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My Gallstone Story (about to have surgery)

Posted , 13 users are following.

marc23429
marc23429

Hi. I'm a 22 year old male and am from the UK.

Around 2012 or 2013 I remember having my first pain attack. I'd just had a roast carvery consisting of mountains of fatty food. I had this horrendous pain (kind of like needing to go for a poo but 20x worse. I like to desribe it to people as having Mike Tyson taking a grip of your belly, twisting and refusing to let go). I couldn't get comfortable and had to ask the friends I was with to drive me home. That was a horrible night.

Since then I've had loads of attacks, ranging in severity from 2 minute 'blips' to 6 hour all-nighters. I finally went to my GP last year (2016), having been originally issued Coedine Phosphate and recommended Buscopan on the 2 A+E visits I've made in that time. My GP did a blood test and noticed a high liver reading. He had me go for ultrasound where the lovely ultrasound ladies found a gallbladder full of gallstones (some 4cm in size apparently) which they said was probably the problem.

 My GP said I could have it removed, but being a nervous 22 year old who's never been to a hospital other than to visit people, I said I'd hold off for a while.

I had a couple of attacks after that GP visit and finally decided enough was enough. I asked my GP for a referral and was offered a choice of local hospitals (both NHS and private!) to meet a consultant.

I chose the one that had good reviews on the NHS Choices website and met with the consultant. Turns out the consultant was the same person who'd be doing the surgery and he was very nice. Even though he'd done 2,000+ gallbladder removals in his time (which he likes to boast about), I'd done enough research online and watched enough of the procedures on YouTube that I think I knew more about it than he did!

I met with him in early December 2016 at which point he told me the op would likely be after Christmas. Sure enough, I get a phone call just before New Year and am booked in for surgery in late February.

That's where I am. I'm awaiting my gallbladder removal. I've read loads of threads on this forum and although some of the horror stories are concerning, I'm willing to take the plunge. It's really frustrating to have made plans and find out you need to cancel last minute because you can feel an attack come on. 

Thanks for everyone for posting on this forum. It's been very helpful in making my decision as people post frequently and the concerns others are having are very relatable.

I'll keep you all updated as to how my surgery goes.

3 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • brian7008
    brian7008 marc23429

    Posted

    Just had mine out on the 3rd not to bad really sore still. The left over co2 gas is really annoying the worst part is coughing and trying to get comfortable. Haven't had to sneeze yet and I'm really not looking forward to it happening lol.

  • gwyneth72826
    gwyneth72826 marc23429

    Posted

    Glad that you have decided to have operation. I am due for surgery on the 19th January. I have acute gallbladder disease but no stones
    • gwyneth72826
      gwyneth72826 rachel05155

      Posted

      Hi Rachel,

      I had a selection of different tests which included MRI scan, ultrasound, endoscopy and CT scan along with numerous blood tests. As I was in constant pain, not keeping much food down and losing weight the consultant decided that I needed the operation. I have had operation and feel back to normal. My gallbladder was badly inflamed with gallbladder disease.

  • h60199
    h60199 marc23429

    Posted

    Hello smile

    Today I was able to stop one of my gallbladder attacks in progress

    which I have never been able to do before so I thought I would share

    in hopes that it may be helpful to someone else.

    So it starts off as a pain which progressively gets worse and last up

    8 hours. It is always triggered by food. I have try not to eat anything too fatty or greasy.

    Too much dairy will also trigger it.

    I think one reason I may have been able to stop my gallbladder

    attack in progress is because I switched the order of the over counter

    medication I take when having an attack and thank god no throwing up

    this time. So here is the order of the over the counter medication that

    worked for me. First I took a nexium (acid reducer) then I took a advil

    gel capsule for the pain and inflammation (three in total) but not all at the same time -

    as the pain came I took another as the pain came back then after taking the three advil

    (gel capsules work faster for me) I took two crewable pepto bismol and

    one full cup of kaopectale which have the same exact ingredient and dosage.

    I continued to take the kaopectale every half an hour up to 7 doses (8 is

    the maximum dosage (included the pepto bismol as one dose also).

    I started feeling better before I got to the 7th dose but wanted to make

    sure it didn't start up again so I took 7 doses.

    I hope you find this helpful as I have suffered many gallbladder

    attacks in great agony.

    • BeWellLiveWell
      BeWellLiveWell h60199

      Posted

      Do yourself a favor and get your gall bladder looked at and if problematic get it removed.  Why wait for a stone to block your bile duct and cause major problems, like sepsis and jaundice. Your band aid approach is admirable but I fear you will have more issues if you do not take care of it.
  • fazi666
    fazi666 marc23429

    Posted

    Explore all the options first then go for surgery. My doctor has 35 years of surgery experience but took out my gallbladder wrongly. I have no pain. Just sudden daignose for tiny polyps. 
  • katherine42413
    katherine42413 marc23429

    Posted

    Hi Marc, I can't believe you've been putting up with gallstone pain for as long as you have but I know young men do tend to do that. I know someone who did the same, he was in his early 20's too and now he's had the operation and he's alot better. He showed me the small scars when he heard I was going to have my gallbladder removed too. Mine's going to be removed as its not working properly but I haven't had a date yet.

