Anyone with gallbladder issues

I went to my dr today and he is sending me to a surgeon to have my gall bladder evaluated. I had blood work done today and am having an ultrasound on friday. He told me when I left if I had an attack to go to the ER. How do I know if I need to go? If you had yours removed how was it? How was the recovery? Did you feel better after, and how long did it take? What were your symptoms before? I am a little nervous. Of course I made the mistake of googling the gall bladder and saw a ton of links to gall bladder cancer. This did not make me feel any better!!!!! TIA

Jen

 

I had my gallbladder taken out a couple of years ago and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I had a lot of pain with my gallbladder before I had it taken out. Mainly because my pain was so high up (almost between my ribs) and no one believed me that it was my gallbladder. They thought it was something else. When I finally had it taken out, my dr told me it was really scarred and inflamed from years of flare ups. I had the laproscopic surgery and have 3 tiny scars from the operation. They healed within a couple of weeks and I felt fine almost immediately. The only problem I had was not being able to life anything over 20 lbs for 3-4 weeks. DS was almost 18 months at the time, so that made it really hard. Other than that, it was a great outcome and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As far as symptoms go, I had severe pain that went all the way thru to my back. I was doubled up in pain and the painkillers that the ER gave me didn't even touch the pain a lot of the time. It was pretty miserable!

Good luck to you!

 

aww i hope everything turns out okay!

 

QUOTE(jskemom @ Sep 29 2008, 09:06 PM) [snapback]1003969[/snapback]
I had my gallbladder taken out a couple of years ago and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I had a lot of pain with my gallbladder before I had it taken out. Mainly because my pain was so high up (almost between my ribs) and no one believed me that it was my gallbladder. They thought it was something else. When I finally had it taken out, my dr told me it was really scarred and inflamed from years of flare ups. I had the laproscopic surgery and have 3 tiny scars from the operation. They healed within a couple of weeks and I felt fine almost immediately. The only problem I had was not being able to life anything over 20 lbs for 3-4 weeks. DS was almost 18 months at the time, so that made it really hard. Other than that, it was a great outcome and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As far as symptoms go, I had severe pain that went all the way thru to my back. I was doubled up in pain and the painkillers that the ER gave me didn't even touch the pain a lot of the time. It was pretty miserable!

Good luck to you!


Thank you. I have a feeling that mine will look much the same, if I have to have it taken out. I am glad that it helped. Good luck with your babies soon.

Jen

 

QUOTE(cottoncandysky @ Sep 29 2008, 09:09 PM) [snapback]1003979[/snapback]
aww i hope everything turns out okay!



Thank you

Jen

 

I had my gallbladder out when I was 16 weeks pregnant with my girls, so I can't help you with taking care of kids post-surgery, but it was the best thing I did. I'm pretty sure I would have lost the girls had I not had it out.

My attacks were pain in the upper right part of the stomach, under the ribs, shooting through to the back. I would throw up and then the pain would be a little better for awhile, then repeat. This went on for about a week, then I totally cut out fat in my diet (good when you are trying to eat for twins, right?) and saw the surgeon. I actually didn't have any gallstones, but they presumed it was gallbladder dysfunction and took it out. As soon as the anesthesia wore off, I felt better than I had felt in weeks. I was hungry! I didn't have any problems post-surgery and felt basically 100% after about 4 days. (granted, I wasn't chasing twins). I just took it easy and had help getting in and out of chairs until my incisions felt better.

Good luck.

 

Jen, I had an attack in the middle of the night when my guys were 4 weeks old. I was taken to the er via ambulance. I had it removed laporascopicly the following week. I was up and about that afternoon. I left the surgery center within hours of surgery. After the attack, I am glad I don't have to worry about it anymore!

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon

Missy

 

I had my gallbladder out about 6 weeks ago. I had been having attacks since I was pregnant (I didn't know they were gallbladder attacks at that time) I was having incredible pain I could barely breath, and I was alone with the babies. It kept happening so I went the ER and they did a CAT scan and saw I had many gallstones. I stopped eating all fat and the symptoms went away, but I decided to have it out anyway because I couldn't deal with the pain alone with the kids. I totally recommend getting it out, but make sure you have lots of help when you get home with the hospital because you will need to take it easy for a week or so. Ask me any more questions you have. I did lots of research. Good Luck!

