Gallbladder Removal - What to expect afterwards
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi, my name is Imogen and i've only recently had my gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery. It all started after one night i had an intense pain in my right side underneath my ribcage, where upon it spread to my back and left side. Then came the nausea, shaking and loss of appetite for a week. Went to doctors several times until they did a blood test and sent me to hospital immediately because they thought i had hepetitis (something to do with the billirubin levels). This was scary because i do not drink, have never been near a cigarette or a tropical country, no tattoos and am only 15 years old.
So i went to the hospital and they did an ultrasound and found out i had gallstones instead. They said that that was also rare for a young healthy girl to have too, which wasnt much of a confidence boost i must say. They also believe that i have had gallstones for a couple of years now ( which really does explain alot of things to me about why i am so weird with how and what i eat, and the comstant pain). So they had to send me to an adult hospital for them to perform an ERCP because they believed i had a few trapped. This did not work so they put a stent in the pancreatic duct instead, then they found out that i had 20-30 stones in my common ducts aswell which prevented the ERCP from working to get into my bile duct! I was a bloody bag of marbles i was.
Luckily, after a few weeks out of hospital the stent had cleared the stones mostly from my ducts, but there were still many within my gallbladder. So hence why i have had it removed completely, and now i am confused as go how to carry on with daily life. When we tried to ask doctors about how i should approach eating without a gallbladder, each said an entirely different thing, so am left worrying about what i can or cant eat. Also, i am excruciatingly emetophobic ( frightened to death of throwing up) so anything that could cause me to throw up scares the hell out of me! Also, no one really explained why i have so much pain even though my gallbladder is now out, and for how long it will last ( including the nausea).
If anyone could help me that would be much appreciated, because i don't know what to do.
2 likes, 33 replies
sunshinemb Steelimo9
Posted
Wow that really is a young age to have gallstones!
I had my gall bladder removed via keyhole 2months ago but only had one large stone
but it caused me a lot of trouble! I am 58!
I have a friend who is 21 and she has just gone through the exact same thing as you a few weeks ag....,many gallstones, stent, ERCP, gall bladder removal etc etc.
Even though GP or Surgeon may say that it only takes a few weeks to recover I personally think it takes a few months!
I have kept to an almost vegetarian low fat diet, eating small amounts of food, drinking plenty of fluids, I also have some anti nausea tablets from my GP!
and avoided any strenuous movements giving my insides time to heal.
You have had a number of invasive procedures and this takes a toll on your body!
Rest up a lot and give yourself a few months to allow everything to heal properly!
I have had to do this but I also have a chronic illness aswell so I knew this was
going to be slow progress!
If you are very anxious about your situation this can make the nausea worse and
that in itself is very difficult to deal with on top of your recent surgery!
I hope this helps and you take care of yourself
janet74211 sunshinemb
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lori73442 sunshinemb
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sunshinemb janet74211
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Great to hear from you!
And glad you are feeling a lot better!
I have been trying to rest and not been on internet much
as I wanted to get fit enough to go on a couple of christmas
do's!!
But all in all feeling better each day!
I hope you are doing ok and feeling a lot lot better?!
janet74211 Steelimo9
Posted
Like sunshine my gallbladder removed just under 2 months ago and I can totally agree with all she wrote. I still have pain, nausea etc. But improving all the time. My surgeon actually told me on my post op visit that it's not a quick fix. Body has to heal and it takes time. A lot of people will vary. Patience and time is what is needed.
Steelimo9 janet74211
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lori73442 janet74211
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lori73442 Steelimo9
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janet74211 lori73442
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lori73442 janet74211
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Tired of the sore feeling. But I have worse. I had a virual bug that made me hurt for 6 months.
Try walking shorter time. Lucky I can't really dance. I hope you are feeling better today.
Let me know how you are doing and if you find anything that helps. Family is sick of my low fat diet but I'm sticky with it. I see my surgeon tomorrow, not looking forward to him chewy me out for my walk to walmart. I'm hang in there.
Been watching Christmas movies and hockey. Our college team the Ducks won their civil war game. So they are going to the new playoffs. Daughter has been sick for almost a week with a bug. First day she stayed home from school.
Take care. Little at at a time. I know its hard but the pain isn't worth it.
janet74211 lori73442
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sunshinemb Steelimo9
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It definitely not a quick recovery operation, and if you do too much lifting and bending it will take even longer to heal inside!
My friend has now got a hernia in one of the scar sites because she did some heavy lifting and bending and now needs another operation to fix it!
I had a chocolate doughnut yesterday, the first time I have strayed from my low fat diet and the pain and discomfort was back for the first time!
I have cut out cheese altogether aswell as chocolate and going to stay on my home made soups and chicken dinners!!
lori73442 janet74211
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Saw the doctor finally for my post op. Says I'm doing o.k. but since I have fibro it will take longer to heal. If I'm still not feeling good in a couple days blood test and urine test. He had me make another appointment in two weeks if I need it.
He did say rest and drink lots of water. But I can add more walking in and slowly add back some of my normal foods. Lost more weight which I'm glad, so since Oct. lost probably 15 pounds. Would love to loss more.
I caught a bug. Nurse took my temp and it was 99.5. Just what I needed a bug.
I hope your bone destiny gets better. I'm very grateful for the site too. I'm waiting for my daughters test to come back, the quick test said she didn't have strep. Had to her home again today, doctors orders.
Hang in there and let me know how you are doing. Fever no wonder I kept waking up hot. Take care.
janet74211 sunshinemb
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lori73442 janet74211
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I'm happy with the weight I lost. I can't wait until I can go for my long walks and exercise and losse more. Lost about 15 pounds since Oct. One good thing comes from a bad one.
Which donut are you craving for Janet?
Doing better today. Fibro pain only it seems. I just hope this bug goes away soon. Husband sick now too. Daughter home again today, sent her to school yesterday and she had bad body aches, plus last night she hurt her nose on her bed frame and she thought she broke it. Was bleeding but not a lot. She does have a nice bruise by her nice and eye today. Boy my family is having a blast.
sunshinemb janet74211
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I will have another one before Christmas!!!
But I think I will eat it in two sittings..!!!
janet74211 sunshinemb
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janet74211 lori73442
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lori73442 sunshinemb
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Looking forward to Cinnamon rolls for Christmas, but hoping I won't get bad pains from one.
lori73442 janet74211
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Janet do you know anything about bile reflex and what to take for it. I'm not having it but Leni is on here and she really needs help to deal with it.
Doing o.k. today. I haven't slept good the last two nights. First night I couldn't rest easy by left breast hurt. Last night my sprain shoulder was hurting and I was almost in a full panick attack, I couldn't figure out at first what was going on.
Got out for awhile today. Going to be out more tomorrow Christmas parade and other Christmas stuff. I won't over do it. Most of the places we are going have seats and I will take water.
If you can help me with Leni I would appreciate it. She has a baby.
janet74211 lori73442
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lori73442 janet74211
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I was feeling great yesterday. Cramps and fibro pain only. So I'm going to figure out what me and my daughter can bake for Christmas. We love divinity and it's low fat, made with egg whites only.