1. Community
  2. Liver and gallbladder
  3. Gallbladder Problems

Gaulbladder problems

Posted , 8 users are following.

joanne_14554
joanne_14554

Hi everyone, i totally agree that not enough information is provided to patients after post op. its not acceptable to be told you dont need your Gaulbladder, i do appreciate like myself it was a necessity to have it removed but it is there for a reason along with all our anatomy to function and be healthy.

I had a difficult operation and recovery and immediately after the surgery told, you can eat whatever you like!' which worried me that this was the only information available and told to look on googel for what to eat. 

Since this time and a lot of research later i am finally beginning to feel better and i really feel for people on here that post messages expressing the difficulties and lack of information out there from the health providers and i realise this is not everyones experince but one is too many. 

I have spent several months posting any advice i feel i can provide within my knowledge and experince and always express to peolpe if anything does occur that is impacting your health to the point of not being able to function properly always contact your doctor always and if thats not enough seek further guidance from another health professional or higher. 

i trully wish everyone all the best on here and happy to chat to anyone who wishes to know my experinces and sending all my best wishes to you all Joanne

 

1 like, 20 replies

20 Replies

Next
  • donnie888
    donnie888 joanne_14554

    Posted

    What did you feel after your operation? And for how long?
    • joanne_14554
      joanne_14554 donnie888

      Posted

      Hi Donnie,

      I had two very large stones removed and they had complications removing these. Thankfully i did not get the full operation. I was unable to do a lot due to severe pain after the operation and was kept in hospital, which was supposed to be a couple of days but ended up being 3 days in total. I felt deep pain arround the umbilicus area my tummy button and where they had put in a bag after surgery. 

      I was very weak and exhausted which is normal i guess given the size of the stones. I felt very sick even though i was not actually sick. I struggled to go to the bathroom given the amount of pain i was in sitting was difficult and painful and i ended up taking Tramadol which was hardly taking the pain away. 

      eventually i did however start to feel a lot better and the pain slowly got better and i made sure i took regular medication and rested. soreness then took over, this has taken me nearly 7 weeks and still recovering and ensuring i remain on a low fat diet and have lost 4 stones to date. I get ocassional sickness feeling still but i add new foods gradually to my diet. 

      hope this gives you some idea joanne

  • Dews48
    Dews48 joanne_14554

    Posted

    Totally agree...

    I was also told I could eat what I wanted !

    That was not the case, I could only eat light bland foods for weeks otherwise I would be doubled up on the loo.

    Im now 12 months post op, im finding my nails are brittle, i'm putting on weight and my bowels are horrendous.

    Very urgent bowel movements every morning up to 6 times .

    Seen several drs and I can't seem to get answers . Currently under a consultant to try and find out what is causing my issues and it was me that mentioned relation to having no gallbladder in relation to my symptoms.

    Im having to do my own investigating and what im finding out myself all points to having no gallbladder.

    If it it wasn't for me pushing for answers i would be living with a diagnosis of IBS which I no is utter rubbish !

    • lynda20916
      lynda20916 Dews48

      Posted

      A diagnosis of IBS is utter rubbish.  There is a medication that can be prescribed by doctors to absorb the excess bile that could be causing your diarrhea.  Most gastroenterologists should know about this medication. If your stools contain yellow caustic liquid the liquid is bile. 
    • joanne_14554
      joanne_14554 Dews48

      Posted

      Hi so sorry to here what you have been through, its horrendous to me that so many peolpe are suffering with Gaulbladder issues and being left to their own devices and to basically we have to shout very loud to get ant help i was a year waiting for an operation and this is a short period of time compared to some poor individuals. I seriously am annoyed that when i asked for advice at the hospital from the dietician i was told to go on the web as i would get more help on there.

      I trullyhope that you receive the medical help that you need and that things improve for you and that this consultant  is able to help you going forward. kind regards Joanne

    • Dews48
      Dews48 lynda20916

      Posted

      I am currently on a weeks trial of Questran but i am only on this as I mentioned it to my DR. I will also be pushing for a scan which can diagnose BAM .

      All this ive found out for myself .

      Im fed up of being fobbed off !!

    • Dews48
      Dews48 joanne_14554

      Posted

      Thanks Joanne. And yes i need a diagnosis now as my symptoms are controlling my life at the moment .
    • lynda20916
      lynda20916 Dews48

      Posted

      It can take more than a week for Questran (cholestyramine is the generic equivalent) to work well in your body.

      BAM can also be diagnosed via a blood test.  Some individuals  (for unknown reasons) stop producing the hormone that allows the bile to be reabsorbed by the body at the end of the digestive process.  The blood test was developed by the mayo clinic in the USA.

    • joanne_14554
      joanne_14554 Dews48

      Posted

      My heart goes out to you it really does, there is nothing worse than suffering with awful stomach symptoms and no one giving real answers especially what you are experiencing. Having gone through my own experience and not being able work for year it really took my life away. But I do believe there is always light at the end of the tunnel and make sure you get the help you need. I wish you all luck with your health really do. Joanne 
    • Dews48
      Dews48 joanne_14554

      Posted

      Thanks Joanne

      Ive also been of work and now on half pay so I need to get sorted so I can get back to work and get my life back on track .