 

I had my first gall bladder attack at 10 days post partum with DS1. I thought it was a heart attack...the pain was worse than labor. They found gall stones via u/s. I didn't want to do the surgery with a newborn to deal with, so I cut out all fat, alcohol and caffeine. I still had attacks and finally had it out when DS was 9 months. I felt pretty bad for about 2 days... but then better than I had in months.

Best of luck to you.

-maria

 

Jen, I hope you feel better soon. I had my gallbladder taken almost exactly 3 years ago last week. Prior to the surgery, I was having extremely bad pains in the middle of the night that were immobilizing. It was all around my stomach and back. I thought it was really bad gas. This happened about 5 times before my mother convinced me to go to the doctor. When I went, they were pretty sure it was the gallbladder and that was confirmed by the ultrasound. I had it removed laporascopicly, was in the hospital about 24 hours. The recovery was pretty simple, probably within 2 days I was up and about and felt so much better! I don't know what the recovery is like with taking care of babies, because mine was done pre-kids. Good luck to you!

 

Thank you all. I am feeling a little better about it. I will definitely have questions, thank you for the offers of help with this.

Jen

 

My Mom just had hers removed recently. She said it hurt REALLY bad. They did *emergancy* surgery to remove it because it was infected. They said that she may have died.

I am not trying to scare you.

After it was removed she was in the hospital for 3 days just to watch her (because it was so infected) But she felt better right after. It took her like 5 days to get totally back to "normal"

 

QUOTE(YooperMom @ Sep 29 2008, 09:19 PM) [snapback]1004007[/snapback]
I had my gallbladder out when I was 16 weeks pregnant with my girls, so I can't help you with taking care of kids post-surgery, but it was the best thing I did. I'm pretty sure I would have lost the girls had I not had it out.

My attacks were pain in the upper right part of the stomach, under the ribs, shooting through to the back. I would throw up and then the pain would be a little better for awhile, then repeat. This went on for about a week, then I totally cut out fat in my diet (good when you are trying to eat for twins, right?) and saw the surgeon. I actually didn't have any gallstones, but they presumed it was gallbladder dysfunction and took it out. As soon as the anesthesia wore off, I felt better than I had felt in weeks. I was hungry! I didn't have any problems post-surgery and felt basically 100% after about 4 days. (granted, I wasn't chasing twins). I just took it easy and had help getting in and out of chairs until my incisions felt better.

Good luck.


I didn't think they would do surgery when you were pregnant. It sounds like it worked out well though. That must have been awful being pregnant and not being able to eat enough. I am glad it made you feel better and am hopeful I will too. It will be hard with the babies with my dh work schedule.

Jen

 

Oh my gosh, the pain from gallstones was awful for me. I was doubled over on my bathroom floor and vomiting when my boys were 3 weeks old, my dh rushed me to the ER (we live 2 minutes from it). I was really afraid I was having a heart attack, I was hyperventilating and vomiting, it radiated into my back and up my chest. They had originally missed it in the ER as I apparently also had a UTI so I went home and a few days later it happened again on my way home from lunch, the pain was awful, we had to pull over so I could throw up. In the ER again, they gave me pain meds, I made appt with my doc and it was removed when my boys were 4 weeks. I was up with them the same night, no pain after recovery, I felt like a new woman! You will be great and you will know if you need to go to the ER.

 

I had my gallbladder removed about 14 years ago...I was 13!!!!

I was actually the youngest to have it removed at my hospital. They don't know why but I had developed gallstones. The pain was HORRIBLE. It took about 3 ER visits and an ultrasound to finally get the correct diagnosis. Some Dr's were trying to get me to admit that I was sexual active and could be pregnant. I hadn't even kissed a boy yet, how could I have been sexually active!!!!

The surgery was not bad at all, nor was the recovery.

