 650mg bd -per day. The 17mm stone was then 10mm after 5 months and there was one smaller one left. Another doctor told me smaller stones tend to be passed anyway. The flush which can be seen on numerous sites is carried out by many a fitness 'fanatic'. That flush was a much worse experience than the Urso was.

I do still have a functioning gall bladder 3 years on from my symptoms which I felt life threatened. My gall bladder was very swollen and another eminent doctor said he had never felt a gall bladder as mine was at that time. I should have had antibiotics because my gall bladder was inflamed and most probably infected.

I was told by an inexperienced registrar the only way to get you right is to remove your gall bladder..... How wrong she was.

I went to see my GP yesterday. Although initially unaware of the alternatives to surgery, he has at least agreed to investigate obtaining Urso for me. No promises, but a glimmer of hope nonetheless. I just hope I can replicate your success, Micklemus, if I am given the opportunity. I should hopefully find out in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.

As I said none of my GP's would prescribe Urso for me .The excuse (and that is what it was) was said to be not proven to work. They obviously did not know what my surgeon knew. As I said this surgeon has been talked about by another eminent cancer specialist when he said I don't think you can avoid seeing Mr Parsons but he is a 'thinking surgeon'. The cancer specialist said he had never felt a gall bladder as prominent as mine was so my gall bladder was in a dire state. I had the best professionals seeing me and in actual fact that cancer specialist who admired the Gastro surgeon

who gave me the script for Urso is also a heptobiliary specialist.

I find it incredible and unacceptable that few doctors know what they should know so as to avoid an operation on any patient when there is an alternative that does work........ There is mumbo jumbo in all professional fields it seems.

Well, just in case the answer comes back as a 'not possible', I may consider taking a trip up to Nottingham, as I am not that far away, near B'ham. My gallbladder is not prominent at all, as far as I can see or feel, but it is full of small stones. Most of the time they are likely to be cholesterol-based, I gather. Pigment stones are rarer. So, I really want to try this treatment. From what you say, though, a surgeon needs to be involved, to presumably request 'before & after' ultrasound scans, to check how effective it was, and measure liver function to determine whether you can take the medication, and monitor in case the medication affects the liver adversely...? This is my only concern, as I may have my GP partially on-board, but if we cannot find a surgeon who agrees, it may be a non-starter.

There's bound to be a thinking gastro surgeon near you I would have thought. Your GP is allowed to prescribe the necessary ultrasound and medication but all my GP's refused me. Three chemists one of which was Boots looked at me a bit strangely and replied of course ursodeoxcholic acid dissolves gall stones!. The other two also were positive in saying yes it will dissolve stones. One said it raises the level of acid especially in the night when you're asleep. That is why the dosage is recommended to be taken with or after the evening meal. The dose can be spaced out within the day though. No antacids to be used with the treatment. Liver function before treatment and every week for a month. Ultrasound a short time after treatment. You will notice an improvement as soon as the stones reduce..... In my case 5 stones reduced to 2 after 6 months. Biggest 17mm down to 10 mm. The other smaller. I had a twinge more than a year ago so put myself on the acid again for a month =no symptoms since. And most definitely I cannot feel my gall bladder as I could when I was in the thick of those diabolical symptoms.

My dosage was 650mg 'bd' which is for 12 stones person weight. This was instructed by Mr S L Parsons my gastro surgeon. My GP's then had to carry on with my repeat script. I did not need all that was prescribed to me and have enough urso to last till I'm 100. It must be noted that a low dose of that tablet can be taken on doctors orders to prevent further stones.

I looked at Mr Parsons letter to me and the GP for his initials . Time flies because it was July 2015 when he treated me.

I've always tried to eat healthily but have avoided hydrogenated spreads etc. My wife is a traditional good cook and her mother was 94 when she went. Her mother liked the odd dripping sandwich!!!!!! Keep an open mind. I hope you are suitable as I was re the dissolution of your stones

and hope that you get those tablets as soon as possible.

Thank you for the hope you have given me. Everybody around me is pushing me to the surgical solution, which I really do not want. If I get the Urso, and it works, I will continue to eat healthily afterwards, now I have experienced what eventually happens if you don't. Previous blood tests I had, in earlier years indicated only very slightly elevated cholesterol levels, but I never really paid it any mind. It was never really spelled out to me what ignoring it would do. I gather levels increase with age though. I have also been discouraged from surfing the internet and forums about my condition, but I have found doing so invaluable, and am so glad I found this forum, and feedback from both post-oppers, and Urso users that there is hope for a normal life again.

Ruq Payne Please look at previous post that are like a needle in a haystack.

My Posts are there and Mr S L Parson. A lot of the surgeons hereabouts can be seen at the Park Hospital and other private hospitals. I don't think the urso has a bad label because they give it to Cirrhosis patients. It helps their livers.

Have you researched the treatment thoroughly? All the treatments are accessible on the net. There is a lot of info from the USA who in some instances are 10 years in front of us lot.

One young qualified USA doctor said he wished he had said something to his superior surgeon because of the gall bladders he could have saved if only etc etc re Urso.

There are not many who have even heard of urso...... As I said speak to any chemist who in many ways are more experience in the tablet side of medicine. My mother worked with a chemist 30 years who was brilliant and as regards what to take for what he was better than any doctor........ They all read the same 'bible you know =MIMS.

MIMS is on the internet but may have reduced access due to GP's being jealous that patients are beginning to be more savvy that them.

Dear RuqPayne I do hope you can resolve your small gall stones by dissolution as I have mine. I saw an insulting post that underlines that if a writer is constructive in what they say this can attract insulting short remarks that expose the worst of those on this forum of low intellect.

I found it educational that the thread instigator has now had her gall bladder removed so I feel all our discussions on this 'thread' are not within the concept of the topic the lady started. There may well be another topic that does cover the alternative to surgery that really does work for some.

You may well have typed in ursodeoxycholic acid to research that chemical. Once the gall bladder is gone there is no going back & as I said before =keep an open mind.