    I know how you feel with this site, its great to get lots of different variations of the same thing and how people have dealt with it. I find this site invaluable and I've recommended it too someone else so she can speak to people with similar problems.

    Keep up posted on how you are, if your suffering more than usual and when you go for surgery. 

    Take care of yourself. I'm in the UK too.

  • cynthia89958
    cynthia89958 marc23429

    Posted

    Hi Marc,

    Just here to wish you the best of luck with your forthcoming surgery.

    ?As you are a young person, I'm sure that will assist a speedy recovery.

    I've posted quite a bit on here so I won't go into much detail now, but I've finally had my surgery last week after a really long time waiting and delays/ cancellations etc.

    ?I kept my gallbladder and stones for years but finally it went down hill so I would agreee with the doctors that if you get frequent or severe attacks you will probably reach the point of surgery eventually, although some people are lucky and it all settles down.

    ?The surgery itself for me was pretty straightforward although I am not a youngster and have been quite ill also with other issues over the last year. I was scared but you do not need to be. I cannot say anything about long term effects as it is too soon.

    ?Be careful with codeine painkillers as they do cause trouble for some with gallbladder issues, it can spasm the ducts after surgery apparently. My hospital gave me this and paracetamol but I have not needed the codeine so far and prefer not to just in case.

    ?I'm sure you will be fine, just eat carefully for a few weeks after and bear in mind, long term, a healthier lifestyle should benefit your liver and general health. Gallstones are a warning that your liver and biliary tract have been struggling already.

    All the best! Will look out for your progress updates.

  • Marketa
    Marketa marc23429

    Posted

    Hi Marc

    Don't worry about the surgery, you are young and otherwise healthy.

    I wish you a speedy recovery!

    For future, now you know almost what the pain is like for a woman to give birth, as the pain is very similar to contractions.

    Keep as posted on your recovery.

  • marc23429
    marc23429

    Posted

    Thanks for the support everyone. My surgery was today and went well- it felt like it was over in the blink of an eye (quite literally).

    I'm home now and feel good. There's slight pain in my belly area- I guess to be expected!

    Other than that, I'm moving about as normal and eating well. I've had a couple of naps this afternoon but am wide awake now. I'm not looking forward to when the hospital pain killers wear off tonight though! The nurse issued me plenty of codeine phosphate so hopefully it'll be bearable.

    It was keyhole surgery and they sealed me back up with glue so no dressings to worry about.

    Thanks again for all your support and kind words!

  • marc23429
    marc23429

    Posted

    Another quick update. I'm now 5 days post-op and feel good. The wounds are significantly less painful (infact I forgot they were even there earlier- scratched my belly and thought I felt something funny!).

    I've been for plenty of walks to the shops, around the block etc which, if anything, seems to have helped speed up the healing process. Haven't needed painkillers since day 3 post op.

    I hadn't had a bowel movement in 2 days after the operation which I was becoming concerned about, but that changed on day 3 and I've been going fine since.

    I avoided showering for a few days because I was sealed up with glue (no stitches) and was paranoid that my wounds would burst open and my intestines fall out or something! Needless to say that didn't happen when I finally had a shower, and now I'm back to a more regular showering schedule.

    If you're about to have yours out, I'd say my main tips are:

    - Sleep with a tshirt on if you've been sealed up with glue, to prevent your duvet rubbing on the wounds too much

    - Drink peppermint tea regularly

    - Take painkillers proactively in the first few days post-op. You don't want to wait until you're in pain to start taking them

    - Fresh air and walking may be beneficial if you feel up for it, but don't push yourself too hard. Remember your body is still recovering

    • katherine42413
      katherine42413 marc23429

      Posted

      Hi Marc, I'm glad you're doing really well, you sound very good. I''m day 4 post op and I can't say that I feel as good as you but I have been better each day.

      I had a sneak at one of my incisions today and took off the dressing as mine have dissolvable stitches so they've put dressings on which do itch and its all very neat and healing well as yours are but because of the waterproof dressings I was able to have a shower on day 2 as long as I didn't get the dressings too wet, but you do feel so much better washing all the sterilizing solution off your body!

      I'm looking forward to having a walk down my garden as all the spring flowers are coming into their own and looks beautiful, mind you its been very windy and wet where I live!

      Keep us updated with how everything is going further on as we all seem very different in our recovery rates and its alway very positive to know that things do improve.

      take care.

    • marc23429
      marc23429 katherine42413

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply Katherine. I'm sure it'll get better- it's just a matter of time. Good to hear you're starting to feel better day by day.

      Yes yes yes, it was such a relief to have the first shower! I looked like the pink panther with all that surgical solution on my belly! 

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