 

What did your doctor decide to do? The pain I had from the attacks didn't even compare to labor pains. I suffered from the attacks for about 6 months before I could convince the doctors that it wasn't acid reflux. My u/s showed that my gallbladder was completely full of stones. I hope you get some relief soon. I found the recovery easier than my c-section, but I was a lot younger then too.

 

I had my gallbladder taken out after my 1st DD was born. My specialist told me it happens a lot after a first pg. I was sick to my stomach and had bad cramps. I didn't realize what it was at first. I waited almost a year. Mine was so bad that I ended up with a gallstone lodged in a pancreatic duct. I ended up with pancreatitis. OMG!!! That was seriously painful. I ended up so sick I went in to the ER. They gave me a 50% chance of surviving. If I hadn't gone in when I did I probably would have died. I ended up in the hospital for 5 days on Demeral (sp). They took out the stone and then were able to do the gallbaldder surgery. I ate broth that night (hadn't eaten in days) and went home the next day! I felt 100% better!!! It's 4 small incisions that take no time to heal. I still had the pancreatitis, but my amalayse #'s began dropping quickly so everything ended up great! The pancreatitis cleared up within 3 months. I am glad that you are getting this done quickly and that you went in to the doc so quickly. Nothing to mess around with. Try to avoid rare meats, heavy sauces, salad dressings, gravy and oats while you wait. These often times can trigger attacks. You will feel sooo much better after your surgery. You will probably realize just how bad you really do feel afterward! Good luck and I know you will be feeling better soon!

 

I had mine out before the kids, where they just do the four little holes (laperosocpy (sp)), honestly in a week I was back at work.

I think u will know with the pain if u need to go to ER, if I had anything fatty it was the worst I remember once having a caesar salad and just being curled up in a ball on the floor.

I was so glad to get the surgery.

amanda

 

QUOTE(mommymeg @ Oct 1 2008, 08:38 AM) [snapback]1006326[/snapback]
What did your doctor decide to do? The pain I had from the attacks didn't even compare to labor pains. I suffered from the attacks for about 6 months before I could convince the doctors that it wasn't acid reflux. My u/s showed that my gallbladder was completely full of stones. I hope you get some relief soon. I found the recovery easier than my c-section, but I was a lot younger then too.


I go for my ultrasound tomorrow morning at 8:30am. I go to see the surgeon on the 8th to decide what to do based on the bloodwork I had and the u/s results. I have been having some pain and discomfort, but nothing extreme yet. I hope that it will be resolved before things get too bad. Thank you so much, I am hoping the reflux type symptoms will ease up as well.

 

QUOTE(luvnmybabies @ Oct 1 2008, 11:25 AM) [snapback]1006586[/snapback]
I had my gallbladder taken out after my 1st DD was born. My specialist told me it happens a lot after a first pg. I was sick to my stomach and had bad cramps. I didn't realize what it was at first. I waited almost a year. Mine was so bad that I ended up with a gallstone lodged in a pancreatic duct. I ended up with pancreatitis. OMG!!! That was seriously painful. I ended up so sick I went in to the ER. They gave me a 50% chance of surviving. If I hadn't gone in when I did I probably would have died. I ended up in the hospital for 5 days on Demeral (sp). They took out the stone and then were able to do the gallbaldder surgery. I ate broth that night (hadn't eaten in days) and went home the next day! I felt 100% better!!! It's 4 small incisions that take no time to heal. I still had the pancreatitis, but my amalayse #'s began dropping quickly so everything ended up great! The pancreatitis cleared up within 3 months. I am glad that you are getting this done quickly and that you went in to the doc so quickly. Nothing to mess around with. Try to avoid rare meats, heavy sauces, salad dressings, gravy and oats while you wait. These often times can trigger attacks. You will feel sooo much better after your surgery. You will probably realize just how bad you really do feel afterward! Good luck and I know you will be feeling better soon!


I am so glad that you went in when you did. It is amazing isn't it what our bodies do. Thank you for the lists of things to avoid, I never would have thought of gravy and oats. I did have gravy when I was pregnant and I got so sick after, I guess this would be why. I am kind of hoping that they will do surgery, I don't know yet, it sounds like you all have had such success and have felt so much better since. Thank you for sharing your story.

Jen