Gallbladder removal vs keeping gallbladder

Hi had mine removed 10 weeks ago cos of stones . Had bile duct opened to remove adhesions. Was painful for about 5 weeks after op. But omg was it worth it . I can not eat anything I like without pain . I'm being careful not to eat too much fat , as this gives me loose bowels for a cple of hrs after I've eaten anything high in fat . Like fish & chips for example , but apart from that I'm pain free & enjoying life . Good luck if you decide to have op , best thing I've ever done .

Hi,

?I had my Gb out reluctantly as read so many negatives, but nothing I tried would reduce symptoms after having stones for many years.

?I had several op dates cancelled by the hospital (long story I posted on here!) eventually had it removed last Dec after waiting a year with lots of digestive symptoms and pain.

?It was a good thing I went through with it as I had some abnormal cells and the consultant said it was as well it was done. It healed up well, but I stuck to the doctor's advice to continue on low fat and light foods for a while post surgery until my liver adjusted to new arrangement and then introduced other foods slowly to see if they suited.

?I have since then had a knee replacement surgery which has been very difficult and painful, so to be honest, sort of forgot about the gallbladder surgery, but I still eat quite carefully. I have a hiatal hernia so must eat carefully anyway or that can cause problems. But overall, I do not think about it often and the scars have faded away to pale. So, I do not regret the surgery but I know it is different for each person.

?Wish you the best with your journey whichever way you decide.

Hi Katie. Had my gallbladder out December last year as it was full of stones. They had been there for years. I was doing ok until March and ended up in A&E. The pain was exactly like a gallbladder attack. A couple of weeks later had an ultrasound to see if there was a stone left in there but it showed nothing. To cut a long story short the only explanation they can up with is a stone must have passed through by itself. Since then I've been fine. Still careful what i eat but eating more now. I think if you keep getting attacks it's worth having it out. It just takes time to get back to normal but it's your decision. Everyone's dufferent. Best of luck. Jill

Hi

1. I had my gallbladder surgery three months ago. Painful attacks started in July 2016. These got worse, sometimes lasting three or four days, despite sticking to a low fat diet. Not only were they painful, but I was gradually getting more and more exhausted by them.

I also had jaundice and was in danger of septic shock. I spent a week in hospital in October 2015, catheterised, on IV fluids and antibiotics and on oxygen to clear the jaundice.

2. I had to have open surgery because I had too many large stones lodged in my bile duct. Open surgery takes longer to recover from. Then when they examined my gallbladder in the labs, a small growth was found, so five weeks later I had to have a liver resection which obviously affected the length of my recovery. I hasten to add that this is quite rare. I know five people who've had this surgery, four of whom had laparoscopic surgery and all recovered quickly with no lasting problems and I am recovering well too, despite having two major surgeries within five weeks. I have had little on the way of post cholecystectomy symptoms but I take Omeprazole to help. Aside from asthma inhalers, I take no other medication. I am a 67 year old female.

There is pain after any surgery, but they give you strong painkillers in hospital which helps. Also getting out of bed the day after surgery and moving about hastens recovery.

3. I felt that if the doctors did not recommend a flush, it wasn't a good idea as they don't undertake surgery lightly if there is an alternative. They tried ERCP on me twice to try and remove the stones from the bile duct but it didn't work.

4. No flush

5. Yes I would do it again in the same circumstances and I have no regrets whatsoever. I could not go on in the state I was in and the fact that the cancer was discovered early as a result, probably saved my life.

Hello everyone. I had my gallbladde taken out on saturday evening. I have a little bit of pain in my right shoulder but not too bad. And i am a little sore. I did not need narcotics as tyenol and ibuprofen manage the pain. Which i am very thankful because i get really really sick on them. Thabks for all the advice and prayers. It really means a lot. i am feeling so much better now as food is not trying to kill me.