Life after gallbladder removal....

My daughter had intense stomach pains beginning at the age of 12. They first removed her appendix. Then treated her for stomach ulcers, IBS, etc. Then a few years later removed her gallbladder.  For 4 years since then she has suffered in severe pain in the upper right quandrant (where the gallbladder used to be) She has had 5 endoscopies - one with dye and an ultrasound. She has had an ERCP, 4 colonoscopies, 2 HIDA scans, a bowel emptying scan, 3 CT scans of the area, a CT scan of her brain (because she also suffers extreme nausea).  7 hospital visits just in the last 3 months.  2 of those, they kept her for one week because her heart rate was so elevated.  During the last hospital visit, we were asked if she would allow some student interns to observe her.  Either one of them or the doctor at the 7th and last hospital in our town came up with the idea of AIP (Acute Intermittent Porphria).  I have read everything there is to read and the symptoms match.  We are now awaiting lab tests.  Please for those of you suffering, tell your doctors to research this rare blood condition.  There are sites in the US, the UK and Spain doing Trials.

Feeling the same as you.

I had my gallbladder removed back in November and have been sick ever since.  I vomit almost daily.  My whole world has been turned upside down.  I can't go anywhere or do anything.  I barely make it to work, home and bed.  I am miserable.  My doctor told me they have no idea what's wrong.  

My mum had her gall bladder removed 2 years ago after 2 years of pain in upper right abdomen, loads of scans/ liver biopsy / bone marrow test . Anyway she is now back in hospital & had fluid removed from where gall bladder was . I'm waiting results now of fluid. She had sickness / fever / no energy & has problems with autoimmune system due to rheumatoid arthritis, NO DEFINITIVE PROGNOSIS , but after reading up on here this morning about gall bladder removal / bile leakage etc I am more informed & steroids do help her, although cause facial swelling.  

I wish you well , but it's a long road & doctors never seem to know exactly what's going on liver? Bile?  But don't put up with pain, steroids do help. 

I had this done two weeks ago. Still a bit sore. I need time to heal. Out with physical limitations from the op (bruising etc) I am just fine and back to normal.

I only came back to post (read this thread prior to the op) as I was disgusted by the fact all the people who had problems came back to post but few of the majority success stories came back to post. This will be making people needlessly worried. Most of us are better having the op than not and have very mild issues after removal we can learn to manage. Ask your surgeon not an internet board. I also note people who have problems have other things wrong with them too. If you are generally fit and healthy as I was you will be fine.

I have had NONE of the scary things I have seen posted on here happen to me. I can't even tell it is gone apart from eating very large meals (they run through me probably lack of bile to handle that). Out with that I have been throwing all sorts of crazy foods at this I have not been able to eat for well over a year - no issues at all. I had got to the point I could barely eat with my dead gallbladder. The final months before I went for removal I was eating bland basic food. Now I CAN EAT ANYTING! Don't wait if it is bad get it out.

I find my stools a bit softer than before BUT I have only one movement a day and no diarrhoea. I expect getting my diet healthier and well past the pain pill withdrawal to improve that. But I stress ZERO diarrhoea and I have been eating all sorts of treats (well you would too after a solid year of eating bland food). Can you imagine a year without Chocolate! Now I can eat it without diarrhoea. WOHOO!

A few tips as I know people are going to read this so here are a few tips to make your life easier getting the op:

The worst thing is getting off the pain pills after the op, that is horrible. Do it as soon as you can, do not leave it. Five days off I still don't feel right. But I have had ops and pills before, it takes a few weeks. The problem is without them you will not be able to get through the op. Only stop when the pain goes down but don't drag it out. Expect your bowls to be funny until those pills are gone. Do not judge your recovery until you are off pain meds.

They will use gas to blow you up to do the op. After you wake up start eating straight away, do not have any fear (you are on pain pills so you won't get diarrhoea) and start moving as soon as you can. Try to get some fresh fruit in to get the bowls moving ASAP and get that air out. If you don't the gas will cause you terrible pain. It breaks "rapidly" once you eat and move. Embarrassing yes but at least no pain. You will see.

Rest for 2 weeks straight, do nothing. After one week you will be fairly mobile but sore. I tried to go back to work after a week big mistake. You will be too sore. Use that time to get off pain pills and start testing what you can and can't eat (for me I seem to be able to eat anything I want). It is worth throwing foods at it to find out. Long term them I don't think I will have any issues following a healthy balanced diet.

If you end up with a drain left in. Don't panic it will dry up and be removed. I had one. Scared the hell out of me but it has a purpose. Ha that hurts to take out but it also made me laugh as it is a funny bone type thing when they pull it out. I would not stop pain meds if a drain is used until it is out.