  • Moonday
    Moonday joanne_14554

    Posted

    Thank you Joanne ... I agree with all you say .... in the 21st century to be told next to nothing after care of your gallbladder is unbelievable, but sadly that's how it is.  how can they say eat anything you want, when for me prior to my op my doctor rang me one evening with blood test results and told me to avoid drinking alcohol in the evening as my liver was being affected.  When I told her I didn't drink at all it (I've been a vegetarian for nearly 30 years and I don't drink alcohol) was a big indicator that my GB had to be removed.  If my liver was being affected as if I drank lots of alcohol BEFORE I had the op, how can they say eat what you want to after the op.  It doesn't make sense to me.

  • Micklemus
    Micklemus joanne_14554

    Posted

    I find it incredible that all patients with gall bladder stone confirmation is not given the full picture and choices how to achieve elimination of their gall stones........

    Because my experience proves that  1  the youngish lady registrar did not have the full knowledge for her to tell me that there was only one way to eradicate my cholesterol gall stones was to remove my gall bladder which was absolutely wrong because I still have a functioning gall bladder but most certainly not by her doing.

    How was it that her superior knew what I had researched but she had not and she was forceful about her expertise that she had not obtained at that point in her carrier.  How many more patients in addition to my self who could have got rid of their stones as I did by dissolution by taking ursodioxycholic acid tablets and not have their gall bladder extracted ? 

    Although the situation should not happen in medical terms it has and does happen.... This situation is unforgivable because there is no doubt in my mind that some medics  know full well that it is entirely feasible to dissolve cholesterol stones rather that tell a person that they must have their gall bladder removed. Not only can gall stones be 'cure' by dissolution of them but by doing that the very fact that an operation is avoided and hence that may keep a person alive when an operation that does not go right for

    them may prove the end of them........

    The above is also in addition to the fact that many patients are never right again after gall bladder removal.

    It is a fact that a gall bladder removal is the only option in many cases but this is not the case for every single person.  Common sense tells me something is not quite right regarding the cut and dried situation that some medics advise.

    • breeze61
      breeze61 Micklemus

      Posted

      Hi Micklemus, I'm interested in what you have to say because I'm not keen to have my gallbladder removed if not necessary.

      I was diagnosed with two small gallstones after three gallbladder attacks, the last one causing me to have jaundice. At that time I was into fatty cheese, olives and crisps for snacks but not overweight. Since the ultra sound diagnosis, I've cut out the cheese and other junk food and not had any symptons for 7 months. I had an MRI about a month ago and from that the consultant has said, no blockages and has put me on the list for an op.

      Could you tell me if you can get the ursodioxycholic acid tablets without prescription in Uk and how long do they take to dissolve a small kidney stone.

      thanks

      tony/

    • Micklemus
      Micklemus breeze61

      Posted

      It is best to insist you are given those tabs = Ursodioycholic acid first by your GP or if like me they are not educated in such matters or your consultant who should know about Urso and that fact that it does dissolve gall stones of cholesterol type.  It took me 6 months to dissolve three stones completely and to dissolve one stone from 17mm to 20mm down to 10mm. There is one other small stone or should I say there may be one other because I had an episode many months ago when ifelt like my old symptoms but only one night when I was vomitting in the early hours so it may have been a stone passing and these can get wedged in the bile duct for a length of time.

      My surgeon is one of the most eminent gastros in the area of Nottingham and he was very

      agreeable to me trying the dissolution course of action.  It was my Heamatologist who asked him for that treatment & as I did not want the knife he said he would give me the script for the Urso then the GP's have to repeat the scripts...... Urso is given also to reduce liver damage due to it's acid level function. However a liver function test is given before and during the treatment. 

      Research it on the net as it is more widely known about in the USA==== (aren't lots of technical things ?)

    • Micklemus
      Micklemus

      Posted

      I see Ursodioxycholic acid tabs which the dose is given regarding body weight i.e. if a person weighs 12.5 stones then the dose is 650 mg per one dose a day during the evening meal.

      I see they are available but may be prohibited on eb. Why pay when the doctors should be prescribing them to you ?

    • breeze61
      breeze61 Micklemus

      Posted

      Hi Micklemus, Sorry for the delay in replying and thankyou for the very useful information. I will ask my consultant if he will let me persue this course of action, but I think he is one of those I know best types.

      thanks again.

      I will let you know how I get on.

    • Micklemus
      Micklemus breeze61

      Posted

      He may be the same as the registrar and not know about Urso and if that is true there are other who most certainly know full well that urasodioxycholic acid does dissolve cholesterol gall stones.

      I've heard it said on this forum regarding the subject of gall bladder stones that if they are dissolved by dissolution 'they can come back'.  That may be true so whats wrong then with retaking another course of tablets providing they do not have an adverse effect on the individual taking them?

      It is also known that a preventative dose can be taken but the specialists are very 'thin on the ground' who know fully about that fact.

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.