Gallbladder Surgery
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello All! I'm due to have my gallbladder removed on Wednesday morning. Feeling very nervous about the whole thing. I've heard some really bad things about after surgery. So, I'm not exactly sure what to expect. I'm having mine removed because I have stones and the lining of my gallbladder has begun to thicken (not sure what that means) Just know that I want the pain to be gone. If anyone has any insight to share I'd def appreciate it.
0 likes, 26 replies
jackieh1972
Posted
Also, has anyone else gotten really hot all of a sudden? I have been getting really hot while doing nothing. Not sure if it's just a hot flash or if it's from the gallbladder
mark31690 jackieh1972
Posted
The surgery is a piece of cake. BUT make sure your doctor gives you good painkillers for Post OP pain. I had terrible pain and my doctor gave some painkiller that didn't work. I hurt bad, but putin Ice on those spots helped alot IF you have that pain. I feel wonderful now and eat whatever I want. Mines removed in May of 2016. in the usa
dona13066 jackieh1972
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Please let me put your mind at ease. I had mine out just under 2wks ago and recovering well. Off painkillers and flying off for a week in the sun tomorrow (not even 2wks after surgery). Unfortunately I think those who have had poor recoveries or something wrong are more likely to post wanting reassurance or questions answered. Good luck for weds
lynda20916 jackieh1972
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Hi, Jackie, I understand that you're nervous. It's only natural. But, you'll be so relieved not to have a diseased organ in your body. If you have keyhole surgery, you need to remember that it's still major surgery, and you need to rest and let yourself heal properly. Follow the post-op instructions and all should be well. Best of luck, and let us know how you do.
jackieh1972
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I have to be at the hospital at 7:15 am. So I'll let everyone know how it went. Thanks for all the comments and the positive comments
dona13066 jackieh1972
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carol38455 jackieh1972
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jackieh1972
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Surgery went well. I had 13 stones. I'm soar today. The meds the doctor gave me aren't strong enough but, I've already called to see if he can give me something stronger. I have a follow up appointment on the 19th so, I'll let everyone know how that goes.
dona13066 jackieh1972
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joschoonie jackieh1972
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jackieh1972
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So today is day 10 after my surgery. I'm still in quite a bit of pain. It's mainly the top incision under my ribs that hurts. I'm not happy with my doctor's office either. I've left 3 messages and still haven't gotten a call back from them. It's really depressing not being able to get answers when you need them. The pain that I get doesn't go away walking it gets worse. And trying to find things to eat that won't upset my stomach is another issue. Can't wait until Tuesday to see what the doctor says. If the pain doesn't lessen I might just go to the walk-in clinic near me.
lynda20916 jackieh1972
Posted
Hi, Jackie, Glad that your surgery went well. Now, you're into your recovery and your body is trying to adjust. Hopefully, you'll be able to get some answers on Tuesday.
If you don't mind me asking, what are you eating that's upsetting your stomach?
jackieh1972 lynda20916
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almost everything. Last night I baked a chicken. So, I have chicken breast no skin, rice and peas both with very little butter. I try to eat health and it doesn't seem to help.
John1066 jackieh1972
Posted
Hi
I had stones and a thickened gallbladder the same as you. This resulted in pre op hospitalisation on two ocassions.
In February 2016 my gall bladder was removed laparascopically. Post operatively I recovered well with minimal pain and problems. I could eat my usual diet with one glass of wine or a G&T about once or twice a week. Life returned to normal reasonably quickly.
All was going well until the beginning of July. I then experienced a constant globus sensation under my sternum, with heartburn. This is more pronounced first thing in the morning, when I also wake up with reflux. I do not know if this is acid or bile. I now realise that GB surgery is not as straightforward as it is made out to be by doctors. I have to find a strategy to cope with this. I am not in favour of PPIs so will have to find natural and dietary methods.
From reading others experiences it is obvious that recovery is very much an individualised process, so hang in there and read as much as you can on the subject. Don't rely on doctors to provide all the answers. You have to think outside of the box to which they are often confined.
John1066 jackieh1972
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Read up on digestive enzymes. They allegedly help your digestion post surgery particularly with fat. I am currently 3 days into trying them for my acidity, heartburn, and the feeling of an undigested lump just under my sternum. It is too early to tell but I seem to have an improvement. Whether this is due to the digestive enzymes, or the fact that I am also having porridge for breafast and drinking more water, I don't know.
If you haven't already done so, try eating smaller meals and have more frequent small healthy snacks. I make this latter point on the theoretical basis that with bile constantly dripping into your small intestine (rather than being stored in yourGB) this can give the bile something to work on and possibly less upsetting to your system.
lynda20916 John1066
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Best, LyndaÂ
John1066 lynda20916
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Hello Lynda
?Thanks for your reply re a hiatus hernia. It is a little ambiguous as to whether I have a H.H. When I was having digestive problems prior to my GB flare up and subsequent removal, I had an investigation and suggested this possibility to the gastro specialist. He then performed an endoscopy. In the follow up I was told I didn't have a hiatus hernia but there were two smallish diverticulae discovered in my oesophagus. However, when I had a recent GP consultation she read through my hospital notes and to my surprise mentioned that they said I had a small H.H.
