Gallbladder removal

Hi Michelle,

Whether or not my surgery experience was complicated and difficult really doesn't matter. My issue was one of a very diseased gallbladder and an infection and if I hadn't had it taken out when I did I would have died. Gallstones alone may not be enough of a reason to have your gallbladder out, but what brought you to this point in the first place? Attacks? Pain? What test results do you have that indicate surgery is indicated? If you were asymptomatic you probably wouldn't even have known you had gallstones. So make your decision based upon the reason for your doctor's visit. If you have a diseased gallbladder, then you likely don't have a real choice but to have it removed. There was certainly no treatment for mine. I hope you find peace in your choice and if you have the surgery, that it is a quick and uneventful laparoscopic surgery. Good luck!!

Michelle, 

If you're having symptoms now, they can only get worse, because the gallstones will continue to be created by your body and build up in it till the gallbladder is very diseased; stones can become lodged in ducts.  Ducts and gallbladders can rupture.  Diseased gallbladders can become cancerous. (Not trying to scare you.) Those hundreds of people may not know it, because they don't have severe symptoms yet.

Do you want to wait till you have really bad symptoms, then have to wait many months for your surgery, or longer, so ill that you find it difficult to hold down a job, much less be in a relationship? The consultant who made that comment to you has probably not experienced what having gallstones can do to someone.  It was a dumb remark to make. You can bet that if the consultant needed surgery he or she wouldn't have to wait months for it....  

Well, this was a bit of a tirade, but you get the picture.  Best of luck and let me know what you decide to do! xx

Hi Michelle I was just like you didn't want my gallbladder out it wasn't giving me that much pain. My husband was very keen for me to get it removed he knew the trouble it could cause. Then in June this year I had a very bad attack & ended up in A&E where they thought I was having a heart attack, after investigating & lots of test it was inflamed gallbladder, they kept me in for a week on antibiotics intervene & thought I could have a stone blocking tube to liver ? Michelle I've had a heart attack 3yrs ago but the gallbladder pain was worst & it's like a ticking time bomb unpredictable could happen anywhere anytime ? Pls take advice from MoeR & Lynda I wished I knew about this site & advice earlier. I've had my gallbladder out last Friday 18/11/16 thank god it was keyhole so glad it's over with, I'm doing really well  just recovering at home it's 6days today I'm eating drinking like normal only pain is soreness. Good luck x

Hi Michelle

?I can only agree with Lynda and MoeR here. I've not had mine out yet due to delays by the hospital and if there had been any improvement I might have had doubts, but I've only survived this year on a very limited diet and never felt very well at all.

I've tried low fat and gluten free diets and all manner of supplements and remedies but although they maybe eased some symptoms, the main troubles are still there.

?I was in a similar mind to you though when I started out as the surgeon said it was up to me as if it was a hairdo or something I was deciding about. I therefore sought a second opinion which I paid for but chose a surgeon with experience of research of gallbladder disease and he was much more definite - 90% sure it would help me and needed to be done.(no-one can say 100% of course). That was very reassuring.

?I hope I will be able to go through with it when the time does come, without any wobbles as some people find their symptoms are not resolved, but of course, they may have had other conditions all along.

?You can ask for a second opinion if still uncertain. If in the UK, due to the long waiting list in some areas (I've waited a year) it is worth going onto the list - if you don't you may regret it, but if you then want to delay surgery, you still can later if you find your symptoms go away.

?I am at the stage when all food affects me and I feel constant pain and nausea, very tired, you don't want to get to this, or have more inflammation and go to the back of a long list again.

Good luck with your journey, take care.

Hi Michelle, I was also reluctant to have my GB removed last year but the symptoms got steadily worse and in the end I went to A&E in April and they took it out just before it ruptured.

I was scared by the awful experiences many people have had after the op but not everyone has them and I've been one of the lucky ones.  Apart from some discomfort and soreness afterwards until the wounds healed, I've so far been free of pain, sickness and bloating.  I also seem to be able to eat anythng including dairy.

I wish you all the best with whatever you decide.

Hi Michelle my GP told me the same. That lots of people walk about with gallstones and don't even know it but on seeing the consultant he said one stone is too many. Must admit i was in two minds as to have the op but after having quite a few flare ups decided to go for it. After being on the waiting list for 7 months I've got a date for next week. I can't wait to be rid of them and go back to eating normally. In the end only you csn decide.