Shower for two weeks the wounds will nip bathed and may harm the stitches. But keep clean less chance of infections.

If you need it out as life is terrible with it I don't think it can get anything but better without it. There is no way to remove just the stones as the gallbladder tissue is destroyed by the presence of stones if you start getting attacks (these contractions basically kill it). After my third attack I knew it was dead. There will be a wait and see period but if you get one attack that puts you in hospital it is probably a lost cause.

Anyway good luck it is not easy but it has not left me with any serious permanent health issues. So you see can't all be doom and gloom. I would not take my broken gallbladder back for a second. I am much happier now. Good luck with your op!

My reply is to all of you. Use your search engines. Animals that have gallbladders and animals without gallbladders. If you have stones or had your gallbladder removed you need to eat like a horse. You need to eat like a cow. You need to eat like an elephant. A Lion has a heavy meal every week. Lions need a gallbladder to store bile for the heavy fatty meal. (Apparently humans eat that way too.) Now that the gallbladder is gone or sick you need to graze. Make your own bean dip for protein, navy bean soup, lentil soup. Eat your fruits and veggies. Eat smaller portions. It is your responsibility to feel good. Get 2nd opinion or 10 more. Hearing one of you can only eat pretzels or saltines is crazy. Unsated nuts is better than flour and salt. Try one nut, not the whole bag.Train your mouth to stop eating when you feel full.

Hi kaylasec,

How did this turn out for you?

I recently had my gallbladder removed and had to get an ERCP surgery to fix a bile leak. Luckily, I didn't need a stent.

I had a positive experience with surgery. I feel terrible that many of you have these bad reactions and then you have regular joes telling you what you should and shouldn't do.

I suffered with gallbladder issues for years.  I think it is hereditary being my aunt and cousin had theirs removed.  I went through every battery of test including the one that they look to see if it contracts properly.  I almost fell off the table when I did that test.  I had the surgery in 2012 and I can say this outside of fried chicken which gave me indigestion before the surgery, I eat what I want.  The first night I slept like a log.  The second day I slept like a log.  I had to walk off the trapped air which hurt me all the way up to my shoulder.  My mother had me walk to get my strength and I returned back to normal.  It really took about four months to be unbothered by like spicy food etc. I eat tons of ethnic food.  It sucked for a minute but I got better fast.  The worst complaint was I had about 10 days of loose stools before my body adjusted.  I was a worshipper to yr porcelain gods.  No cramping just loose stools that made me have to take a shower.  I also was trying to get the ball rolling by eating chipotle.  I was an idiot.  

That subsided and I ate like crazy.  Who wouldn't be  after eating crackers, Jello, and soup for ten days.

Mine was black and eventually was going to have to be removed.  Don't be scared or let these other comments from desperate and concerned people scare you.  It isn't that bad,  and it is work to your body it's going to be uncomfortable, but you will get better.

I will say that I think my constipation due to hemmorhoids was more the reason for my discomfort.  Google searching that is a nightmare because you run into all these posts of my life sucks I have to end it all.  The type this being a couple of days out.   If it is recommended and you have gone through multiple channels go with it because if I fuses to other organs they have to open you up the old fashioned way and that is painful.  Good luck! 

I just had my gall bladder removed two days ago (outpatient). The worst for me after surgery were the side affects from the anesthesia. Ugh!!! I was nauseas, had a very bad taste in my mouth, drowsy-horrible feeling, and unsteady on my feet. I was told I had to urinate before being released from the hospital-I had no problem with doing that. I haven't had any pain just a little sore..I've been taking extra strength Tylenol as needed for the soreness, but overall, so far this GB removal experience hasn't been bad. I had a bowel movement the next day (which I was told is usually a complication after GB surgery). I was kinda leary about having my GB removed, but the pain I was having was unbearable!!  I just want to encourage others who's considering having their GB removed. Every individual is different and someone else's experience may not be your exact experience. You may experience pain/ other complications and you may not. I can testify! 

Hi

I had my gall bladder removed 17th August 2017. I had stones plus a polyp which had grown over a few years so it needed removing. I had constant pain in my rib cage this year which felt like I had a pebble in there. It started in 2011 and became more problematic as the polyp few. Also had stones.

I am now having all sorts of pains/sensations/tenderness on right side below rubs, within ribs, front, back and side. GP I saw 2 days ago said the tenderness is not normal and has referred me for scan via the surgical team in an attempt to get it done quick. After reading all your posts I am sceptical of this being resolved. I am meant to be returning to work but I just don't feel up to it but I will have to.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences as I had started to think it was all in my head.

I will let you know what happens.

I truly wish you all a great recovery where you can get back to some normality.

Anyone I know who's had this op has said "You'll feel like a different person after the op!" They meant in a good way. So far I'm not convinced.