?I saw an osteopath this week for neck and shoulder pain and told her about this alleged H.H.. She felt under my diaphragm and said all was well and did not think I had a H.H. I don't know what to believe now.
?I do know that post gall bladder surgey you can experience the sensation of a lump under the strenum. Apparently this is called a globus and may be acid reflux related.
?It is a puzzle and challenge to come up with possible solutions. I favour natural and dietary ones rather than PPIs etc.
lynda20916 John1066
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Hi, John,
I discovered that I had a small hiatal hernia when I read the full report of a radiologist for a CT scan I got last year. My GI wasn't worried about it, but they hadn't found it when they yanked my gallbladder in 2009.
I wouldn't trust any hands on external exam because they can't see what's going on inside. And, as for the hospital notes, I think that the MD will only focus on what supports their diagnosis. If you saw it, you might want to explore other pathways, and they want to keep you under control.
John1066 lynda20916
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​In the UK the GPs (MDs) tend to be reactive rather than proactive, and you have to push quite hard for specialist investigation if you feel that something is not quite right. It probably stems from the fact that they complain about being overloaded, and are not rewarded when straying from the script. They are funded per capita whether you use their service or not.  An example of this was my GP on one occasion commenting on how dark my urine sample was, but he did not consider it necessary to investigate further. I was not aware at that time that this was a symptom of a Gb problem.  The dark urine was obviously indicative of my Gb problem developing at least a year before it became more pronounced and requiring intervention. Unfortunately I find that you have to acquire a certain level of expertise and try and join the dots yourself.
​The days of forming a relationship with a GP who knows your medical history etc are long gone. Invariably when you do arrange a consultation it is usually one of a number of GPs within the practice. It can take at least 2 weeks for a consultation and that is only if you are prepared to accept any available GP. They therefore have a quick scan of your most recent computer entry before your 10 minute appontment.
lynda20916 John1066
Posted
Almost the same here in the US. There is a waiting list for primary care physicians. Many take on no new clients for years. And, if they leave a practice it's the devil to get another one. Long waits until appointments can be booked. They have 10-15 minutes and so many patients, they can't seem to keep it straight, even with notes.
I recently got disgusted working with my pcp. I felt that I had a problem that couldn't be dealt with at a leisurely pace. I called and asked for a referral to a specialist. No news for 4 days. I called again and was reminded by reception that the pcp only worked part time. I asked to be assigned to another pcp, telling reception that I was older and didn't have the time to wait for the pcp to get back to me.
Reception put me on hold till they hunted the pcp down and got me a referral to a practice that specialized in what I needed. Since that time, saw the specialist (July 5), then a surgeon (July 14) and had surgery (July 18).
If they don't want to practice good medicine, I wonder what's good enough medicine.
I would not opt for surgery for an H.H., either.
Best of luck to you. Seems to me that you will be one of the ones that can save themselves!
John1066 lynda20916
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Hello again Lynda, wishing you the best also.
Wow, "saw the specialist (July 5), then a surgeon (July 14) and had surgery (July 18)".
?My GB experience: Beginning of June 2015 as GB problem mimicked heart attack, a mobile paramedic after a home visit had me immediately admitted to the local hospital accident and emergency department. Discharged 4 hours later with no US scan or definitive diagnosis and with a handful of pain killers. No follow up by GP despite the practice receiving hospital discharge papers.
?August 2015 admitted to hospital by GP after home visit due to fever and severe abdominal pain. He suspected GB problems. Received scan, and thickened GB with stones and sludge detected. My condition in hospital declined and I was becoming more jaundiced and rapidly losing weight. Put on waiting list in hospital for ECRP to fish out a stone blocking my bile duct. Procedure completed 4 days later. Discharged from hospital after a further day, with a box of anti-biotics and no date for GB surgery, but told I was on a waiting list. By December 2015 I still had not been assigned for surgery. Following a letter of complaint I was given a date in January 2016. I subsequently received a letter cancelling the January date. I then received a reassigned date and GB surgery was performed 7 months after my initial hospital admission! After my hospital discharge there was no follow up by the GP surgery or the hospital to assess my post operative progress. From what I can determine on this site my experience is not the exception.
I suppose I shouldn't moan as I had a good post operative recovery and up until about 3 weeks ago I ate as before the op (because I was told to do so by a dietician) and had no digestive problems whatsoever.
?It is early days but my new dietary regime in conjuction with digestive enzymes SEEMS to be working. Here's hoping.
lynda20916 John1066
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I hope so, too. I lucked out with respect to the surgery. Someone cancelled their operation and they stuck me in her slot the Monday before I saw the surgeon on Thursday. I'm forever grateful.
Please let us know how you get on!