Long wait for gallbladder operation?

Posted , 7 users are following.

At the begining of May I had horrendous pain and sickness for 12 hours.  It was bank holiday and din'twant to bother doctors (fool!) so waited to see GP on the Tuesday by which time pain not so bad.  He knew instantly it cholecystitis.  Took bloods.  He phoned me in the afternoon.  White cell count and inflammation indicator both sky high.  Said I had to go into hospital and this was duly arranged and told to report to surical assessment ward.  Arrived - no beds.  Only treatment was some antibiotic tablets and sent home but to return at 8.30 next day for scan.  Had scan (multiple stones, thickened and swollen) and saw consultant who said he would put me down for gallbladder removal within 6 weeks.

Had pre-op on 7 June.  After 6 weeks no appointment so spoke to hospital.  Operation  has now been marked as routine and will not be for at least another 3 months.  Another GP at my practice has told me if not done before winter it will probably be next year!  Is this delay normal waiting time now?  If so why did the consultant say 6 weeks?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Diane

    Please don’t get this op until you try Quebra Pedra, this is a herb from the amazon jungle, it works wonders for gall stones and kidney stones, and keeps them from ever returning. Doctors will tell you, you don’t need your gall bladder, but this is wrong. Ever organ has a purpose, or we wouldn’t have it in the first place. The gall bladder stores bile, this is released as we eat each meal, when this is taken out, bile is released into the stomach full force, hence, this causes problems with digestion. Obviously you can survive without a gall bladder, but you are more prone to developing certain health problems ie fatty liver, indegestion, deficiencies of essential fatty acids and fat soluble nutrients. Your liver will continue to manufacture bile, but there’s no where to store it, therefore it continues to trickle into the intestines, fat will be poorly digested, hence, you will experience diarrhoea, bloating, nausea, indegestion. 

    • Posted

      Gillian - thank you for the information.  I have looked at all options, including things such as the item you mention.  I am quite happy to proceed with surgery.  If it was just a case of having a couple of stones in there it would be a different matter.  I have several friends who have had their gallbladder removed and none of them have any problems with digestion.
  • Posted

    I had to wait nearly a year for my gallbladder to removed as I had dates affected by the junior doctors strikes and other low staff reasons. It was deemed an routine elective operation even though I had trouble eating and was always in pain and felt really unwell. 

    ?I did not really want the surgery as I had kept the gallbladder and stones for years after they were noted on a scan for other reasons. But my digestion just broke down and I was diagnosed with H pylori, hiatal hernia and diverticula as well - a combination many people get at the same time - sometimes called Saint's Triad. I sought a second opinion as I knew something was wrong, the second consultant was a private consult and I chose someone with a lot of experience in the field - he was certain it would help to have the surgery.

    ?Finally, I had the removal and the surgery was not at all as bad as I expected. I recovered well.

    ?It was a shock when my GP got a letter after from the surgeon to say that the pathology lab had found abnormal cells in the gallbladder and it was a good thing it was removed in time.

    ?But the waiting had been a nightmare for me, with too many cancelled dates. I went to the PALS office (patient advice) but it was said to be down to too much demand and no beds etc. It was particularly hard as my job was made redundant just before I got so sick and I had no chance of getting re-employed and no income I the meantime as it turned out I needed a joint replacement also in this time - that was being held up as the gallbladder op needed to be done first.

    ?Often the consultants do not seem really aware of the state of the waiting list I have found.

    You could (if in England) contact the PALS office in your hospital or the equivalent if elsewhere to see if they can offer any support if you feel you are not receiving a prompt treatment. The waiting list targets have gone by the board in recent times, but you can also speak to the consultant's secretary or PA and ask to go on a cancellations list if you can go at relatively short notice for your op - as people sometimes cancel at the last minute. Sometimes it is worth phoning every week as they sometimes don't let you know there is a vacant slot. Good luck!

    • Posted

      Goodness me Cynthia, you did have a lot of problems leading up to your operation.  I have been put on the cancellation list but I am not sure that will help much.  I am coping as I am being extremely careful with my diet and hopefully I can prevent another flare up.  The most frustrating thing is that it puts your life on hold.  You cannot plan anything in the future as you have no idea if you will have had the op by then!
    • Posted

      Absolutely - due to this I've had life on hold for a few years now, no holidays or plans, even getting theatre tickets has been a worry - I booked some and they were expensive and of course, one date arrived that meant I could not attend! By the time I had the gb out, I had worked out ways to keep as well as possible with food and supplements. Well, we have to don't we? Hope all moves forward for you asap.

  • Posted

    I'm in Australia and was classed as a routine case. I have been on the waiting list for a consultation pre surgery for 21 months at one hospital and 11 months at another. I've since been marked as urgent at both, but it's only been a week. God knows how long I'd wait if I was still routine.

    • Posted

      Kim - I am sorry you are having to wait such a long time.  It seems worse there than here.  My brother lives in Australia - I see now why he has continued with his private insurance even though it is very costly now he is over 70.  I do hope you will soon be seen and the operation done.  I was tempted to pay privately here but as it is at least £7,000 I really cannot afford it.

    • Posted

      Hi Dianne, I did pay to see a private surgeon who also does surgery at a few public hospitals and he has bumped me up the list in a public hospital so it shouldn't be too much longer. I hope you get yours done quickly.

  • Posted

    Please go back and see GP if your symptoms get too bad in the meantime. Was similar to you but when I was admitted to hospital the first surgeon I saw said it wasn’t my gallbladder, despite me already having had an ultrasound which showed stones. He thought it was a stomach ulcer so to appease him I agreed to an endoscopy. I was right it wasn’t an ulcer! Ended up seeing another consultant a few days later as the docs had changed and he sent me for a HIDA scan. This showed gallbladder wasn’t functioning normally and not long after was admitted again with cholecystitis. Ended up with the gallbladder out the following week whilst still an inpatient. 

    Tell the surgeons secretary you’ll take a cancellation if it’s available as well xx

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